Sunday, August 26, 2012

Shabby Chic Finishing Part 2

Putting the final touches on any project is usually the most fun.
Today I am waxing, polishing and cleaning the jewlery box started yesterday.

Step 3.  Applying wax.
applying the wax

With a soft rag apply one thin coat of wax to the wood surface. If the item you are waxing has glass or mirrors on it tape them off so you don't get wax on the glass.  It is hard to remove.  I like to use beeswax like this product. link  There are many places on the internet where you can buy beeswax.  My niece is raising bees and I wonder what she will do with the left over combs after she extracts that deliscious honey! 
Olver Honey Combs yummm

Of course you can also use a manufactured furniture wax like Minwax Paste wax link
Once the wax is applied allow it to dry for a minimum of 10 mins. 
polishing with a soft hand towel

Polishing... with another soft cloth begin polishing after the wax has dried.  This just takes elbow greese.  Lots of elbow greese! I like to go in one direction and really rub hard until I get a luster going on.  If wax is caked into any little tight spots I use an old soft toothbrush to get at it.  The wood is going to start feeling like a smooth beach stone.  Wax dries to a hard durable finish. 

Step 4.
Cleaning the inside compartments of the jewelry box.  My method is to knock out what ever I can.  Then I use 2" wide tape do get the job done. Wads and wads of tape.  I stick it on and press it down firmly. I use the pointy end of an old paint brush to get the tape into little corners and seams.  Voila when you pull the tape off the dirt and most of the grime comes with it.  This takes awhile when there are lots of little drawers.  It is worth taking the time to do it right.
tape pulling out the grime

As you can see this drawer was pretty dirty. The red velveteen fabric had a lot of dust and grime on it.
dust in all the corners using a stick to get it pressed into all the crannies...

The sides and corners were full of dust and lint.  It took alot of tape to get all that up.  A small stained area remained after the dust and grime was pulled away. 
cleaning with stain remover

A paper towel with some stain remover will get that stain out.  I have used this stain remover on all colors of velveteen linings and never had a mishap with it. I have sprayed it directly onto the interior of the box as well as a little on the paper towel. 
looking new and clean
 
I just dab away at it until it comes clean and look what a great job it did.  It looks new.  This is also a time when you can glue down any loose lining.  If the lining is so badly damaged that you cannot get it clean pull it out. You can always reline it with fabric or paper.
Once my jewelry box is painted, polished and cleaned I like to set it in the sunshine for several hours.  Sunshine really cleans.  It removes any lingering odors and does wonders to freshen up your project.  Good old Mr Sunshine.


Seven clean drawers in the sun!
I love the way this turned out. The Paris Gray paint is so rich and pretty. It is just the way I imagine Paris to be on a foggy spring night when the street lights come on.  Romantic ...Well a girl can dream...
 
 
 
ready for jewels!

French Country Jewelry Box Painted Paris Gray Vintage Upcycled
available in my Etsy Shop here:  link

Enjoy some Shabby Chic !
weelambie/Anne
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Shabby Chic Finishing Part 1

I was in a gray mood today. Paris Gray.
While the rest of Florida was preparing for Isaac's arrival I was busy on the lanaii painting.

I wanted to try and do some dry brush painting that I had heard of.  I had a large wooden vintage jewelry box to refinish. 
This is my version in the new technique.

Step 1.
I lightly sanded the wood and painted it with white paint.  The trick is to put very little paint on your brush.  The wood got a quick covering in white and dried quickly in the Florida sun.  I also had time to wash the brush and let it dry.
Step 2.
With gray paint.  I am calling it 'Paris Gray' and again using very little paint on the dry brush I covered all the white paint with gray. 
 
You can see how streaky the white paint is on the side of the box.  The top has a coat of gray.  I should have taken a close up picture for you.
 
  
 
Step 3.  With a little piece of sandpaper I lightly sanded the piece. I like to sand off just a little paint at a time.  In this way I can be in controll of how much of the underlying white paint shows through as well as the original stain and the wood. I sand primarily on the corners and around any knobs.  I want it to look like it was worn away over time with lots of use.
 
This box has a red velveteen lining.  It is almost perfect.  There is only one drawer that has any staining in it.  I will attack that in tomorrow's lesson.
 
 
 
I also had time to put a coat of  Paris Gray on this candle stand.
 
In my next post I will cover cleaning the drawers and waxing for the perfect finish to this Shabby Chic project.   
 
'Paris Gray' 
 
Gray is a trendy color right now.  Here are some major gray pieces from my friends shop's on Etsy. 
 
 
Vintage Stetson Fedora Hat "The Sovereign" Chatham Unisex
Vintage Stetson Fedora Hat
  
 
 
SALE 1980s Grey Linen Skirt Carol Little Floral Embroidered M
Vintage Grey Linen Skirt

Natalia has this sexy skirt for sale in her shop located here,
 
You just might want to add a splash of color to these pieces and there are plenty to choose from here...
 
Vintage jewelry art deco brooch, pendent, scarf or fur clip blue rhinestones inverted triangle shape showstopper
Olympian Blue Art Deco Brooch

Visit Gail's shop The Vintage Funkery for this great pin...
 
