Sunday, June 12, 2011

Painted French Table..Wild Sweetpeas and Little Tew

Hello friends...so happy you have come back again. 
A special hello to all you new readers, welcome!
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So here she is, Collette..my two tiered, three legged end table.
All photos will click larger
She has been sitting in my bedroom for ten years.
She's pretty, but she is in need of a little beauty cream to help bring out her nice features.
I love this cool bronze tag on her underside verifying Collette's heritage.
French by way of
;->
Shapely hips...
And beautiful legs with toes to die for.
What? Ok...so I have a foot fetish!
Ready?
Let the makeover begin
I'm going to start with a base coat of Annie Sloan's Old White.
I made a watery wash with some Louis Blue and loosely brushed it over the two table tops.
Just a soft wash.
Collette has some gorgeous rings all up the  center pedestal, so I decided to showcase them.
I gave a few rings a wash of Louis Blue and Duck Egg Green
I color washed the two rims also.
I really love how chalk paint seems to be letting the table breathe and allowing some great texture to show through.
After the colorwash, I dry brushed a little Louis Blue on the rims to further highlight the textural bands.
I drybrushed more blue here and there on the table tops for depth and variation.
Pay no attention to my stubby nail...it was a bedmaking casualty..OUCH! 
After lightly distressing Collette with a piece of fine grit sandpaper, I began to apply the Annie Sloan clear wax.
Many thanks to Shaunna and Marian for their great painting and waxing videos.
I waxed very lightly with my large waxing brush, which I purchased from Patty and Karen at
 Classic Wall Finishes in New Jersey. They are the best ladies to do business with...so friendly and helpful. (unsolicited plug)

So here she is 
BEFORE..

AFTER
'Mademoiselle Collette'
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Isn't she tres chic?
Now you can really notice her pretty ringed details.
Like a lovely necklace.
I even painted her leg undersides in Louis Blue, to mimic getting a peak at her petticoats.
Collette is such a tease.
Very happy with the color wash of blue and green on her rings.
I could have painted the whole thing in Old White, but I think Collette is much more interesting with her little teases of color.
Very much like a real woman.
I wanted Collette to have the look of a table that was painted many years ago and not one that was painted to look old. The chalk paint lets you get that look.
At the risk of repeating myself...this stuff distresses like a dream. With latex, I always got a kind of peeling off distressed look. I was happy with that because thats all I knew I could ever get.
Annie Sloan's paint makes it possible to get a truly worn aged look, as if something has been slowly, over the years, rubbing against the wood.
Told you...doesn't Collette have pretty toes?
I am really pleased with my table and I hope you have enjoyed my Annie Sloan ramblings.
I know I get carried away, but I really do love this paint.
Many thanks to my fellow chalk paint enthusiasts (you know who you are) for their constant inspiration and never rending generosity.
Proof that sharing is GOOD.
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On a different note..
Friday, I had a special delivery all the way from England.  
Little Tew & Stowaway
My little bird Stowaway has been lonely, so I adopted a friend for her.
Meet Little Tew, one of Gretel Parkers precious creations.
The two have become fast friends and chat away as I cook.
They cringe disapprovingly when I cook with eggs.
Sorry guys!
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And for your floral fix...
Salvation Macy's thrifted silver vase
I cannot leave without giving you something from the garden.
I have this sweetpea plant that has been growing wild on my property for the last 11 years.
I just love it, but it grows next to the road.
I have tried to transplant parts of it so I can enjoy it closer to the house, but it refuses to budge.
It just shows up in abundance every June.
I make lot's of little bouquets in cute jelly jars for all the rooms. 
I'm a real sucker for a flower with tendrils. 
Sweetpeas are such an old fashioned flower and how appropriate to cast a sepia tone on a photo.
I wish you could smell the delicate scent...just lovely.
Ok ladies...pretend this table is standing upright..just work with me here
;->
Behold my next restyle victim.
An antique Singer treadle sewing machine table.
Sorry to say, but the machine is missing.
Please come back to see what I did with this great little piece.
You guessed it...more chalk paint!

Until next time...be kind and stay creative.
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Sharing this week with
Have a Lovely Week!


30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Collette? *giggles* I love her toes... what? No polish on them??

Di

Atelier Conti said...

What an improvement! From dowdy to gorgeous! Incredible! And sweetpeas are my absolute favorites...still waiting for mine to appear.

Kathleen Grace said...

Caaayute Janet! I love the table and it looks so pretty next to the colors in that chair. Looking forward to seeing the sewing machine table redone too:>)

Angie @ thejunkranch said...

