Rustic-ish Table and Some Homemade Chalk Paint

I am pretty excited to finally paint a piece of furniture that I can carry upstairs to the good light! It seems like lately everything I have worked on goes straight out the back door for a yard picture. Unfortunately, the dog also finds her way to the yard, so...ummm...you know. We just have to be careful is all I am saying!

I found this cute little table tucked away in the time out corner at Goodwill. Behind the things hanging on the wall. Strange.

Once it came home with me, I looked through my Hobby Lobby knob collection (say that three times fast!).  I found some knobs and liked the color combination of one and decided the table should be painted with ASCP in Provence and Primer Red to match the knob colors. Wouldn't you know it? I was out of Primer Red, or at least I couldn't find the can. Its probably here, but goodness only knows where it might be in this mess!

I decided to try and make some chalk paint of my own using latex paint from my stash mixed with calcium carbonate powder and a little hot water to help with the mixing. I used the recipe from Sherry at No Minimalist Here. 2/3 latex to 1/3 Calcium Carbonate Powder. My opinion? It's not Annie Sloan, but I didn't hate it like I thought I might. It was a little lumpy before I added the hot water but once added, that seemed to do the trick. It was very smooth. It applied evenly with good coverage and distressed nicely. 

Then I dry brushed a bit of ASCP Provence on the top and sanded it back quite a bit to show the wood underneath. Clear and dark wax were then applied and I buffed it to a light shine. Not bad. 

And at least it's not in the time out corner anymore! It will be headed to Restoration Emporium for the February sale ~ Feb 3, 4 and 5. I have linked to their Facebook Page, you should go and take a look around and "like" their page. Ridiculousness I tell you. Sheer Ridiculousness.

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Fancy Pants Paint

I cheated on Annie Sloan.

There, I said it. I cheated. And I love chalk paint. I love that there are a million and one things that can be done with it. It's a paint, it's a wash, it's a glaze, it dries in 4 minutes, distresses like a dream. It can be used inside or out. I think you can frost cakes with it. ***Please don't actually try that, I'm just kiddin!


But I cheated. I went to a fancy pants cabinetry painting class at a local faux finishing school, they use Faux Effects products. I love painting furniture and thought I might like to learn more from someone who actually knows what they are doing. Besides, I have painted five sets of kitchen cabinets without a clue! But, Yikes! The class was taught in  another language. I only understood about every third word. Thank goodness that the girl beside me spoke faux and was able to translate for me. But I came away with so many samples and great ideas, I can hardly wait to try them out!


This was my first effort with these products. I definitely liked using them but it took sooooo much longer than the magical ASCP. It's always a good thing to have some options, right?

This buffet was a hot mess when I brought it home and definitely needed the extra lovin that it got. Lots of wood glue and clamps and TSP substitute cleaner were used here, it took some time but she's pretty again!

Isn't it sad that my cleaning products have to be labeled with consequences for my children? Wow, my handwriting was messy that day!

And the after....

Sometimes, cheating is ok. Don't tell my kids.




Hanging out here this week


Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday

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What a week!

This week has been full of CRAZY!


3 weeks-ish ago, I signed on the dotted line to become a vendor at the Restoration Emporium ~ a shop scheduled to open in February. RE; is in the West Bottoms in Kansas City. When we first moved to KC I used to think that the West Bottoms would be a great place to dump a dead body. It is also a great place to sell furniture.


The first weekend of every month, the shops full of restored and re purposed goodies open in old warehouses. The shop I am part of used to be a train station. It is shoulder to shoulder and hectic. The coolness factor here is off the chart! 

It was scheduled to open in February. This is not February. 


Last week, the owners figured that they were ahead of schedule on construction and that they would open early giving customers a sneak peek of the goodness to come. Whaaaat??? Needless to say, I had a momentary meltdown. And immediately got the flu. Then I got to work. And did what I could. 

So here is my space. Be kind, this is with a weeks notice. Next month should be better if I can get my sick self up off of the couch...

 And here are some pics of my stuff, someday soon I will do before and afters of them. There were some doozies here!

If you are in the KC area, you have no doubt heard of "First Fridays" and you should come on down this weekend. The West Bottoms just got a little cooler. Pin It