table + frame+ scrap wood =

You never know when inspiration is going to hit!

I picked this table up for next to nothing.  It had raised plexi-glass top added for some reason, removing it left several screw holes in the table top.  The table had been sitting in my living room for awhile because I didn't know what to do with it.  While painting several frames one day I set one aside, laying it on the end table.    Eureka!!

So with a bit of cutting and fitting,  the table went from the above to this;

Sorry for the bad cell phone pictures.  The scraps I used for the table top are from the kitchen ceiling project we completed a few months ago.  The paint colour is my new favourite blue.  Homestead from Homestead House Milk Paint.

Where in the world have I been?!

It has been a busy few months.   I now have a business partner and we have opened Leduc Artisan Market. The Market is for local artists, crafters and reinventors to display and sell their wares.  Each artist rents a booth from us and sets it up.  We are open 6 days a week and always have a sales associate present.    Laura and I started to discuss and pray about this last year.  We got our partnership agreement and our business plan put together, then in January we started networking.  By the time we opened, April 29th, there was a real buzz in the city about the Market.  Laura and I both have our creations on the market, my home decor and her line of active wear.  

So I am still around, but busy as ever.  

Can't wait to share some of my latest projects.

God Bless all
Donna G.

What you can do with milk paint

This table is a project for a clients store.   We spent several hours one day going through the furniture stash at her place.  This is one of several pieces she sent home with me and said "do whatever."    We both loved the crackled patina on the legs, so decided I would leave that alone and just do the top.   

Bad cell phone picture of the legs, the drawer is being repaired

A previous owner started to strip the top, gave up and painted black over the entire table top.  When I removed the first layer of paint this is what I found.  Beauty! Wonder if I can replicate this crackle finish?

This is before I stripped the top.  The above is after.  I didn't bother trying to remove the red stain

For the first coat I used  MMS Tricyle, once dry, I wiped a coat of MMS hemp oil, being careful to not put it on too evenly.

 I followed with a very thick and purposely lumpy coat of Homestead Harvest Buttermilk Cream randomly slapped on, I didn't paint right to edge.   You can use the heat setting on a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.  This was followed by more hemp oil, randomly wiped on and 2 coats of Homestead Harvest Coal Black, oil between each coat.  Two coats only because I didn't care for the crackle on the first coat.  One final sanding and a final coat of hemp oil over the entire piece.

Close up the crackle finish

The final result!!

Midnight Tryst and a waterfall. Not what I envisioned.

Another waterfall vanity.  

Before - very beat up, required a few extra repairs

I love the shape of the handles

I found a paint colour I was anxious to use.  CIL Midnight Tryst.

The colour was a perfect match to the paper I had already chose for this piece.  Once I began distressing it with dark wax, the paper took on a whole new look.

Looks like old wallpaper

What do you think of Midnight Tryst and a waterfall?

Is it different than you envisioned? :)

Have a blessed week.

Donna G.

19th Century Eastlake.

I picked up this piece about a year ago.  When I bought it, all I got was the frame and a box of horse hair and springs.  The frame itself is in amazing shape,  professionally refinished at some point.  After a bit of research on Eastlake design I was able to determine what sort of fabric designs to look for and what price I can set for it.   It was beautifully reupholstered using the original springs by Guertsen Upholststery and Fine Custom Furniture in Wetaskwin, Alberta.  The Fabric was purchased at Finishing Touches, also in Wetaskwin.  I would highly recommend both for any reupholstering you need, the fabric is high quality and the workmanship is amazing and very reasonably priced. 

If I had the space for this I would keep it.  I say that for every piece I redo.

Have a blessed Sunday,

Donna G.

Maple Buffet and Hutch

I started this a couple weeks ago.  I worked on this along with several small pieces. I can't seem to work on one thing at a time.   

Before

Inspiration 

I am pleased with how it turned out.

After

Replaced the glass with mesh

First time using ASCP.

It has been a very busy couple of weeks.  I have gotten several pieces painted and am now working on waxing and distressing them.    Here is one completed that also happens to be my first time using ASCP.  I used Duck Egg and Coco.

Before

Inspiration from Cheltenham Road

After.

Slowly getting the hang of modge podge.

I am going to an ASCP workshop this weekend, can't wait.  

Have a great weekend all.