Decorating

Hey y’all! Over a week into my self imposed 30 day challenge and I’m surprised and happy to say things are going well. Surprisingly, (especially to Mr B) I have not shopped. at all. Except for school clothes for the Grands, but that kind of shopping was exempt…. and only happens once a year. Maybe twice…. or for special events….or holidays…. and birthdays. OK, I spoil my Grands, what can I say?

But once I made the decision to stay away from my favorite haunts, it was as if a weight I didn’t even know I carried had been lifted. I felt, and still do feel, a certain amount of peace. I’m no longer in a fever to buy new things, add to my collections or show off the latest “great buy.” Projects are being completed, albeit slowly since Mr B is leaving for a week. But small projects are getting done. I’m no longer a power tool kind of woman, nor can I lift much over about 15 pounds so I need Mr B. Physical limitations aside, I’ve been able to enjoy this summer in a way I haven’t for a couple of years.

I’ve focused on my Granddaughter without the hurry, hurry, let’s go somewhere attitude. Sleeping late, pool, and sun time and watching movies and The 100 together in the evenings have been the routine. Eating dinner together each evening without electronic devices. Reading. I’ve finished several books, even discovered a new author to add to my rotation. And of course, listening to music, she is exposing me to new artists, just like her father did while he was growing up

I’ve taken the time to add some information to one branch of my family tree and did some searching for a long lost Grandfather who hailed from Scotland. That’s becoming a slog. John Ross was a very common name. I tracked him back to Plum Township in Pennsylvania in the 1700’s, but can find no information on his parents, nor do any of his children, or grandchildren have any. It’s maddening. I know his parents were more than likely the emigres from Scotland and that John was born in Pennsylvania but their are no records to be found except a Ross line that isn’t mine. GAH! The search continues!

Projects completed were simple but impactful. The new light was installed in my “office.” I’ve had it for over a year and now I’m not even sure I like it anymore! That’s a major bummer.  And with the help of Shayla, my middle Granddaughter I was able to finish updating my cheap bookcases. I’d been saving an old gardening book with pen and ink drawings, as well as an old dictionary just for this purpose. We’d planned on doing this project last summer but never got around to it. So, I’m really happy to have that checked off the list.

It was a simple update to add interest to the backs of the bookcases. I didn’t want to do my usual beadboard or beadboard wallpaper. So I removed the pages in the book, took the dictionary apart and we simply applied the pages to the back of the bookcases with wallpaper paste. Easy peasy. You know by now that I’m not into the whole measure and make sure everything’s level process, so this was a very forgiving project. Just eyeball the pages as you apply them to get some semblance of level. Smooth air bubbles out with a damp sponge as you go, rinsing it often and overlap your pages a bit. That’s it. This is a simple beginner project, no experience necessary. I’m really happy with the outcome. The finishing touch was adding some tiny enameled number plates on the face of the shelves. I found them in the scrapbooking section at Joannes. Mr B pre-drilled the holes for me and the plates were just tacked on with tiny nails.

Last but probably the most fun was making a mess “learning” a new paint technique for getting that chippy look we all love. I tried Amy Howard’s paint for the first time and will post my thoughts in a future post. I had a cheap 1980’s clock. You know how I feel about 80’s oak and I am systematically getting rid of any of that horrendous oak finish in my home. If you love it, please accept my apologies. To each her own. For me, it’s outdated and ugly. It.must.go. So I decided to experiment with the paint and crackle to see if I could get the chippy worn look.

I’ve used crackle finish in the past but was never really happy with it, it looked like a “faux” finish and not authentic. I would like my “fauxs” to look authentic. I’ll let you decide if I accomplished an authentic chippy finish. The clock is still ugly. I may not keep it. But I’m pretty pleased with my first attempt at the chippy.

That’s the update, my friends. I’ll post more in the weeks to come. For now, I’ll leave you with my usual advice. Love where you live, no matter where that is. Create a sanctuary, one room at a time, one project at a time. Create the home you see in your heart.

I’m a collector of things, which means I’m also a buyer. But what happens when buying becomes more than adding a sought after item to a thoughtful, curated collection and becomes….. just buying more stuff? Is there a line between being a collector and becoming a hoarder? How do you know when you’ve crossed that line? Can you see the line? Is it marked in your mind’s eye? Is there a warning bell that lets you know when you are approaching the Hoarder Line? Like the flashing lights and clanging bells at railroad crossings? That would come in handy.

