Lincoln Rocker Finds its Second Chance

I stopped by one of my favorite second hand stores – Second Chances (located in Petite Riviere, on the South Shore).  The shop owner, Dana, is totally awesome and always has a great inventory, stocked with gently used furniture, among other vintage and antique accessories for your home – and well priced. Whatever it is you are looking for – there’s a good chance you’ll find it here.

So, here’s the thing….

I found a gorgeous Lincoln rocker while on “the hunt’ for a new project - $20.00. This was in really great shape, missing only a spindle above the wicker section on the back.  The cane on the seat and back was in perfect condition, which is a blessing in itself as it can get rather spendy if it’s a project for resale. 

Tools, Supplies (and a friend) you'll need for this project:

Annie Sloan Paint, Waxes and brushes

Sanding Blocks and Steel Wool

Cotton Gloves and Cotton Rag

                                 

A friend who can turn a spindle!

The first step was to replace the spindle. I took the rocker to my friend. Justin, at Windhorse Woods (in New Germany - part of Windhorse Farm) and he turned a new spindle – presto – problem solved.  A great coat of chalk paint and I am off to the races!

I had decided this rocker was going to be painted in Annie Sloan Paris Grey, lightly distressed and clear waxed with a bit of dark wax – just because I like dark wax! 

Painting around an already caned rocker and the holes is time consuming but I took my time and it was looking great! I was working on this beauty when a friend of mine popped in for a visit.  I was proud of my recent accomplishment and excited to show her what I had done to this awesome rocker. She was impressed and fell in love with it and all the details – to the point – she had to have it.  Only catch – it had to be blue – she’s a blue girl! “Not a problem!” says I……

Back to the drawing board I go and repaint the rocker in her favorite color – Annie Sloan Louie Blue!  Around the wicker and holes again!

I wanted the beautiful curves in the arms of this rocker to stand out. Before painting the arms I lightly sanded and waxed with Annie's clear wax then buffed the inside curves to showcase the wood and detail. 

After the paint was dry I applied one coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax and distressed using a 400 grit sanding block and fine steel wool.  One coat of Annie Sloan Dark Wax and a polish wearing my cotton gloves. I always wear the cotton gloves - they allow me to feel the wood while doing the final step. When it came to the corner details in the joints and arms I used a cotton rag by holding it on both ends and pulling it back and forth over the surface and into the corners.

I’m really glad my friend dropped in that day.  Sometimes we see a piece that stops us in our tracks and we just have to have it.  If It’s not the right color or is missing something fundamental – remember, it can be fixed.

The rocker looks fantastic and I am so pleased it has found its second chance in my friend’s home.

Beautiful Louie Blue!

Love the detail in this arm!

Tomorrow I will share how, with a little creativity and patience ANY chair, no matter the condition, can be rescued!

Please let me know if you have any questions about this project. I’m happy to share! Do you have a piece of furniture you don’t know what to do with?  Send me a picture and I will provide a free consultation for you!

           Fill your day with joy and good friends!

          Until next time – Live Simply!
                     Mary Elizabeth

Screen Door into a Pantry Door

While out on one of my yard sale and vintage shop adventures I came across this awesome screen door at Grandma's Attic, on the French Shore.  Now, I don’t always know what I am going to do with certain treasures – but this was a very simple, no fuss style – and I liked it.  For $10.oo I had to add it to my stash for future use. 

So, here’s the thing…. 

In my second Blog I shared with you my first interior design gig and followed that up with a Blog on how I created an old mantel from a piece of timber.  Today, I want to share with you how I took an old beaten up screen door and turned it into a cute little cottage pantry door. 

This door was in need of some tender loving care as it was old and had been badly weather beaten. Joints were loose and the screen was torn – but with a little patience I knew I could make this into something worthy of display.

The first thing I needed to do was cut the door to fit the opening.  It was too large, so I cut the width down to 32”. 

Next, using my all time favorite glue, Gorilla Wood Glue, I disassembled the door, glued the joints, reassembled and clamped it together and let it sit for a day to dry. (Always have a damp rag at hand when working with glue so you can quickly clean up any drips that creep out of the joints or crevices). 

