Adding Pizzazz!

Of course this is an AFTER picture. I get my tools out to work on something, get it taken apart and then remember to take pictures!!!
 I've had this stool for quite awhile. It's a nice, very heavy piece, but not vintage...just looks that way now!

It worked for me but it lacked pizzazz.  And I need pizzazz!!!

 Molly decided to photo bomb the picture! But you can see the before fabric that she's standing on. Sort of blends with the floor.

And here's a shot of the original fabric and a leg that I haven't wire brushed yet.

It doesn't show in the pics but the white paint has a green tint to it, probably from the gold underneath, so it has a cool look and I prefer warm colors. Also the backside of the leg was severely white, I don't care for distressed pieces that still show "new paint" underneath. As in this case it would really be noticeable.

So I took it apart and wire brushed the legs with my cordless drill fitted with a wire brush.

Wire brushing metal is an easy way to remove rust and paint.  It's also an easy way to remove

your skin...so be careful.

See all of those little wires poking out every which way? I use a pair of long handled pliers to hold the chuck while tightening.

 I used the razor blade to scrape along the sides of the legs to chip off paint.

 After the wire brushing I applied stain with a brush to get into all the nooks and crannies (wiping most of it off with a rag) to change the tint and to help age the paint out. I also distressed the underneath and used stain on it so it has an overall aged appearance.

I got about 4 yards of this beautiful rose upholstery fabric at Goodwill last summer.  There's bits of light blue color thorough out the fabric. It's a nice visual surprise and gives it a modern feel.  I have a couple of projects in the guest bedroom that I'll be using more of it on.

I let the stain set for a day before I used clear wax to add a bit of luster and reassembled.

Here she is all pizzazzed and finished and in the bathroom, a great place to sit while drying my hair!!!

 ~~~Thank you for Popping in
Happy Hunting and Gathering~~~
 Sharing with the following:

Let's Talk Vintage
Bernideen's Tea Time, Cottage  & Garden
Tweak It Tuesday
Vintage Inspiration Party
Simple & Sweet Friday's
Vintage Charm

Red Tulips For My Kitchen

 Have you ever bought something specifically for another reason than yourself...like for someone else, for your booth space, or maybe your shop...and then decided to keep it? Do you think me selfish in keeping these for myself?

 

I got these two doors, ridiculously cheap, when I was out thrifting a couple of weeks ago. This past weekend I brought them in to clean and ready for the shop.  I laid them on my kitchen work table, the sun was streaming in through the french doors and I thought fleetingly "these are so beautiful I should keep 'em, maybe hang them in the side windows".  Nope, I bought them for the shop and that's where they are going!!!

At this point I decided to make myself a tea...when I opened the cupboard door (and it wasn't even the one below) the little ball that was rolling around in my head finally found it's niche.    I WANT  glass front cupboards for my kitchen, I've WANTED them for a long time, BUT I WANT VINTAGE glass front cupboards, not exactly easy to find here. But in the mean time (translates into forever) I can use these beautiful leaded glass red tulip doors on my cupboard above the cook stove.

 

This is the only cupboard on this whole wall...and it's one more than there use to be when I was growing up.  My late husband and I bought and installed these cabinets back in August of 1989...not exactly the style I would choose today. In the years since I've made some changes like having the ceiling raised to a more conventional height and added pot lights for better lighting and french doors to a covered deck.. I've just never put the effort out to re-do the cabinets.

 

And that blogland is when the realization struck! I could have a start on my glass front cupboards!!! I had my grandson, Logan, hold one up while I determined if it would work and I also snapped a few pics. 

YES!!! They will work and they are going to look fantastic. I have a few pops of red in my kitchen already.  A few minor modifications will have to be made, these are not as wide (they cover the opening but that's it), so in the middle where they meet I'll have to put in a decorative molding strip to lessen the gap in between. These changes will necessitate painting the tulip frames and the cupboard, I'm thinking white with a dark wax to age it a bit.

And when I find two VINTAGE GLASS FRONT  CUPBOARDS for the other side they will also be white (unless I really like the color I find them in). None of my cupboards have handles/hardware, again, just never got further than looking at pictures of hardware, so I'll have to look through my stash to find just the right ones for these.

Now I think I'm motivated to finish a large cabinet/shelf that I bought 4 or 5 years ago, painted last summer, and just have never finished (distressing, waxing and hanging).  It's going on the same wall, just to the left above the fridge...it's only function will be to hold vintage treasures.

Seal of approval from Logan, he thought they would look very nice and that I should keep them!!!

Happy Hunting and Gathering, and Keeping~~~until next time!!!

Today I Sanded

Part One of the Marathon Trilogy


The weather here has turned a bit drizzly and cool so I have left my gardening to fairer weather and moved to the shop for a marathon sanding session.  I pulled quite a few pieces out of the garage, got my sanders and supplies went up to my shop and spent the day sanding.  I got a lot done!

Here are a pair of chairs that I have painted a few times. I am now going for white with stained seats. I sprayed them with an aerosol spray paint but didn't like the glossy finish it also was rough in places. You can't tell from the pics but they are two colors of white because I sprayed them at different times thinking I was using the same paint.  So they have been hanging around for awhile unfinished.

Next I sanded this little magazine stand that I picked up for $5.00 at a local swap meet last month. There are pockets on the sides for holding magazines and newspapers.

Then on to a small hutch that can sit on a dresser or a small table. I got it for $5.00 at the Salvation Army along with a step stool. 

I've had this little guy for about 4 to 5 years. It has been in my store, in my booths and in my house.  I like the style, but that green has finally got to go.  Bye Bye Green!!!

Next up is the little stool you see on top below. Just got it the other day at the Salvation Army for $2.50. I had to secure the top better and give it a light sanding.  Boy this little guy is heavy!  But I think the grand kids will like it for standing on when helping cook. It has foot room and is very stable.

..And finally this one, which is an Ethan Allen piece that I got at Goodwill for $6.99. It has been hanging around in the shop for years, like three years. Well a while back I was in the shop and spotted it and I thought hmmmm! I bet that would look good painted and on the wall above my refrigerator. I don't have a cupboard up above because it's just to high to be practical.  But a display piece like this is a necessity!!!

                        And here you have the grand finale on my marathon sanding session!

Tomorrow I get to try out my new, still in the box, Command Max power paint sprayer. I just had to get one of these after reading about them here at The Polka Dot Closet.  Cans of aerosol spray paint are just to expensive for large jobs. With the new sprayer I will save time and money. I use Benjamin Moore premium flat latex. I find this finish works best for waxing. More on what I use and how for waxing and painting  in "How I Finish and Embellish" Part Three of the Marathon Trilogy.

Stay tuned for Part Two " And I Sprayed Everything White" of the Marathon Trilogy!!!