~DECLUTTERING TIME...DIALING UP eBAY~

When Summer began this year I vowed I would set aside some serious time to work on decluttering some areas of my home.  You've never see these places~  They are the ones bulging from closet wall to closet wall and shed wall to shed wall with more things than you can imagine!  I have purposefully kept them hidden away from you because I wouldn't want you to stop thinking I have a perfect life or anything....

(BIG SMILE HERE!)

I hate clutter.  Except for my daughter, Adrienne, I do believe I despise piled-up-unpleasantness and disorganization more than anyone else in our family.  So when stacks of once treasured things grow tall, wide and spin wildly out of control, it's time to clear out!

I spent nearly every day last week taking pictures of my Miss K's outgrown clothes and listing them on eBay.  I've sold a big chunk of them (especially the higher-end dresses) and this week I'm listing even more stuff.  

It's just stuff!  Lots of stuff!  And it all must GO!

Tennis Rackets used once or twice...

Angel Figurines

(from my early days of, um...collecting!)

Wood mounted Rubber Stamps

Scrapbooking Paraphernalia

Fabric

Lace

Trim

Old Patterns

Buttons

and more

and more

and more...

So...I'm going to be popping in and out this week as I try and get on top of the over-stuffing in my home.  Last week I sold over $500 worth of decent junque and I'm nowhere near close to what has to go!  My goal is to sell off, haul away and clear out anything that is keeping me from safely storing our two cars in our garage.  

Feels good great to let some of the stuff go!  Honestly it's helping me to breathe!!!!

Air is good!

More soon later this week!  I'm finishing up a darling cottage style chest in pink...don't faint...it's got hand painted pink roses!

Have a wonderful Monday!

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...

~ONCE UPON A TIME...A TALE OF VINTAGE WHITES~

Once upon a time there was a lady named Rebecca who loved to shop for white junque treasures.  Whenever she had a free moment she would visit as many second-hand shops as possible in hopes of finding gently loved pretties wonderful new homes...

Her favorite little friends come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are new...but not many.  Most have been abandoned for one reason or another~  :(

 

Her little friends speak to her in the faintest of whispers, but Rebecca still hears them!

"Rebecca! We've been so excited about seeing you again!

GET OVER HERE GIRLFRIEND!!!!

 Here we are!  Come get us!

We've been waiting for you to come back for soooo long now!  We've been jumping up and down sitting perfectly still just hoping for a chance to come and live at your white house!  We've all tried to look as unattractive as possible so no one else would try and take us home!  We are counting on you to show us lots of love by giving us a warm bath before shining us up to perfection!  We can't wait for you to rescue us from these shabby, dusty, grimy thrift store shelves!  They are bulging and overflowing with

MISFIT DECOR!"

Miss Lefton Tureen continued:

  

I cost only $4.99!  I'm a three piece steal of a deal and I know you can't live without me!

 Will you please put me in your cart..xoxoxo"

 Rebecca just said:

"Um...OK!" 

 

Miss Lefton Tureen should have been joyous but instead she was broken-hearted over the thought of leaving her BFF, Miss Rosy Pot behind!  And since Rebecca didn't want her to crack under the disappointment she said:

"Even though you're a sassy little thing you make my heart sing!  OK!  You can come, too!"

 Just then Rebecca noticed Miss Rosy Pot  begin to pout!  She wanted her latest vintage friend, Miss Vaseola to come, too!  She begged for her to be included!

Rebecca thought for a minute and then said:

"I think Miss V is worth ninety-nine cents!!!  OK...you can come!  But you're going to have to share a room!

 As Rebecca rounded the last corner of the store she heard one last tiny voice call out to her...

"Rebecca!  OVER HERE!  Don't forget me!  My name is Miss Tubby and won't take up too much room!  You can put pretty soaps inside me and I'll make your bathroom smell wonderful!

Can I come live at your house, too??? I'm cheap!  I, too, cost only ninety-nine cents!"

Rebecca smiled big and was sure she could find a place for Miss T!  And so she said:

"Um....OK!  Sure you can come!  Just don't beg to bring your friends!!!"

Rebecca drove home happy and content.

The lost and forgotten had been found.    

THE END

Hope your day was mah-vah-LESS!

Love to you...