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!