Back Again

I am posting a few pictures of our newest pieces.  I just want them to be on here now and a little later I will come back and fill in the background.  Please be patient.

Hello Again!

I am writing to let you know that I have really discontinued this blog and have started another.  This blog continues to get pageviews and I hate to have those people reading old stuff.

The new blog is "... and the livin' is easy" and simple and can be found at http:/cjmai.blogspot.com     It covers a full range of ideas, tips, thoughts about living in the slow land and having life be simple.  I will continue to feature furniture painting et al.  I hope you will not be disappointed and have some fun reading about my crazy life.

More Inspiration

There are some special times when cruising blogs that I hit the jackpot.  This is one of those times.

Making it Homey is sooooo good!  I will post before and after pics below to display her work but please visit her blog to see all the other work she has done.  She scrapes, sands and strips with the best of them.

I am adding on this pic because I think it is cute.

More Stuff and a Decision

Sometimes there is a little story that goes along with my finding a piece.  In the summer I wrote of a house that had many, many puppies, goats walking through and a horse in the side yard.  This new story is not as sweet as the animal house story.  Actually, not sweet at all.  The picture below is of a cabinet with two doors on the top and two drawers on the bottom.  It is painted two tone green.  Not a bad looking piece at all.  I saw it on trash day in my community on the curb with trash bags around it.  I turned around, parked in front of it and determined it would fit in the back of my car.  I have a PT Cruiser - the back seats fold down for extra space.  Despite the fact that I look strong as bull, I am not.  I have arthritis all over the place which reduces the strength.  So, I wiggled it over to the back of the car and thought that I could lift it from the bottom and just slide it in.  No, no, no.  It had to make it over the hump created by the back of the seats and I couldn't get enough leverage to do it.  I went into the back of the car from the side door and tried to pull it from there.  I broke two nails, said nasty words under my breath and finally got it over the hump.  Back to the outside of the car to push it in.  No, no, no!!  A nail on the back of the piece was sticking out and got caught on a loop in the carpet.   More nasty words under my breath and the biggest heave ho I could manage and in it went. 

Now, this all took some time.  Only one car drove by so I thought
I was relatively free from humiliation.  No, no, no!!!!  I was just about to drive away when a man opened the door of the house I was taking from and gave me a big smile and wave!!!   He was probably watching the whole time and never offered to help.  Jerk!!

When I arrived home I asked Chris to take it out of the car but did not tell him my story.  He did it, came in the house and told me it was "trash".  Nasty words NOT under my breath!!  End of story - we will be restoring this piece.

Not bad looking, right?

We have decided to sell our furniture at the Renningers Antique Extravaganza in January and February.  People come from all over the country for this shopping experience.  It is about 30 miles from us.  There is an indoor flea market, an indoor antique market, little outside antique shops and a place outdoors for vendors such as us.  It takes two days to go through this sale.  It is unbelievable!  I will post pics of what we will be selling as they are completed.  I cannot wait!

Swedish Inspiration

Again, I am taken with the simplicity of Swedish decorating!

You will find this at johanna.vintage.blogspot.com

Painted - Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!!



Proud!!

Most of the blogs that I follow are somehow connected to interior design, decorating, diy, crafts, cooking, etc.  I am always impressed with the work of these bloggers and sometimes a bit envious of what they share.  Today, however, I am so proud of the work I am sharing not only because of its excellence but also its origin - my daughter, Karen.

Karen is an interior designer in NYC with the Jeffrey Beers International design firm.  They specialize in "hospitality" design - hotels, restaurants, clubs, etc.  She has been with them for about a year and today is the opening of her first NYC project.  It is the expansion of the Todd English Food Hall in the Plaza Hotel. Not a bad way to start off.

This pic was taken last night as the chefs and staff were getting the place ready to open.  To think that she designed where every piece of silverware is stored, every liquor bottle is placed, every plate is displayed  - amazing!

Bravo, Karen!!

Thank You

Since starting this blog I have been surprised and delighted at the data regarding the audience.  There are not 10,000 pageviews as on other blogs but the 500 or so are appreciated more than can be written.

Even though I have been computer literate for a number of years I still don't understand how radios and t.v.'s work.  That being said, it is amazing that there are people all over the world reading this blog.  Whether they are return visitors or one-timer's, they are greatly appreciated.  I wish I could talk to every one of them.

