Meet Belle...

Incidentally, my spot in the house for refinishing furniture is just outside of my daughter Becca's bedroom.  As I was trying to figure out what to do with my dainty new accent table, it saw Becca dressing up in one of her princess gowns.  It told me it wanted to feel pretty too and liked the simple understated elegance of Becca's Belle gown.  I told the sweet little table that I had just the thing for it:

 a soft coat of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Mustard Seed Yellow, 

some light distressing to allow her brown base to show through (like Belle's soft brown hair),

 and a buttery coat of Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Wax.

She said that she was down with everything, except she didn't want all of the busy white decoration in the picture of the dresser, so I told her that was cool; and we got started.

I couldn't get a good pic of her to start with, but here's the best idea

 of her before.

She had really dark roots so it took 3 coats of milk paint to get her consistently yellow.

After she dried, I began the distressing.  Milk paint is so glorious to distress.  All you have to do is gently run over the surface with the end of a small paint scraper, and the paint does the rest.  If it's going to distress, it distresses.  If it's not, it doesn't.  Its inescapably random and glorious at the same time and ends up giving you a unique finish every time.

And here she is in all her glory
Meet Belle....

Sneak Peak of Today's Projects...

I recently came across this cute little step ladder and end table and they told me they both needed to feel a little prettier. I told them I was happy to oblige. Check back later to see how they turn out:)

And so the projects begin...

To say that I've always wanted a blog might be taking things a little too far; but recently so many people have shown interest in keeping up with my life (even though I already live in a glass house so to speak). The natural conclusion...start a blog. Maybe people won't get their hopes too high, or maybe I just won't let them down. Either way, tonight I begin this journey of chronicling my life and activities. 

My latest passions, other than my Lord, my family, and all things Disney have been refinishing furniture. Not just the sanding, restaining, and varnishing that instantly comes to mind...but the as my husband calls it "ruining a pretty piece of furniture" sort of refinishing. Before the influx of chalk and milk paint on the design scene, I often found myself being made fun of for liking furniture that was painted and then "scratches up."  I am by no means a "wood purist," though I am a sucker for velvety smooth walnut finishes and intricate inlays. But give me some gloriously chippy milk-painted buffet or a buttery soft chalk painted dresser with light distressing and I go to a happy place. My hopes from this blog are to be able to share that happy place with you. And so, dear readers we begin this journey together.