~STILL SWINGIN' THE BRUSH...~

 ~MILK & CREAM SIGN~

During our kitchen renovation I've tried really hard to keep up with my business!  I've managed to continue to restock my local Booth, but my website has suffered terribly for a long time...especially so since Christmas.  With the completion of our remodel on the horizon (thank you, God!) I've had a chance to sit down for a bit and take stock in what I do...why I do it...and if changes are in order, prepare for them as well.

 ~BOULANGERIE BAR STOOL~

Things are always changing, aren't they?

My Mr. AGPMan and I are seriously considering doing something new that relates to selling my wares beyond my booth and online.  Not sure just how things will play out...but, at the very least it's exciting to consider something fresh and different.  As our plans unfold I'd love for you to tag along...

~MAIZE & BLACK~

It means lots of French Farmhouse style complements, furniture and bits of lace and finery.  I'm eager to get started.  I also want to revamp my blog and my website...but, that's going to take some big help from the Mr. and the Mr.'s son! :)

~FRENCH SIDE TABLE~

Yesterday I worked on more Signs, a sweet bar stool that needed a transformation and also a charming little side table I picked up at the local thrift...  All of them will be offered somewhere...Booth, Etsy and/or beyond!

~GREAT VINTAGE GRAPHICS~

More soon.  Thank you so much for stopping by...

~OLD FRENCH SCRIPT~

Love to you~

~WHEN IT'S JUST GOTTA BE PINK~

~SIMPLY FABULOUS VINTAGE DESK/SECRETARY~

Last April I shared with you pictures of the vintage French Desk you see above.  I snagged this little beauty at a local thrift shop and ever since I lugged her home she's been patiently waiting for her turn at a makeover.  Her bones were great from the get-go and that is always a good thing!

~ORIGINAL CONDITION - NOT SO WONDERBAH!~

But...what's up with that paint job????  No offense to the local person who MAY be reading this or anything~but it was kinda nasty....

(I'm just sayin'....!)

The entire thing (inside, too!) was painted a buttery yellow and it had sage green trim with raspberry roses (?).  Doesn't sound too terrible, but in the end the look just didn't work.  Probably why it ended up at the local thrift.  She was a perfect candidate for a transformation in my opinion!  My Mr. had a few minor repairs to do before I could get started...you know, loose drawers, wobbly legs, etc.  Once he was finished I went to work de-glazing her (liquid sand) and then adding two light coats of primer (Zinsser).

~GREAT OLD APPLIQUE~

Now...I truly believe I'm in the WHITE PHASE of my life and I rarely EVAH paint things pink anymore (gasp!).  I still love pink like I told you a couple of days ago...just am liking whites BETTAH for now!

~DAINTY LITTLE DRAWER~

Anyway...the more I looked at this darling little lady she just screamed out

"PAINT ME PINK!"

And so...I did!

~SOOOO ROMANTIC~

I used a very soft pale rosy pink paint on this lovely old find.  I actually took some of my trusty pale pink paint (same pink I've used since I started in this biz!) and added just a wee bit of yellow to it and some glaze.  Ended up being the perfect mixture!  Finished her up with some gentle distressing and some clear wax.  Tahhhh Dahhhhh!  DONE!

Now...if I can find ROOM Miss SecreTERRY is destined for my booth at Serendipity Market in Edmond, OK!

Hope your week is wonderful!

Love to you...

~REPURPOSING A FRENCH PROVINCIAL DESK~

 

  A little over a week ago I shared with you my excitement over finding a fabulous vintage French Provincial cabinet on Craigslist for $50.  

 For the past several days I've been working on repainting it for use in my studio.  I'm loving how it came out and all the storage it gives me for old laces and ribbons.

 Early last month I moved the child's size armoire out of my workshop for use in my booth space (Edmond Antiques).  That left me really needing something to hold all my vintage trims.

Gotta LOVE Craigslist!

 I first primed the cabinet with Zinsser Bonding Primer before giving it two good coats of satin paint by Behr (Home Depot/Soft White).  I love this paint as it's not too yellow and not too bright!  Then I sanded it down with my electric orbital sander!  Gentle distressing with sand paper and a bit of aging with AS dark wax before AS clear wax was applied to the entire piece!

 I love having everything OUT so I can see what I'm looking for!

 Vintage laces, ribbons and trims...yummmmmmmmmmmmeeeee!

Old pastelle ribbon makes me swoon....

 Can't let the day pass without mentioning the 11th anniversary of the tragedy of 9-11.  Today we remember those innocent people who lost their lives that day and the brave men and women who fought to save them.

~WE REMEMBER~

Praying today for peace for those left behind.

~~*~~

Love to you...

 

~PAINTED FINDS! SHABBY WHITE MAKEOVERS!!!~

~OLD CHEST~

I LOVE MONDAYS!  Do you?  A fresh beginning with a brand new week!

~VINTAGE DROP TABLE~

Over the weekend I spent most of my time finishing up several special orders and then base painted a ton of new merchandise.

 ~SIDES FOLDED DOWN~

Today I'm going to show you just what took all my time and energy.  Good thing I didn't go junquing with my Mr. AGPMan!!!  I had enough things to keep me busy without piling any other neat stuff into my already FULL shed!

