The Snowball Effect......

I have been going non-stop the last six days and my poor house looks like a bomb has gone of inside it.......outside too I must admit.   With the weather being nicer yesterday and today I have finally been able to get going on the bedroom set thats been stored under my deck for quite some time now.  I spent most of last week before and after work drilling new holes in all the drawers to change the hardware, filling and sanding, filling and sanding them......

I had plans for this dresser since I first scouted it and had planned to paint the whole thing white & do some aging in the router details.  This was firm in my head till I started using all my new ASCP products and all the endless possibilities.  Thats when I thought I had settle on Pure White for everything and Duck Egg in the router details.......Saturday morning I had a different inspiration and before I could change my mind again I got my brush moving.

Needless to say I decided to go fancier then I originally intended and it's taking me longer then expected.  Thought I would have all the painting done by today...........This is very typical of me, have an idea thats way more complicated and jump in without thinking of how much more time or effort its going to take and then get frustrated when it's taking longer then I think it should.  Sometimes I just have to step back, laugh at myself and remember that its a hobby meant to occupy my time and be an outlet for stress & creativity.  Deep breath, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

This piece has so far been a lot of fun, difficult and I can't wait to show you the finished project.  Its had its ups and downs and a life of its own in the sense of the direction and end result.  I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I have.

Sincerely,
Sasha

A Project Gift.........

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog all week.....between waking up early to get a little time in on the furniture before I head to work for the day then when I get home buffing for what seems like forever......(more on that later!)

Here's a coffee and end table my husband picked up for me as he knows my love for anything with interesting legs/feet. This is my last project with my home made chalk paint only ASCP from here on out!  These tables were stained a horrible colour and it was completely taking away from the beautiful details.  They look amazing white and actually ended up working so well with my living room chairs I haven't moved them to my for sale storage yet......They are for sale.

Sincerely,

Sasha

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint......

Today is a big day for me, I received my ASCP order this morning and can't wait to get started with this new product.  I have lots of inspiration and ideas not to mention the furniture to try it on....... So much in the works right now can't wait to share it all with you!

Sincerely,
Sasha

My First Project.....

This little antique liquor cabinet caught my eye and just wouldn't leave my thoughts, I finally showed the picture to my husband and to my surprise he totally loved the piece about as much as I did.  It cost more then I usually like to pay for things I want to up cycle but since I was keeping it for my own home I relented on this one.  This was my very first chalk paint experience and boy was I nervous!  I am thrilled with how it turned out and it gives me such joy to see it everyday in my living room.

 Sincerely,
Sasha

Rustic Cottage Cabinet & A Plant Stand.....

Here's two of my projects I just finished up late last night, aren't they charming...?

 Both are painted in chalk paint, distressed and finished with varathane.  Unfortunately I don't have before pictures of the plant stand......sometimes I just can't hold the paint brush back long enough to snap a picture.  It was originally just a plain flat black and you could barely see the beautiful details since it was so dark, now its a stunning fresh piece sure to attract attention.  This cupboard I almost didn't pick up, it was on the rougher side and made up entirely of reclaimed wood.  I'm happy with the end result and how a fresh coat of paint and hardware change the look of things drastically.  I grabbed this hardware off a desk I just picked up and think it looks pretty good although I originally was thinking black hardware......

A few more picture.....

Both these items are for sale, check out my facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-the-Chic-in-Shabby/495169327210303?fref=ts

Sincerely,
Sasha

How I Spent my Day Off.......

Today has been super busy picking up a bedroom suite I can't wait to start and finishing off a few long overdue projects.  Still more to go before I catch up and get started on the bigger pieces just waiting for my attention, not to mention the random early morning snow fall put a kink into my outdoor painting plans....... So much to do only one more day off before my next block starts.

Here's a sneak peek at what I picked up today

Can't decide if I want to paint the original hardware black or change over to the glass knobs....thoughts?

Sincerely,
Sasha

A Labour of Love......

You know when you have a great idea and just can't wait to try it out......? This solid wood coffee and end tables were just that and I was so excited to start.  After researching the best products to use for wallpapering furniture and a durable usable top finish I went shopping and dove right in.  Here's were I learned about patience as this project was no were near as easy as my usual chalk paint and go......

This is the before of the coffee table

To start it took three coats of chalk paint to get coverage as the wood was such an dark finish, then sanding for the distressing, two coats of varathane and finally prepping the top for the wallpaper.

This is an end table just before the wallpaper application

Now we can start on the wallpaper........after extensive online research I went with Mod Podge to glue down my wallpaper and their matching sealer to finish.

