Dinning Room Chair Update

Hi ... I thought I would share with you the progress on my dining room chairs and the method I used for distressing them.

I am making some progress with my dinning room chairs ... It has been cold and rainy forever. 

Finishing these chairs are a big part in finishing my dinning room makeover. Rain stay away pleeeeese :)

So lets take a look at where the chairs started and talk about the look I wanted and how I did it.

You remember these ?

 Dark and formal ... that is where I started .... where I wanted to be was ...well the look of a chair that has been painted over and over and the paint is starting to wear and peal. I'm sure I could have found used chairs that fit the bill, but I was being cheep and I thought the pretty lines of the chair would work. So what I did  to achieve the look I wanted.

Lightly sanded

Primed the chair with a mixture of flat paint and some plaster of paris .

Why?  I thought the plaster of paris and paint mixture would give the chair a little bit of a build up and fill in some groves ... to look like paint build up underneath and It made my sanding a little easier.

The plaster of paris ,Just add a little at a time ... if you add a little too much add a bit of water. It should be thin enough to brush on easily .

Next I sanded the chair where I wanted the distressing. I have fybromaliaga and arthritis . That is why I chose this method ... The sanding part was easy.

Here is the chair after this step.

Are you wondering ... won't the sanding get covered over when you paint the chair in its finished color?  Yes that is why this next step is important.

What I did next was , I rubbed a candle over the distressed marks before I painted the chair. After I rubbed the candle on I put on my last two coats of antique white (satin latex) paint. What the candle wax does is .. when you sand

where the wax was it will come of easily . It gives it sort of a peeling paint affect and makes sanding much easier. (If you haven't tried this method before ... try it on a picture frame ... I'm sure you will have fun with this method) 

Here is the chair after sanding.    

I'm happy with the way it came out. What do you think? have you tried this method?

You may have noticed there is no seat. Well the seats are ready ...as soon as all the chairs are done I will be putting them on ... But I might just might make you wait for my dinning room reveal  to see them (maybe).

The fabric I used is on my dinning room inspiration board.

I hope you all will stop back to see the dinning room ... I will keep you posted on its progress.

Chicken Love

Nathan and I have been thinking about getting chickens in the spring. We are thinking 4 or 5. We have been doing a lot of research on the different breeds and which would be suitable for our location and family.

Those were some chicks we saw at the fair ... adorable aren't they? :)

Here is one of the many chickens that were there.

I really felt bad for these chickens ... sticky handed children grabbing through the bars ripping out feathers ... many had bald spots .  Perhaps they should have smaller bars or chicken wire so the small children can enjoy them with out hurting them ... I'm sure the little children don't realize what they are doing. I have had 3 children and I know how fast little fingers can be.

Here is one of the many roosters that were there.

Speaking of roosters ... we can't figure out if we should get one or not. Some suggest to do so while others suggest not.  So help me all you experienced chicken lovers ... what is your take on having a rooster to keep the chickens happy? Does it really make them happier? Does it affect their docility? Rooster yes? Rooster no? Let me know what you think.

 Perhaps I should just stick with the roosters in the kitchen :)

Letters & Mice

Hi ... I thought I would share a photo of some wood letters I painted.

I bought some wood letters from the craft store in different shapes and sizes . I used a different base coat on each style letter (dk grey,black,dk brown). Then painted them shades of white. I distressed them and glazed some also. I wanted them to look like they were picked up here and there and not bought as a set. It is hard to tell the difference of the finishes in the photo. In person you can see the difference. These spell RELaX, But I just have them here and there around the house.

Have fun with them ... Put them in unexpected places ...

Like on this old window

These cute little mice are from CoCo & Company

New Button

Hi ... I tried making my self a blog button. Does anyone mind clicking on the my button page and seeing if the code works ... I really don't know what I'm doing.

Would be grateful if someone could check if it works and if it looks ok. Thanks in advance!

The Pretty the Strange the Readable

The last 3 years we have gone to Rehoboth Beach De. , In addition to the usual vacation photos, we chose a subject matter for each year. The first year of the last 3 were flowers ...they were all over. The second yr.  the strange or unusual . The third year signs. I thought I would share with you 10 photos of each year.
Here are the lovely flowers.

Please click on the above photo to enlarge ... The colors are amazing!

Please click on the above photo to enlarge ... The pink color is lovely!

Do you have a favorite ... I would love to know!

Here is the strange and or unusual ... you decide.

The above turtle ...  recycled art. Strange ... maybe ,unusual yes ....but pretty cool ... don't you think ?

 And no this is not Megan and I trying on silly sunglasses and making silly faces,well I guess that would just be me whoever that strange woman is making the silly faces

And no this is not Megan and Nathan trying on silly sunglasses.

But whoever they are ... there pretty cute! LOL :)

So which one is your favorite strange and or unusual ?

Here are the Signs.

If your ever at Rehoboth Bech ,You have to try Jakes. Their crab cakes ... their seafood ... their ... just go! It is sooo good!

Good food, Bed & Breakfasts, Home interiors & antique shops ...and the beach what more could a gal ask for?

Old crow antique shop ....love it!

I guess I had to get in one more shot on the drive home!

What sign Is your fav ?

 I hope you enjoyed our themed photos of our last 3 trips, as much as I enjoyed posting them for you!

Sharing this post here :)