Rusty, Crusty, Chippy

Here are a few rusty, crusty, chippy finds for my sale.  I already have inquiries about the urns, and I'm struggling on letting them all go.

Vintage cherubs in plaster, and metal.

Almost forgot the three tier chippy white stand, and metal wall hanging.

Still contemplating keeping one of the urns.  Can you guess which one?

Gotta get back to work.


Sharing With:
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday

I'm Not Complaining

I have to do some replenishing.

My three day sale begins in two days, and quite a bit is gone already.  I had appointments all weekend.  I was so busy, I didn't stop to take pics.  So sorry.

I'm not complaining.  I'm very grateful.  I've sold nearly 30 of my silvered and grunged bottles (with orders for more), redesigned furniture, furniture I never started working on, those I wasn't quite finished with yet, piles of frames, chandelier, vintage brushes, baskets, buckets,  artwork, and a lot more.  This is why hubby and I shop every day.

I went hunting this morning, and found more vintage bottles, a frenchy stand, and this vase.

I spotted her across the room.

She has a few nicks, but I love her.

I have an appointment tonight to pick up more merchandise, and I have to finish a few pieces.  I'll try to share before it disappears. Cause, I have another appointment or two before the sale.   Busy, busy, busy.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Faded Charm: White Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants: What's It Wednesday

More Bottle Play

Remember when I said I never do the same thing twice? I've been working on variations to my "Silvered Bottles".

I wanted these bottles to have more depth and personality.  So, I went a little further with the additives.

A little more rust, paint, this and that.  The mad scientist continues to brew.  I added the green patina.

I'm having fun with these.

See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday
The DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
Under The Table and Dreaming: Sunday Showcase
Homemaker on a Dime: Creative Bloggers

Show Break

Just a quick post to let you know, I have decided to take a show break in June.  So, I will  not be at Kane County next weekend.  Instead, I will be selling by appointment, and having another three day sale.    So, I'm taking a deep breath and playing with my dried flowers and vintage bottles, before the madness begins.

This sale is not an impromptu one.  We're placing an ad today, and I already have several appointments scheduled.  Many of my customers prefer to come out by appointment. Less hectic than a show.

Last weeks impromptu sale motivated me to do this.  Although I moved a lot of excess, we've been hunting and gathering, and will be picking up more over the weekend.  We also have sources we will be shopping during the week.  It's that time of year.  I know the abyss will be full again.  However, it will be full of my focused finds, and some items I've decided to part with.  There is only so much I can take to a show, but I can go nuts selling from home.

My goal is to keep the abyss organized.  I have so many endeavors coming up.  I have to stay focused.

The next week is going to be a super busy one.  I'll be sharing along the way.  If you live in or around the Illinois area, and would like to stop by, send me an email.

Hmmmm, is this really a break?  See ya soon.

Silvered Bottles

Okay, after many emails asking me to share how I did my silver bottles, and just as many telling me I should keep it to myself, I've decided to just share the basics.  The truth is, I pretty much gave you the ingredients in "Bottle Love".  Liquid silver leaf, rust, dirt, water.  I've used them in various combinations, and applications.  I hardly ever do the same thing twice, and I'm always reinventing myself.  I'm already on to something different.

Here are the basics.  Obviously, my solution is on the inside of the bottle.  Having a bottle with lettering makes the effect far more interesting.

I've used the silver leaf only.  I've added rust, followed by the liquid leaf, which gives it an old crusty look in spots.  A little dirt will do that as well.  If the bottle is already crusty, all the better.  Cover the opening, shake and  rotate the bottle to get coverage.  Don't let the silver leaf settle, or you won't get good coverage.  It dries fast.

That reminds me.  I was asked how to get rust.  Simple.  Just scrape it off a rusty object.

If you add a little water before you add the liquid leaf, you'll get a look similar to this milk bottle.  Patchy.  Because it has a wide neck, I used a brush, instead of shaking the solution, like I did with the smaller bottles. 

Bottom line, you'll just have to experiment, like I did.  Now, I have to tell you, liquid silver leaf has a strong odor.  I like it because it sticks really well.  However, I always use it outside, or in the garage with lots of ventilation.  Please, be kind to your lungs.  Substitute metallic silver paint for the liquid leaf, if you want.

I'm having fun displaying mine with my dried roses.

Now, I have to get back to work.  My next show is coming up quick, and I have exciting news I can't share quite yet.  I'm also working on some changes, and additions to "villabarnes".  I'll keep you posted.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Thrifty Decor Chick: Before and After
Home Stories A to Z: Tutorials and Tips
The DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Savvycityfarmer: Thrift'n on Thursday
The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday
No Minimalist Here: Open House
The Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thursday

Featuring YOU #2

Here is another "Featuring You" post.  I can't tell you how flattered, and impressed I am at some of you.  Again, these are NOT MY PROJECTS, but projects by some of my readers who have so graciously linked back to me after trying their hand at my tutorials.  Let's start with Kathleen at Musing From a French Cottage.  She did a great job with gesso, and the old world finish.  Just look at this statue.

