On being a stripper…
I know! I know!!! It’s not what you probably thought, but what the hey, I gots to have fun too, you know! =)
So I am back again, playing on the Anna Wardrobe. Today I saw fit to strip the hardware as I despise gunky painted hardware. Here we have the beginning bubblies and some final dabs for the hanger rod.
Then I decided to tackle the knobs. I found a pretty sparkly blue and did the bottoms, and when they were dried I got the tops. I will probably add some decos to this before all is said and done so as to break up the harshness of the solid blue. I’ll see, not too sure yet.
I ended up painting the hinges in the same blue and they look SUPER! The funny thing is, I know this is a detail that most will not notice, but like a subtle, elusive spice, sometimes it’s the things you don’t “notice” that make a piece stand out from the crowd.
So you see? I was truthful.
Today I was a stripper, playing with her knobs.
It’s all in a day’s work.
Gone a bit – back on the Anna Wardrobe
Phew – Inspire Lady was quite busy traveling the countryside. She did score some paint from a loved one as well as a whole bunch of brushes. She also arranged to get a kiln. Now what mischief do you suppose she could do with that, eh? The imagination runs wild…
So I finally took the time and got back to working on the wardrobe. We have the first coat of the base coat. I also took the time to paint the sides of the drawers as I felt they were a bit ratty looking before. That certainly spiffed them up and gave some polish.
I took to playing with my design. If you click on the photos you can zoom in and see a little bit better.
Here you can see the painting progressing along as well as the brushstrokes I was fiddling around with. You may notice that I did that in brown, but the final design will be in cobalt. Getting closer! I can’t wait to lay on the color!!
My main design is the flower pattern you see in the image. I am also going to re-paint the hardware in a blue metallic paint I found, which will save me the expense of new hardware. After that a few coats of varnish and she will be ready to grace someone’s home!
Children’s Wardrobe now officially named – “Anna”
Okay – if to inspire is to breathe life into, then one might give it a name, right? All pieces I make are named, so the Children’s Wardrobe is now christened Anna. Why? When it is done it will be rather Swedish looking, and the closest Swedish person I have is my mama – Anna. So it is named after her.
Now I have to go visit her in Oregon for a few days, but I just couldn’t help myself and start painting. After prep, prep, prep, sometimes there is nothing more satisfying than laying on a coat of color. That’s about the time when the personality of the piece starts to shine through.
For Anna – which is going to be bone white with cobalt accent painting, I wanted to have fun on the inside. I had some pretty lemon chiffon paint leftover from my dining room and I love the idea of a surprise and secret. Here are some shots. Gads – look at that drawer – people are actually supposed to put their clothes on that? *shivers* Yeeech!!
And the best part? No one will ever know unless they open the doors and the sunshine spills out!!! Woo hoo!!
On what will be the piece called “Flamenco”
Okay – finally got some shots of Flamenco raw. I have been searching for the perfect mosaic sources for the top, but so far I am coming up short. Sometimes I can find bold red dishes at Ross, but no go this time. Will look when I get back. I wonder if I know anyone who has any red dishes. Ho-hum, thoughts for the day.
Now Flamenco also has this interesting little hinged wing. Look at it – what on earth was it? Well, whatever it was matters not to me. I am gonna keep it, and hang a little curtain from it, perhaps even in the flamenco skirt style, just to stay in character. =)
The handles gotta go. I am going to look for some red/black deco style handles, tho I may have to make those myself. Hey – wouldn’t some old castanets be interesting? Or little fans? Choices, choices. Hmmmmm……
Shopping fer stuff
Well half the fun of re-creating is the vision, and the other half is shopping for the thingies to realize the vision.
So – there I was at my local hardware store getting paint and what-not for the wardrobe. Then it struck me – I wondered if they had any boo-boo paint? You know, the paint that someone screws up the color or the formula or whatever. So lo and behold – a few gallons, and some decent colors.
I never worry about what I find, and at 3 bucks a gallon it’s dimes on the dollar. I probably “saved” well over $150 bucks on my finds today.
So what does Inspire Lady do with the paint? Well, if is a strange color it is probably going to end up as a base coat somewhere along the line. If I have a particular wild color I might find it fun to put in a peek-a-boo spot just for fun and conversation.
Most times I just grab what I can find and stow it away like a latent spice. This time I did score, however. I found this great tangerine to tuck inside the drawers of my little vanity table piece I am calling “Flamenco.” Stay tuned for that one. Ooooohhhh – the plans I have!!!
Child’s Wardrobe Project 1
Here is a beauty I found at my local Goodwill.
This simple wardrobe caught my eye with it’s charm and simple lines. The drawers and door were ill fitting due to shrinkage, warping and previous decorating.
I originally envisioned this as a child’s wardrobe, but later I saw it could do as a very pretty lingerie wardrobe. With this thinking I have chosen for my palette a bone white and cobalt blue – inspired by a hand-painted coffee cup in my cupboard. I figure that my decoration must to appeal to young or old. And to keep the piece useful, even if acquired for a youngster – I would like the piece to “grow” with the owner.
Hello my friends!
Well this is the start of a beautiful relationship. I for one am quite excited. In this blog I will be documenting my various processes in finding discards and bringing them back to life through aesthetic applications.
Whether I find a discarded shelf or an old dresser with good bones, you will be with me every step from acquisition to new life and usefulness. It is my hope that you will be inspired to take on projects and make or modify things for yourself as you see fit.
