Why I stopped painting furniture

Four years ago, I discovered the joys of Annie Sloan chalk paint.  I had just retired from 36 years of teaching high school and painting furniture filled a huge gap in my life.  I do not have the fine motor skills to be an artist but furniture transformation made me feel like one.  I loved everything about the business, from looking for bargains to paint, choosing a colour or technique, to marketing the piece.  But, the drive has started to wear off.  I don’t enjoy lifting large pieces, I have to paint in my kitchen or dining room and there is an explosion of fellow furniture painters.  I have to credit my stockist, Katrina, from Malenka Originals with the success of her business for this explosion.  She introduced Ottawa to chalk paint and thousands seem to have embraced it.  Many women are doing and loving what I did 4 years ago and I just don’t want to compete any more.  I have painted many beautiful pieces and I know there are some very happy people who bought them.  Here are a few favourites:

Annie Sloan actually led me to another hobby/obsession-dyeing fabric.  I have become a textile artisan and have taught myself Shibori, Ice-dyeing and Sashiko embroidery.  Here are some examples-the first pillow was done with a flour paste resist and black dye.  The second one is an example of ice-dyeing.  You can find my shop here:   https://uwf-textiles.myshopify.com/

http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2017/06/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party-223.html

http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2017/06/make-pretty-monday-week-218.html

Projects from 2016

This past year has been one of great creative growth for me.  I still painted a lot of furniture but discovered a new love indirectly through painting.  Last summer I was inspired by Annie Sloan’s Inspiration page to try shibori dyeing with chalk paint.  My efforts with chalk paint were attractive but I really wanted to see what using indigo and Procion MX dye would be like.  I haven’t looked back and have been very busy experimenting with different types of shibori for pillows, tea towels and scarves.  I used to sew many years ago and have now re-learned some of those skills as well.

Here are some of my favourite pillows and painted pieces from 2016:

Have a creative 2017, everyone.

http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2017/01/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party-199.html

More Shibori Pillows

I recently wrote about using chalk paint to create shibori type designs on fabric.  I enjoyed learning about the process as I was dyeing the fabric and the results were good but not spectacular.  The best thing about dyeing with chalk paint is that it is easy: mix a bit of water into the paint, saturate the fabric for about 20 minutes, rinse, then iron the fabric when it has dried.  Here are some of the pillows:

I am happy with the result but chalk paint does limit the type of design you can do.  Shibori needs contrast and in order to get that with paint it can’t be watered down too much.  You can’t get deep colour using paint nor can you get sharp design

I love the process of creating shibori design so much that I have moved on to dye.  Traditional shibori is done with indigo dye but I started with Procion MX dye which is a fiber reactive dye.  You can dye in cold water by adding salt to the bath and later soda ash which sets the dye.  Once it has been washed out, the dye is permanent.

Shibori is done with tying, binding and stitching fabric to resist the dye in places which is how the pattern is created.  These pillows were done with binding or blocking:

The graphic  turquoise, blue and white one was done with clothes pegs.  The flower shape or starburst is a simple binding design.

My favourite technique so far is stitch shibori.  Designs are created by basting sections of the fabric then gathering the stitches tightly.  The pillow in the foreground was red dye on cotton duck.  You can see the zig-zag  created by the gathers.

These 2 were done on silk shantung.  Procion MX can be used on silk but it is not the best dye for it, an acid dye is preferred .

They turned out beautifully any way.  The arrow-like pattern is another binding type.  You pleat the fabric, wrap it around a rope, then tie string over the whole thing.  The diamond shapes were created with stitching on folds.

What I love about the technique are the endless designs and the surprises that you get from time to time.  I find it a very satisfying craft.

Linking up with:

http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2016/10/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party-190.html

Tribal/Boho Style

Boho(bohemian) style is a mixture of colour, pattern and furniture eras.  It is bold, eclectic and vintage looking.  Tribal style, on the other hand, uses earth tones and is inspired by native cultures, using their patterns and artifacts in decor items.  Both styles are popular today and both have connections to the 1960’s and earlier eras.

I wanted to try stenciling paint on stained wood and this little table seemed like the perfect project.  It is oak, probably from the 1970’s and it had a glossy poly finish.  I stripped the top and stained it with dark walnut to make it a bit darker.  Then I applied a large wall stencil with white chalk paint.

One of the nice things about large stencils is that they give you the repeat pattern outline on all 4 sides so that it is easy to match up the pattern accurately.  I used a stencil brush and was careful to off-load most of the paint.  Taping down the stencil and off-loading are the key to getting clean lines.

I painted the base in matte black and added some white paint to the small handle so that it mimics the stencil.  I like the look of black with dark wood and this seems an appropriate combination for the mid-century lines of the table and the tribal look.

Strictly speaking,  I wouldn’t say that the stencil is a tribal pattern but it resembles one.

I see it as a boho/tribal look because of the mix of colours and styles.

