Chalk Paint Sofa Table with Etched Glass Top

I found this sofa table and 2 matching end tables and had to have them.  I am not crazy about glass top tables, but I loved the shape and the details.  The bottom of the sofa table had some bubbling veneer.  I tried the iron method, but it just wouldn't lay down.  So, flying by the seat of my pants, I scraped up the bubbled veneer and filled the area with wood filler.  Hmmm, I know I took a picture of that, but can't seem to find it, along with my before pics.  Oh well, I decided to etch a fleur de lis in the glass.  Not knowing whether it would work or not, I grabbed my Armour Etch that I've had for a couple of years and made a stencil out of contact paper.  Well, by golly, it worked!!

Then I decided to add some fleurs to the top of the column legs.  I had a button I got from Goodwill that was the perfect size, so I grabbed my trusty Amazing Molding Putty and got to work!

I painted the table with CeCe Caldwell Cinco Bayou Moss first and then Annie Sloan Old White.  I distressed it heavily, because I like that shabby french farmhouse kind of look, and I'm hoping that someone else will too!  It was my first time using CeCe Caldwell's Clear Wax and WOW!  I am impressed.  I am used to using other waxes that I have to battle with and it went on so smooth and easy that I contacted my stockist, Shelly at Shizzle Design, to make sure that I was doing it right!  Shelly took time out of her busy day to give me all of her tips and tricks and it turned out fabulous!

I may add some dark wax, hmmmmm...I am not sure yet. I don't know how people get done with a piece in a day.  This took me about a week!  Of course, it's a little bit here and a little bit there, but my goodness!  I don't know that I could ever get done in one day! Let me know what you think!  I will post more when I get the end tables done.

Enjoy your day!! :)

Chalk Painted Stool

I got this stool at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  It was old, dirty and unloved, but it was sturdy.

Excuse my mess, I had to move all of my painting inside because of the cold, rainy weather!  The bottom of the inside compartment was REALLY NASTY!  So I ripped it out right after I took pics of it!

The fabric on top was in tact, but it was plastic like material.  Almost like a shower curtain.

So I painted her up with a base coat of Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue, then layered Old Ochre on top.  I used red mattress ticking fabric for the top and added dark wax for some depth.

I think it turned out pretty cute!  What do you think?  Linking up to Deja Vue Designs!

Bartender Burnout

I have been a bartender and manager for 24 years.  I have always loved my job and give it 110%, which most people would think is easy to do because it's an easy job, right?  Let me tell you, it is NOT easy at all!  It's hard labor!  Anyway, I am getting off track here.  I used to work 6 days a week.  I would open at 9 a.m., do the books, go to the bank, etc., leave after lunch and be back to bartend at 7p.m. until 3 a.m.  When I switched bars, I cut down to 5 days and was a night manager, so there were no early mornings for me anymore!  Then 4 or 5 years ago, my boss brought his daughter into the business and I was demoted without even being told.  I understand him bringing his kid into the business, but I feel like I was blind sided by it and there should have been some sort of conversation between him and I to let me know that this was happening.   I cut my availability to bartend down to 3 or 4 nights a week with no weekends.  I lost my motivation to help this man be successful any longer. Long story short, she quit after 2 years and he wanted me to manage again, I declined.  I still work my 3 or 4 nights a week, but I am finding that my heart is just not in it anymore and I don't know what to do.  I am just going through the motions.

This is my sole income.  I keep doing it because I still have time to craft and try other things out, like working in a banquet hall on the weekends and it pays the bills.  I am really unhappy and find my fuse getting shorter and shorter and the worst part is, that my regulars, that I've had for 12 years are starting to notice that I'm not thrilled to be there.  I even tried moving to a different bar, but it's the job that I'm burned out and bored with.  I have a great reputation in the city I live in for being a great bartender with a great attitude and a fair and productive manager and now I feel like I'm disappointing everyone, including myself.

I feel like I should quit and move on to something else, but what would I do?  I have no idea!  There isn't anything that I'm really passionate about.  I love making jewelry and would like to learn more and make better pieces, but jewelry is saturated with talent.  I enjoy painting vintage furniture, but I haven't really immersed myself in it.  And anyway, would I ever be able to make it on my own crafting?  I am not sure if I could push myself hard enough and stay motivated.  Unfortunately it's easier and safer to work for someone else.

I am thinking of opening a booth at an antique shop and see if that takes off.  I need to get on that, because I am so deeply bothered by my current mental state.

Just the rambling of a burned out bartender....

Religious French Holy Card Necklace

Now available in my Etsy shop!

What Color To Paint Freebee Dressers

A friend of mine had a couple of extra dressers from her father's estate and asked me if I wanted them for free!  We negotiated a bit, because I didn't think that free was fair to her, and came an agreement that I would buy them a couple of cocktails in return.  Her husband and son even delivered them!  So I bought them dinner as well.  They are such a sweet couple.  They are each others best friends and do everything together.  Something you don't see a lot of today.  Anyway, what was I talking about?  Oh yeah, the dressers.  One is mid-century modern.

And the other?  I don't know.  At first I thought it was handmade because of the shiny varnish finish, but there is a manufacturer stamp on the back.

It is HEAVY too!  Solid wood with dovetail drawers.  I am trying to figure out what colors to paint them and what hardware to use.  Trying to get a vision.  What color do you think?

Vintage Rosary Ring Necklace

I love making these necklaces from vintage rosary rings or finger rosaries!  I also make them with newer rosary rings to cut down on the price.  This one is my favorite though!  I bought the ring from a dealer in France and it is just beautiful!

Now available in my Etsy shop!  It's my last day of vacation, so I must go and enjoy even though the weather took a turn for the worst.  BRRRRRRRR!!

My Mess-terpiece

I have been looking at this little table for a while now and just didn't know what to do with it.  I forgot to take before pics, but this little pair of Mersman bunching tables were dark wood, ya know, lilke the Brady Bunch era.

I started messing with it last night.  I painted it in AS Old White, nah!  I put Paris Grey on top.  Kinda plain.  Then I washed it with Cece's Vermont Slate.  I like it better.  Then I added the crown and the typography, which I got from the Graphics Fairy.  Unfortunately, I eyeballed it and the lettering is crooked!!!  Lol!  Oh well.  I put some Martha Metallic Glaze on top of it all.  Wow!!  What a mess!!!  Ha ha!!  Oh well, they weren't my favorite tables anyway!

The first is an indoor shot and the last two are outdoor shots.  I should start a blog on how NOT to do things!  I'm a pro at that!

Soldered Pendants

Since my time to create has been limited lately, I have decided to sell some of my soldered pendants.  It is, after all, my favorite part of creating jewelry and the hardest part as well!  I love it though!  Pouring the resin is the trickiest part.  Making sure there are no bubbles and then there's always that stray piece of dust that seems to act like a magnet to the resin.  It is frustrating at times, but, as I said, I love it!

Here is the first of many to follow in my Etsy shop...

Isn't she lovely??  I am hoping to see her go to a good home!  Perhaps someone will use her in their jewelry or just add a chain and where her as is.

I am at the end of my vacation and I still have so much to do.  I am sooo tired of painting black doors, lol!!  I'm almost done though and I still love the look.  Have a great day!