Once the glue was set I removed the clamps and began to paint.  I wanted the door to have a dark wood showing through when it was distressed so I stained the door in Minwax Dark Walnut and allowed that to dry completely. 

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite as the basecoat and then FAT Chalk Paint in Apple for the topcoat.  After letting the door dry I went over it in Annie Sloan Clear Wax.  Once the clear was had set I distressed the door using Bulldog Fine Steel Wool getting into those places which, after years of use, would be worn, kicked, nicked and scratched.  I wanted this door to look old but function as if it was new.  I then applied a coat of Annie's Dark Wax and polished with fine steel wool and a soft cotton rag.

Now, I’m not good with at cutting on a 45” angle and framing so I called on my contractor, Terry Power, and asked him to install the screen and add the moulding – a $10.00 expense that I gladly paid as it would have cost me a lot more in what would have been my sorry attempt at doing it myself!  I pre-painted, waxed and distressed the moulding to save having to do it after as that would have been a time consuming, tedious task. 

When I got the door back, it was ready for hinges and a handle.  I purchased the hinges from Lee Valley and found a piece of gnarly wood on the beach for the handle which I left in its natural, rustic state. 

Here is the home owners Pantry Door.  She love it and it adds a bit of relaxation, creativity and openness to her kitchen.

Glued, Painted, Waxed & Distressed

Hinges Handle and Hung - It fits!

It looks Fantastic!

“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination.”

                                                                        -         willy wonka

Tomorrow I will share how I turned a $20.00 chair into a work of art. 

Please let me know if you have any questions on this or any other projects. Do you have a piece of furniture you don’t know what to do with?  Send me a picture and I will provide a free consultation for you!

 

Until next time – Live Simply!

           Mary Elizabeth

      

   

Turn a Bench Into a Dog's Sofa

Anyone who know me - knows my love of animals.  I grew up on a farm and although my career took me away from the hustle and bustle of that life I longed to be back seeing cattle grazing in the fields, horses hitched to the sleigh and a dog by my side.  So, years later when I had the chance to have a hobby farm I took the opportunity – and rescued horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, rabbits, cats and dogs.  What a wonderful life!

So, here’s the thing…..

Angus and Fiona are two little sweeties! Destined for Death Row at a  Rescue Center - caged, unwanted and unloved, my friend stepped in and took these babies under her wing. They've never looked back. They now know that life can be good... and they have it good!  Winter jackets, studded monogrammed collars, home cooked meals, toys, treats, long walks and a warm bed that they gladly “share” with their master.

On a recent visit my friend asked if I could do something special with a bench she had picked up at The Joy of Antiques (a fabulous shop in Petite Riviere on the South Shore). She wanted to turn it into a raised bed for Angus and Fiona.  I loved the idea of those two beauties having their own ‘sofa” on which to lounge, up off the floor at eye level with their guests.  She asked me to paint it in English Yellow then heavily distress and reupholster in a fabric which looked like dog paw prints. I brought the bench home and went to work. 

Tools for this project:

Annie Sloan Chalk paint, wax and brushes

Batting, Fabric and other tools

Steel Wool and Sanding Blocks

Cotton gloves or Rags

Using my staple remover and plyers I stripped off the old fabric and removed too many staples to count!  The batting was in great shape so I left that for extra cushioning. 

The bench was a little high for Angus and Fiona so I sawed off the legs by three inches. I didn't need to fill the staple holes as they were going to be covered when I reupholstered - time saver!

One good coat of Annie Sloan English Yellow and the bench was taking on a whole new look.  Following a coat of clear wax, I distressed it with a medium weight steel wool and followed up with dark wax for the aged affect.  I went over the bench with a fine steel wool to touch up places where I thought the bench would be worn after so many years.

Then I painted the bottom of the bench in FAT Chalk Paint, Autumn, waxed it and added my stamp. 

