What in the World Happened to My Blog?!?

Oh my, I've never been the best blogger in the world, but almost 4 years is really ridiculous!!  I've been getting kicked around in life and fell into a deep dark depression.  I'm still there, but I'm over myself.  All I do is work a few days and stare at my damn phone the other days.  I lost my restaurant, not because we were unsuccessful, but because I trusted people I thought were my friends.  They weren't my friends at all. But no sense in re-hashing all of that though.  We were a great success and that's all I'm going to hang onto from that experience.
I then went back to the job I've had on and off for 15 years.  A month later, my boss died and his wife sold the business.  Soooooo, I went to work a couple of other places, lost my dog to cancer, and that's when I just lost it!!  I couldn't even take anymore changes or death and dying!  So now I'm on meds, and I really don't feel like it's helping.  It helps my anxiety but depression is still here.  I've just decided to get off my butt and start doing the things I used to love and enjoy!  I can't be a lump forever.  I can't lay on the couch anymore.  I can't look at my phone anymore.  I'm just done with that nonsense.  I'm giving myself one more chance to kick the crap before I go into some serious therapy.
If it works, great.  If not, well....
So I'll be on here a lot more.  I don't even know if anybody reads blogs anymore.  I don't like I used to, but it's cathartic for me to write, so write I will.  Maybe not every single day, but more than once every 4 years lol! Have a happy Sunday!  I'll talk to you all soon!!!!

One Day Closer To Spring...

Another looonnnnggg winter in Michigan!  Hopefully it's almost over.  I have been the most unmotivated that I think I have ever been in my life.  I truly need to get past these self defeating behaviors.  I'm trying to do too much and be too much for everyone else in my life and end up neglecting myself and my needs in the process.  Does anyone else do this? 

I don't think that people who aren't artists or crafters understand the need to create and design.  I need that in my life and when I don't get enough or any of it, I am a lump.  It's almost like being an addict, I guess, but hopefully in a healthier way.

I have lots of projects that I'm itching to get at.  Enough with the excuses already!!  I hope your winter was more productive and warmer than mine!  Until we meet again...

Shabby Distressed Farmhouse Numbered End Tables

Of course I forgot to take before pics.  I always do!  Lol!  I'm always so anxious to beautify everything.  I painted these cute little tables Pure White by Annie Sloan, glazed with Tobacco Glaze by Ralph Lauren and stenciled with my Cricut in brown.  Then I sealed with my Shabby VAX! Nothing fancy, just cute! I'm still working on my glazing technique.  It's a lot harder than one would think!  I did read that I should seal first when glazing over chalk paint because it's so porous that it grabs the glaze too much.  I'll try that next time.

Shabby Paint VAX WOW!!

Okay, so I'm not a huge painter.  I do it to relax.  I do it to change the look of something old and discarded.  I do it because I'm not a big fan of plain Jane stained wood.  I love Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, hate the wax.  Love the look, hate the wax.  Not just because of the work involved, but because I don't find it to be durable enough for the average girl.  To buy a piece and have to re-wax it in a year or so....nah!  Too much trouble for me.  I searched and searched for something else.  Something easier, something more durable...enter Shabby Paints VAX!  Wow!!  I am absolutely in LOVE!!

This is the easiest, most user friendly topcoat that I've tried.  I have not tried APC's topcoat, but now that I've found my true love, I don't think that I will.  If you paint furniture for a living or for fun, I highly recommend that you try it out!  You won't be disappointed!

TTFN!!

What a year!!!!

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted anything on my blog!  Life has been an absolute roller coaster, let me tell ya.  I, a confirmed bachelorette, got swept away by a man.  We moved in together, bought a restaurant together and I have been one busy girl!  I have to say, it's not what I thought it would be.  It's long hours, a lot of running around, a ton of paperwork and being more organized than I am capable of.  I don't love it, that is for sure.  I miss my time creating.  I haven't made much of anything over the last year.  I miss my jewelry and my furniture painting!  I'm tired all the time.  I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but wow, I really don't know if this is what I want to do.  Even with things leveling off a bit, I really don't care for the business I'm in.

That's all I have to say right now.  All I have time to say.  I'll pop in again soon!

Crushing on Craqueleur

I am totally crushing on Annie Sloan's Craqueleur!!  I am working on a dresser painted in AS Emperor's Silk and using the Craqueleur on the drawers, which are done in AS Pure.  I fell in love with Stiltskin Studios Red Velvet dresser and am kind of spinning off of that.  I can't wait to get it all done with lots of Annie's dark wax over the Emperor's Silk and touches of gold gilding wax!

This crackle is WAY better than the junk that you buy in the craft stores and so easy to use!  

Stay tuned for the dresser completed!

Sacred Heart of Mary Necklace

This is one of my favorite pieces that I have ever made!  It turned out so beautifully!  It's now available in my Etsy shop!