The Painted Willows: wall art

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Milk Paint "work in progress" Dresser

I typically don't share furniture makeovers that aren't finished but this piece is different, I need your help with this one...

With almost every furniture makeover, I hit a point were there are problems, the process doesn't ever go perfectly. Which makes the end result so rewarding! You feel as though you've conquered, I know it's sounds a bit dramatic but sometimes painting furniture feels like a battle of wills. In this case it was me verses an antique dresser and my weapon of choice, Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint!

I did it! I finally painted a piece of furniture with milk paint! I got a little practice first on a couple small projects I posted about previously...

The flag sign I posted about here. And...

My chippy chalkboard calendar I posted about here.

Here's a picture of the dresser before we went to war...

Not only was this the first piece I painted with Milk Paint it's also the first piece that I bought knowing I would be dealing with a lot of chipping veneer, usually I avoid these pieces.

After some hard work (and a little help from my hubby) I was able to remove all the veneer from the top of the dresser! And then I stained the top. I used a custom mix for the stain on the top but it came out a little to orange for my liking. So I went with a dark walnut stain. I was hoping for a lighter more natural looking top but I'm still happy with the results. I love the combo of a wood top with blue and white!

I mixed up a custom mix of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint with Linen, Lucketts Green, and Eulalie's Sky and I used this mixture to paint the body of the dresser. I liked the color but it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, a bit too green, so I painted over it with a mixture of just Linen and Eulalie's Sky...

Can you see a bit of my first coat peeking through?!

After I applied my second coat I broke out my hair dryer to dry the paint quickly and hopefully get some crackling and chipping since it wasn't happening on its own. That turned out to be a big mistake! Not only did it not give me the results I was hoping for it, the heat actually caused some veneer that wasn't peeling off, to start peeling!

BIG OOPS!

At this point I decided to move on to the drawers. They were painted an off white color with a funky wash on them when I bought the dresser. So I painted over it with with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Linen. I was hoping for a bit more chippyness on the drawers.

A bit of chipping did happen on the top drawers which I love...

But the middle drawer is another story, the paint peeled but not in a good way!

And and in some places the Milk Paint just wasn't covering the previously painted drawers, despite several coats!

But I do love how most of the dresser turned out!

And I loved using the Milk Paint, it gave me great coverage and such a smooth finish! And since it's not a custom piece, I'm not in any hurry to finish it, I decided to bring it in my house and put it to use (storing some school supplies) while I decide how I will fight the next battle with my opponent :)

Any suggestions?!?! I need your advice!

Linked up to:http://missmustardseed.com/, http://tatertotsandjello.com/, http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/, http://www.lizmarieblog.com, http://www.stonegableblog.com, http://cityfarmhouse.com/, http://www.thegoldensycamore.com, http://www.joyinourhome.com, http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/, http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/, http://www.thegirlcreative.com/

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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

A Painted Chest and a Handmade Sign

I've been busy the last few days keeping my kiddos (and myself) cool! Boy it's been hot! We've been spending a lot of time in the water and I've been avoiding cooking dinner as much as possible (sorry hubby) but who wants to cook when it's 85 degrees INSIDE the house! I did find time to finish a custom job for a client...

Sorry I didn't take any before pictures. I sanded and stained this chest, which my client uses in her entry way to hold shoes, in a red mahogany stain to match the other furniture in her living room. And then I got to work on the flower and leaf pattern which encompasses most of this piece. I'm really happy with how it turned out...

I've also been working on some wall art. I made this sign...

Here it is on my shelf with my gallery wall in my dining room...

Proverbs 31, which is quoted in this sign, is one of my favorites. I'm inspired to be like this woman, one who "laughs without fear of the future". I'm definitely a work I progress just like my sign making! I'm trying to find a more efficient way to make them and learning how to use power tools (which, can I just say, is so much fun)!