I have to say that I was blown away at Jennifer over at Town and Country Living.  Jennifer is a regular customer of mine on Etsy, and at my Kane County show.  Check out her version of my old world finish bottle.

Take a look at what Poppy at "With a Dash of Color" did with peat pots and gesso.

Now, I'm going back a bit,  Deanna at "It's Just Me" gave me a shout out last year, and produced this beautiful coffee table using black gesso.

Thanks for the shout out ladies.  You did a fantastic job.  Remember, if you've given one of my tutes a try, and linked back to me, let me know.  There will be more "Featuring You" posts.  I'm just doing a few features per post.  If you're not sure I'm aware of your shout out, send me an email.

Focused Finds

Remember when I said I was narrowing my focus when it came to fresh acquisitions?  Well, although there was a ton of "stuff" at the flea market Sunday, only a few items really spoke to me.

Drool, drool.  This chair was calling my name.  The fabric is shot, but I can fix that.

Look at all that beautiful weathered paint.

 

I brought it home, along with a rusty vintage egg basket, and a beautiful celluloid plaque.  I love this plaque, because it's hollow, and has sharp impressions on the back.  I can use it to make more plaques, or single images.  It's the perfect mold.

My hubby found this chandelier at a garage sale Saturday, while I was busy with the last day of our garage sale.  I told him to find something cool, and he did.  Love him.

I made some new contacts today, and I'll be shopping a source of similar items tomorrow.  I'll be sharing my focused finds, and redesigns all week.  I'm chilling the rest of the day. See ya soon.


Sharing With:
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Faded Charm: White Wednesday
Southern Hospitality: Thrifty Treasures
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

You Never Know

The last day of my impromptu garage sale is over.  It's been a blast, and interesting.  Lot's of shabby items sold, to VERY happy customers. Household, tools, action figures, and little bit of everything else walked away. Yippee.

I started with miscellaneous items the first day.  Lots of excess sold.  The second day, I decided to mix in some of my bigger items.  Interestingly enough, I met a fellow dealer who just happened to be driving by.  Guess what sold?

Yep, it's gone. Today, I met gentleman who told me he was opening a shop.  Oh, yeah.  Several miscellaneous tables, and some small items went.  He was thrilled, I was sick of looking at them. You just never know what to expect with an impromptu garage sale.  I'm glad I had this one.

We're heading to our local flea market tomorrow morning.  I'll be selling what's left over, and hunting for fresh merchandise for my upcoming shows.  I'll also be redesigning the pieces I decided not to put in the sale.  Of course, I'll share the transformations.

Okay, I'm toast.  See ya soon.

Pretty Pail

I wanted to share my pretty pail.  It's a newer galvanized pail I painted white.  I transferred the image with my Splendid Blender.  It's the same image I created for some of my vintage towels.  I printed "le jardin" (the garden), and added  the garden gates.

It looks great with my roses.

I didn't want the image too sharp.  I like the faded look.

Now, for a nice shower.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Thrifty Decor Chick: Before and After
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Faded Charm: White Wednesday
Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday
The DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
Homemaker on a Dime: Creative Bloggers
My Romantic Home: Show and Tell
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
Shabby Art Boutique: Shabbilicious Friday

Impromptu Garage Sale

Wish you ALL lived nearby.  As you know, I've been spring cleaning like a mad woman.  Unearthing usable items, organizing, finishing projects, blah, blah, blah.  Now, it's official.  I'm SO OVER "The Abyss".  For the next two, maybe three days, I'm having an impromptu garage/yard sale.  I live on a main street, so there's always traffic.

After three shows, van loads to my friend with a resale shop, the local flea market, and donations, there's still stuff.  That's because I'm in the business of buying and selling.  I never stop buying.  However, I'm narrowing  focus with my fresh acquisitions.  So, I have my keep pile, and the rest, IS GOING.

What's left over, IS GOING.

Pulling more stuff out.  People are on my lawn.  See ya soon.

One of Three

My husband brought home three chairs with a few issues.

I finished one of them.  Take a look at what they looked like before.

I finished the armless one first, because it was the only one that didn't sport a big hole in the back.

They were all wobbly.  I had to reinforce the frames.  I gave this one multiple layers of white paint.  I then added more stuffing to the seat, and recovered it, using some of my recently unearthed fabric.

Now, to tackle the damaged duo.  See ya soon.


Sharing With:
Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Nite Special
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
No Minimalist Here: Open House
The Shabby Creek Cottage: Transformation Thursday
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays
Faded Charm: White Wednesday
Primitive and Proper: Piece of Work Wednesday