Chalk Paint...my new obsession

It's been quite a while since my last post... but I'm still here :) I thought I'd share a project I recently finished. I picked up this night stand/shelf combo{for $25 at the flea market}. I've been impatiently waiting & wanting to try out Chalk Paint on furniture~ so I was thrilled when I found this piece.

Years ago I used to paint furniture that I'd sell at flea markets. I've always enjoyed painting furniture, but loathed the process of sanding, priming and absolutely hated the thought of stripping old paint off a piece of furniture!!!

Holy cow! I can not tell you how much I LOVE using Chalk Paint♥ The fact that you don't have to prime before painting is probably my favorite part. I've heard SO much about Annie Sloan &  CeCe Caldwell's Chalk Paint. After checking out both Companies, I wasn't excited about how expensive it is~ not to mention I'd have to order it on-line{then wait for it to arrive}and I wanted to get started right away. So, I started searching the internet on "How to make Chalk Paint"....

This project was done using a recipe I found here . I bought a paste wax from Home Depot, used brushes I already had and used a soft cloth to rub the wax in & wipe off{although Annie Sloan & Cece Caldwell use a wax brush to apply their wax, I followed the directions of the wax I purchased}. A few things I liked when reading about CeCe Caldwell's paint: the paint has no Volatile Organic Compounds, it's non toxic, has no odor and the fact that you use a wax brush instead of a cloth. 

I decided to purchase a couple sample paints & sample wax{here}. Each 4oz. tub is enough to cover a small piece of furniture. I have the perfect vintage night stand that I can't wait to test these out on! I'll be sure and post the end result.
 

Latest Flea Market Finds

I feel like I'm buried in them. So, some I'll keep and some will go into my Vintage Etsy Shop.

How cute is she! I think she's supposed to be a fairy because she has wings and a wand.
Lots of vintage pennants, a quilt, chenille blankets, satin eiderdown, paintings...
and the cutest little lamp I've ever seen!


My brother and I were recently talking about the things we had as kids that we wished we'd kept. His was a huge collection of 7-eleven Baseball Slurpee cups from the 70's. After we got off the phone I started browsing Ebay and found these.

14 cups in a listing that was ending in two days...at 5:30 a.m.{good thing I like my brother}. He loved them. Thanks Ebay♥

What I've been busy working on for my Shop:

Now back to work :)

Hidden Treasures

I spotted this old tattered tin{just the way I like them}yesterday at the flea market. It was kind of hidden under some stuff, maybe that's why no one had snatched it up.
When I picked it up it was pretty heavy, I thought to myself "please let there be buttons in here"....
when I opened it up, this is what I found :)
wonderful old vintage buttons♥ You can never have too many{{I wonder if that's what hoarders think to themselves~ yikes!}}
I would have been happy with just the tin, the buttons were just a bonus. Here's some really cool History about the Ward Baking Co.

Not what I was looking for...

Every weekend, rain or shine I head out to the Flea Market. I'm usually just there to pick up vintage frames, mirrors or windows. As usual I come across things I just can't pass up. This weekend I had zero luck with frames, but here are a few things I did find.
Some will go into my Vintage Shop, some given a face-lift and some I'll keep :)


These vintage lamps are going to look incredible once they've been upcycled.
My favorite find, this beautiful vintage mustard seed necklace. My 98 year old Grandmother wore one similar for as long as I can remember, now I think of her each time I wear it♥
Our puppy is getting bigger by the day. He is the sweetest little man with the best personality. He's the reason my alarm clock no longer wakes me up. He and I spend every morning{and by morning I mean 3 & 4 a.m.}going through our/his routine: 2 or 3 trips outside to go potty, eating breakfast and dragging out each and every toy~ plus a shoe someone forgot to pick up.
Although I love starting the day with him, I'm looking forward to the day he sleeps in til at least 5:30 a.m.!

After....

Here are the frames from my last blog post. What a difference a little paint can make♥


I picked this portrait up this weekend at the flea market, vintage portraits are one of my favorite things to find.
She's hanging in my hallway, the colors really brighten up the wall!

Flea Market Finds...

I'm always surprised when I stumble onto vintage Syroco frames, and finding three in one day is pretty good! I keep thinking they're can only be so many left in the world, but I'm hoping not to find that out any time soon. I'm getting ready to give them all a face lift, possibly a Chalkboard or just colorful upcycled Mirrors???I also picked up this awesome vintage Lady Baltimore Suitcase. It's going to be beautiful once it gets a good cleaning.

Two things I learned about my puppy this week. 1). He loves to sleep{usually under my feet whether I'm on the computer, doing dishes or sitting on the couch}.


2). He really likes to dig. And he's pretty good at it.

It's cute now but I'm thinking it might not be so cute when he's full grown. Do you let a puppy dig, or am I supposed to keep him from digging????

Flea Market Finds....

Sometimes my trip to the flea market pays off. Here are a few of my latest finished projects.

Before

After

One of my favorite upcycled vintage Italian Mirrors, I think it turned out beautiful. It's on the way to it's new home♥

Flea Market Keepers♥

Lately all the ornate framed mirrors I've found have been upcycled for my Etsy Shop, but this one I'm keeping. It might get painted down the road, but for now it fits perfectly here in this spot the way it is♥
How cute is this Sailor boy{or girl- I'm not sure because of the longer hair}?? Whenever I come across poseable Japanese dolls I have to grab them since they're a pretty rare find.


A new favorite portrait. It looks like it was done with chalk, dated: 1943. A few of my kids say she looks like a ghost, my brother said she looks like Lindsey Lohan with dark hair. Of all the things I collect~ Vintage portraits are my favorite. It always has me wondering what the story is behind the people and why aren't they handed down to family members?? because I know she was someone's daughter/sister/aunt or mother. I'm happy she's mine now :)

A few projects I'm working on{{Upcycling}}right now. Beautiful ornate vintage Syroco Mirrors & Shelf
Back to work!

Upcycled Flea Market Finds

This has become a new addiction of mine. In the past when I've found a vintage framed mirror I would automatically turn it into a chalkboard or memo board. Now I love taking ornate mirrors and upcycling them~ turning them into colorful wall decor.

I found a box of these old drawer pulls that I knew would look much better painted....
Way better!!
A few of my favorite Flickr Upcycled Creations:
{Beautiful Reconstructed skirt from vintage fabrics}So pretty!
{Upcycled Vintage Train Case}LOVE this!
{Upcycled Umbrella Dog Raincoat} LOL, how cute is that(love his face)! What a great idea.
{Upcycled Vintage Brooch}Beautiful!

Here are a couple of my latest Flea Market Finds:
{Vintage paper lanterns & pom poms}
{Vintage cat eye glasses}

I have more to share but my camera batteries died, I'm up to my ears in back to school shopping and school registration. 13 days til everyone's back in school, peace and quite for a whole 6 1/2 hours a day, five days a week. woo hoo! I know I'm not the only mom who's excited about this :)