Paris Gray Chalk Paint and Stenciled Table

I am excited to show all of you my first, completed Chalk Paint project!  I used Paris Gray with clear and dark wax for this little, Parisian table.

I found this vintage table at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago with Mr. Rubbish.  I offered the guy $2 and he said no, but he would sell it for me for $5.  I decided to take it and Mr. Rubbish was not happy about it.  He said it is beyond hope and that I wasted $5.  I felt kind of bad about buying it, but I was determined to prove him wrong.

I loved the way the legs are shaped and my favorite part about it is the vintage caster wheels.  I admit, it was in need of major help, though.  You could see the screw holes and the line joining two pieces of wood in the top and the legs all had ill-repaired cracks that were quite visible. I just filled all the screw holes and cracks with wood filler.  You do not actually have to primer when using Chalk Paint, but I primered the top of the table anyway because it was in such bad shape and I figured an extra coat would help mask the problems.

Aren't the caster wheels cute?!!

I applied two coats of Chalk Paint in Paris Gray and then stenciled the top.  After stenciling, I realized that it was not perfectly centered and, being the perfectionist that I am, I had to sand it down and do another coat of Paris Gray before stenciling the design over again.  This time I made sure to measure and locate dead center before I started.  Sometimes I am so excited to get started on a project that I overlook, important preparatory steps like this.

After the stencil dried, I sanded it to distress and then applied clear wax and rugger brown wax (both Fiddes & Sons) over the tabletop and legs. Miss Mustard Seed has a great tutorial here on how to apply the waxes and where to purchase the Fiddes & Sons waxes for only $14 per can.

This was my first time using the dark wax (I usually use glaze) and it was a little tricky.  I just used a tiny bit of dark wax on my brush and applied it in sections, blending it over the clear wax.

I bought two, large, vintage stencil brushes, with natural bristles, on ebay for $9 each, to use for the wax and they worked great!  I did not want to spend $35 for a wax brush from the Chalk Paint stockists, especially when I would need two of them (one for the clear and one for the dark wax).  I will show you a picture of the wax brushes I found in my next post.

I really love the two finials in the center of the table base.  The are actually made of iron.  Conveniently, the Chalk Paint is designed to stick to metal as well as wood, so it had no problem adhering.

I found a wonderful independent thrift shop by my house with excellent prices. I got a whole bag of vintage, hardback books for $5, the other day!  I took them home, removed the covers and made book bundles for the shop.

 I have been coming across old, skeleton keys at yard sales and I've been snatching them up for $1 each.

I think the strange, little table, with all the cosmetic problems, turned out pretty cute in the end!

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Happy Easter

I hope you are all having a restful and wonderful Easter Sunday!

I cut some spring blossoms from a beautiful tree by my house.

My sister, Emily, bought me this large artichoke at a yard sale.

I painted it white, distressed it all over and glazed it for a shabby look.

Thank you Emily! I love it!

I picked up this old frame at a yard sale.

I painted it white and made a chalkboard for it.

Happy Easter!!!

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Charcoal Art and Handmade Books

My cousin, Brittany Wood, is an amazingly talented artist and photographer and she just opened her first Etsy shop.  She freehand draws these beautiful, charcoal drawings.

Aren't these fashionistas gorgeous? They would look fabulous with black frames to add a little wall candy to any space!  She also does custom, personalized charcoal drawings from photographs.

Brittany makes books completely by hand too.  This one is my favorite with the leather binding and the beautiful Japanese paper.

This damask print book with whales is adorable too.

Check out Brittany's Etsy shop by clicking here.

Mid-week Design Inspiration: French Country Living

I picked up a new design book that I love,love, love and would like to share a few photos with you. Caroline Clifton-Mogg wrote French Country Living and the photography was done by Christopher Drake. There is something magical about French country style. The subtle colors and rustic quality of the furniture, flooring, and walls make French country decorating so authentic and inviting. It makes me feel as though I have been transported back to a simpler time. French Country Living is one of those special books where every picture is amazing. I hope you enjoy this small sampling from the book...


Let's start in the bathroom, shall we? Isn't it dreamy? I love the recycled sideboard turned bathroom vanity and the long flowing curtains. I want that to be my bathroom and I have not even seen the tub.




The two-toned gray walls coupled with the swag appliques are so charming and so French. Tres chic!




The stone wall and open-beamed ceiling are the perfect backdrop for this beautiful, antique gray bookshelf.




Don't you just want to cuddle up on this chaise lounge with a good book?




A lovely armoire, with chicken wire in place of glass, in the palest shade of greenish-blue.




This dining room is so warm with the pale green hutch and the farm table.





I hope you enjoyed a few of the photos from French Country Living. There are many more beautiful photographs in the book.

*All photographs by Christopher Drake