Decorating for Fall!

I finally caved and pulled out some fall decor.  We've had some crazy high heat indexes this week in Nebraska and finally the heat wave broke, a little.  So... Here's what I've got going on for my mantle.  More pics & details to come once this crazy week is over.

I LOVE FALL!!!

Shutter Cabinet - My 1st Attempt Using MMS Milk Paint

I took the plunge and ordered some Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint (MMS) in four colors.  I ordered Linen, Kitchen Scale, Lucketts Green, and Artissimo. I ended up using 3 of them on this cabinet to obtain an old, chippy, painted and repainted antique look.  This cabinet turned out better than I'd hoped.  In fact, I think my hubby actually wanted to keep it ;)

I found this Shutter Cabinet at Goodwill. I thought it would lend itself well to the chippy distressed look of milk paint. I'm also kind of a sucker for the stained top, painted bottom look on furniture at the moment.  Gel Stripper time!  

The top was particularly yucky. I wasn't sure if it would take stain once prepped, but figured it was worth a shot. 

It was probably the fastest stripping job so far. The old clear coat & stain came up in less than 15 minutes!  

Here it is all stripped, sanded, & ready for stain...

I used Minwax "Special Oak" (I think it's a new color). Painted it on with a chip brush, waited 5 minutes, & wiped it off with a clean dry rag in the direction of the wood grain.   Once dry, I sealed the wood top with 2 coats of Polycrylic spray so it's good an durable. 

I use old, but clean, t-shirts (the ones that get yellow in the armpits or have stains or small holes)  cotton t-shirts are great for staining! It's kind of recycling, right?

The top all stained and drying.

Then I removed the shutter doors & hardware and got to painting.  I brushed on Lucketts Green and Linen here and there (hoping they would just peek through).  I also did the same for the front and outside of the cabinet.  Then I let them dry and covered everything with 2 coats of Kitchen Scale.

I let it set overnight to do it's "chippy thing."  I was so excited the next morning an almost couldn't contain myself.  I'm certain I skipped breakfast and even coffee to get out to the garage as fast a possible (with 2 toddlers in tow).  No worries, I did feed the kids, though then may have been in their pj's roaming the back yard that morning ;)

Before attempting this new paint I watched A LOT of tutorials online.  Miss Mustard Seed's website has some great ones.  They show you how to mix & apply the paint and also what to do if you do or do not want a chippy look.  Check them out here if you are interested. 

I took a putty knife/scraper and lightly scraped all over and let the paint chip where it wanted to.  If you are a type A control freak, milk paint chippy finish is NOT going to be your friend.  You really have to let go and hope for the best.

Here is one of the shutter doors.  I was Super-Duper excited by this point!

I finished the inside using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in "Paris Gray"  I thought it would be a nice neutral accent to the teal & green colors coming through the paint. 

Once I was done "chipping" I very, very lightly sanded everything with 220 grit sandpaper, mostly just to make sure everything had a nice finish.  Then I waxed it with clear Annie Sloan Wax and buffed to get that lovely sheen that AS wax gives you.  LOVE IT!

I've been working on this post for a week or so, in the time it took me to finally get a blog post done (it has been a crazy busy summer) this cute little cabinet sold at my shop.  If you'd like to see what else I have available, check out my Facebook page or head down to Unique Boutique in Fremont. 

A better shot of the stained top.

Some chippy goodness!

The knobs are from Hobby Lobby.

I'm considering my first milk paint attempt a success.  We will see what my milk paint future holds.  I am much more comfortable with Annie Sloan, but I think back to when I first started using Annie Sloan and was nervous about that too.  Just dive in, right?

Have you tried out any of the brands of Milk Paint out there?  I'd love to hear your opinions of them.

Linking up at:
Liz Marie Blog Inspire Me Linky Party
Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday Link Party

Late Summer Mantle

I wracked my brain looking for inspiration for my post Red, White, & Blue Mantle. I needed something easy to get me to fall. I LOVE decorating for fall!!!  

The shutters were in the works, getting painted. I had planned on just photographing them on my mantle before taking them to the shop to sell... and then, I kinda liked them. 

So I found these yellow hydrangea pots at an estate sale for $5.  Yes, you read that right... $5.  I love a deal!  

Then I added a few darker elements...

 A birdcage... This one is from Hobby Lobby. 

My iron/glass star that I've had FOREVER.  It's from Target. It's over 7 years old. I still love it.  It moves all over my house. 

This pedestal candle holder was a wedding gift from a family friend, the Thalkens  they have a flower shop back home & have the most amazing taste. This piece also migrates around my house, but is always out. 

My hubby recently brought home a Wood Wick Candle. He told me they crackle. I was like "oh great, more noise in the house... Wonderful."  It actually is pretty wonderful!  The noise doesn't bother me unless the kids are in bed, I'm home alone, & the TV is off.  Then it makeshift jumpy (I'm a HUGE chicken when home alone).  What he didnt tell me was that along with a lovely vanilla spice scent, it also has a hint of burning wood (think fireplace in winter).  It's WONDERFUL!  So... Big fan of this candle.  

Do you seasonally decorate?  Do you have accessory pieces that are out all year, but migrate around?  

Featured in the Newspaper!

Our local newspaper contacted me last week about doing a story on my business.  Here's a link to the article.

http://fremonttribune.com/

An Itch to Paint Something Red...

