2011 March

My Inspiration for Furniture Finishes

March 20, 2011 by Christa @ Stories of a House 8 Comments

I am thrilled to be introducing you to a fellow AZ blogger and custom finisher near and dear to my heart:
European Paint Finishes

(I heard the thud from over here. Go ahead. I’ll wait for you to pick your jaw up off the floor.)

Mike and Keeley work together to create the most fabulous furniture transformations I’ve ever seen.
I seriously get giddy when they post something new. It’s like opening up a present on Christmas morning.

Mike is the artist and muscles that make their vision for their transformations a reality. Keeley is an expert at staging, takes beautiful photos, and is the all around go-to-girl behind their successful family business.
They are the perfect team, and simply wonderful people.

It felt like I was keeping a best kept secret by not sharing their blog with you. So, I asked Keeley weeks ago if she would mind if I introduced them, and I am so excited about blog swapping with her tonight. I often have to remind myself that this is not just their hobby, but their livelihood that they need to tend to first and foremost. It requires a lot of restraint not to bombard their inbox with questions from yours truly.

The inspiration I found through Mike and Keeley’s work influenced me the most in my decision to turn my hobby into a side business, and I am forever grateful for them. There is something about their work that I am so connected to. Keeley, it has been a such a pleasure chatting with you over the last few months, and Kevin and I would *love* to meet you and Mike over dinner before the baby is born!

So if you enjoy following blogs full of inspiring furniture finishes, European Paint Finishes is simply a classic.

Filed Under: Before and After, Furniture

Prayer Warriors, Let’s Unite

March 14, 2011 by Christa @ Stories of a House 65 Comments

For Robin

I am asking my readers from all over the world to please read and respond.
Just look at Robin’s sweet little girls…

Robin is a beloved family member battling ovarian cancer. She has put up a very brave fight with her positive spirit throughout her chemo and surgery to remove her ovaries. Her faith in Christ is strong and powerful and has been an encouragement to me. We learned on Friday when she went in for surgery to remove a bowel obstruction (which they thought would be scar tissue) that the cancer had spread throughout her abdomen. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know how strongly I believe in the power of prayer.

7 years ago my Mom survived a 9 hour surgery to remove a large brain tumor, and also several complications afterward requiring life support. God mercifully allowed my eyes to see things that those caring for her didn’t see even after I pointed them out, such as the blood clot in her arm. Her arm looked enormous to me compared to the other one, and upon measuring was only slightly different. They did the ultrasound to appease me, found the clot, and it was treated in time. The emergency room did the original CT scan to appease me, as well, and questioned why I even brought her in. She is alive and well today, because of the clarity I received from above. That is the same God in control of Robin’s life and healing.

Will you join me in flooding the heavens with the following prayers for Robin? Imagine the power of being connected with people from all over the world praying the same thing. I know the hearts of my readers, and have faith that you will. A daily prayer for her would be even more awesome, and may God bless you for doing so.

Robin is at peace with God’s will for her. She knows where her eternity is because of Christ. But, she has always believed her earthly body will be restored, and our family honors her belief. We are called to be specific about what we ask for, so let’s be an army behind her!

Our prayer for Robin:

1) We give thanks for the power of Almighty God who is bigger than cancer, and capable of miracles.

2) We ask for every single cancer cell to be destroyed inside of Robin’s entire earthly body, and to never return.
3) We ask for every single healthy cell in Robin’s earthly body to be restored.

4) We ask for physical and mental strength for Robin as she starts aggressive chemotherapy today.

5) We ask for the bowel obstruction to heal spontaneously.

6) We ask for Robin to have restorative sleep, and for relief from her pain and nausea.
7) We ask for mental and emotional strength for Robin’s entire family during this very difficult trial.
8) We ask that you bless each and every person praying for Robin.

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20

Please flood the comment box for Robin, as well as the gates of heaven…

Filed Under: Uncategorized

,,,Happy Spring, and a Sweat Shop…

March 12, 2011 by Christa @ Stories of a House 10 Comments

I’m so happy for all you celebrating some great weather!

The kids were actually in the pool today, so we are already gearing up for our miserably hot AZ summers…

There was also a lot of garage time this weekend. Lemonade stands, painting, riding bikes, more painting, and “Mom? I want paint something by myself.”

