My Humand Bought Me a New Bed!

Comfy, nuff said :-) 

xxx Molly

Shabby Chic - The Dark Side. Or is It Gothic Chic?

Everything white or a pretty colour, that's Shabby Chic. So what do I do? Decide to paint a bureau Graphite and Emperor's Silk - a nice red.

Here we are painted with two coats of Graphite. Looks pretty dull.

Detail of the carved shell on the cabriole legs. These will be highlighted in gold leaf.

 

The lovely original handles, painted red. Then with a coat of size, ready for the gold leaf.

Yay a bit of bling. Gold leaf on, this is my first ever attempt. 

Next stage is onto apply the dark and clear wax I have mixed up.

I have managed to date the bureau to 1929 by looking up the registration number on the back of the handles.

More pictures when it is finished. This is what I am hoping to get to when finished!

A Finished Shabby Chic Project and A Favourite Auction Buy

A modern MDF bedside cabinet, the sort that has fake pine laminate on it.

Looks so much better painted in Annie Sloan Henrietta and Old White for the handles.

A feature stencil on the top. The stencil is a Jamie Oliver one, supposed to be for baking!

All drawers lined with some wallpaper with a French theme.

Wallpaper purchased from The Range.

Handles lightly distressed. Three coats of wax and polished to finish.

My favourite auction buy this week. A 1960's sewing box. It was very dusty, so gave it a quick polish with some wax. Shows up the teak wood nicely.

Expands to quite a large size. Made by a company called Arnold. All nice and clean apart from the bottom layer and a small chip to the wood on one top corner.

Very busy week, with friends and my Granddaughter over to visit. 

Hope you have all had an equally happy week.

Mid-Week on my Workbench and in the Garden

Two folding chairs, one in French Linen other in cream. Given a little French Oh La La.

Three nearly empty tins, so I've had to reorder!

 1945 Birds Custard advert.

Inside of a small wartime make do and mend cupboard I am working on. I've used adverts from The Picture Post magazine and hymn book pages on the shelves.

My new toy a Liberon polishing brush. Its fab and took me only 5 minutes to polish a stool. Trusty Bosch hammer drill and draper sander. My cheap drill has gone kaputt today. A girl just can't have enough tools.

Wonderful poppies survived the rain and wind.

A common aquilegia, that I have managed to take a superb photo of with my point ad shoot Canon!

Golden Showers climbing rose.

Love to hear what you all have been up to. x

Shabby Chic Wannabees

Strength and wellness is returning so I could wait no longer and Molly and I headed out to the auctions.

Shop mannequin covered with hymn book pages, then paper napkins. This is on a nice pine stand and is a large child size. These are my favourtie to work on as they do not have all the nasty curves, which are so hard to decoupage!

Some of the vintage images from sheet music.

Back view, now with added large roses. So that's three lots of glue sticking pages, napkins and clippings.

Front view with more large roses. Now I have also done 3 coats of PVA. One coat of craquelure varnish. So that's seven processes. Just top coat of craquelure and waxing to go on the body and waxing then polish on the stand and thistle top. Drying time is slow as its damp and chilly here.

 Star of the show a Victorian credenza, chiffonier or sideboard. This one has been ebonized, which is pine painted or stained to look like ebony. Flash is making it look a lot lighter than it is.

Just look at the fab handles and decorative diamond carving. Swag fluted edges everywhere.

 More fab carving. I'm saying fab a lot here I love this piece!

Barley twist leg side or hall table. Again nice decorative edge on the top which is crying out for a bit of gold leaf highlight.

Stack of chairs, all solid oak with padded drop in seats so I can have some fun with fabrics too.

Dinky bedside cupboard in chunky pine with big fat bun feet.

Spice rack drawers again in pine. Another favourite.

Mirror one original beveled glass mirror with a palin edging.

Mirror two again original beveled glass with pie crust edge moulded frame.

 Third Mirror I think this one is carved, this is a rectangular one. Very, very heavy so must be wood frame again original beveled glass mirror. Tiny bit of repairs needed to each but they will look absolutely fab when painted.

The best chairs, these have sprung seats which have been newly renovated, but the covers are yuck. 

These have it all beautiful carving, inset turning on the back and turned legs.

So lots to be playing with and I am out of paint so waiting on a delivery.

For my lovely friend Cherry more china.

For my lovely friend Linda some rusty loveliness. Can you see the bee? Sadly it did not survive hibernating.

Oh and I forgot I finished the Rose Commode,  I did a mid-week update, here.

Hope everyone is happy, well and making lots of craft and art.

Now over we go to Handmade Monday see you there.

Rose Commode - Finished.

Annie sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen.

Vintage hymn book pages. 

Paper napkin roses.

Annie Sloan craquelure glaze.

Nice clean potty.

Annie Sloan dark and clear waxes,

Lot of elbow grease to polish.

Off to a new home it goes.

Five Square jacket - Multicolour Sock Yarn Overload.

Well five years ago in August 2009 I started knitting a jacket with sock yarn. Many brands of many colours, I ran out and bought more.

Started with a need to find out more about Mosaic Knitting, knitted one square then another. Its been a long haul but I am pleased with the result. Now will I be brave enough to wear it?

First few rows done. August 2009.

 Front and sleeve edging, UK double USA single crochet and Crocodile Stitch. Check out Mikey on The Crochet Crowd on You Tube for a demo.

Being confined with this infection has had a positive outcome. Annoyingly it was back to the Drs and I'm on a second dose of antibiotics. 

So I have plenty of time to check out all the other clever crafters on Handmade Monday.