Bunny Topiary

I was so inspired by the Antique and Garden Show with that gorgeous moss chair that it got me wanting to create something with moss.

I love creating with chicken wire. I have done a few projects like this painted hutch and the dressform. This is the first time I used moss with it.

I learned a few things and now I have a new thing to show you. I give you all the details on how to make it over at Old Time Pottery's blog. Go check it out! Let me know what you think. I bet you can come up with all types of ideas for this project.

Oh and that umbrella is another project I did. You can find it here! 

Happy Spring!! It can't come soon enough for me!!

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Red Hutch with Chicken Wire

There is blackberry in the house!

and strawberry 

and blueberry!

We now carry an assortment of local homemade jams! Since I am located down the street from Historic Oakland House Museum I am hoping to see some tourists this spring and summer. I carry a lot of handmade items from local artisans too.

I was going to put them in this red hutch but it sold.

It was pretty to have for Christmas though. You might have seen it already in this post.

Another French Hutch

I have been MIA for a few days! My laptop bit the dust and I have been on vacation at the beach! Let me just say it is very hard to get back into the swing of things when you have been away!

Before I left, I finished another french hutch! This client wanted the french hutch I did a few months ago but it had sold. So the day I got the email that she wanted to order one, was the day I just happened to find one and was on my way home with it! Funny how these things happen!

French Farmhouse Hutch: The Rest of the Story

After posting my French Farmhouse Hutch on Monday, I decided I wanted to show you what it took to transform it. You can click on the link above to see all the beautiful details.

But this is the beginning....The rest of the story.....

Obviously the before is not pretty!

I bought it second hand. It was one of those deals you don't want to pass up. That is until you bring it home and wonder what the heck you are thinking.

One thing about hutches.....they are heavy.

And this old girl feels every lift and tug.

But I also love good transformations. And this was no exception.

It all started like this YUK!!

Did you see it? Take a look again.....

This happened as my friend and I were lifting it out of the car. It fell on the headrest and busted a hole in the back of it.

Great more work...

I had wanted to put fabric on the back of this piece anyway but when this happened I knew I would! I had bought this to go into the Barn Sale I was in but never got to it.

My friend Vonda did a beautiful hutch so I knew there would be one in the booth. When I saw hers it confirmed my decision to use fabric. She had used it on hers and it was stunning. You might see it in the link above or here.

So now I was ready to get it done.

I had to replace the whole back though. I removed all the nails and had a piece of board cut to fit.

Since the back was out, the inside was a lot easier to paint. I also wanted to remove the glass and put in chicken wire.

I taped the glass so that when I broke it the pieces wouldn't shatter everywhere.

Then I saw that the inside of the glass had rubber holding it in. All I had to do was remove that and the glass came out easily without having to break it.

I then cut the chicken wire.

Chicken wire is like torture! As you cut it, it cuts you back. I guess it is revenge!

My hands are still healing!

I bought fabric for the back and cut it to fit. Placed the back on and hammered the nails that were in the last board.

I replaced the horrid hardware and painted it. Love the before and after.

If you ever question a piece.....look at the details. Because when you paint it those are the things that matter most.

Those are the things that breathe a new breath in the piece

I just had to tell you the rest of the story!

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French Farmhouse Hutch

I am writing this post as I watch the Oscars..... Playing Oscar bingo and tabulating my votes for the winners.

Can someone say multi-tasker?

This piece of furniture ranks up there as one of my favorites. It was a lot of work but one thing about furniture painting and repurposing, is the creation and showing more that just painting.

I feel this piece represents that the best.

I am so happy with every details from the chicken wire to the fabric to the multi-layered paint.

I created a two-tone color of Old white and Paris with a loose brushstroke and blending the two slightly.

There is just enough distressing to make it look natural.

This piece had some great details too from the molding to the curvy legs.

I used white paint to highlight some areas and dry brushed the rest.

I changed all the knobs because the originals were just awful! I removed the glass added chicken wire to give it a farmhouse feel.

I added French script fabric to the back and created the french feel to finish the piece.

And I have to say I am in love......


Too bad she is for sale.....

Until then I will enjoy looking at her!

UPDATE: To see The Rest of the Story CLICK HERE!

Linking up here:
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Savvy Southern Style
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Between Naps On The Porch

Grey Hutch with Scripture

Every now and again a project comes along that I fall in love with. This is one of those!

I usually don't go for waterfall style furniture. They just aren't interesting to me. This one had something about it. Loved the shape and the carvings.

I knew this would be the perfect piece to take to Bella Rustica at the end of the month or at least that is what I thought!

I winded up selling this before I even started! One thing about not painting something first is the client has the option to stylize the piece to fit them. I had already decided on paint color and chicken wire.

The rest ...the scripture...was their idea!

Ecclesiastes 

"There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven ~
² A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

I couldn't fit it all but found some lines to add to the piece.

The best thing about this hutch was the petite size. It would be able to fit in almost any space!
I like the smaller hutches. I did a red one with papers, but it was an open style front.

This is how it started

I knocked out the glass and attached chicken wire. Painted it with Annie Sloan Paris Grey and the inside in old white. Waxed with both clear and dark. Then painted the words.

I kept the hardware since they looked good and dry brushed over them.

  

The words on the inside I wanted to keep subtle. I used white with a small outline in black. Heavily waxed the inside to look old.

This is what it looked like before the outline.

Just a line on the front in the perfect spot!

I really loved the finish product. I don't believe the pictures do it justice.

It was a huge transformation!

What do you think? Have you ever used chicken wire to replace the glass? Do you think I was crazy getting rid of perfectly good glass?

Remember the Before.....?

What a transformation huh?

The client loved it! 
What do you think?