~VINTAGE KITCHEN FRENCH CHIC FARMHOUSE~

Vintage Farmhouse is all the rage right now and no matter what your own personal style or taste may be I certainly don't see the popularity of Prairie Style and French Chic slowing down anytime soon.  Call it what you will...fad or trend...I put the explosion of all things natural, soft white and gently worn it in the same book as that of it's hugely popular predecessor, shabby pink cottage chic!  Like it or not I'm sure the look is going to be around for quite a spell...

For me personally, I draw the line a bit when things become too rugged~too industrial. Although I love the look and feel of antique furniture and old laces blended with useable finds from our ever-changing modern world, I'm just not prepared to trade the luxury of my refrigerator for an old ice box in order to snap some amazing Pinterest-Bound-Photos!  No matter how fabulously Farmhouse Chic something may be, for me to welcome it into my home I have to not only LOVE IT, but it has to be something fun and potentially functional as well.

Ever heard of a CONSERVO?

Yeah...me neither!

A couple of weeks ago one of my Mr. AGPMan's buddies/co-worker, Mr. Randy, asked him he thought I'd be interested in an antique kitchen-thingy he found in the attic of a family member.  Knowing ahead of time his wifey never turns away free stuff he responded with an enthusiastic YES and then asked me later if I wanted it!

What is it?  What's it do?  Is it enormous?  

(OF COURSE I WANT IT!)

Well my, my, my....love at first sight!

 I found the following article on the Internet about
The Conservo:

"THE CONSERVO" - A Housewife's Blessing
By Joy Stevens, Grantsville 2003

---

If there was anything my mother despised more than dirt it was a hot, steamy kitchen during summer canning season. Her dreams came true when my father, who loved her very much, brought her a "Conservo."

"The Conservo was produced by the Swartzbaugh Manufacturing Company. I do not know when it was patente.  It's been said it was a huge blessing over the wash boilers and tubs used for canning vegetables and meats at that time.

 For those fortunate enough to own a Conservo, it was loaned to neighbors during busy canning periods for it allowed unbelievable speed-up in canning time.

The steam canner was made of heavy tin and was without a doubt the simplest outfit for home canning, then and now. It was designed to fit over one single burner of any type of range, gas, oil, coal or wood. The copper bottom held several quarts of water to provide steam. It was so well insulated that only the slightest heat escaped into the kitchen.

 The time for steam canning was the same as that used for wash boiler or cold-pack canning. The steam from the boiling water in the tank permeated and thoroughly cooked, by steam pressure, the food placed on the shelves.

A tube was inserted through the hole in the upper corner ot the Conservo from the outside, and a whistle indicated when water was needed.

 One commenced counting the canning time when water started to boil. If steam escaped, it meant the cook was firing up more than needed. For cooking meals, potatoes with jackets or corn-on-the-cob, the items were placed directly on the shelves, or on top of canning jars, in case you were doing both at once. Two compartments, one above the other, held sixteen quart jars, or by using the two racks, thirty-two pint jars. Imagine!

The Conservo manufacturer warned users not to use preservatives with this type of canning. They said all "jarred" foods should be cooked a minimum of 10 minutes before serving. My mother never lost a jar to spoilage.

 Even fish, first browned and then placed in jars with drippings added, could be processed three hours under steam pressure.

The Conservo was well-built, no parts to get lost or broken - and easy to clean, a boom to a housewife in a small kitchen. Every test given the device gave it high claims, and it gained a national reputation.

 I say God Bless the inventor of the Conservo, and hopefully some alert aluminum company will investigate whether the patent is pending and consider manufacturing the device again.

The savings in the price of gas or electric in being able to can 16 quarts of vegetables or meats over one burner is extraordinary..."

With my hubby's schooling finally coming to a close our attention will soon be returning to our total kitchen remodel.  When my guy walked in the door with this CONSERVO my first thought was that it would be a fabulous addition to our new kitchen.  Since we are still in the layout stage of the square footage I have no idea just WHERE I will put it...I just know it will be in there somewhere!  

 Above is how my Conservo looked on Friday when it landed on my make-shift kitchen counter!

Since I have no plans to use it for canning (although I suppose I could!) I decided to paint the outside of it!.  First thing I did was hose the thing down in my backyard.  Then I washed it up really good, you know, sudsy and foamy, and then sprayed it off again with the hose.  I turned it over to drain and a few hours later dried the entire thing out by hand.

Since the bottom portion of the Conservo is copper (LOVE THAT!!!) I didn't want to paint it.  So...I coated the entire top portion with a water-based sealer and after it dried (a few hours) LIGHTLY brush painted the outside with a chip brush.  The brush was almost DRY and it took about six passes (drying between each coat) before it had the look I wanted!

I didn't paint the inside of the Conservo because I love how it looks.  Amazingly, the original racks are still in place AND the original pan as well.  I'm not sure what I'm going to store inside of it...but my first thought was that it would be perfect for things I like to keep out of sight...paper plates and napkins, etc.