 

Linking up with:

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Retro meets Glam

Furniture produced after the Second World War shows a definite shift from darker heavier woods and colours to those that are light, less bulky and even whimsical.  Heywood Wakefield is credited with bringing this shift in American tastes by introducing a line of blonde furniture that became very popular in the 1950’s.  There is a definite revival of interest in this furniture because it is retro looking and it is very well-made.  You can read about this revival here.

Blonde furniture was usually birch or maple with a golden or pale stain.  The set that I bought is blonde mahogany which was achieved by bleaching the wood before staining it.  It is made by Gibbard, a well-known manufacturer of fine furniture in Canada.  It came with a frameless mirror but that look is too dated for most people.

It is mahogany veneer over solid wood.  The original owner had kept a glass top on both pieces and they were in near perfect condition.  The brass knobs are distinctive and original.

I refinished the tops and painted the bodies in Pure White with a bit of French Linen mixed in.  It is still white but has a grey tone.  Pure White has no pigment and needs many coats; by adding some colour to it, you get a lot better coverage.  Because the wood had been bleached originally, it would not take a dark stain so I opted for a chestnut colour which was close to the original but richer in tone.

I cleaned the beautiful brass knobs then added some gilding paste to make them brighter.  It makes a great desk or could still be used as a dressing table in a bedroom.

It definitely has a glam look to it.

 

Linking up with:

http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2016/07/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party-176.html

http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/talk-town-27/

The Creative Circle Week 73

http://www.mccallmanor.com/link-party/your-inspired-design-43/

http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.ca/

 

 

 

Using Hemp Oil on Chalk Paint

I decided to try MMS Hemp Oil as a finish on a chalk painted dresser.  I have used the oil on wood that needed reviving such as inside drawers but I have never actually put it over paint.  Hemp oil is an all natural product that has no VOCs and has a mild, nutty odour.  Read Miss Mustard Seed’s explanation about the oil here.  Having used oils such as Tung, Danish and wipe-on poly on wood that I re-finished, I knew that Hemp oil would be easy to apply  but I wasn’t sure about durability.  This, after all, is a food-grade oil.  Apparently, it sinks into a porous surface like milk or chalk paint and binds the paint.  That’s essentially what wax was does to chalk paint and like wax, hemp oil has a 30 day cure period.  You can add an extra coat of hemp oil to the surface if you want more protection or you can put on a coat of wax.

So, what are the pluses to using it?  Number 1 has to be the ease of use.  You rub it in with a cloth or a natural bristle brush and wipe off the excess.  That’s it.  The second bonus is the the appearance-it leaves a flat even surface.  Anyone who has used wax knows the frustration of uneven waxing.  I’m pretty sure that waxing is the number 1 topic of discussion among chalk painters. Finally, if you are at all sensitive to solvents like those in wax, then you won’t be breathing in chemicals with Hemp oil.   The downsides?  Well, it doesn’t feel as nice as wax since wax gives a slippery touch to a piece.  It also feels a bit oily until it cures.

Neither wax nor hemp oil are totally water-resistant, so in that regard they are similar.  I painted this small dresser in AS French Linen with a bit of pure white and some gilding paste.  I love the way the Hemp oil looks on the piece.  After 24 hours, it didn’t mark when I put something on the top and the paint did not rub off anywhere when I tried to scratch it.

If you want to read more about Hemp oil, here is a link to Homestead  House paints who manufacture it.  They explain how natural oils like Tung and Hemp work.

 

 

Linking up with:

Home

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.ca/2016/06/show-and-share-no317.html

http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/talk-town/

http://www.bluewillowhouse.com/2016/04/14/vintage-charm-26/

http://www.mccallmanor.com/

The Creative Circle week 70

http://www.thepainteddrawer.com/2016/06/painted-drawer-link-party-58.html

http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.ca/

 

 

 

Stepback Cupboard

Stepback cupboards have a top section which is set back from the bottom.  They are a popular design which dates back centuries.  The cupboard that I painted was primitive in design and handmade.  The stain which was opaque was dried out and peeling away in most places.  This is what it looked like on Etsy where I purchased it from a local business called  In the Raw Vintage.

I had to do a lot of sanding to get rid of that peeling stain.

 

I painted the cupboard in Annie Sloan Country Grey and added Old White dry brushing to give it texture.  The inside was painted in a Provence mix.

This is a closer view of the dry brushing.  Country Grey is a perfect colour for a rustic piece like this.  It is a neutral “greige”and the type of colour you see on old furniture.  I don’t think the handles and knobs were original but they are old brass.  I painted them with  both colours and added copper gilding.  Now they look like verdigris.

The painted version is definitely an upgrade over the original which was not usable in its peeling state.

Linking up with:

http://www.patinaparadise.com/2016/03/fridays-furniture-fix-31.html

http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.ca/

Home

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http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/

http://thecuratorscollection.com

http://www.mccallmanor.com/

The Creative Circle Link Party

Arts and Crafts Style Desk

The Arts and Crafts movement took place between the 1880’s and 1920’s.  It emphasized traditional artisan techniques and craftsmanship and was a reaction to mass produced furnishings.  William Morris, who is seen as the father of this movement in England, believed that things should be functional as well as beautiful, and made from local materials.  Gustav Stickley is associated with the movement in the US and his influence can still be seen in furniture and the popular craftsman style bungalows that are all over North America.

