The perfect Nursery Ensemble for a Baby Boy!!!!

Someone gave me this little chest of drawers last year.

 

It was rather dated, but someone had spent a lot of time painting it.

So I decided to change the little flowers to fleur-de-lis...

 I stencilled right over them.

 Got rid of that god-awful faux marble top,

added some black edging, knobs, etc.

Well, it's been in two booths and still hasn't sold.

 So this week, 

I pulled it, and gave it a new look.

I painted the drawers in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Greek Blue.

And I painted the sides in Old Ochre.

Then I used Old Ochre on alphabet stamps...

 Do you see where I'm going here?

After distressing and waxing...

 Vintage ceramic knobs....

Would this not rock in a little boy's room?

 Heck, I have the whole nursery ensemble..........

storage and a "Mama Bear" rocking chair.

Great gifts for the mother-to-be!

Chest of drawers: $165

Rocking chair: $75

Set: $225

Enjoy your L O N G weekend!!!!!!!!

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370

Simulated Grain Sack Chair

 So yesterday I gave you a little preview of my next project.

My client, Arlene, originally wanted to slipcover this chair.

But slipcovers are really expensive.

So I suggested something a little unconventional.

I suggested painting the chair.

Yep, I mean the fabric.

Here's the process.

First, I masked off the wood frame where it met the fabric.....

to protect it. For once, I'm not painting the wood!

I'm using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Ochre.

I have a bowl of water, 

and several small brushes as well.

I dip the brush in the water and coat an area of the fabric.

Then I paint on some chalk paint.

You want to keep things wet for the first coat so

that the paint will really penetrate the fabric.

 I keep dipping my brush in water, then in the paint, 

then brush on the fabric

 All over.......

 Lots of coats are required........

 Here the pattern underneath is still there, 

but getting fainter.

 You just keep going till the design is all covered.

 I think I ended up with four coats on this piece.

Next, I applied some painters tape.....

Sorry I didn't get this photo.

I just used my eye, 

but you might want to measure...

 Once I had the tape down, 

I brushed Old White along the edges to seal.

When that was dry,
I painted the masked off areas with

Emperor's Silk, a wonderful chinese red.

 When I remove the tape,

ta da!!!!!!

Faux grain sack!!!!!

I brought it inside to dry for the night.

And this morning,

I brought it back outside.

Sanded down all the fabric...

very important for a smooth finish.

 And then I waxed all the fabric. 

Here you can see the difference.

See how the waxed portion is darker?

This seals the paint.

After it's dry, 

I buff it...

It's not butter soft, but it's not scratchy either.

Feels like canvas.

Next, I'm going to paint the table to go with these chairs.

I did the base and legs while it was still in my car!

 How's that for a portable painting station? Ha.

 I'm painting this in Old White, 

the same color I used for the frenchy chairs.

 After two coats,

 I took it out and flipped it and did the top.

 I did three coats on the top.

 Then waxed, buffed and distressed the edges.

Here's the set!

Looks great.

 

Totally fresh and fun and energetic!!!!!

 The painted chair looks great, too.

As Arlene said,

"It fits the style of the chair."

I tend to agree.

Thanks for the super duper work, Arlene!!!

Another happy customer!!

And that makes me happy!!!!

Have pieces to reupholster?

SheShe The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370

Frumpy to Fabulous French Chair Makeover

My client, Arlene, 

had two of these chairs...........

as she called them "old lady chairs."

Dated floral fabric.....

factory wood finish.

But they could be cool...

She had seen my work at RVA Antiques on the Avenue

so asked if I could paint and reupholster them.

 She wanted to use this fabric for window treatments,

and her walls are pale blue.

First, though, she needed fabric recs.

So off to UFab I went.

 Here are some of the fabrics I selected:

I made my recommendation,

and happily, Arlene agreed.

But before I get to that reveal,

some work had to be done.

I first removed all the piping and staples.

And I base painted the wood frames in

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White.

 Because we've had rain rain RAIN,

I painted these inside.

 And to avoid a major mess,

I used a "wet sanding" technique to distress.

 Same effect, more gentle, and much less chalk dust!

 After distressing, 

I waxed the frames in clear and dark waxes,

and buffed to bring out the sheen.

And now it's time to cut the fabric.

This is the one we chose.

"Aegean."

Gorgeous!

A deep indigo,

with a fish graphic.

 The repeat was so large, 

so instead of buying more yardage,

I suggested we use this remnant I already had

for the backs.

You know how I love to mix things up!

 And instead of gimp,

I decided to splurge and make double piping 

out of this blue and white striped coordinating fabric.

 It just gives it that "wow" factor!

These chairs are stunning,

if I say so myself.

Here they are outside my house 

and ready to go in the car for delivery.

Outside, they look more cobalt than indigo.

 The backs.

I think Arlene is going to be very happy.

 And she was!

They immediately brighten the room.

I'm now taking the table, 

which I'm also going to paint Old White.

It's going to make a great ensemble!

And wait till you see my plan for this little rocking chair

I also picked up today.

You're just going to have to wait till tomorrow, folks!

Until then,

I'm

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370