I “have a thing” for lots of things…..skeleton keys and padlocks, door knobs and hardware in general. Scales, oh yes, I surely do have scale love. And I suffer from a terminal case of grain sack love. The more the better.  I get a bad case of heart eyes over crocks and stoneware bottles. Throw in a love of McCoy Pottery, (the matte white “Floraline”)  and an obsession with old clocks, vintage radios and fans, Royal Copley Dog planters and old bottles, and my home could be a museum with me as the curator.

I’ve been getting rid of things I’ve outgrown or anything that no longer supports my style for a couple of years. YEARS! And during that time, I’ve also purchased more things. Mr B routinely asks, “What are you going to do with that?” “Don’t you have X  number of those already??” “Oh, I see you’ve purchased something else for the attic.” You know….all the helpful statements and questions that frankly make me a bit angry and defensive. “I know what I’m buying”. (no, I really don’t) “I know exactly how many of “those” I have” (No clue) ……. “I routinely rotate things so my collections don’t become overwhelming” (sounds good in theory but I don’t do it) …..“I have a place for this” (Not without a second house.) …… All those responses that I make to justify whatever it is I want to buy.

Not too long ago I announced I was cutting back on shopping, I actually heard his eyes roll. It sounded a bit like ball bearings clanking around in an empty drum. Not that Mr B’s head is empty or remotely drum shaped….. I didn’t even have to look, but I was surprised he could still see to drive….. what with the eyeballs rolled all the way back in his head. I was serious.  He was scoffing. This took place in the car when we were going to pick up the commode I recently wrote about.

Mr B loaded the commode in the back of the car and said he was going to “browse” the Play It Again Sports store located a couple of doors down from the antique shop, meaning he would speed walk through the store and be out the door within a minute, purchased item in hand. An item I might add, from HIS shopping list….. which he had researched the pros and cons and price checked.  He was gone for only  a few minutes and during that time, I decided I couldn’t live without a WWII phone, a sewing machine drawer, a mirror, a feedsack pillow and a large vintage bowl. WHAT???? I have a problem.

On a recent trip to Tennessee to celebrate the birthday of a dear friend, Mr B said the rest of the trip was mine, we could do anything I wanted to do. I had a glorious week in the mountains. We enjoyed Nashville of course, because I’m a Honky Tonk Woman. And we both love music. Then there are all those antique malls and a town with a section of shops that I MUST visit each time we go. And one of us loves those. I had a list of several items I needed (relative term) to finish a display or fill a space (we have no empty space at the Brown abode). Did I buy any of those items? NOOOOO. I bought other things. Things I HAD TO HAVE. Little things. Inexpensive things. Things I had no use or space for. Things that I didn’t even like after I got them home. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?  I obviously looked at the things, I apparently thought I wanted or needed them, so why was there even ONE THING I decided after plunking down my cash that I didn’t really need, want or…..even like???   I require an intervention.

I have to face the ugly truth. I have a shopping problem. Actually I have an IMPULSE SHOPPING problem. When the impulse registers in my brain that I need, want, must have that key, vase, sack, scale, pot, crock, bottle or clock I simply cannot resist it. But this it! I have acknowledged my problem. I am going to stop with the shopping…. I’m calling a shopping moratorium…Except my Granddaughter is coming for a visit and she has a love of vintage cameras and “stuff.” We enjoy junking together. I cannot deny her that pleasure…..right?

Create the home you see in your heart.  Surround yourself with things you love, things that make you smile. Love the home you’re in no matter where you live, it’s your sanctuary.

Buying antiques can be risky. There are clever reproductions of almost every vintage item available, original, authentic pieces may be damaged beyond repair or have hidden problems.

Problems are myriad; musty smells, unidentified odors or….yuck!  dead animal smells, wobbly and weak joints, pieces are repaired or refinished in such a way that the original value is destroyed. Valuable pieces are painted and those of lesser value are restored. There is no way to tell if you are getting an authentic vintage item or a knock-off without doing research and buying from reputable dealers.

Even after years of buying furniture I get suckered now and then. My last purchase proved to be a bit (understatement) of a problem. I had been looking for a vintage commode for about a year to use as a nightstand. I was using a singer sewing machine, complete with machine and working treadle for several years. I loved it. I beat my bestie in a race to nab it. But it didn’t function quite as well as I liked for its intended purpose. I didn’t want to get rid of it but had to face the fact that if I wanted something else, the sewing machine had to go. So I sold it to a friend who loves it and uses it as her nightstand…. and I made space for a new piece.