Here it is again...

How fun, huh?

~~*~~

Now...yesterday I started a GIVEAWAY and I hope you'll check it out!  It's for a Snowman Pillow Combo

and you can read about it here:

  http://www.rebecca-gatheryeroses.blogspot.com/2012/11/christmas-pillow-combo-giveaway-starts.html

~~*~~

Today I'm going down to my booth space at 

EDMOND ANTIQUES 

to begin work on one of the 

front windows!  

Christmas Display Here We Come!

Hope your day is fab...

Love to you~  

~WHAT I LEARNED IN MY PAINT CLASS...TIPS FOR YOU~

~THE CRAZEEE PEEPS FROM OUR CLASS~

(Our Instructor, Angela, On The Left)

MIA BELLA DESIGNS in Oklahoma

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you how I had signed up to take a painting class.  Now...this was not an ART CLASS, but just a simple basic technique class for furniture painting.  There are lots of tutorials out there and most are very informative.  But I wanted a hands-on class where I could actually see and feel what was going on!

 My project of choice was a small occasional table I hauled home from my trip visiting my sister in Tennessee.  It's a Mid-Century piece from the 50's that I just fell in love with.  If you guessed my chosen makeover color was going to be WHITE then you would be right!

White is Right!  That's my new motto!

~AFTER TWO LIGHT BASE COATS~

Now I already know A LOT about painting furniture.  I've been doing it for years and years (over twenty) so I really was skeptical at first about taking a chance on a class.

~USING AN ORBITAL SANDER~

 I have to say that all in all it was a great class and I'm glad I decided to join in.  The best part was the meeting of new friends...  We all laughed and had so much fun!  At least I did! 

 

 ~LOVING THE DRAWER~

Two critical things I learned in the class centered around the products chosen to PREP my furniture!!!  After my table was de-greased with the product you see below (I'm not mentioning the names on any products as no one is PAYING me to endorse them), which is something I had never done.  In the past I'd just wipe my furniture down with a mild soapy water and quickly dry it. Next came lots of hand-sanding to remove any old finish (if need be)!

~DEGREASER IS A MUST~

After de-greasing a LIQUID SANDING PRODUCT was used to de-glaze (make unshiny) the old varnish.  This kind of MELTED the old stuff (didn't actually remove it) providing the table with a better ground in which to accept paint!

~UN-NAMED LIQUID SANDING MIXTURE~

Angela, our Instructor, re-bottled the liquid sand because she buys it in bulk.  I can't remember the name of it.  She did say it was found next to the de-greaser at your favorite hardware store!  I'll try and hunt it down and post a picture of it later.  I have yet to purchase it!

~BRUSH PAINTED WITH A SHORT HAIRED BRUSH~

Here is what my table looked like after de-greasing, applying liquid sand, brush painting with a satin-based paint (3 light coats) and then sanded with an orbital sander like the one you see below...

~GREAT SANDER~

My Mr. AGPMan actually has this exact Sander.  WHY I've never used it I don't know!!!  Now...I do LOVE the way the Sander smoothed out the finish of my paint.  Made it very soft and I love how the original wood finish can be seen on the sides and top and not just the edges.  I still went back and hand sanded around the legs and table and drawer rims.  I like have more control over what I'm doing so hopefully with some practice with the Electric Sander I'll get better.  

 

 

~OTHER CLASS PROJECTS~

After my table was sanded I applied a good coat of WAX to the entire piece.  Again...not mentioning the name because I don't want to be sued...just think of the new paint everyone is talking about and check into what they offer in forms of WAX.  I brushed it on with another short haired brush and once it was dry it was lovely!  I chose simple wooden knobs to replace the ceramic ones.  They were just too 1980's looking for MOI!

 

~LOVING THIS TABLE~

~BEFORE SHOT OF AN VINTAGE NIGHTSTAND~

 ~EVERYONE LOVED THIS COLOR~

 ~APPLY A GLAZE~

I did not like how the glaze looked over the white paint on my table (it was used on the nightstand).  I tried it in a small area of my table, hated it, and so I painted it out.

 ~TOO COOL~

~FINISHED PIECE~

~HAVING FUN~

~LOTS OF PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM~

I wish I had more pictures to show you but every time I saw something that I wanted to photograph I had to take my gloves off or risk getting paint and junk all over my camera!  At least I hope you'll get an idea of what we did and all we learned.  SO WORTH TAKING THE CLASS.  If you are local I highly recommend you taking part!  There is NOTHING like seeing it and doing the work in person!  Angela was a great teacher and I learned so much!

Remember these things...

1.  DEGREASE

2.  LIQUID SAND

3.  ORBITAL SANDER

4.  PASTE WAX

 ~TAH-DAH~

And there you have it.  Have fun and do SHARE with me if you end up creating anything fabulous!  All of your bloggie friends will want to see it!

Love to you...