So I offered this stool to our youngest. She decided on her favorite color.

She woke up the next day and made sure every nook and cranny was covered.

Then our middle lady who wanted to paint something, so I offered her this t.v. tray.

She also spent her Saturday morning making sure she did a thorough job.

They have big decisions to make now.

Should they distress? Should they antique? WWMD?

While they worked on their masterpieces I applied the base coat of cream paint for this little cutie:

It is a substantial dresser with a mirror.

You know I never make pieces like this a solid color!

I’ll need to sleep on it, since most of of my finishing ideas come to me in dreams.

Filed Under: Antiques, Before and After, Furniture

A Cute Desk and a Bad Back

March 7, 2011 by Christa @ Stories of a House 33 Comments

I’m surprised I’ve been able to accomplish anything these last few weeks with this awful back of mine.

I injured it in 6th grade passing pumpkins side to side down an assembly line for our school’s pumpkin patch, and I have had problems ever since. This last bout has just about done me in! I’ve done hot stone massages, yoga, muscle relaxers, heat, ice, etc. If you have any tips, I’m all ears…

But, let’s talk about this cute little desk that’s been sitting in my garage for a year. Someone had taken a fully loaded brush with black paint to it, and just went to town. I didn’t think the black fit with the feminine lines of the desk.

I don’t mind stripping flat surfaces so much, and fortunately the desk wasn’t primed so the paint came off easily. The wood underneath was so pretty.

Then I went to paint it and the dreaded bleed-through showed up:

I don’t always prime, unless it’s really old and I know the tannins will bleed through. I didn’t think this would bleed, but it did. I was out of my usual primers I use for this, so I went to the tiny hardware store on the corner and got the only oil-based primer in a can they had which I’d never used before:

If I could put a skull and cross bones over this picture, I would.

It smells like formadehyde, and no matter how much I shook the can and cleaned the nozzle it came out all crazy. It went on rough and dried that way.

I don’t know if I’ll be buying another can in the future to see if I got a bad can or what.

Finally, after sanding everything smooth, painting, staining, and adding the final finish, the desk looks great. I loved the original hardware and just painted them black.

I used SW Creamy and Minwax Special Walnut.

I still haven’t had the 411 on getting more light in my pictures. Please, someone, take me aside…

I love the little Queen Anne feet!

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Filed Under: Antiques, Before and After, Furniture

" The Ann Marie Sideboard "

March 4, 2011 by Christa @ Stories of a House 31 Comments

I owe this find to the adorable Ann Marie from Twice Lovely
(who has the cutest baby bump going on, by the way).

I get so excited when I get an email from her with “CL alert!” in the subject line.
She lives not quite 2 hours from me, and when she sees something good in my area she always tell me about it.

We had the opportunity to meet several months ago at a Vintage Market hosted by the wonderful Tara from Junk Restore, and we’re going to be doing it again at the end of March.
Details are here.

I picked up this buffet that she alerted me to which looked Circa 1920′s – 1930′s ?
It had been sitting outside, and the old varnish was wrinkling.
I love these old pieces, but they usually have quite a few extra hours of prep involved.

Of course the lifting varnish needed to be removed so that the new paint would adhere
(I usually use razor blades if it’s already flaking off).

Here is what the old top looked like:

And after it was refinished. I LOVE these old walnut (?) tops.
I need to study up on these antiques because I’m obsessed with them.

I chose a frenchy blue-gray (SW Respite along with SW Creamy). I picture it in a home with a very traditional, romantic style. It’s been distressed and heavily aged.

The original antiqued brass hardware didn’t quite go with the new color palette so I first sprayed them with satin nickel, then antiqued them with some Minwax dark walnut for patina, and sealed them with a spray matte sealer.

Then the drawers were lined with this pretty floral black and white fabric.

I staged it with this tiered plate stand that my mom-in-law gave me. The top plate is from Kevin’s great Grandmother on his Mom’s side, the middle plate is from Kevin’s Father’s Mother, and the bottom plate is Kevin’s Mom’s. Isn’t that a special gift?

…and of course, I love detail shots ….

CL sales have been sloooooow recently, so I will be bringing all remaining inventory to the Vintage Market at the Simple Farm March 31-April 2. Maybe I will see some of you there!

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