Upholstering

I added another piece of batting and stapled it in place. I have to be honest - I wasn’t excited about the fabric my friend had chosen – I just thought we could do better. I know, I know, the client is always right….but I just had to run a few options by her and then I would do whatever she asked. One of the options I shared was a faux alpaca style fabric that I had picked up at Atlantic Fabric to make a funky bear or rabbit at some point.  The fabric is so long and lush – it was just begging Angus and Fiona to snuggle – so I was 'willing" to part with it.  Luckily it didn’t take any convincing at all and my friend was onboard.

I cut the fabric to fit the bench and stapled it in place.  Followed that up with a trim in the same color and secured it with a dark brass nail head. Ta-da!

Now why I don’t have a before or during photo of this bench – I don’t know.  I probably forgot my camera at the house or perhaps I only needed an after photo never intending to start a blog and share! 

In any event, here is the after photos of this little gem.

So cozy and funky!

It's all in the detail!

After I delivered the bench Angus and Fiona jump up, buried their heads in the long soft strands then posed for a picture!  Mission accomplished! 

(Insert: XOXO, Love Auntie M!)

Please let me know if I can answer any questions about products used on this project – or any other. I’d love to share them with you. Do you have a piece if furniture you don’t know what to do with?  Send me a picture and I will provide a free consultation for you!

“You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats his dog.”   

- Peary Perry

Until next time – Live Simply!
           Mary Elizabeth 

                  

One Little Chair....

I love yard sales, garage sales, antique/vintage stores, auctions, attics, spring and fall cleanup and good ole hand-me-down items. I also love to paint, sew, bake, rearrange furniture and create.  That’s when I am in my comfort zone – free from the same ole routine of daily living.

So, here’s the thing……

On the little dead end road where I reside there are ten awesome cottages - usually vacated after the Thanksgiving weekend leaving me to exist solo until their return the following May.  I didn’t, and still don’t, mind being on “the Bay” by myself – I have a million projects and a to-do list that never seems to end.  Winter is “my time” to hunker down and try to accomplish something – anything!

The first winter, six years ago, I was at a point in my life where I needed my soul need a life simplified.  A place that reflected who I was. Up to that point I had been a pack rat – hanging on to everything from my past like those possessions defined who I was.  The more I had, the happier I was – and the more impressive it seemed – to me. How very wrong I was. So, slowly – very slowly, my transformation began. I was going to start fresh - declutter and live simply.

I sold all of those so-called "treasures" and kept only what I needed - not what I wanted, but what I needed - otherwise I never wouldn't have gotten rid of anything!  I had decided I was going to upcycle, recycle, reinvent and repurpose.

This is my story.  The journey, over 6 years, of how one little chair has opened the door to new experiences, new adventures and a new life.  I hope you will check back often, leave comments, ask questions, subscribe and follow me as I take you through tips, techniques and tutorials on everything from refinishing and reupholstering to sewing, decorating and interior design - it's going to be fun!

I chose Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and waxes to get started. Following Annie’s tutorials on YouTube and searching the web for inspiration - I was quickly overwhelmed, yet filled with enthusiasm for tackling the endless paint project possibilities. I was like a steam roller and ended up painting everything in site – seriously!  If it had a flat surface I was all over it.

My very first project, back in 2011, was brought to me by my biggest supporter and best friend.  Thankfully he understands my need for creativity and he will search pretty much anywhere - No word a lie, this little chair was rescued from a dumpster.

Pretty sad!

Pretty Awesome!

I restored this beauty in Annie’s Versailles, clear waxed and accented with dark wax.  Although it was in reasonably good shape it had to be re-glued, re-caned and the bottom of the legs sanded so it would sit level.

With pride I displayed my first refinished piece of furniture in my cottage. It eventually found a new home – more on that journey later. I never, in my wildest dreams thought I would ever share these pictures so you will have to forgive me for not having “staged” these photos. It is what it is.

In the future I will include more detail about the process but in the meantime please let me know if you have any questions. Do you have a piece of furniture you don’t know what to do with?  Send me a picture and I will provide a free consultation for you!

 “Life isn’t about finding yourself.  It’s about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw

Until next time - Live Simply!

- Mary Elizabeth