GROW!!!

In my last post I was contemplating what my "word of the year" should be. I made a list of possibilities and left them on the kitchen table to come back to at a later date. Several nights ago my hubby says "I like this one." "Really...why?" I said. His answer was "because I think it truly encompasses all our goals for the year".

So...the word is...GROW!

I want to use this year to "grow" into a new business. I would love to see my blog "grow" into something special. We are "growing" a wonderful family. This word has now been wondering around in my head for a few days and I think my hubby is right. I cannot think of one negative connotation associated with the word "grow". It's cheerful, confident, energizing, and adventurous. Yep...I like that :-)

Here is my latest project. What?...you'd like to see what it looked like before? Ha! I forgot again. My brother's mother-in-law found this on the side of the road...thanks Susan!!!

I painted this piece using Annie Sloan "Provence" chalk paint. It's the first time I've used this color. It's very pretty. Actually much prettier than my pictures show. I'm limping my digital camera along until I can buy a new one. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!! :-)

I had hoped it would be more intense. I'm looking for a great turquoise to paint my piano. But here's the great thing about this paint...you can mix and match to an infinite amount of colors.

This cute little table/secretary is great in so many place in the home. I've actually moved it around to several spots myself. It tucks into just about any spot seemlessly and can be used for a bit of storage and a small writing area. Although I could use it myself, I'm going to post it on my Items For Sale page.

Oh...and more exciting news for my little blog. I've surpassed the 50 follower mark!!! Whoohooo...way to GROW! And a big thank you to my friend Rachel for purchasing the harlequin table this week!!! I hope you enjoy it! My hubby was really happy to get a piece out of the house :-)

Until next time...have a great few days.

I'm gonna party here this week!

Word of the Year

The other day I saw a blog post that asked...What is your word of the year? Word of the year???? Not a whole list of resolutions, just one word? That seemed easy enough...right? WRONG!!!

This word has to (or should) be the word that inspires, drives, and gives meaning to the year I would like to live. And the word I choose needs to work with my whole being...mother, wife, designer, painter, business owner...ugh! This is harder than I thought!!!

But is HAS got me thinking...and thinking...and thinking. And to be honest I'm still thinking, wondering, pondering. One word...for a whole year... I'll get back to you on this one.

On another note this is my latest project; a two-tiered side table with a harlequin pattern on the top. Like I mentioned in my last post, I just can't leave the top bare. It's a compulsion :-)

I painted the whole table with Annie Sloan charcoal chalk paint; then added a coat of paris gray on the top. I used the computer to draw out the harlequin pattern, transferred it to the top and painted the pattern using charcoal gray.

This gives me three coats on the top; charcoal gray, then paris gray and once again charcoal gray in the harlequin pattern. Chalk paint distresses very easily. I knew I would distress this piece and when I did so I wanted the charcoal to show through the paris gray. When distressing you always have to think in layers and whats under under your paint.

I've got a few great projects in the making as we speak. I really look forward sharing them with you over the next week. Now I'm off to wonder, ponder and think...scary!!! Oh, and let me know if you've come up with a word for your year.

As usual I'll link up to some great parties. Check em' out and have a great weekend everyone.

All-Star Table

I just can't seem to leave the top of a table alone. For me it's like a blank canvas that I just have to do something with. I didn't even realize I was doing it until I took a look back on other projects. Maybe it's becoming my "signature" look :-) Anyway this is the newest one. The ALL-STAR table.

What's really a bit creepy is that I rarely have to think very long about what I'm going to paint on the top. It's like the furniture "talks" to me.

Don't be too scared...furniture pieces are the only inanimate objects that I hear :-)

Here's a before pic of the table...kinda brown, kinda stained, kinda boring.

I used Annie Sloan chalk paint in aubusson blue on the table. I really wanted the top to look like a worn pair of jeans when finished. To achieve this, I heavily distressed the top then waxed and buffed it. I repeated the process again and distressed one last time to rough up the wax. One last buffing gave me a smooth but worn looking finish.

I have to admit I'm having some trouble with photographing my pieces indoors. Until the last few projects I was able to take all my pictures outside. Natural lighting and green grass as a background is so much easier. I'm still looking for the perfect place in my home for photo shoots.

It's been so fun getting back into the swing of things. I just love furniture, painting and making something that's old look new again.

Have a great weekend and try to stay warm. It sure is cold in Illinois! I will be linking up to a few other blogs. Take a look at what's new this week in blogland.

Oh the places we will go!

Here is another project I've completed recently for our home and I couldn't be more happy with it. I knew the moment I found this trunk that I wanted to use it in our toy room. We really needed a place to put all the pillows and blankets that gather in this room. I was constantly folding blankets and putting them back on the futon...ugh! Problem solved!!!!

Here's a before shot. It's not too bad black but I love me some color so of course it was gonna get painted!

The really nice thing about this project is that it was quick. No muss no fuss. It did take me a little time trying to figure out which fabulous color to use. As you can see there is already a lot of color going on in this room...but...it is a toy room so let's just go for it!

I knew this piece would be sat on, stood on and even drawn on...chalk board paint to the rescue. It's not too often kids hear their parents say "sure, draw all over the top of that trunk!" Their friends really like it too and it's amazing some of the things they draw. **idea moment** take pics of all the great drawings for memories and maybe another project down the line :-)

I used Annie Sloan chalk paint again in Antibes Green...my personal fave color. This is probably why the last two projects I've done for our home has been in green :-) I distressed the sides and again this works great for the toy room. If it gets (or when) more distressed it will only add to the character. Basically, it's kid proof :-)

Oh, and the cat C.C. would like to go wherever we might be going. She has to check everything out and wholeheartedly approves...how do I know??? She sleeps on top of the trunk most afternoons.

I just had to show you this picture. My camera is always laying around the house and so whenever I download pictures I never really know what I might find. This one cracked me up. I'm guessing from the point of view that it had to be taken by my 4 year old. What young child takes a picture of a can of paint??? My kid!!! I'm so proud!

I'll be linking up to several parties this week. Click on the buttons below to see what's going happening on those blogs.

A Full Circle

The desk is done!!! Whoooohoooo!

This desk has been a personal project for my daughter's room. I believe I started this around Halloween and it's finally done and in place. Ali is so happy and excited.

Here's a quick before shot. As usual I started it and then thought of taking a pic. This desk used to be my father-in-laws workbench in his basement. I was talking to my husband the other night and said "this had to be used as something else at another time." He thought about it for a bit and realized it was in he and his brothers bedroom when they were kids. Talk about a full circle!

I used Annie Sloan green chalk paint on the desk. I decided to use a little dark wax on it to tone down the green a little.

Using chalk board paint on the top of the desk means Ali can write all over the top of her desk and mom can leave reminder notes as well. Like...Ali, clean your room :-)

To "season" the chalk board paint you need to rub chalk all over the surface and then wipe it clean. This will ensure that whatever you write on the surface won't "burn in" forever.

The inside of the drawers were pretty rough. One of my favorite treatments is to decoupage the bottom of the drawer. I had these scraps of paper already laying around that worked great.

My little assistant who's always around to lend a helping hand!

A little distressing just makes the color pop even more. Also, Ali tends to be hard on furniture so I kinda figure I'm just working ahead :-)

Completing this project has me soooooo excited again to paint more furniture. I've got a lot of projects in the hopper so stay tuned.....