 

~SWEET LAMPS~

(Destined for Hand Painted Roses!)

 

 ~VINTAGE HORN O' PLENTY~

I love this old wicker Horn O' Plenty!  Someone had painted it gold (ick) and I repainted it with a soft antique white.  You can't hardly find this style anymore.  This one has that great curled end!  LOVE THAT!  Perfect for welcoming Fall!

 ~GREAT SUNFLOWER PEDIMENT~

This sweet piece had been painted black.  I painted it in the same antique white and then added a dark glaze to bring out the details.  Loving this!

 

~GREAT WIRE FINDS~

I just can't pass up wire shoes or teapots.  I use to sell these years ago in my brick and mortar store.  I wonder if that company that manufactured them in still in biz!  Anyone know???

 ~GREAT PICNIC BASKET~

This is a great old find.  It's not truly VINTAGE...but close.  I painted it ONLY because there was an ad/logo on the top for Cigarettes.  :(

~GREAT METAL BASKET~

This metal basket had been a dark hunter green...maybe from the early 90's.  Again...painted it with my favorite antique white paint and then added detailing with a dark glaze.  Yum!

~GLASS JARS~

I loved this trio of glass jars.  The lids are solid wood and also have been painted antique white.  These will have soft pink roses painted on top!

~SWEET FLOWER POT HANGER~

Years ago when I managed CURRENT STATIONERS here in Oklahoma City we sold these flower pot hangers.  This one belonged to my mom and when she moved she didn't have a place for it.  So...of COURSE she gave it to MOI! :)  

~WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?~

Last but not least here is a little LOVE for you!  The original $20 sticker was still on the bottom of this LOVE sign!  I sanded it down with my hand stander and then a new coat of paint!  Love it the way it is!

Most all these things will be taken down to my booth space.  Painted stuff (with and without roses) sells like hotcakes down there and it's so FUN to rearrange and play around in my tiny 8'x10' space!  Later this afternoon I'll be working more on those two fold-up chairs I showed you last week!  Almost done!  

Hope your day is GREAT!

Love to you...

~FRENCH WHITE CHAIR MAKEOVER...Oooh La La~

I'm busy helping my mother move today so this is a quick post!  

I finished redoing a few of those charming French Provincial Chairs I shared with you a few weeks ago and here is what the captain style chair looks like today...

Here's the before shot in case your interested!

Such a mix of cottage romance and French white charm!  I'm loving it so much I just MAY reupholster my chairs in my home to match.  (They need recovering anyway!)

I added this sweet painted cabinet to my website shoppe today and also the sweet hand painted vintage camping stool below...

Everything's coming up roses for me and for you!

And...if you are wondering about those of us here in Oklahoma who experienced severe weather last night~  Well...personally, we survived lots of wind and hail!!!  Our yard looks like a war-zone and we don't know yet if we have any other damage. :(  Everything's a big mess tho!!!  Tree branches and junk is strewn all about!  Lots of clean-up ahead!

More soon.  I'm off to carry boxes!

Love to you...

~COTTAGE WHITE DREAMING...FRENCH PROVINCIAL SETTEE~

I found out on Friday my wee little booth space at Edmond Antiques was photographed for the latest newspaper ad coming out on Thursday!  How fun is that?

I'm drunk with joy! :)

As incredible as it is for me, today marks my 900th post.  I first began blogging back in January 2009 so this December I'll complete four years of on-line journaling.  If I'm being honest here, I'm wondering just what, if anything, I have left to share with you that I haven't already yapped about many, many times before...

Last week I snagged this wonderful vintage French Provincial Settee (or love-seat) at our local thrift store.  Even though the old piece has been reupholstered with a horrible country blue Herculon (with pink braiding no less!) the bones are fantastic and the newly replaced cushions are in perfect shape!  The price was so far below it's value and so it was one of those no-brain-er purchases.  About $50!  Crazy, huh?  I snapped this picture just before taking my Miss Mollie for a walk...that's why she has her harness and leash on...  She is such a silly dog!!!!

Now...my cottatge white dream plan is to hunt down a soft white Trigger or a medium weight canvas-style fabric to reupholster the settee in.

No florals.

No pink.

Nothing but white.

(SWOON!)

Won't it be just the dreamiest thing once it's madeover?

I can do this style of work so it shouldn't take me too long once I begin...just need to make a place to work as my Mr. AGPMan's shop is a bit too dusty for white fabric!  Anyway, in place of the cushion cording I'd like to add tiny (truly petite!) reverse pleat ruffles and then double-welt cording for the outside trim.  Not sure yet.  Also haven't decided if I will paint this piece a matching soft white and gently distress it OR leave it dark wood.  Depends on whether or not I end up selling it or keeping it!

(I'm leaning towards painting it, of course!!!!)

I'm off to add more new things to my booth space and then this afternoon I'll be working on new things for my website!  I have my Miss K in tow with me until Friday and we have lots and lots of fun things planned today even though it's a working-week for me!!!

Hope your day is equally as wonderful!

Love to you...