Dark wood stand transformed with CeCe Caldwell's Simply White

This is a project I actually worked on in the summer of 2012.

I'm just getting around to posting about it.

Procrastination?

Never heard of it.

Anyway...

I bought this cute little stand at a garage sale.

I thought it was really interesting because it could do this...

Ya I know. 

Cool huh!

Now just so you know, I worked on this project long before I became a retailer for CeCe Caldwell's Paints. I was just a beginner and was doing a lot of things the hard way.

Like sanding.

Moving on...

After sanding, I dry brushed CeCe Caldwell's Simply White on the legs and around the base that holds the box top.

The top was also painted with Simply White and then "sanded" back. 

Then I worked in some CeCe Caldwell's Dark Aging Wax over the whole piece.

I wasn't sure I would like it with the two different techniques but it came out very interesting.

Not bad for a beginner.

Painting a Leather Top Stand with CeCe Caldwell's Stain + Finish

Third post in a row about painting.
I must have fallen and hit my head or something.

So this post is about this table.

As you can see there were some issues with stained leather and scratches.

I reached way, way back in my stash of paint and came up with CeCe Caldwell's Mississippi Mud.

I slapped a few coats on the wooden parts of the stand.

Remember that abused leather top?

Check it out now.

Shiny and soft after 4 coats of CeCe Caldwell's Kukui Stain + Finish.

How's this for a smooth and creamy finish too?

I pretty much thought I was going to have to strip that leather top off of there.

But it turned out great.

Ships Wheel Mirror with CeCe Caldwell's Paints and Glaze

Another paint related post today.

Yea!!

I bought this mirrored ships wheel a few weeks ago.

The moment I saw it I knew just what I wanted to do with it.

Paint it.

No kidding you say?

Actually I had a specific look in mind but as I started working on it, it just didn't look right.

It ultimately morphed as puttered with it but it started out just plain blah.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here.

First off, I discovered it's actually a little older than I thought it was.

I assumed it was ??? 70's era ????

But this stamp was on the back.

1944

I would have never guessed it.

So anyway, back to the painting issue.

I started out painting it with CeCe Caldwell's Newport Navy.

You'll have to take my word that it looked plain because I don't have a picture.

I layered on CeCe Caldwell's Simply White and distressed it back somewhat and added CeCe Caldwell's Dark Aging Wax in a few areas.

Again, something was missing.

Again, you'll have to take my word for it because...no picture.

After fussing and fuming over it for a few days the light bulb finally went off.

Tinted Glaze.

I chose CeCe Caldwell's Destin Gulf Green to tint CeCe Caldwell's Clear Glaze.

I brushed that all over and rubbed it away as I went along and, wow, what a difference.

Then I hot glued this rope around the edge of the mirror.

Don't mind the blurred out look on the mirror.

There was so much stuff reflected in it from across the room, it looked really crappy and I figured my crappy photography was as much crappy as one picture could take.

My close up shots show the detail much better anyway.

Nice.

Dresser in CeCe Caldwell's Vermont Slate with Walnut Grove and Kukui Stains

Well it's back to work for me here which means a furniture makeover post.

Today's victim is an old dresser I purchased a short time ago.
Of course I had already started working on it before I remembered to take some pictures.
The finish was a little beat up and the veneer was loose in a few spots. No problem.

I used CeCe Caldwell's Vermont Slate on the drawers and body of the dresser. I like the dark grey-blue color.

The top was pretty scratched up but a few coats of CeCe Caldwell's new Stain + Finish colors took care of that problem. I used Walnut Grove first then added a coat of Kukui.
I have to tell you that over the past several months of working on my projects at Newport Marketplace, I've really missed working with stains. The smell of those products prevented me from using them while other people were in the store. CeCe Caldwell's new Stain + Finish products are just so cool. NO SMELL! Very little prep work (if any) is needed. They can be applied over old stains, they have beautifully rich colors that just get better with each layer added (up to 6 layers can be applied), and no finish sealant is necessary. Just stain and you're done. All smooth and shiny.
And did I mention NO SMELL?

Using layers of the 2 different stains create an interesting effect. Almost wood grain look.

I sealed the paint with a coat of CeCe Caldwell's Dark Aging Wax and Waxing Cream.
Once again I'm really struggling with the quality of my pictures in the lighting I have in my work space. I do need to work on that.

I love this look.

CeCe Caldwell's Paints projects and a little out-and-about-round-the-house stuff

Hello there again.

I thought I would step up my game a little and try to get another post out before next year rolls around. 

So....I thought I would show you a few projects I've been working on and then throw out a few random pictures from around the house.

Sound like fun? 

