DIY - Mini Vintage Olive Bucket

There's something earthy and rustic about olive buckets and they remind me of being back in Tuscany. The tree's, the hills, the cafe's, the people, slow pace and on and on.

Ok, ok so I can pretend I'm still there from our last vacation. I've seen some buckets locally but they want upwards of $75.00. Whoa! Still more than I want to pay. The best source really is Decor Steals (www.decorsteals.com) but you have to catch the deal of the day & believe me they sell fast. Love that site. So I was in Target last week and found these galvanized buckets in the dollar section as you walk in.  These were actually $3.00 each and I snatched up the last 3.

                       This was the before shiny and new, and they have jute handles too.

I had a bare bottom of the can of Old White chalk paint left and I added a couple of dabs of Graphite that was bare bottom too.  Mixed it up and dabbed it on coating the entire piece to cover the shine. Be sure to tape your jute handles inward so the do get any paint on.  No biggy because you can always replace them or add leather straps which I thought about adding.
                         
                                     With a coat of paint. See the difference in shine.

Once the bucket was dry I mixed some American Paint Compamy American Grit into some clear wax and wiped that all over. You can add more or less of the Grit if you want depending on the color you want.  You can always use dark wax too but American Grit has more of that vintage grey color of the old buckets I like.  That's it - fun & easy.  PS - I was also told you can age your buckets with vinegar (the wonder tool) and salt.  Have to try that next time.

                                             Here's my end product which I love!

                                            Toodles ~  Karen

Junking & Thrifting for the stuff (it's Mother's Day)

First of all Happy Mother's Day to all the moms of the world,

trusting you all had a wonderful day - I know I did!

Seems like eons since I last posted - I think it has been.  I've been so blessed (did I say soooo blessed) with my painting business that I had to come up for air. As quick as I paint a piece it flies out the door - sold!   I guess that's a good thing.  But to me by far it has been the people I've met on this journey. If all I had to do is open a can or bag of paint that would be easy but it takes time finding, junking, scouring, climbing over, digging in, moving, driving, calling, picking up, delivering my vintage pieces.  Oh and  I forgot - painting these pieces.  But I love it & more importantly it's meeting some amazing women and men that share that love of everthing vintage. The idea that there is new life breathed into every piece; not that same old boring furniture that has been sitting lifeless in a garage or corner somewhere.

I truely love hearing the stories of where some of these pieces have come from.  How they belonged to a relative or it was used in their house when they were young.  Do I paint every piece - about 90% gets repurposed and the other 10% I keep or pass on to one of my clients.  I love visitng thrift stores because the ones I go to are usually non profit and purchases go to a great cause. One in particular donates some of their proceeds to feeding the homeless locally and also food banks.  Craigslist is a great source and I have met people who are excited to see the final transformation or even fellow painters themselves who for one reason or another have to part with some of their excess which I gladly buy.

Yard sales are fun too especially estate sales where usually I find some really vintage stuff.  I've mastered the art of buying & loading (that's where a truck comes in handy).  Taking all the drawers out of a piece reduces the weight.  So the next time you have the urge to go on that scavenger hunt, make sure you have, blankets, movers and some extra wheels to transport.  The early bird truely catches the gems. And don't be afraid to ask for a better price, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Look at this beauty Serena at Thrift Diving scored for $40.00.  I'd love to get my hands on one like that.  Better yet I think my fellow painter Alex has one he's selling. Time to give Alex a call.

Toodles -  Karen

The hardware get's me every time!

I've come to the realization that it's not always that vintage piece that excites as much as the hardware that comes attached to the pieces I find.  Its kinda like a little black dress without the classic strand of pearls, or vase without beautiful flowers.  Some things just go together. Recently I have come across some pieces that have the most awesome hardware that I've decided to leave on the piece instead of keeping for me. What would I do with all that hardware anyway?  I'm in the painting business not hardware; I'd become a hardware hoarder if I could.  As it is I barely have room for the the pieces that are waiting in line to be dressed up (aka painted). 

This hardware is so beautiful you could barely see it since it blended in with the dark wood piece.  Not any longer, this was refreshed and added to this Louis Blue-Paris Grey cabinet.

 Another one that blended into this mahogany buffet. Notice the wheat pattern which pops                                                      against the Paris Grey color.

This one came off a French Provincial hutch and went back on after a coat of Oil Rubbed Bronze.  Reminds me of smiling mustache. 

I've only recently started changing out some of the hardware to something a little dressier depending of the piece.  Some pieces are plain Jane and need that "umph" to make them pop. Here are some favorites. 

                                                                       Beautiful!

I love this color!

                                                        How whimsical & fun

.                                          
                                          The vintage look for the vintage piece         


Great sources are Anthropologie (pricey but worth it), Hobby Lobby, Pier One, Home Depot. Check out Magical Beans in Little Rock, Arkansas on their Facebook page;  they have great pieces.

This is a set I picked up yesterday that's going on either a dresser or desk that's waiting in the wings.  

Next time you are out and about on your vintage finds, take a peek at the hardware that gal   is wearing, you just might fall in love!   I'm telling you, the hardware gets me every time!


Toodles  -  Karen

She was screaming "make me pretty"

Ok fellow vintage painters, did you ever come across an old piece that was just sitting in a corner of some thrift store or some yard sale. I came across a truly vintage piece sitting in the back corner buried under other furniture. Still solid in her bones but a little tattered on the outside screaming "make me pretty - please".  Does it excite you to envision what this ugly duckling can become, a beautiful swan. She had her original crystal knobs and roller feet.  I decided to dress her up with Annie Sloan's Old White and French Linen. Oh did I mention I added a few stripes for fun. Take a peek - now she's ready to make an appearance, stripes and all.

                                     Old White with French Linen stripes - too cute

                                                 Love the little crystal knobs

Let's start the New Year again

Is that a familiar phrase for some of us; starting the New Year again.  I wish I could, I should have, I'm going to, let's backtrack, there's always tomorrow. I vowed this year not looking back but forward. It's been said that we can't change our past but we can control our future. So I'm going to blog more (I skipped the holidays all together - I can't believe it, not one post since Halloween), paint more, listen more, pray more, take time for me more, spend time with my grand kids more in between keeping a balance. Yeah sure! All I can say is to pick one or two & press on - don't forget to pray, prayer changes things.  Toodles!

So I started with these chairs, they were a horrible mess. Not anymore!

Look at my before & after page