 
Hurricane Isaac is heading up towards the Gulf of Mexico and I am getting ready to 'hunker down' as they say here on the Gulf Coast of Florida.  We have bottles of water, candles and batteries and food supplies all ready. 
The schools have been notified to stay closed on Monday and the RNC is being delayed one day.  
Pray it is just a lot of rain and some wind. 
Anne

 

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Trends Colors Seasons


Plenty of time and money are spent on advertising.
One of the prime movers is color.  It always gets your attention. Color is known to change moods, calm or excite.  Color reminds us of smells, of seasons, color seperates and unites us.
Etsy has been part of the trend to feature colors as ways to shop.  Tags often include the color for search engines.
The new fall trend colors have fancy names for colors that we all know and maybe will look at in a new way if the new name grabs us.
Pink Flambe' is one such name. It is marketing dripping in pink.
You tell me if you like it.  I have tried it on a vintage jewelry box I have upcycled.

Here are some other very pink and very pretty offerings on Etsy.

French Cat Beret - Wool Felted Pink Flambe Beret
Pink Flambe Cat Beret
See this Cat Beret in Amelie's Etsy Shop

 
This adorable girl's beret can be seen in Marina's Three Fish Shop on Etsy


If you need a smashing new purse how about this !
find this purse by Erin in her Etsy shop 1 Mad Woman

What ever you choose, the color, style, handmade or vintage you can find it all on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home

Enjoy your visit to Etsy. Be inspired by the talent that can be found there.
weelambie/Anne

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Waiting

Waiting ...  Merriam Webster
verb
to remain stationary in readiness or expectation
to look forward  expectantly
to hold back expectantly
to be ready and available
to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized

Wikipedia, Patience
Patience (or forbearing) is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one can take before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.

Waiting for a transplant...
be steadfast
have faith
be ready to be neglected or unrealized
be ready and remain expectant

Hope is a better
word.
Hope is faith
Hope is being available and expectant.
Faith is being ready even if what you hope for is unrealized. Faith is knowing God is always with you.
Hope is intangible
...it is the lifeline that you cannot see.

Hope is taking a leap of Faith

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Tootsie Got Mail

Tootsie got a package in the mail today.  It came all the way from China.


Just what she needed.  Sealed shut in a plastic bag.  Wonder why it was all damp inside?  Do mannequin hands sweat?  Spooky...


The hand arrives!  Washed off and dried it began to want to do things...like play with everything on the desk!  Now that Tootsie has opossable thumbs I had better start hiding and locking things.

weelambie/anne

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Colonoscopy Socks

Had to bring hubby to the colonoscopy place today...
Haven't knit anything in several weeks as my arthritis in my hands has been a real PITA.
I thought this would be a good time to get started on socks. I have started them before and they are off in a project bag someplace.  I quickly threw some Patton's and a pattern into a bag and off we went.  Here is about as far as I got.

What is much more important than socks is gettin your colon searched.  This is the best link I know of describing the ordeal.
Enjoy the read Dave Barry is one funny man.

weelambie/anne

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Dress Up

Tootsie came out of her hiding spot in the closet today to play dress up.  I have this vintage desinger dress in my Etsy shop that hasn't been getting noticed.  It was time for some new pictures.

Tootsie was eager to unzip the side zipper and squeeze into this hot number.  Then the real fun began.  Tootsie wanted to try different styles using jewelry.

She wasted no time getting into my bureau and grabbing the sliding tray full of jewels out so she could play with them on the bed.  The last time this dress was photographed it was with pearls.  Tootsie examined them, but dropped them fast in favor of a Boho look using some mismatched pieces from my Etsy Shop's stash.



Layering purple and pink beads wasn't enough for Tootsie.  She dug deeper and came up with this heavy silver and black pendant.


Not completely satisfied Tootsie tried a combination of white and silver beads with gold chains and layered a necklace of pink gemstones.

 


By now Tootsie was feeling a bit like having a relaxing time on the chaise lounge and  drinking a sloe gin fizz ...
 Tootsie's outfits and jewels can be purchased @ WeelambieVintage...

weelambie/anne


Saturday, August 4, 2012

Shabby Cottage Chic Picture Frame

I enjoyed my yard sale hunt this am. It was very hot and I melted quickly, but I did get some good finds.
It was picture frame day as that is what I found the most of.


This vintage metal frame was in amazing condition. It must be from the 1950's.
  I love the silver metal peaking out from the white finish.


Easel frames are very graceful.  This one also has the old picture wire attached so that it can also be hung from the wall.  Faded black velvet in good condition still covers the back of the frame.  I didn't change the frame a bit.  It was perfect just the way it was.


I didn't like the frame to be empty so I had some fun making a mixed media collage.



Pretty lilac paper, some pearls, a vintage ecru crochet doily and a black and white vintage snap shot were all tucked together.  I added lace and ribbon and stamped a key design on it.  I think it is the key to the hearts of this loving elderly couple.

Weelambie/ Anne



Friday, August 3, 2012

Shabby Cottage Chic Jewelry Box

Shabby Cottage Chic...what it looks like to me...
decorating in soft tones...lots of white...vintage....chippy... distressed wood....worn and loved fabrics....greens....blues....pinks....browns....all the pretty soft colors of a spring day misted over with dew and soft sunlight.
Sea Breeze Blue jewelry box... black velvet lining...lots of storage room for all your favorite jewels.
This box is a heavy wooden box from the 1980's that I found at a thrift shop.  I love the black velvet lining and the heavy black wrought iron handles and latch. 
It has been upcycled by me and painted with this lovely soft blue paint.  I sanded and then waxed it with bees wax by hand to bring out a soft satin patina. 


WeelambieVintage Shabby Cottage Chic jewelry box. 
How do you like my little collectible  Avon Lamb?  It still has some perfume in it.  I think it is the sweetest little lamb and I couldn't resist getting it to ad to my shop pictures.
Anne   https://www.etsy.com/listing/105977743/shabby-cottage-chic-jewelery-box-chippy