Take care.

Painted - Disappointed

Chris and his friend went to retrieve our pieces from one of the shops.  I didn't feel that we should visit each shop on any regular schedule because we trusted the owner to do her part - sell!  Long story short - she had our pieces hidden or covered with her stuff.  Our tables were being used to display her things - couldn't even see the tables.  The day after the pieces were brought back, a customer was here to pick up an order.  Her friend bought one of the tables in 15 minutes!  Arrrggghhh!  A lesson has been learned.

Going forward.....   Another "furniture guy" said that the wicker pieces would sell very quickly if they were painted black.  So, we are going to give it a try but not today.  It is very windy and humid (this is November but I live in Florida).  Tomorrow is my checkup with the neurosurgeon so we won't be doing it then.  Maybe Friday.

Here is the before pic.  Please feel free to comment.

Have fun and take care.

Painted - Tutorial

Hi again!   I have always intended to post a tutorial on painting old furniture.  Today I came across such a thing and thought that there was no reason for me to do it any differently.

The link for this is  www.thefrugalgirl.com   The post is dated 3/5/2009.  We have never used the paint that she references but it looks pretty good to me.

Take care.

Painted - White with Navy

I have always loved the combination of white and navy blue.  The crisp contrasts in color give things a sharp emphasis on form and style.  Back in the fifties my mum wore navy and white heels that were fantastic to me.   

So, if I ever had the wherewithall I would have a room that looks like this...

I found this pic on www.tradewindsdecor.com

Take a look - you may become inspired.

Take care.

Painted - all ready

Today is a day of remembering and appreciating all those who have put their lives ahead of all others.  Thanks.....

The custom order furniture is ready for pick-up.  It all looks so pretty- subtle but grand.  Here you go.......

                                      close up of hardware

                                               closeup of hardware

                                            mirror with reflection of dresser

Ready to go out the door!  Nice feeling.

Painted - and waiting

Another day and more progress.  Since the terrible weight of the aneurysm is off our shoulders we seem to be almost skipping through the day ("skipping" is an exaggeration, of course).

Below are pics of the furniture with the final coat of paint (Sherwin Williams - Pro Classic - Samovar Silver).  It went on like "butta" ("butter" for those of you who do not speak like a Bostonian).

Now a pic of the hardware with the first base coat.  They will be a nickel color when finished.

If it stays dry today we will be able to finish it all off and deliver tomorrow.  We are pleased with the results and hope that Mary will be also.

Painted - with Roses!

This is a pic of the gorgeous roses sent to me for my recovery.  Frank and family are sooooo nice.

The next pic is of the custom order furniture in primed stage.  Chris is working on the hardware today.  Final painting will be tomorrow and then delivery on Thursday. 

I drove a very short distance on Saturday so today will be my first real driving since being home.  I am going to the library to enlarge a vintage letter written in French from Graphics Fairy.  I hope this works as a transfer.  I will show the results whether good or bad.

Painted - All Over!!!!!

I no longer have a brain aneurysm!   I am recuperating with very little pain but a lot of sore.  Everything is almost normal again.

A couple of days before the surgery we landed a custom order of four pieces.  We will be doing a dresser, nightstand, mirror and headboard.  The customer has chosen gray and white with silver/nickel hardware.  Chris took the pics below except for the headboard.  I don't know why he left that out and I didn't check because I have been in the fetal position asleep for the last four days.

These pics are before he completed all the repairs and sanding.  Today he started the priming.

I hope to be able to get back to my things in a couple of days.  It may be corny but I am in a very happy place.      Take care.

Painted - Grey & White

Thank  you for not giving up on me while I was off the blog.  It is sincerely appreciated.  Some of you may remember that I was to have surgery to repair an aneurysm in my head a few weeks ago.  That morning the surgeon told me that there was a better device to use that had just been approved by the FDA.  The hospital didn't have any so one would have to be ordered.  I chose to go with the better one so the i.v.'s were removed, the black x's were washed off and Chris and I went home.  We were not happy but that is water under the bridge.  The procedure is scheduled for 10/28 and I am not coming home until it is fixed.

