Wednesday, December 14, 2011

~When Little Gypsies Take To The Sea~

Hello friends....thank you for taking time out from your hectic holiday schedule to visit.
I have a little story to tell you today 
I just completed my latest Annie sloan chalk paint
dresser restyle
and decided it was begging for a story
I hope you like it

Here is the old dresser before
Very dull and dried out looking brown wood
*
*
*
*

** After**

Once upon a time
two little gypsy boys named Billy and Sean,
yearned to see the world.
They wanted to explore the lands beyond
their little striped gypsy tents.
They knew that to do this, they would have to 
set sail and travel by sea.
Now everyone knows Gypsies are expert at land travel
They can travel the unknown back roads of a country
with precision and expert knowledge of 
direction.
But the sea???
Billy and Sean knew nothing of the 
SEA!
They thought long and hard about this 
and as they had no boat ,decided they would
have to attach a sail to their wooden dresser
and sail away in it.

They painted stripes on the sides so they would always be reminded of the striped tents
they had lived in.

They needed a compass to help show them the way on their adventure,
 so they painted a compass rose on the front to help guide them.


The N/S/E/W indicators where marked on the knobs.
They were sure that they would never get lost sailing this vessel.

For good company and so as not to be too terribly lonely
on their travels
they took along their friend Oscar the devoted gypsy elephant.
Oscar was very excited at the prospect of traveling to India.
He had heard of the many relatives he had there and longed to meet a few of them.

So with Oscar, a globe to guide them and a compass rose for direction
off the went!
They would sail around the world and have many many adventures and write many stories about all they had seen and done.

I hope you enjoyed my little tale of a 
dresser restyled for an adventure

If the boys and Oscar ever grow weary of a life at sea, they can always
anchor their dresser's sweet legs to a cozy parcel of land.
The little castors will roll so smoothly through the countryside, 
as gypsies never stay in one place too long.


Remember the Shiny Brite glass ornaments I found last week?
Well I found another box of 8  gold balls at a
 Fredericksburg antique shop for only $5.00!!!

Aren't they sweet?

Connie gifted me with the most delicious Quince Jelly she had made!
I was in Fredericksburg to meet up with a fellow blogger whom I had never met before.

Built in 1848!!
Connie from Hartwood Roses and I met at her FABULOUS old pre Civil War home in Falmouth, Virginia.
I fell in love at the chippy white painted front door!
Talk about character...this house is overflowing with it.
Check out Connie's blog
Be sure to pull up the renovation links on her side bar...incredible!
Connie...if you are reading this, I LOVED meeting you and your husband
and look forward to another vintage shopping adventure.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.

Sharing with a few friends this week:
Hope Studios (see side bar link)

PS...My Gypsy dresser will be going to the Fox Den and my shop and looking for a good home.
Must be ready to sail away at a moments notice!

41 comments:

Kelly Ann said...

Beautiful....
xoxo

Gretel said...

I am not just saying this because of my dear Oscar being shown, but that is the BEST thing in my opinion you have done so far! It is stunning! Oh if I could only get you over here to transform my duffed up old mdf shelves. This is perfect for a childs room, I really hope it flies out (it should do) to a good home. The colonial house is something else and also stunning.

Goldie said...

Love the dresser, and the old ornaments!

Soozcat said...

mmmm, quince. The original marmalade!

You've done a bang-up job on this dresser. It's beautiful.

Connie in Hartwood said...

Ms. Janet, my first expedition with you was definitely one to treasure ... and I anxiously look forward to whatever mischief we get into in the future. You are a keeper, for sure!

This dresser looks incredible! I'm sure it won't stay in the shop for long. Gypsies gotta travel, don't ya know.

Sarah said...

That dresser is just STUNNING!! Is there no end to your talents?!!

Did you know that what we call a "dresser" here in the UK is what you call a hutch (the houses pet rabbits live in are called hutches here!!)

This would be a chest of drawers over here - aren't the differences in our language peculiar?!!

S x

Colleen said...

So fantastic! Thank you for sharing this!

Glenda @ Magnolia Bend Drive said...

I love the star on the dresser and everything else about it. You are an artist and a great story teller! Thanks for sharing.

