The Piece That Scared Me!

I picked up a dresser a few weeks ago and it wasn’t until I got it home and started sanding that I realized what it was.   

Oak. With issues.

Cracks along the top edge meant that refinishing wouldn’t look great.  In my experience wood filler and refinishing don’t work well.   So I called an older friend who has performed miracles on furniture for quite some time.  I think I was asking her “permission” to paint oak.  Egads.  After all, I don’t want to be on the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted “ list.

Long story short……here it is in all it’s glory.

Beachy, yes?

I still question whether it’s legal to paint oak so I’m  looking over my shoulder for the men in suits.

The Desk with Currrrrves!

Sometimes I do dumb things!  Like now.  Most people forget to take before pictures.  Oh no.  Not me. 


Here’s the after.  I only took one picture thinking I would get another the when I go into the shop this week.  Dork.  Not possible.  Sold today.

Sooooo…….unfortunately the “befores” show the details more than the after.

Lots of swirls ‘n curves…….and missing parts!

Previous repairs had to be rectified I would say.   After the repair, my job was made a little easier with this…..

THE…BEST…PRIMER…..EVER!

I’ve used several others (and I won’t get into names) but this one is hands down the best coverage.  Rarely runs (and when it does…. definitely “operator error”).  Covers well.  As a matter of fact, I ran out of it when I was doing a project recently and only had another kind on hand so I literally sprayed 1/2 of a drawer with each.  The proof was in the pudding.   Same piece, same weather conditions, same hand….no comparison.

So this is it…….

Keeping Up Booth Space - The Wardrobe

This dealer business is not for the faint of heart.  It's a great way to express your creative side and it's always a thrill when someone buys a piece of furniture that you worked on.  Very satisfying.

On the other, it is a business.    As in "selling = income".    So selling a piece of furniture is a good thing.  Right?  Sorta.  The thing is you now have to replace that piece.  (I touched on this in my last post here.)   After the initial panic dissipates and I get my wits about me I have to get busy.   Orrrrrr.......if you're lucky, you have a piece ready.

 Bingo!  Ready this time.

Shabby Sideboard

The weather has been sooooo good to us!    I picked up this small sideboard over the holidays....

 Gotta love pieces like this.  Nice solid wood and no veneer!  NO veneer = No repairs to do!  Just a little clean up and it was good to go.

Primed and finished....lickety split.

 

P.S.  Now this may sound stupid to some but.......others will understand.  I brought this piece in on January 13th when I worked.  On the 19th the shop called to say that it had sold and was already gone.  First reaction "Yay!".  Within a few seconds that thought turns to "Oy vey!  Do I have anything else ready?  My stuff is all over the place!".    Luckily I did.   Due to the "Priming Extravaganza" that took place in December when the weather was so balmy.

A Brand New Year

I am happy to have 2011 behind me.  It was a tumultuous year (good & bad) and I was happy to welcome 2012.    And then the new year welcomed me…..

…….with balmiest weather I have ever witnessed in January!  Last year at this time we had over 3 feet of snow in New England.  (OK – admittedly both are extreme but this was soooo much better!)   I was so excited that I had laundry out on the clothesline soaking up the fresh air. 

Next.

I washed and primed a small sideboard.  Outside.  In New England.  In January!!!!

I ended the day by taking advantage of the glorious weather

and headed over to the neighborhood pond. 

A pretty nice way to end the first day of a new year.

It Doesn’t Happen Often….but…

As a matter of fact, it NEVER happens.  I pick up pieces of furniture based on features that I like.   A few of the things that I look for are notched drawers (an absolute must!), nice curves or interesting shapes.  That said, it usually means that I like (or love) the things that I pick up.

Love, love, love the handles.   So very, very 70’ish.  They make me think of the Cookie Monster - all splayed and shoving cookies in his mouth.

Then begins the work.  Hauling, sanding, painting, ‘bejeweling’ (hardware is an issue more often than not – often missing or broken), and then waxing…..but not this time!

Here it is painted (Valspar ‘Baby Blue’) with chippy, glossy white handles tagged and ‘installed’ in the shop.  I love the easy ones!  Cute, right?

A Funny Happened on the Way to the Shop…..

I am really, really, really trying to not stockpile furniture.  I’m trying my darnedest to fix and flip as quickly as possible. 

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a Lane cedar chest with nice curvy legs at an estate sale.  The price was higher than I normally pay but it was in mint condition.  So I carted it home.  Hubby and a couple of neighbors were talking in the driveway when I got home so they took it out of the car for me.   (Bonus!  I usually haul my treasures by myself - by whatever means necessary!)   They then proceeded to “Ohhhh” and “Ahhhh” about the excellent quality, condition, yada yada.  I promptly advised them that although it was in perfect condition, it wouldn’t look that way for long.

I was so into redoing this that I jumped right in…

 

….so much so that I forgot a proper before picture….but you get the idea.

Once it was painted, I was smitten!

For the first time ever, I upcycled a piece of furniture and actually kept it for myself!   Mine...all mine!   I've been living with the same furniture forever and I think it's about time I updated my abode!   I may just have started a trend!  Hmmm...