I finally found a vintage commode at a decent price in my favorite local shop. I know some of the dealers, am friends with one, and at least know others by face. I didn’t know this particular vendor but I felt safe buying there. (you already suspect something, right?) I looked at that commode several times, I did the smell test, pulled out the drawers and took big whiffs. It passed. The drawers worked fine. The cabinet door opened and closed, it needed a new magnetic catch, but that’s an easy fix.  Bonus, it had casters! Y’all know I love casters! And it had some yummy hardware.

So I bought it, paid for it and put a sold sign on it. Mr B enthusiastically agreed to go with me to pick it up. In the meantime the women at the shop unloaded it and it was empty and ready for me by the time we got there. Mind you, I had never moved it. It had been loaded with small items for sale and even the drawers were full, so I never pulled it out to see how sturdy it was. Big mistake. As it turns out….HUGE mistake.

It wobbled. I looked at Mr B. He was looking at me. The shop owner was darting her eyes around looking everywhere except at either of us. “Um…it wobbles,” I announced. Duh. One of the other dealers came to observe and said; “You can fix that with a bit of wood glue and some clamping.”  Mr B rolled his eyes. I asked if he could stabilize it. “Maybe. Won’t know until we get it home.” Since I’d already paid for it, we Mr B loaded it in the car and we went home. By this time I was having a severe attack of buyers remorse. What if it couldn’t be fixed?

Mr B worked on it for a WEEK! Glued and clamped, removed the top, put it back on, glued and clamped that and replaced the stripped screws where someone else had attempted to fix it. It still wobbled like a drunk on Main Street. Added a new back and screwed that on. Still wobbled, just not completely drunk, more like tipsy. I asked if he could take it all apart and rebuild it.  He stared at me for 3, maybe 4 seconds and then said; “I think it’s as good as it’s gonna get.” Translation: “I love you, but ain’t no way I’m gonna do that.” Sigh.

So I shrugged and proceeded to the fun part, paint. Yep, painted it. Before you start sending me hate mail about painting vintage pieces and destroying their value, let me just say this: “Some pieces are enhanced by painting.” Some aren’t really all that valuable, no matter how old. And some, like this old girl just aren’t built well or have already been refinished by someone else. Painting it doesn’t devalue it at all. And I have a vision for the bedroom and it includes painted furniture.

Someone had obviously refinished it. With shiny, glossy poly. Don’t do this. Vintage and/or antiques shouldn’t be shiny.  Unless you’re into mid century lacquer finishes or oriental furniture. Otherwise, gloss is not a good look. If you want to add a soft authentic sheen, go for furniture wax and buff. It’s a lovely finish. For furniture that will see hard use, like table tops and dressers, opt for a matte finish. Don’t do shiny. Ever.

While inspecting this old girl I fell in love with the graining on the sides. It looked like oak. I was tempted to refinish it and leave it natural.  But the top…… it had open grain, ditto for the top drawer, not the tight grain of oak that I love. Those sides tho. And even the back in its raw wood state! Oh, if she had been like that all over, this post would be a lot different.  This was a commode obviously pieced together with whatever wood was on hand. Like many pieces were in the early days of america when fine furniture was hard to come by. I felt no guilt in painting this. None. OK, I got a bit of a pang when I looked at the sides. In the back of my mind I thought, “hmmmm….if I hate it painted, I’ll just strip it.” (I should close the door to the back of my mind.)

Out came my “go-to” color, Valspar “Honey Vanilla” in flat latex. I like this color because it plays nice with other creams and ivories. I favor warm ivory tones or creamy whites. The stark whites or cool whites don’t appeal to me, they work better with modern or contemporary style and I’m in love with the vintage american farmhouse furniture. I like the warmth of age and this color gives the illusion of a white that has aged with use and time.

I cleaned the entire piece with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution to remove dirt and oil and then lightly sanded the top with 200 grit sandpaper to give it some tooth. Wiped it down again with the vinegar solution, let it dry and it was ready. Application was easy. I just used a brush.  I did two coats, letting each coat dry over night. I kept the old brass pulls in their original state, I love them. I’m not crazy about the run-of-the-mill replacement porcelain knobs that came with it. I’ll be changing those out for brass as soon as I find some that play nice with the original pulls. For now, the knobs are functional.