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

OH My Janet honey you have really out done yourself this time. I believe this is the most unique piece I have ever seen. Just one of a kind and how you managed to paint the star blows my mind. hahaha
For a minute there I thought you meant the city of Fredricksburg in Texas. I thought oh my Janet was that close to me and I did not get to meet her.
Then my ole brain kicked in and realized you guys have one too.
Never heard of that jam but darn does it make me want some.
If I could have one wish for Christmas it would be that I could be as creative as you.
Love ya honey
Maggie

TJM wanna be quilt artist said...

Amazing, your creations just keep getting more and more special!
looking forward to being in your first class.

Erin @ How to Nest for Less said...

LOVE!!! Absolutely beautiful!!!

Frances Tyrrell said...

How beautiful! Plus I see a Gretel Parker/Red Flannel Elephant one-of-a-kind felted friend there, Oscar. How nice to know he has such a perfect home with a kindred spirit in creativity. I love the dresser treatment, unexpected and completely right, complete with magical story.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Janet, very cute post and oh, how I love your paint job. You are good! Lucky you to meet Connie and see her home.

Kathleen Grace said...

What a sweet story, and a sweet dresser! All dressed up for the cutest room. Have a great week Janet:>)

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

That dresser turned out beautifully, Janet! Love the blue you used and the stripes on the side.

visiting from WUW! : )

deborah@confessions of a craigslist junkie said...

That dresser is fabulous! I came over to check out your blog after reading about you at Connie's(I met her last week!), and I'm following you now.

Karen The Graphics Fairy said...

That's fantastic Janet!!! You paint just as beautifully as you sew! It was great seeing you again today...and it was nice getting to know you a little bit better!

Debbie refreshrestyle said...

Janet, I'm in love with this!!!! You did a great job, with the paint and story!
Debbie

Beth J. Beal said...

That dresser has to be favorite piece yet!

Wonderful!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

What a treat to find your post (through Miss Mustard Seed's post today). The dresser you painted and the story you wrote to go with it was such a treat, love to hear a good story.
- Joy

Lady Courtney said...

I am just going to have to go visit that dresser!!! It is gorgeous!!! To go shopping with both you and Connie, would be a fun dream! Donna

marie said...

oooh! i love discovering bloggers that are in my area! i live in fredericksburg and i'm now planning a trip to your shop in warrenton sometime soon. LOVE that dresser!!

Susanna said...

You are soooooooo talented! That dresser is amazing. All the details!

fixitfaerie said...

First time I have seen your blog. Love the story you made up to go with your FABULOUS dresser. Ok, now I am going to look at other projects on your blog page. Fun Times Merry Christmas

Annette said...

What a fun story and gorgeous restyle! It's definitely one of my favorites so far. I enjoyed watching the progression on Facebook!

Sue@Uniquely Chic said...

Love the creativity! The dresser itself is beautiful and just love what you did with the knobs!

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

A nice story, and a beautiful makeover. It's stunning.

WhyCuzICan said...

How lovely!!!! Thanks for making sure this was posted at MMS this week-- awesome!!! That's alot of love in the dresser!

Smiles from Miss Mustard Seed's linky party,
Suzanne at WhyCuzICan in NW Illinois

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Your dresser turned out lovely. The details are so fun and striking. You did a great job.

abeachcottage said...

Lovely how it turned out! You did a great job.

Art Is Beauty said...

in AWE of this dresser....saw it over at Miss mustard seed.. so BEAUTIFUL!!!
Karin

Anonymous said...

Very creative painting on your dresser and I'm sure it took a lot of time to tape off all those stripes and also do the design on the front. Love it!

Janet said...

The story reminds me of "Theodore Mouse Goes to Sea" where he makes a sail out of his bedsheet and attaches it to his bed and sails off for some adventures! Gotta love an adventure whether you are a mouse or a gypsy. Merry Christmas Janet :)

AntiqueChase said...

Wowza that is stunning! great job!!

Kammy's Korner said...

Clever story, and even MORE clever dresser!!! I'm always looking for something a little above and beyond the norm and this for SURE smacks the target! Would love for you to come share this with my readers and link up over at Trash 2 Treasure Tuesdays on Kammy's Korner! http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com/2011/12/trash-2-treasure-tuesdays-11.html

Debra said...

Where is the tutorial for painting the compass on this dresser? It is awesome!

Unknown said...

love the dresser redo. so cute and the story as well, would love to feature it , if this would be ok with you please let me know
lauren

Unknown said...

I would love to feature you and your fabulous dresser Janet! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Janet, I love the dresser!!! Wish I was there to see it in person!
Toni :)

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