Simulated Old Farm Table Top for a Photo Shoot

Most of you know my former profession was in advertising…

I have a great many friends who are still in that industry,

or in affiliate industries.

And God bless 'em!

My friend, Sonny, is a photographer and he asked me this past week

 if I had any rustic white tabletops for a food shoot he had coming up.

He wanted the table to look old.

Well, I didn't have one, 

but I decided to make one.

Which I did…outside yesterday…

one of the hottest days of the year.

 I started by purchasing 7 1x6" pine boards from Lowes.

 I spent a lot of time picking out boards that weren't warped…..

with the assistance of a nice young man at Lowes.

Once I got home,
I spread them out, trimmed them down,
then used two furring strips on the back

to secure the boards.

 Then I flipped it over. 

This will be the "old" tabletop.

I'm using my favorite line of paints for this project:

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Because I need to finish it quickly!
Delivery today!

 And let's begin, class!

I'm starting with random brush strokes of French Linen.

 Then Paris Grey.

 Then I did a white wash of Old White.

 Next, more random brushstrokes with Pure White.

 Then I added some Jacobean stain, just brushed on here and there….

I made sure to "hit" all the natural knots in the wood.

 I also added some driftwood stain...

 I came back in with some dry brushing of Old White.

 This is looking quite nice...

 Final steps, adding clear and dark waxes...

 It "brings down" everything
and just helps with that aged look

Plus it will buff to a lovely sheen, 

and help protect this surface for hopefully

many photo shoots to come.

Thank you, Sonny!

I hope your shoot goes well!!!

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

804-402-4370

sheilafox@aol.com

Old Tool Chest Gets A Fresh but OLD Look!

My client, Margaret, purchased this old tool chest 

for storage for her daughter

who is heading off to college……

 but it's a tad too rustic for them the way it is. 

Here's the inside.

She asked if I could paint it...

She didn't have a real sense of direction,

 just told me to use my own discretion.

I love when a client does that!!!!!

It makes me feel like my work 

is truly unique and an art form,

not just a paint job!

First thing I did was give it a good cleaning and sanding.

This piece has lovely wood grain, 

so I would like to do a treatment to keep that.

 I painted the inside in Maison Blanche chalk paint

in Peacock.

Delicious…

I left the inside top natural.

 

Now when she opens this,

it will be like opening a jewel box!!!!

Outside, I decided to do a navy treatment with the stained wood.

But after doing the top, I felt it was too dark, 

so I started layering paints over the navy, and the wood.

And I continued, by adding peacock and duck egg…

and a little navy to the sides….

still letting the grain peep through in places.

And then I distressed the edges, 

and stained everything with Jacobean stain.

I brushed on and wiped off the excess with a rag.

Then I added some lime wax as well…

to give it even more dimension.

Here you can see how the lovely wood grain 

still shows through the finish.

I also painted the hardware.

I added a little gold gilding wax to the handles,

and nail heads……they look old, crusty

and beautiful!

And inside, I stained as well.

It gives the piece incredible depth.

The last thing I wanted to do with this beautiful

antique was to just paint it!!!!!

This treatment maintains the integrity of the piece,

and is oh so much more interesting than paint.

Don't you agree?

Thank you, Margaret!

I think this is going to be an awesome addition

to a dorm room!!!!!!

Coffee Table to Upholstered Bench

 This old coffee table was made by a friend of my mom's.

It's been in the basement. 

But today, 

I'm transforming UGLY to AWESOME!

First I painted the base in Annie Sloan Duck Egg.

After two coats…

I waxed with Lime Wax, 

and distressed the edges.

 Then I cut a piece of foam for the top.

 I'm using this little cotton printed rug I purchased at Homegoods

 to upholster the top.

Once I positioned where I wanted, I flipped,

and trimmed the edges.

 While standing on the inside,

I staple so that the fabric is pulled really tight around the foam.

 The edges are a little tricky because the fabric is so thick.

 Just takes some time………..and concentration.

 But it's done, 

and it looks dy-no-mite!

For sale in my booth at Greenwood Antiques.

$155.

Indian Cow Bells: Enhancing with a little faux painting

 I purchased these indian cow bells recently from a discount store...

 They had sort of a fake gold patina, 

which I didn't think was very interesting.

But I knew I could improve them.

 Here's the process:  

First, lightly dry brushing navy chalk paint.

 Over that I added dry brushing of greek blue, provence, and peacock chalk paints.

 Then a little duck egg, and paris grey.

 ,,,and back to a little navy,

 After drying, I used minwax stain in jacobean - 

i brushed on, especially

in the nooks and crevices...

 …and then wiped off the excess.  It sort of "eats away" that chalky vivid look,

and ages everything down to muted tones.

 And now, they look like authentic old cow bells.

The magic of just a little faux painting.

These would make great wind chimes!

For sale: Large bell $28; medium: $24; small $18. Set: $60

SheShe, The Home Magician

804-402-4370

sheilafox@aol.com