I’ve not been distressing my pieces as much lately, preferring to let them get dinged up on their own. I used a paint scraper along some of the edges to remove a bit of paint here and there, but not much. I debated waxing the top or doing matte poly. In the end I did matte poly. This is going to get some use. I pile books on it. Magazines. My reading glasses. Sometimes a drink. But now I’m not liking it so much. It’s too shiny. So in the near future, I’ll take it back outside, sand the poly off, repaint the top and then wax it. Because I love doing things over and over. (This may not be true.)

“You need to make decisions and stick with them,” said someone to me…. Once. After living with me for many years, I no longer get that advice. It’s pointless.  I second guess myself. Sometimes I even third guess. Or I’ll love something for awhile and wake up one morning and I don’t love it anymore. But that’s the beauty of paint. It can be removed, re-applied. Changed. The power of paint to make ugly beautiful is amazing. It’s cheap. It’s usually a quick fix. I’m pretty happy with the new look.

Moral: Inspect your prospective piece carefully. Ask to move it to see if it’s stable, do the smell test. Open and close drawers. Look inside. Decide if you have the skill to repair loose joints, rotted sides, or rebuild. And if you are buying something to paint, don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself to live with it. “IT’S JUST PAINT” is a mantra of decorators for a reason. It’s true, it’s just paint. Or in this case, poly. So keep trying until you get it right. My little commode might benefit from multiple layers of paint, it might even become sturdier….. you know…. “held to together with spit and baling wire?” Maybe it should be, “held together with love and paint.” Why not? It’s as good an idea as any other, and who wants to sleep next to something held together with spit? eeuuuw, gross.

Create your sanctuary, one room at a time. Create the home you see in your heart, no matter where you live.

OK, I’m late. Late for a very important date…. (apologies to Louis Carroll and Disney), I know I should have posted all my spring stuff before this. I mean, geez, other bloggers have had their spring decor out for weeks. Somehow April got away from me and here it is the first week in May! The older I get the faster time goes. I used to hear that from my elders growing up and I was……”What?” “That doesn’t make any sense. How can time go faster?”  But I sure get it now.

For my spring table this year I rounded up a couple of bird nests left over from my Easter centerpiece and added a few things that evoked spring to me. I didn’t want to buy anything new so everything here is stuff I had already had. Greenery….zero dollars. Feathers…. Zero dollars. Nests…. Zero dollars. Free Spring centerpiece? Priceless.

Putting the nests under cloches gives them a little more importance. And what says spring better than greenery in peat pots?   Two vintage crystal glasses with bird feathers and rolled up music sheets, and all of it on my favorite chippy wood base layered on a grain sack remnant. It’s low enough that guests can see one another and converse over it, narrow enough that I can still set the table without dismantling or moving everything.

I added an old book as a riser for one of the peat pots because it was green and had a nifty title. Five acres and Independence. I bought the book months ago for $2.00 with the intention of taking it apart for another project. I didn’t pay particular attention to the title until I got it home. It struck a chord. And I couldn’t bring myself to take it apart.

All the time I was growing up I said I wanted to live on a little farm. Five acres sounded like a pretty good number. I wanted all sort of animals. I didn’t actually want to FARM, I just wanted a farmhouse and animals. Farming looked like hard work and I wasn’t into the whole plowing the field part, but I was into the animal part. Life had other plans for me and I never got my five acres. (Or the farmhouse.) I did, however, get to share my life with various critters over the years. And still have two furbabies. So as far as dreams coming true, I got half of that one. A win surely…. plus I didn’t have to plow any fields. Bonus.

Where was I? Oh yes, the book as a riser. I’m still looking for another vintage book or two….. maybe a gardening or botanical tome for the other end of the table, to balance the arrangement. It’s a bit lopsided with just the one book. I noticed after I added the photos that I still have a crusty little twig hanging out for no apparent reason. It has some great lichen on it but it feels sort of….off…. in the arrangement. Should I remove it?  I like to tweak things after I get the basic plan down. This one isn’t any different. There may be other changes besides adding a book and subtracting the twig. Or not. Sometimes an arrangement can feel static and boring without something a little “off.” For now, this is my spring table. I hope you approve.

Create the home you see in your heart. Create a sanctuary, no matter where you live.