You've got Mail...(from France)

Hi There!
In Phoenix, Spring has sprung...or should I say "Summer's here! Bummer!"  I actually had to turn the air on yesterday afternoon! It was 83 in my bedroom. Between that and the hormones, I was spending a big portion of the day on my bed, under the ceiling fan, doing "research" . ( checking out Pinterest)

Anywoo...check out my latest desk... I just sold it this morning to the sweetest newly -wed couple.

 

It started out as a regular, brown wood desk, with those "swirly" brass handles.

 

 

Now, if you are one of those "teacher's pet" kind of readers, who always notice little discrepancies, then, yes, I know, the dresser in the before picture's feet are different than the one in the "after" picture.

There is a very good explanation for that. The reason is, that I cheated. This is actually a "before" of another desk I did a couple years ago..

Because I forgot to take a before picture of this one. Because I just can't seem to make myself remember these things. Because I get too excited once I start working on a piece...because I'm pre- menopausal...whatever!

 

I was itching to do a piece with some French postcards, or stamps, or mail. So, I googled some stamp images, and decoupaged them on. I used a dinner plate and salad pate as templates for the round stamps., and I freehanded the written parts.

 

 

The top three drawers were modge podged with fabric I got at Goodwill for a steal probably  two years ago. Yes! Can you believe it? It is coming in handy now with all things French being so popular  these days.

I was going to modge podge the top with the same fabric, but once I sanded it off, it looked so nice, that I just stained it in Ebony.

A word of warning: If you put the stain on the desk to take a picture, remember to remove it again before you lift the side of the desk to paint a leg..Failure to do so might result in the stain being splattered all over the floor..

Just sayin...in case someone is so..uhm "forgetful"

 

 I love how rich it looks.

 

 

 

Of course I changed out the drawer pulls, but I bet you can't guess what these were originally..

They are curtain rod ends (or finials)....bought at a thrift store for a buck a pair!

 Worked like a charm!

One last look, and tell me what you think...



Next week I'll share another desk I did with the same fabric.

Until then..

Happy Thrifting!

 



                                                        

 

Linking to:

Time Travel Thursday
Metamorphosis Monday

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Silver Buffet

Happy New Year Everyone!
May 2013 be a wonderful year for you all. I am confident that this will be the year of goals reached, dreams come true, and resolutions kept...  
{well, two out of three won't be bad, would it? ;-) }

Just look at this cool piece I bought easily a year ago on Craigslist. I think it would have looked very nice just like this, but unfortunately the veneer was chipping in places. So, I did not have to debate with myself very long whether to paint or not to paint. Pshhh! As if ......

I decided to try some version of the currently popular silver/metallic/mirror furniture. Only I wanted to do the cheapest version possible, of course.  That's why I used spray paint again for the first time in a long, long while. Also because of the many small grooves on the two bottom drawers.

I primed with Krylon grey primer,

and sprayed with Metallic Silver.

It was very shiny....

After this I applied a little bit of charcoal glaze. You can see the difference in the picture above. The bottom drawer has not been glazed yet.

Can you guess how I got this "stencil" effect above?

I really thought that I was the clever brain behind this technique, 

but alas, of course some other clever brain apparently thought of the same thing, because I saw it on Pinterest afterwards...

In case you have not seen this before, it is spray paint over a lace tablecloth.

 Isn't it awesome?

I really liked the hardware, and even debated to leave them bronze, but decided to spray paint them black instead.

Here is the final result...

I like it, but decided to try the silver leaf next time.

I think it would have looked really nice with the very shiny surface it gives you.

But, since my offset point is Craigslist, I try to always stay within a certain price bracket.

A sweet young couple bought it a week later. I saw the couch and chair they got on Craigslist on the same day, and I'm sure it is going to look awesome in their new home.

That's it, for now, but "tune in" to see my "Breakfast at Tiffany's" dresser soon!
Happy Thrifting!

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