Whole Lotta Sittin' Goin' On

 If you've been with me very long, you know that I have an obsession with chairs.   

 I found 3 of these gorgeous shield back chairs in a little antique store in the town my parents live in.
Do. Not. Go. There.  It's a hidden gem and I don't want to have to wrestle you to the ground for any of the good stuff!

The first one got a glossy black paint job and a little French love poem, hand written by my sister.
(I'm keeping this one for myself!)

The second chair now has a sunny disposition! (This one is going in the shop!)

The third sister is yet to get her make-over!

Alright, once again, no true before photos.  Sometimes I'm like a kid on Christmas when I have a new project!  I can't wait to get started!!

This chair got a good cleaning with TSP and then a light sanding.  I used 2 coats of Annie Sloan Greek Blue, then dark and clear waxes.

One of the things I loved most about this chair was its original leather seat.  But, it was dull and brown and no amount of leather cleaner, polish, or wax would liven it up.  So, I bought a fun paisley to bring it to life!  (I left the leather intact underneath just in case)

Next in line for an update was this cute little vanity bench!  It didn't need much other than to remove the old fabric and replace it.  I also added another touch of blue, which seems to be my favorite color of late!

I also gave the wood a good wax and buff (which is similar to what I get at the salon, right? - ha!)

The makeovers are finished for today!

Linking here:

DIY Project Parade at DIY Showoff 

Do It Ya Self at Three Mango Seeds 

Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive and Proper

DIY'er Gone Wild (with an emphasis on the ER)

Well, I didn't actually visit the Emergency Room, but I probably should have!  I've been busy trying to ready as many things as possible for the Grand Opening of my booth at Hello, Sailor!  

In my rush to "do it all" I dropped 2 doors on my right foot.  It's a lovely shade of green right now but at least my limp is gone!  A few days later I sliced my hand on an upholstery nail and decided a tetanus shot was in order.  I have to admit, the sore muscle from the shot is almost worse than the pain in my foot.

Okay, that's about enough hobbling around and complaining for one day!  I want to show you one of the beauties I've been working on! 

 Before (okay, I'd already started so it's not a true before pic)

 After

I stripped off the original finish and stain to uncover a beautiful wood grain.
Then I dyed the wood using the vinegar solution that I love (read all about it HERE) and finished the cabinet with 3 coats of wipe-on poly.

The drawer and doors got a coat of Annie Sloan Old White, but I decided the contrast was too stark with the dark ebony stain on the wood.  So, I went back over them with a color I created using Old White, Greek Blue and hint of dark teal.  I glazed the doors and sealed them with wipe-on poly as well.

(If you're interested, the blue in the first photo is the exact color!  I'm still learning a new photo editing program, so the color in the 2nd photo isn't as good a match!)

Alert:  Shameless Self-Promotion Ahead!
For those of you in the Kansas City area, here's the inside scoop!

Hello, Sailor! is KC's newest Vintage Furniture and Home Decor shop, 

located on the 4th floor at 1300 West 13th St., Kansas City, MO. 

If you're familiar with First Fridays at the West Bottoms, then you already know to expect beautiful home decor, repurposed and vintage furniture and other antiques!  If you're not familiar, bring your friends and come check it out!  There are hundreds of vendors in a fun, vibrant atmosphere!

Be green, let your home reflect YOUR STYLE, and don't buy "made in China"!

The Grand Opening weekend is coming up - Friday and Saturday, April 6th and 7th.

Hours are 8:30am to 9pm.

I'd love to see you there!

Check out the Hello, Sailor! facebook page for more info!

My sideboard was featured here:


Linking up here:
Piece of Work Wednesday at Primitive and Proper
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed 
Furniture Friday at Decorating Insanity 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
Flaunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Let's Party at The 36th Avenue
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage
What Have You Redone? at Redoux
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense 
Catch as Catch Can at My RePurposed Life
Stinky Linky at Hating Martha
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Me. Thursdays
Hookin' Up with HoH
Thrifty Thursday at Thrifty Decorating
Thingamajig Thursday at Radcrafter
Creative Inspirations at Embracing Change
Debbie Doo's Reunion Party
Wild Wednesday at One Chatty Chic
Pity Party at 30 Handmade Days
Free For All Friday at Sassy Sites
Strut your Stuff at Somewhat Simple
Do It Ya Self at Three Mango Seeds
 My entry into Strut Your Stuff sponsored by Appliances Online and the Bosch Washing Machines

Breaking Up

Dear Mid-Western March Weather,

I think it's time you moved on.  It's not me, it's you.  We've been seeing each other like this for as long as I can remember.  Every year I watch for swirling clouds above my head and drag my sleeping children to the basement when the sirens warm me that you're extra cranky.  I can't believe I've put up with your behavior for this long.

  (source)

Yes, I hear your rumbling off to the the west - there's really no need for that, is there?  I see your tears on the deck.  Seriously?  I could be out there frolicking painting.  Let's just say we're "on a break" and you can come back and rain in August when my grass is thirsty.

Right now, I have better things to do!

The Randoms: whY textiing jus makess me Feel bettr...

source

There are brave, ground-breaking, forward-thinking bloggers who throw caution to the wind and ignore the grammar, capitalization, and punctuation rules that were forced upon us very early in life and I WISH I was one of them. 

(was that a run-on sentence?) 

They use slang and actual SPEECH when they write!  Scandalous and oh-so-fun to read!

(disclaimer:  I adore several of the aforementioned as if I actually knew them in person. Not in a weird stalker way though, just sayin'.)

You see, I was taught that RULE FOLLOWERS would be the winners of all the goodies (babies without colic, winners of the lottery, wrinkle-free at 40, etc., etc.,) clearly I was misled.  

I suspect that these rule-bending cats are smarter than the average bears and are just testing the rest of us to see who's paying attention!

source

OH, HOW I LONG TO BE A RULE BREAKER! 

Okay, so what I'm getting at is... gooooood lawdy I love TEXTING!!!!!  No rules!  Spell it phonetically!  Or just leave out all the vowels!  Don't bother with punctuation unless it's 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'s  Smile in ways you'd never really smile in real life! ;D

Texting has been my favorite form of communication for so long that I don't even give it a second thought (and I bet you don't either) 

Until someone forces a second thought.

Like my 60-something Dad sending hilarious texts, not on purpose. (sorry Dad)

Or my husband, who last night sent me the usual, sweet 'I'm on my way home from work' text that instead read "I'm finally leaving her now!"  (what? oh, you meant HERE, right? leaving HERE? right? right?)

Okay, I have been known to send an excited "Woo Hop" (Woo Hoo) or "please stop and buy a wine store on your way home" (stop by a wine... no, wait, I really did text that) but you know what I mean.

Which is why, in the age of the visual beauty that is Pinterest (and all of those amazing sites we Pin from) I have come to RE-appreciate the old-school, funny, messed up-ed-ness of damnyouautocorrect.com!

 Okay, we both know I laugh the hardest at the dirty ones like it's grade school all over again.

Also, I love sending whale smiles for no reason.  Tell me I'm not the only one?!

._____.

Linking to:
Finding the Funny Wednesdays at My Life and Kids