Wet Distressing with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I've been wanting to paint a gold picture frame ever since I took part in an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint demo in July. So, when I spied this large, old frame at the antique store, I knew it would be perfect.

The cracks and scrolls are calling out to be distressed!

First, I gave it a coat of AS Paris Grey.

One of the techniques we used in the workshop was wet distressing. Once the paint is just dry, take a damp cloth and wipe off the paint. This removed the Paris Grey, but didn't scratch the gold underneath.

Then I took some Pure White and brushed that on. I didn't completely cover every surface. That's one of the things I love about AS paint....you don't have to be perfect.

Then, some more wet distressing and distressing with fine sandpaper.

 After that, it was a coat of AS dark wax. It made everything POP! And, once the wax was rubbed in and polished, to is buttery smooth.

It has the most perfect antique French look! To finish it off, I'll be adding some twine to the middle section. It will be a cute way to display jewelry or photos.

It has great depth and looks like there are so many layers...yet it was really a simple process!

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Farmhouse Style Dining Room Table

One of the things we are trying to start doing more is showing the process Jeff goes through when making our tables. This is one we brought with us to Strange Folk and were overwhelmed with the response. While it didn't sell (not many people expect to go to a festival and buy a dining room table!), everyone loved it. Which was great to hear.

It started off looking like this:

What I really like about what Jeff does with the large doors is that he trims them out. While they still look rustic and farmhouse style, they have a more finished look.

And, here it is today! We stained it a dark brown and added 4x4 legs (which can be removed). I painted and distressed the legs and gave them a coat of dark soft wax (the legs are super smooth...although they look rough). We opted to go with 5 small panes of glass over one large one (moving the large piece is really hard).

It can seat 6 comfortably...maybe 8. It's currently for sale in our Etsy shop and can't wait for its first Thanksgiving Day meal!

Hand Painted Deer Antlers

I've been meaning to show off my last quickie paint project. I'm loving the recent antler trend...and love the painted look even more! A few weeks ago, I taped off sections of these antlers and brought out my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (Paris Grey and Country Grey). A light coat of spray acrylic gave it a glossy finish. I think it would make a great rack for jewelry or as a centerpiece. What do you think?

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Strange Folk: How Do I Love Thee?

I don't think it's possible to even count the reasons why Strange Folk was awesome. This was our first show and I was told many times that this was the best of the best. It would ruin us for other shows. I have a feeling they were right.

We were so excited to be there. Our little tent was jam packed all weekend. My throat is still sore from talking so much! We loved sharing our tables, vintage finds and other handcrafted items with other people. And actually have them like it...and buy it! Some of my favorite things found new homes -- which is awesome. We were exhausted at the end of the first day...but, totally pumped to do it all over again for day two.

It's hard to put yourself out there for other people. For judgement! Everything we make or find is something we truly love. Our items are things we would want in our home. And, we hope other people do, too. I get very attached to the things we find and create. Take this little guy:

He didn't find a home this weekend. That's ok. I'm not entirely sure I was ready to part with him, anyway. He got alot of praise and pats on the back. Had someone wanted to buy him, I probably would have run a background check.

I'm not kidding.

We didn't have alot of time to visit other booths...here's just a few of the pics we snapped. Starting with Booth #206 (which I'm a little partial to):

Every booth was so uniquely amazing. The music was great. The gyros and cupcakes kept us fueled thru the busy days. Don't even get me started on the $3 beers. If you like jewelry -- this is the place to be! I could have spent a paycheck on the awesome necklaces and rings. Here's a few of our fave booths (and doesn't even cover ALL of the incredible vendors):

Everyone worked so hard to put this together. Not just the event organizers, volunteers and sponsors, but the vendors, too. I know we were up late. Painting, tagging and adding last minute additions to our tent. 

To have people ask if we have a retail store is unbelievable. That's our dream. We feel very fortunate to be in a community that supports that dream. At the end of both days, we were exhausted and collapsing on the couch. The feedback we got from everyone is what will keep us going for the next year. But, we would do it all over again...and we hope we can in 2013!

Countdown to Strange Folk Festival

The countdown is officially on! Since mid-July, we've been prepping for Strange Folk Festival. With 150 vendors, bands, food and alpacas, it will be the largest one we participate in this year. And, our first official festival. I'm excited to show our stuff to the world. Nervous that people will think it is stupid. Curious about why there will be alpacas. I promise to report back on all of the above!

During the last several weeks, we've held back alot of our items from our Etsy shop. Here's just a quick preview of what we've been working on and of what we'll be featuring in our booth. If you are in the STL area, stop on over!

Antiquing at a Fave Spot

I know I've mentioned how much I love hitting up antique and junk stores. You just never know what you'll find. This week, Junk Bonanza, will be taking place in my home state of MN. While I'm super disappointed not to be making the trip (Mom, I've got the Spring dates already on my calendar! Can I sleep on the couch?), I had some time last weekend to do a little digging here in St. Louis.

What's that over there?

I thought these plastic cups were cute. Mostly, I loved the packaging and marketing. "Add sparkle to your get together." These cups are break, scratch and chip resistant. Something I definitely need.

The Sociables

This leather briefcase had just the perfect amount of wear and tear.

Vintage Leather Briefcase

Dress forms and mannequins are really popular right now...but, usually pretty pricey! I thought this one was wonderfully vintage.

Dress Form

This old time card organizer would be perfect for outgoing bills and letters.

Time card organizer

This vintage horse bike was too cute. What little kid wouldn't love riding around on this? Even I was tempted to take it for a spin!

This set of hot air balloon plates would be great for a party. What mini desserts could I put on here?

Hot air balloon plate

I continue to look for printer trays and I found three on this hunt! But, for some reason, I just haven't pulled the trigger and bought one. I might just go back...

Printers tray

 I came across a whole basket of these old shoe stretchers. Totally cool. And at $3 each, an inexpensive addition to a vintage collection.

Antique wooden shoe stretchers

This galvanized basket would be perfect for bottles of wine. Or, maybe some empty bottles filled with flowers for a centerpiece?

Galvanized basket

My suitcase obsession has continued. I picked up the one that is second from the top. We have some cool plans for it....stay tuned!

Vintage suitcases

Finally, who couldn't love this little guy. I think I heard him say "Fill me up with your favorite chowder!"

Mini chowder bowls

Surprisingly, I only walked out with a suitcase. But, after seeing all of these finds again, I think I have to go back for that briefcase and galvanized basket. And, maybe a printers tray....

Coffee Table with Hairpin Legs

After waiting a month, we finally got the hairpin legs we ordered! Here's the final product. He can't wait to go to his first show!

We also ordered a set to use for a side table. I'm loooving this look -- I think we'll definitely be doing more like this!