French Country Collection

I'm a sucker for taupe and white.  It's soft, warm, and cozy.  It can be used in french country or in a beach inspired room.  I found so true gems this week when searching for furniture.  All furniture was painted with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and Johnson Paste Wax.

 French Country Desk $179.95

Large end table $119.95

Folding End Table.  Label underneath says it from NY and made by The Howe Company. 

Sweet little end table $79.95

 You can find these treasures at The Old Flamingo.

French Provincial 9 Drawer Dresser

When I found this beauty, it was love at first sight!

Yes, it was a worn and bit tired!  It still amazes me what a bit of sanding and priming just the top can do for a piece of furniture.

I highly recommend using an adhesion primer.  My favorite is Zinsser B-I-N.  Yes, it is oil based but for a damaged top it is amazing.  It can also be sanded and then I usually add one more coat.  I use a sponge roller to apply and then toss it out. 



The color is Polished Ivory by Valspar.  Their paint is so creamy and rich. 

I distressed it with my palm sander.  I love that thing!



 I used Early American Stain by Minwax.  Wipe on wipe off!

I used Rustolem Water Based Polyacrylic Semi-Gloss.  I sand in between coats.  It gives almost a glass finish.  I only do 2 coats on the top and one coat all over.

I used Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint for the hardware. 

This was a fun piece to do.  This baby is 6ft long x 33" Tall x 18" Deep.  $450.00.

This is for sale up at The Old Flamingo, 3474 S. 2300 E., Millcreek, UT 84109

Debbi

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint Marathon

A few weeks ago I ordered Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on in it.  Oh, I loved the packaging.  I loved the colors.  I spent 2 days in my paint studio.  I had a blast! 

I used Kitchen Scale and a bit of Ironstone for knobs and the stool below.

This was a plain child's oak chair.  It was spruced up with one coat of Kitchen Scale.

I then ran my paint scraper along the edges and it gave it a distressed look. 

An old and pretty ugly stool.

A vintage silverware box. 

One of a kind end table. 

The stool has a crackle finish without any crackle medium. 



I love the color of Kitchen Scale.  It's soft and warm.

Drop Leaf End table with high gloss finish.

Two coats of MMS Kitchen Scale.

 The MMS Milk Paint chipped immediately. 

Chip Love!



This is a new piece of furniture.  Solid Pine Dresser.

MMS Milk Paint soaked right in to the wood.  It gave it colored stained look.  Also liked there is a bit of variation of color. 

On the top of the dresser I used MMS Crackle Medium and then used MMS Ironstone on the top.

The crackle medium gave it a small crackles with a dry brush look.

All of the pieces I used MMS Wax.  I loved it.  It so pliable and easy to use.

Overall I enjoyed Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint.  I like that you don't know how it will react with each piece of furniture.  I found it a bit more work to mix.  When it chipped it was messy.  Would I use it again.  Yes!  I really like the unpredictability of it.  

I've been painting furniture for almost 5 years now and it is important to try new things.  It keeps me wanting to create.  

I enjoy using Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and Miss Mustard's Seed's Milk Paint.  I will use them as an addition to my repertoire.

I do high volume of painted furniture.  I will always rely on my latex paint.  It's great durability.  The price is right.  There is a lot you can do with it.  I typical use Valspar latex paint.  Valspar has come a long way.  It thick and creamy which helps with drips.  

Thanks Misss Mustard Seed for a quality product.  

Debbi  

Linky Parties

http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2013/02/treasure-hunt-thursday-93-highlights.html



http://missmustardseed.com/2013/02/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-a-link-party-18/

http://www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/02/feathered-nest-friday.html

France Is In My Heart

No, I've never been to France.  It's a dream of mine.  While I'm saving for France I'll be painting furniture with a french flair.  Here are a few my new France inspired pieces.

Anthropologie Wallpapered Black Hutch $449.95

Curvy Coffee Table

 Chalkboard Coffee Table $159.95

This is a fun way to leave a message for your loved one.  You can change it everyday!

Thanks for looking,

Debbi

Furniture Artist

These pieces are available at The Old Flamingo. 

Chicken With Knople (swiss dumplings)

Oh, yum!  I love this recipe. My grandparents were from Switzerland.  My grandmother Anne made these soft billowy dumplings that in turn my mother made for us.  It's an old family favorite and the best to have on cold wintry night. 

This is the best homemade Chicken Soup. 

 

In large sauce pan add 12 Cups of Water, 12 Chicken Bouillon Cubes, and 1lb of Chicken Breast (fresh or frozen).  Simmer for 45 minutes until chicken breasts are cooked.  Remove from pan and shred.

Knople (Swiss Dumplings)

1 1/2 Cups of Water

2 Eggs

1 1/2 Cups of Flour

1/2 tsp of Salt

Mix the water and eggs together til frothy.  Add the salt and stir.  Then then add the flour.  Mix well.  You want the consistency of pancake batter.  You made need to a bit more flour.  Let sit on the counter for 1 hour.  This is an important step if you want your Knople to soft pillows of love!~

After the chicken is removed and shredded.  Set aside.  Then add the batter to the simmering broth. 

Take 2 teaspoons and load  about 1/2 tsp of batter to one spoon and then slide it off with other spoon.  You can add more batter to your spoon if you want larger dumplings.

When the are Knople is done they will float to the top.  It will take about five minutes to make all the dumplings.  Then add the chicken back to the pot. 

Serve. 

This is a beautiful bowl full of love.  It reminds of my dear Grandma Anne.  How I wish I could share a bowl with her.  I know she is smiling in heaven to know how much I love her and this yummy soup.

To you Grandma Anne.  It heaven will share a bowl one day!  All my love.  Your Granddaughter,

Debbi

Baby, it's cold outside! New creations!

Salt Lake City is under a huge blanket of snow.  Our temperature is maintaining under the 20's.  Yikes!  I'm not a fan of this cold.  I can handle the snow but the frigged temperature is for the birds!  It hasn't stopped me from painting.   It's therapy for me to be painting spring colors on furniture.  This little dresser is painted coral and minty green. 

I love the look of fresh pressed linen.  Especially with white.  The end tables and coffee table would look great in a french inspired room or  a beach inspired room.

Who doesn't love turquoise!  I love turquoise with black.  The lamp on this sofa table is a favorite of mine.  It may have to go home with me!

Several years ago I wasn't into Mid Century Modern.  I have to say it's grown on me.  The sleek lines and amazing construction makes for classic modern look.  The color on this dresser is a slate blue which speaks to the clean lines of this piece.  

Sometimes a piece doesn't have to be painted.  A small changes of hardware can be all a piece needs.  This would be great as an end table.  Lots of storage and great height for a lamp and books.  A solid oak dresser is always a great look.  

All of these pieces are for sale at The Old Flamingo in The Tattered Butterfly Design section.

Shabby Chic Numbered Dresser

I found this dresser at a local thirft store.  It was already painted a minty green.  I plugged the handles because I wanted to use knobs instead of pulls.

I painted this with a coat of white.  Then I heavily distressed this piece.

 Then painted the numbers on the side. 

 The dressser was original a dark walnut stain.  The distressings shows this detail.

The butterfly knobs are a favorite of mine.  I like mixing knobs to add interest to the piece.

I had a perfect spot in my living room, but  you kind find this at The Old Flamingo for sale.

$249.95.

Debbi

Linky Parties:

The Shabby Nest

Jennifer Rizzo