On now to what I have just started working on.  I was told it was a "project" desk.  It is taller that a child's desk and designed a bit differently than a student's desk.  I have decided to pair it with a shorter stool so there will be no problem sitting at it.

These are the pieces before I started working on them.  They do not look too bad from a distance but they had about 4 layers of paint each.



This picture shows what the top looked like after applying Strypeze 2 times.  It took 4 applications!

This is the desk with one coat of Old White chalk paint and the beginning of the Paris Grey coat.

Here is the stool with a coat of Old White and the beginning of Paris Grey.

The intention is to distress and glaze the pieces.  Before the protective layer is applied I will do a transfer of either a vintage label or manual typewriter.  Time will tell.

Take care, Jeanne

Painted - Peaceful

Once again I have fallen under the influence of the Swedish style.  This morning I would tranform my house to this in a split second.  The look is feminine but not in a way that would make men feel uncomfortable.  As long as everything is washable I would have the style with children in the house.

Although the decor is Swedish it reminds me of the American coastal cottage style.  Whatever it is called I want it.

Not that I post every day but I thought I would mention that I would be away for a few days. I am having that surgery on my brain tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed and have a great day!!

Painted - Proud

This week is a little off for us because of doctor visits, pre op testing, the kids coming and the surgery.  Neither of us has picked up a paintbrush.  Life, however, does go on.

The thought of sifting through blogs or magazines or diy shows for some painted furniture did not appeal to me.  Before and after is what I was aiming for without doing too much work.  I am going to present one of the best "before and after" projects ever done.

There is an organization named "Rooms to Dream".  It is non profit and has chapters throughout the country.  It brings together construction companies, suppliers, architechts, designers and retailers to fill the dreams of a sick child through donations of their talent, time and material to transform his/her room into their fantasy room.  Sometimes they do hospital rooms if the child has a longterm stay prescribed or they do the room in the child's home.  The families of these children do not have much in terms of money, time or inspiration and fully appreciate the gift of happiness.

The room being presented is Jamie's room.  She is 13 yrs old and has severe asthmatic and some self-esteem issues.  She lives with her mom, sister and brother in public housing in Boston.  Although the gift was for Jamie, the group also transformed the rest of the apartment.  I don't have pics of the rest of the rooms.

Karen was the designer for the project. She and her team poured their hearts into this project and at the same time had great fun shopping for a teenager's dream room. 

Jamie told her color choices and interests and the team took off.  In one week the team was ready for the "reveal".  Tears and laughter filled the room and "thank you" a hundred times.  The team was as thrilled as Jamie and her family.  Fantastic job!  Now the pics!

                                    before

 
                                                    after 1

                                                         after 2

                              Isn't it great!

I feel that this project is so very special because Karen, the designer, is my daughter.
I am not only proud of her work but also her charity.  She is a great woman!

Painted - Thrilled

There is reason to celebrate today!  It is cooler outside than it has been in over four months! We have hit 400 on blog views!  To Chris and I this is fantastic because it is unbelievable that people in Russia are checking in.  Thanks to all that do stop by.  We hope that you continue to do so.  And, we now have three members!  Very gratifying.

Those who know us personally are probably aware of how long and anxiously we have been waiting for October to arrive.  Today is officially MEDICARE DAY for me!  I will be 65 in a few days and I am very happy to be this age.  I am happy to be alive and almost well.  The thing in my brain will be fixed next week and I can stop playing Russian roulette.

I always threaten when it finally gets cool that I will go outside naked and do a dance.  It may just happen today.

Be well everyone! 

Painted - Inspired

Good evening everyone!  Something so great happened today that I must share tho it is a bit premature.

My mother-in-law, Nan, has a friend who is selling a lot of her things and moving to another state.  We are sorry to see her go but we understand.  Nan, Chris and I went to her lovely house to see what she wanted to get rid of.   There is an end table, small desk, barristers bookcase and a really lovely dresser with a mirror.  Everything is wonderful.

Now it happens that "European Paint Finishes" did the exact same dresser in the most wonderful technique.  We are going to do something similar and pray that it turns out half as well as theirs.  I will post a pic of their dresser to let you know what I mean. 

Isn't it beautiful?  They have so inspired us.  Wow!