This oak desk is in the Arts and Crafts style; it is also known as a library table or a Stickley desk.  It is solid oak, is very plain except for the small backboard and has shelves on the side.  Most of the Stickley desks have arched slats in the front rather than the solid piece that this one has.  I don’t think this desk is an antique but it is old and very well made.  I stripped the top and used an oxidizing mixture on it because I wanted a weathered, rustic look.  You can read about how to oxidize wood here. It turned out to be a good decision because after many sandings, I could not remove all the scratches and discolorations.

Oxidizing reacts with the tannins in the wood and turns them black or grey like you see on wood that has been exposed to the elements.  I painted the base in Annie Sloan’s Emperor’s Silk which is a bright red that goes well with the rustic look. I applied dark wax as well because it adds depth and texture.  I am not a dark wax fan except for this type of look and on dark colours.

The knobs are old wood ones that I had lying around.  I also painted the inside of the drawers after spending 2 hours removing the adhesive from contact paper.  I tried Goo Gone but it didn’t work and eventually I used cooking oil, a scraper and dish soap to remove the oil.

 

Linking up with:

http://www.patinaparadise.com/2016/03/fridays-furniture-fix-29.html

Making Broken Beautiful | No. 28

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http://www.recreateddesigns.com/2016/03/bewitchin-projects-block-party-25/

http://www.elizabethandcovintage.com/

http://www.sadieseasongoods.com

http://thriftyrebelvintage.com/2016/03/vintage-charm-21.html/

http://www.mccallmanor.com/

 

Ikea Hack

I recently bought a roll of lovely wallpaper at a thrift store for .99 and since I wanted to try putting in on a dresser, I purchased a used Ikea Hemnes.  Most people consider Ikea to be poorly made and it certainly is inexpensive but it tends to sell really quickly here in Ottawa online.  People will pay close to the new price for these pieces.  This is how it looked when I bought it.  The owner was swamped with calls about it and I just happened to be first.  It is all wood, even the drawers, which makes it quite heavy.

I painted it white then applied the wallpaper to the drawer fronts.  This video is really helpful about how to do that  https://youtu.be/4zPTsi4qk1Q.  The video uses spray adhesive but because I don’t like spraying things, especially in the house, I used Mod Podge.  I brushed it on the drawer fronts, let it dry then applied the paper to it.  I put a piece of parchment paper over the wallpaper and ran an iron over that.  The heat from the iron melts the glue and also helps to prevent the wrinkles you often get when using Mod Podge.  I later applied more glue to the edges that didn’t quite seal.   I then applied a few coats of Liquitex varnish to the top to protect the paper.

I added square glass knobs which work well with the dresser’s shape.

The wallpaper has given it a completely feminine look, so different from the original pine.

Linking up with:

http://www.sadieseasongoods.com

Making Broken Beautiful | No. 25

http://www.mccallmanor.com/

The Creative Circle Link Party

http://www.bluewillowhouse.com/

http://www.patinaparadise.com/2016/02/fridays-furniture-fix-26.html

http://www.thepainteddrawer.com/2016/02/fab-friday-link-party-5.html

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French Country Style and Country Grey

French country is a much-beloved style and is the inspiration for a lot of furniture updates.  Some of the characteristics of the style are: rustic, lived-in looking furniture; natural woods with low gloss or painted furniture that looks old; soft colours mixed with splashes of bright yellow, blue and lavender; mix and match fabrics and colours especially toile, gingham and florals and stripes.  If you want to read more about the history of classic French  furniture, I wrote about it here.

Annie Sloan’s Country Grey is the perfect colour for achieving this look.  It’s not really grey but beige with grey undertones.  When it is dry-brushed with Old White or had dark wax applied to it , it transforms the furniture into that classic French look.  You can see many examples on this Pinterest page.

This vintage coffee table was given to me.  It is fruitwood and has the lovely carvings and cabriole legs of French furniture.  I stripped the top and opted for a lighter stain.  It is popular to use dark walnut on everything these days but the lighter colour is actually more in keeping with the style and shows the grain nicely.  It has multiple coats of satin poly on it.

I painted the base in Country Grey then dry-brushed Old White on top to highlight the details and give it a more aged look.

It’s a lovely large coffee table in an elegant colour.

 

 

Linking up with:

http://www.thepainteddrawer.com/2016/01/searching-for-a-pot-of-gold-and-the-link-party.html

http://www.patinaparadise.com/2016/01/fridays-furniture-fix-21.html

http://www.mccallmanor.com/

http://seekinglavenderlane.com/2016/01/the-creative-circle.html

http://www.sadieseasongoods.com/snickerdoodle-sunday-link-party-113/#more-4199

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Making Broken Beautiful | No. 21 … and a word from the heart