Finishing Projects

Frequently projects accumulate in their project bags.  When this happens they become part of the overall household decor.  Hanging bags from every peg, doorknob, hook, and often shoulders.  
They produce varied emotions when come across.  Some I see and just groan. Others I actually say, "hurry up and finish this one so you can get back to that one..."
This weekend I am finishing the Pink Poodle yarn baby cocoon and cloche.  I have to get it into the mail on Monday am.  It has a long way to travel to Canada. 
It is a work in progress and an invention in progress.

I have the cocoon and the cloche completed.  I am busy knitting different types of flowers and leaves and stems to adorn it.  

The knit flowers were coming out better than the crochet.  I especially like the one on the hat.  

Arranging the flowers and stems is the next giant problem.  I can already tell I don't want to use those two little flowers.   The button box will eventually come out.  I need to decide on the type of button.  The vintage button box has just about everything. Rhinestones or Mother of Pearl ?  
Will update when it is completed.

My Shabby Chic jewelry box that I was working on a week ago is completed.

I love making these. This one is a music box too and it plays the theme to Love Story.  It is in my shop here

Recent yard sale treasures that followed me home.

I love shabby chic white linens.  These are so pretty. I don't want to part with them, but I must. WeeLambieVintage

Off to get some work done!

 Anne

Making Shabby Chic Jewelry Boxes

With the wonderful cool Florida weather I can't resist working on the lanai.  This is the perfect time of the year to do these projects.  The breeze blows the sanding dust away and the paint dries in no time at all.
All you need is an old jewelry box, some sandpaper, coffee and elbow grease.

Sanding off the old varnish.

This is the worst time of year in Florida for allergies.  Since I am medicating for seasonal allergy I may as well put sawdust on the list of things that make me sneeze.

This jewelry box has a music box inside it!  I'd forgotten all about that. 

Etched glass doors removed.  All sanded and ready for paint.

First coat of white latex paint going on.  Tried a great new yogurt flavor for lunch.   
While this dries I think I need a cat nap.
I will dream about painting everything in the house white.  I almost have my courage up to tackle the cherry dining room table and the pine hutch and cabinet.  Should I?
I love white.
Here is some on Etsy.

This little shelf is in my etsy shop here: link

I found this jadeite juicer at an estate sale on Friday.  It is chippy and worn, but I still love it.  Not everything has to be new and not all vintage has to be perfect.  Sometimes the signs of age just make me love something all the more.  The young woman who sold me this said it was her Grandmother's and it was very old (1930's).  She had memories of her Grandmother squeezing oranges and grapefruits with it.  It is still usable but also just the most lovely shade of green. link

That nap is calling me. 
Anne

Etsy Gifts Wrapped and Packed

Sometimes the last part is the best part.
While I love the hunt for vintage.  I enjoy the creative process upcycling shabby chic and finding new homes for vintage treasures, but eventually they are sold and it is time to say goodbye. 

 

 

Gift wrapping a shabby chic jewelry box for a little girl is lots of fun.  Pretty lavender tissue paper and silky white satin ribbon along with my handmade tag and it is good to go off on it's journey. 

My shabby chic jewelry boxes are almost sold out.  With US Mail Priority Shipping there is still time to get the last ones delivered.
I love this one  link  here.

 It will be hard to part with. 
I can see it filling up with these great gifts from fellow Etsian's shops
Gifts like these:

Vintagebytheseashore's rhinestone earrings  link that sparkle with Christmas party cheer and make a wonderful stocking stuffer.

Delicate silver earrings perfect for everyday in Astrasshadow's shop link

A beautiful 1970's butterfly brooch to flutter on your sweater from
toparis  link
What ever your style or taste you can find great gifts from little private boutique shops on Etsy.  It's part of the fun to shop directly from the shop keeper and know your supporting a small buisness.
Everything handmade or vintage is available on Etsy link

Enjoy and leave the big box stores and malls to those who love to hunt for a parking spot after driving in traffic...

Weelambie/ Anne
xxoo
 

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!

available in my Etsy Shop here:  link

Enjoy some Shabby Chic !
weelambie/Anne

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Shabby Chic Furniture Painting

Sanding down various jewelry boxes, shelves, trinket boxes...
Painting with antique white paint and sea breeze blue paint...

Antique White Paint Magazine Rack

Sanding and rubbing in bees wax for a soft lustrous patina.

Sea Breeze Blue Jewelry Box

Shabby and Shiny

I polished my upcycled vintage Shabby Chic jewelry box with bees wax. Rubbed it to a soft beautiful patina.  I love the way it looks.

Upcycled Shabby Chic Jewelry Box

Yesterday the vintage jewelry I bid on and won came home to me in the mail... I had so much fun unwrapping all the many pieces and discovering what was really in the box.  The box being as beautiful as much gems inside... Now to learn all about these many designers and collections and get the Etsy ready....then to part with them!
here is a sneak peak or two.

the mother load

Anne