For those of you that follow my page on Facebook or have ever been to my house, it would probably be a surprise to hear that I had a hankering to paint something red.  Every once in a while I'll get the itch... A pair of shutters in my living room... My sons request for a "red bed", but usually I stick to blues, greens, yellows, & browns.

I found this cute little half-moon ish table at an estate sale. 

It had seen better days...  It's hard to see in my crappy phone picture, but there is a neat wood inlay on the top & the wood grain switches directions. 

I decided to strip the top and re-stain it and paint the legs & shelf red & distress them. For not loving red much, I love how it turned out!  

Here's a view of the top. You can see the wood inlay that mentioned. 

I'm very happy with the before & after. This one is available at my new shop in Unique Boutique, here in Fremont.

Is there a color that makes you nervous to use?  I'm SLOWLY getting used to red...

Linking up at...
 Liz Marie Blog 
Miss Mustard Seed

My Shop is open!

I'm so excited!!!  My little room at Unique Boutique, here in Fremont, is open!  Now to see if I sell anything ;). 

Here are a few pics of my space.  I still have lots to so and lots of space to fill. 

If you find yourself in Fremont, be sure to come see me!  

MIA blog posts = GREAT NEWS!

I've been a little MIA with blog posts lately.  There is a very, super, fantastically great reason why, though...

I'm getting my very own shop to sell at!!!

  A local boutique, here in Fremont, contacted me asking if I was interested in selling there.  I went in to talk to her & she had an entire room for me to use!!!  I am beyond excited & a tiny bit fearful.  Since the fundraiser I did in June, my inventory has been pretty wiped out (which is a great thing) but I've been working like crazy to have enough pieces to fill this room.

So... Starting Saturday, July13th, come check out Blue Hydrangea Furniture at Unique Boutique in Fremont!

Wood Top - Blue Legs

 This one turned out better than I imagined....

So my friend messaged me and said "Hey, I have this table for you, just take it or I'm throwing it away... I'll drop it over at your house."  My favorite kind of table... FREE!

It was in decent shape, but the color, Oy! So very orange.  The 90's were a hard decade for furniture, if you ask me.

So... what to do.... Stain the top & paint the bottom!  I've had great luck with this stripper, so it has become my go-to.   

Waiting for it to work... I'm not the most patient person in the world.

I let the stripper sit for an hour and it came off like a dream!

All cleaned off and washed down.  I let it dry overnight before sanding and staining.

I sanded with a 150 grit, then a 220 to make it nice and smooth to the tough.  I didn't work on getting out too many scratches out because I wanted it to look a little pallet/planky/barnwood esque.
I used Minwax Dark Walnut stain and did 2 coats. Once dry, I taped off the legs and sprayed on 2 coats of polyurethane spray in Satin finish.
I used polyurethane spray instead of Annie Sloan wax, because wax would make a foggy finish over the stain.  Not sure of the chemistry behind it, but I have had it happen with this stain before ;)
   

So the top was done... What color should I paint the legs?

I'm sure you'll be shocked here... Annie Sloan "Duck Egg" it is!

I then distressed and waxed the legs.  

A good view of the stained top.

I could have sold this table 5 times over already.  She now resides with an old college pal, Chris. 

Wood top with painted legs seems to be a trend right now.  What do you think of it?  Feel free to post links in the comments to any success stories you have had with wood/paint combos!

Linking up here:
http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2013/06/inspire-me-linky-party-15/

Red, White, & Blue Fireplace Mantle

I've been asked about the details of my latest mantle decor, so here goes...

There are quite a few elements that stayed put from the last mantle... The old chippy window, shutters, blue metal milk can, wood cheese box, and wreath were all mentioned in my Easter Mantle post.  

The bunting is made from jute webbing, usually used for furniture reupholstering.  I loved the color and texture and thought it would made a neat bunting, plus it's on $.99 a yard at Hobby Lobby!  I had the jute cording and Fabri-Tac glue. The bunting cost less than $1.50 to make!

I made one flag and then used it as a template for the others.

 Cutting & assembling over coffee ;) 

I used Fabri-Tac to glue the webbing to the just rope.  I got both from Hobby Lobby. 

 

 

The frames are from the Threshold line at Target.  No, I'm not being paid, I just really love about everything from that line.  The larger one looks a little like wainscoting. I found a free printable on pinterest and adjusted the color a bit so it would match my decor a little better.  I cut the flag out and centered it on a piece of burlap just to give it a bit of texture. 

The smaller frame is fan shaped, also from the Threshold line.  I printed off a patriotic star that I made using power point.   

I added some very cheap, like $.99 for the bunch cheap, red geraniums from Michael's, to the cheese box for a pop of red.  
 

A better view of my clearance bird cage.  I really liked the color.  I didn't want to do bright red, white, & blue, but more of a grey, muted blue to go better with my existing home decor. 

I had a hole on the right side, so I took a mason jar from my craft room, tied some ribbon that I had on hand around it, put cream hydrangeas in it, and set it on some books that I had on my book shelves.  
 

The blue birdcage was a $6 Hobby Lobby clearance score.  The dark red berries are also from Hobby Lobby and I believe they were 50% off and only $.99 each (I used 4) and just sort of stuck them in there for some color.

My lazy side it really hoping that this mantle will get me through the 4th of July.  I have the feeling that this summer is going to pass in the blink of an eye.  I still haven't figured out where April and May went.

Do you put patriotic decor up around your home or do you keep it to one area like a mantle or front porch?