Antique Sewing Cabinet III

This is the 3rd sewing table I've done in the last two months, but they are so versatile and I just love them! This one was sitting in the middle of Goodwill looking sad and lonely.  I walked up and saw two screws sticking straight out of the top of it (see if you can see them) and just knew that would never do!  Usually I have to ponder and pray about a piece before I buy it ;), but I just snatched this one up and hauled it straight to the checkout.  I was on a mission because it deserved so much better!! 

 Before

And, this pic does nothing for the hideous nature of the finish that was on it.  The middle was fine, but the legs had a hideous green glow about them.  Not good!

Can't find the screws?  Here they are! *GASP*

 After

I layered this gray/green (very similar to Chateau Gray from AS) over cream and gave it a good distressing.  It has so much dimension now and you can see the original grain of the wood peeking through which I think is lovely. :)

 Since the top had two HOLES in it (what a terrible thing to do!) I knew I would have to replace it (because I was determined for this one to have a natural top on it).  I bought a piece of veneer and my handy dandy hubby helped me (ok, he did most of the work) put it on.  It was fairly easy because it was a small piece.  So, now it's sporting a brand new cherry top stained in Java Gel.  Very pretty!

 I've used this pull several times before, but it was so perfect with the color and style that I had to use it again! 

 I love this color with the dark top.  It's actually very neutral and soft. 

<3 <3 <3

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Wardrobe in Drizzle

There's no story behind this one.  Just a wardrobe badly in need of an update!  She was screaming 80's, with tacky contact paper stuck all over the inside.  I've been wanting to use the color Drizzle from SW and chose this to be my guinea pig.  Gorgeous color (you know how I feel about my blue/greens!)!

 Before

 After

  I chose to highlight the mirror in white and love how clean it makes this piece feel. 

Can you tell it's been a long day?! I don't have much to say. :)  

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Serpentine Low Boy w/ Mirror

I found this sweet little serpentine dresser in the same consignment shop I found this oak dresser.  It needed a lot of work too!  It was all birds eye maple veneer, but unfortunately the veneer was extremely damaged and almost peeled right off.  Lucky for me though because that made it a steal! You know I couldn't pass it up with all of those curves!!  Tweet Twoo!

 Before

I've been wanting to try a new milk paint color from Sausha @ Sweet Pickins Furniture.

It's called Sweetie Jane and it turned out to be so perfect for this little piece.  Seriously, I just stood and stared at it when I was done. :)  I just want to give a shout out to her for her wonderful product(s)!   I loved working with her milk paint and would definitely buy again! 

 After

It is such a lovely, delicate blue green. I layered it over cream because I wasn't thrilled with the way the paint color looked with the maple, but I LOVE it with the cream!!  So beautiful!!

 I was able to save the top and stained it dark to contrast the paint.  Maple is a hardwood so it won't go as dark as cherry or mahogany, but I still really like the tone of it. 

 It has three of the original wheels and I haven't decided if I'm going to try to replace the 4th one or just take them all off.  I love them and don't really want to take them off.  Any suggestions?

It had all the original keyhole covers which, for me, is very unusual.  I was so excited to see that!  I simply popped them off to paint and them put them back one.  

I love how vintage and feminine these knobs feel and think they fit this piece perfectly!

 These drawers were actually really clean, but I decided to line them anyway just as a finishing touch.

LOOK AT THESE CURVES!!  

So so happy about this one!!

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Antique Oak Dresser

While shopping around at a consignment shop I spotted this dresser and passed it right by.  After picking up my other things and going out the door I stopped again.  I. Just. Could. Not. Leave. It. There.  It was pitiful and crying out to me, "Please. Please take me home and rescue me!" :)

Ok, seriously.  It was hideously ugly with the worst paint job I have ever seen.  It was full of rat poop and spider webs.  The top was rotten through on the front corner and it was putrescently (yes, I made that word up.  I like doing that. ;) ) dirty.

Craig told me straight out it was a piece of crap, but I knew she had potential to be great again.  I figured with a little (ha!!) TLC I could resuscitate it.  Umm...yah.

After my sweet hubby sanded the top down with the belt sander I ended up just taking all the veneer off because of the rotten spot.  Someone had painted the original top, then stripped it, and then (without removing all the stripper gunk) put another piece of veneer over it.  Gah!  I had wanted a wood top but that was NOT happening!  

Then I sanded the whole thing down to the bare wood to get rid of two horrible layers of paint.  Funny story, the first color it was painted happened to be the color I wanted! :)

Then I went to paint it with MMS Apricot Strings and realized after doing the drawers (they sucked up the paint like a sponge) that I wouldn't have enough to do the entire thing without ordering more paint (which I was not going to do).  So, change of plans. 

 Anyhoo...the whole thing was a nightmare, but it's done now and I love it!!

 Before

After sanding it down I primed the body with Kilz to prevent bleed through and to give a smoother coat because the grain was so heavy. Then three coats of latex, sanding in between coats.

Milk paint (MMS Apron Strings) is meant to go over bare wood, so I didn't prime them, just painted it on.  It took about 4 coats until it wasn't transparent, but my paint was pretty thin.  Then I used hemp oil to seal it.  

After

I'm glad it turned out the way it did.  I think it looks fresh and ready for spring!

I love knobs!  I knew I wanted to use these on the bottom, but I wasn't sure what to use on the top.  I love the creamy white against this vibrant color. 

 The drawers needed H.E.L.P.!!

I painted them inside and out and then lined them with this pretty gray and white fabric. 

 I've used this poem on a couple of other pieces (it's a Royal Design stencil) and when I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for the drawer fronts (cuz they just needed something) it popped into my head.  Paired with these knobs, I love the french chic feel it gives. 

SO MUCH BETTER!  She's like a breath of fresh air! 

Welcome Spring!

 (which is actually kind of a joke here in WI)

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Miss Mustard Seed

Another Antique Black Desk

Before I get to the makeover I just want to say how grateful I am for people who are simply nice.  I had another experience on Hometalk that really made my blood boil, but there are so many kind hearted people who truly make up for the ones that aren't!

On to the makeover!! :)

I found this desk on my local FB classifieds page.  Love when people tag me in a pic and do the finding for me!  They're so nice!  

It had a few rough spots, but was solid and beautifully made.  And, I just love the shape of it!

I mentioned in the last antique desk post I did about CAREFULLY sanding down the top.  Here is why. I wasn't careful on this one and did the biggest no-no in refinishing.  I sanded through the veneer! And, was completely devastated because there was no fixing it  (it was a beautiful piece of cherry!). 

See that spot?  Not good.  In my defense, it was extremely thin, but I should have thought of that before I took my orbital to it. Oh well, we live and we learn, right?

Before

 After

I ended up painting the top, but left the edge unpainted so there was still some definition between the top and the body.  If you're looking at it from the front it actually gives the appearance of having a wood top. 

 Seeing the wood grain used to really bug me (a lot), but now I think "It's wood so it's ok there's a wood grain."  I'm learning to let go a bit. ;)

I love the original hardware and the patina it has so was really glad when she said she would like to keep them.  

Happy.....middle of the week! ;)

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Miss Mustard Seed