Well, Collette's makeover looks wonderful on her! That touch of blue is unexpected and just right...and your photography makes it all the more interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing the next project.

Sue said...

Great blog entry! Can't wait to see what you do with the sewing table.

Little Blue Mouse said...

I love everything about this post; the table, the cute little birds, the sewing table (can't wait to see what you do with it) but most of all the sweetpeas in the silver vase. What gorgeous photos!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Awww, it turned out so nice! Love the soft colors you accented/drybrushed on...really pretty!

Anonymous said...

Collette looks fabulous in her new outfit. I am coveting these tables whenever I see them on blogland. I think if I ever run across one as pretty as Collette she will have to come home with me.
Your sweetpeas look beautiful in the silver pitcher.
I can't wait to see the Singer table transformation!
Tammy

moreofhim said...

Just beautiful! I wouldn't have thought of using those colors (even though they are favorites of mine) but they just make that precious table pop!!

Many blessings - Julie

Annette said...

Collette is so pretty all dressed up with color instead of all white! And she looks fabulous next to the chair!

Karen The Graphics Fairy said...

Beautiful! The colors are just so pretty!!

Mar said...

Love the table, I have a French side table with smal leafs on each side I have been trying to decide what to do with....mabey a little paint. It was my Great Grandmothers brought over from France...will have to look for markings...Hey is that the Singer table from your livingroom (Spring)..??You had a lovely crystal pitcher with silver on it that you made into a lamp???

Purnima@a creative project said...

Lovely makeover!!! Looks fabulous!!!!

Jill said...

Great table makeover!

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Tootsie said...

awesome this is right up my alley! I am a new follower from the dittle dattle hop...hope you will pop over soon! I do furniture/decorating etc and I garden!

Gretel said...

Little Tew is living in a palace! I do like the chalk paints you're using, I will have to try them if and when I ever get around to any renovation. (You need your own home makeover TV show, you know)

Kelly Ann said...

I think my great aunt Helen had that same table...so stinkin' cute...
xoxo

abeachcottage said...

She is such a unique and beautiful piece. Love her transformation, her new colour suits her very much.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing! Love the table and all the detail that you have put into it.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

It is very tres chic!! Love the colors you used and where you used them.

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Janet...

Ohhh my goodness...your two tiered frenchy table turned out fabulous!!! I love that you named her "Colette"! Hehe! I just love how you used the blue and green to bring out Colette's fabulous french details...very beautiful! Ohh yes...and I couldn't help but notice that gorgeous piece of furniture behind Colette. The pretty beige and cream damask piece! Ooohhh!!! I can tell that you have a beautiful home, my friend...thank you for sharing it with us! I also loved your pretty silver pitcher full of sweet peas...simply gorgeous! I have a "thing" for silver so this pretty bouquet was right up my design alley! Can't wait to see how your antique sewing cabinet turns out. I have been wanting to try Annie Sloan's chalk paint. Your beautiful Colette is such an inspiration to me! Thank you!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

Tammy said...

This is gorgeous! I love how you layered the paints and distressed the "ole"lady. I want o get some Annie Sloan's paint too! I'm your newest follower. Hope you can visit me sometime soon.

Wendy said...

Love the new look! She sure is pretty (great color choices!).

w said...

my husband is not happy with you. because i want to redo the whole house to look just like yours. no, i'm not kidding.

Mary @ Redo 101 said...

Oh I am seriously in love with your table with the pretty toes - love love love the colors you used! I have a table like that, except it's not from France. I think my mom got it with S&H green stamps back in the '50s or '60s :) Been in my family all my life, and now I own it. It seriously needs a new look, it's already distressed naturally. I may borrow your idea for colors (and that paint, wow!) someday. Thanks for sharing at Metamorphosis Monday!

Amy W. said...

Collette's make-over is absolutely "Beautiful"!
Loved how you showed the whole process!!
I so admire your talents!

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

She is indeed a very fetching gal now! Thanks for the detailed tutorial and post!

Pomona said...

Your ears might be burning - I have just been talking about you and your wonderful parcel on my blog!

Pomona x

Caroline Lovis (Redneedle) said...

Found you through Pomoma, so glad I did. Good job on the table and I can't wait to see what you're going to do with the 'Singer' table

Decor & Harmony said...

I can finally make a real comment (blogger wasn't working) the table looks fanstastic I love all of the detail that you put into it along with the photos. This post really tells a story, as I scrolled down you kept my interest. Nice job. Stop by for a blog visit :)