First I cut my wallpaper with extra at all ends and took outside and sprayed with two coats of the clear acrylic sealer.  Once dry I brought back in and tight cut, then using a sponge brush applicator I applied evenly to the table top and to the back of the wallpaper.  You only have a tight time frame as this product sets up extremely fast!  After adhering starting in the middle I used the palm of my hands to press down and work the air bubble out and then switched to a wall paper smoothing brush to work out the harder air bubbles.  After it set and I still had some air pockets I used a pin and the smoothing brush again.  Once completely dry I did two more coats of the adhesive on top of the wallpaper, note to self immediately clean up any extra glue.  I wasn't paying attention and let some glue dry on the finished lip of the end table and paid the price of having to clean up dried Mod Podge, you do not want to do this!  Finally I finished with two more coats of the acrylic sealer.

This project took over my whole house and three very long days, the end result..........

 

I'm pretty darn happy with the end result and love the colour palette they look so fresh!  I'm not sure I'm interested in any more decoupage projects for awhile now....... These tables are for sale.

Sincerely,
Sasha

Sold........

Today was bittersweet I sold my first piece I repurposed with the intent of rehoming.  That being said it, certainly doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to this beautiful buffet.  The highlight is meeting new people and sharing in the mutual appreciation of a stunning upcycled piece.  Enjoy Steph its going to look amazing in your home.

Sincerely,
Sasha

Odds & Ends......

Here's a few pieces I picked up at the local flea market this past weekend, trying to decide what I want to do with them....

When One Door Closes......

As the old saying goes,"When one door closes another opens."  Today that was true for me; after my misadventure on tuesday ended empty handed, life sent another sideboard to me instead.  This gem needs more TLC then the last one but will be even prettier when finished as it has more details to accentuate.  I have a few more projects on the go before I can start overhauling this one, will keep you posted along the way.

Sincerely,
Sasha

Some days....

So after my extreme excitement going into yesterdays furniture roundup I have to let you know about my sudden plummet back down to this place we call earth.  My mom always taught me as I child not to count my chickens before they have hatched but sometimes its just way to hard not to get caught up in the excitement of things and the fact that other people don't always act or hold to the same values as you do.  Onto why I'm writing about all this; yesterday I drove an hour and a half out of town to meet and pick up the sideboard I posted a picture of in yesterdays post.  This involved borrowing the husbands truck, packing tie downs and a sheet to cover, refusing a shift at work and driving all the way out there to a scheduled time and pickup to show up and have the lady tell me she just sold it.......... At first I was in shock, "Who does that?" then came the anger, then the sadness of all the inspirations and ideas I had for this beautiful piece of furniture that I wasn't going to be able to fulfill.  So I stopped at A and W and ate my sorrow away in a large onion rings instead.  Upon arriving home to pick up my husband and trailer to head out of town an hour in the other direction for more furniture he greeted me with Tim Hortons (smart man!) and put it in perspective for me that this probably isn't going to be the only time this happens to me if I keep on with this hobby.  Hate it when he's right!

The day wasn't a total bust though and I can't wait to figure out my plans for my stunning dining room set!

Pictures of the furniture will have to wait, my sidekick for the day will have to do....

Sincerely,
Sasha

Craziness.......

Yesterday got away from me and now today just keeps getting more and more jam packed, I am so excited I'm almost jumping up and down!  Just when I didn't think I had enough furniture and projects on the go I'm bringing home a truck and trailer load full today........... Not sure were I'm putting it all but if it means zero walking space in my house I'm okay with that. ( For a couple days then the neat freak in me will probably start screaming)  I have lots of posts coming up with more shabby chic, a decoupage branch out and more.

Sincerely,

Sasha

Here's a teaser of one of the pieces I'm picking up today

Beautiful Buffet

I found this buffet online after getting home from a seriously long day at work and knew right away it would be the perfect project for me.  In my excitement I never thought about the time and called the poor seller extremely late and scheduled to pick up the next day.  Unfortunately for me the flu struck and it fell to my husband to get this beauty home as I just had to have it.  Being my biggest project to date so far I was a little nervous but ready to tackle the challenge.

Before

After chalk paint, sanding and varathaning....... it only took four trips to the hardware store for bolts to get the new glass knobs on properly.  

After

I'm extremely happy with the finished product and love this piece so much I really don't want to sell it! (Not to mention after I staged it for pictures I ended up filling it full of stuff)  Thinking about adding a stained plank top...... thoughts?

Sincerely,

Sasha

A few more picture...