I thought so.

First off, I really would like to apologize for the quality of some of these furniture shots. I really love my working studio at Newport Marketplace. I love that I'm not filling up my house with projects in various states of completion. But I don't have a designated space in my booth for taking pictures. You know....like with adequate natural light and uncluttered space with a pretty backdrop and styling props. I guess that's something I'll have to work on.

Anyway... 

I thought this little drop front cabinet was pretty unique. It has a few water rings on the top that I really didn't try to remove. I applied a few coats of CeCe Caldwell's new Walnut Grove Stain + Finish and that reduced the appearance of the rings almost to the point of not being able to notice them. I finished the bottom of the cabinet in Beckley Coal, lightly distressed, then applied Dark Aging Wax. 

This next little stand was in pretty rough shape with peeling finish, some loose joints, a slightly cracked bottom shelf, and a little bit of over spray from someone's spray paint project. I painted this in CeCe Caldwell's Thomasville Teal the finished it with CeCe Caldwell's new Kukui Stain + Finish. I really like the way the stain works with the paint. 

This is a project that I finished for myself using the headboard from my grandparent's bedroom set. As you can see it had a white (yellowed with age) laminate finish. I already re-purposed one of the dressers into an entertainment center here. I started this project a few months ago by painting it in one of CeCe Caldwell's retired colors, Mesa Sunset. I didn't apply any sealer or wax to it at this point because I wasn't sure just how I wanted it to look yet. I had to walk by it for a couple of months before inspiration struck (like sticking your tongue in a light socket kinda struck). I decided adding CeCe Caldwell's new Hickory Stain + Finish to it would be just what it needed for a nice faux wood grain finish. If you want to duplicate this wood grain type look and can't find Mesa Sunset, the new color, Pueblo Pepper, should work just as well.

And...just so this post isn't all about paint...

I thought I would put up a few of the pictures I took before the rains totally abused the fall colors.

Then there's the random animals that have overtaken our yard.

The vocal group called "Rise and Shine".

Their favorite tune is "No more sleep for you...Cock-a-doodle-do".

Mr. Billy Goat Gruff?

And the Mrs.

Rodent patrol.

Gossip ... er .... Welcoming committee.

And of course...

Dumb and Dumber.

Partners in crime.

If it smells rotten...they will both probably eat it.

So much for October. See you in November...maybe.

It's been a while and I've got a little catching up to do

Hello....
Tap, tap, tap....
Is this thing on?

I've been absent from here for quite a while. I actually didn't even realize how long it's been since my last post (which was May 22nd). Almost 6 months!!! I can't believe how fast the summer flew by.
Last May I was looking at this...new green stuff everywhere and the last of a storm blowing over the valley.

This past week was absolutely beautiful out and the leaves are reaching peak color.

Not that summer is really ready to give up but the days of the roses are numbered for sure.

I've kept pretty busy over the summer.
I took my CeCe Caldwell's painting demonstrations on the road for the first time to the "Chicks Along the Canal" event in Little Falls, NY. I did painting technique demonstrations, sold some paint, and had a few of my finished furniture pieces on display. It was a long weekend but the weather was great, the people were plentiful, and the food was fabulous.

My garden didn't do as well this year as it did last year.
Last year... lots of peas, beans, tomatoes, and lettuce.

This year... some peas and beans, a few tomatoes (which most are still green on my window sill), crap-ton of carrots, and 4 pitifully small ears of corn (I planted 2 packages of seeds, 10 stalks grew, and only 4 ears of corn picked....pretty crappy results there).

For the most part I've been spending a lot of time at Newport Marketplace. I've been going pretty much non stop from one project to the next.
Mahogany hutch painted in Myrtle Beach Sand and Vintage White - still available

Giant hutch painted in Sedona Red - sold

Kidney shaped vanity/desk painted in Beckley Coal with a map of Middle Earth - sold

Vintage vanity in Vintage White - still available

Half round china closet in Destin Gulf Green and Omaha Ochre with rear glass panel replaced with a fish net - sold

And another hutch painted in Pittsburgh Gray - still available but currently on display at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts in Little Falls, NY

Last year I did a year long series of pictures. I posted (pretty much) everyday a picture of the view out my front door which I called my "Shut the Front Door" series. It was a fun project but posting everyday became somewhat difficult for me to pull off. This year I've been trying to squeeze out a post here and there but as you can see from my 6 month absence I've been more than a little lax in posting. I've been trying to get myself back on track and figure out a new theme for next year (because we all know that next year is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER...AHHHhhhh). So what-da-ya-say? Any ideas, suggestions, or inspirations you'd like to pass along? Just drop me a comment.