An Obsession With Paint

I told you a week or so ago about this new obsession I have. I have a friend who owns an antique store named Judith Lee's in the little town in which I live. It is ridiculously amazing to go to. If you come to these parts, I will take you!!! They even have an adorable restaurant that is decorated in a way that makes you want to eat the tablecloth. Pretty bad, huh?

Anyway, she is awesome and I was salivating leisurely walking around in her garage where she was working on several projects for her store. I begged happened to mention that I was interested in learning how to scuff things up to make them look antiqued. She whipped out her magic sander and invested in my life! :) Did I mention that I love that gal???

Basically, this is the scoop. You can sand anything. . . even laminate. . .although I have not tried, but I am chomping at the bit to start. You get a palm sander. Carefully tear strips of sandpaper (around 220 grit). I say carefully because I got put in the naughty corner by my prince charming because I wasted sandpaper. Also, note to not let the bottom of the sander be exposed to the table with sandpaper not between them. Let's just say I have stayed in the naughty corner a lot lately.

Ok, so you got your sander and sandpaper. Basically you need a non-shiny, roughed up surface. After you have sanded every nook and cranny you need to go to the store for a diet coke and a can of paint. Again, my amazing antiquey friend told me to go to Sherwin Williams and buy their samples paint. It is a small can, but it will cover most regular sized furniture with lots leftover. The cool thing about the samples cans is that they are just under $5.00! Amazing. Use a combination of a roller for the tops of your furniture and a paint brush for all the nooks and crannies. The roller does not leave paint streaks on the top, but sometimes that is a cool look. I have a piece that my friend painted and it has paint brush strokes on it and it looks very cool.

After you drink your diet coke or choice drink then admire your painting. You are pretty amazing, you know. Crank that sander up for the last time and start going around all of the edges. You can give this any look you want if you want it roughed up. My friend told me to give the corners a rounded edge. It's pretty easy. I also took some of the paint off the top of my dresser to expose the wood. Another hint is around where your knees might normally hit make it roughed up around in that area. It will look a lot more natural.

Isn't that cool. Now that you know how easy it is you can start experimenting like me. Prince Charming says that he is scared that he is going to come home sometime soon and every bit of furniture we own is going to be painted! Hmm. . . there's a thought! Gotta run to Sherwin Williams, see you later.

When's the Baby Due?

No, I am not having a baby! But I feel like I am! Not because I have gained weight either. Which I have! :) Working on that. . .that update is for another blog post!

The baby is the addition that we have been adding on since last May. A "simple" addition of a two car garage, a laundry room, a guest bedroom, another living space and last, but definitely not least, a master bath! Basically, we built a house this year.

I feel like I am about 42 months pregnant(normal gestation for a baby is 40 weeks) and everyone is asking when my baby is due. In my mind, I am screaming. . .stop asking me that, the baby will come when the baby comes! On the other side, I have already decorated the baby's room, packed my bags and cannot wait for the baby to come. In fact, I am getting a bit impatient. I am ready for that baby to sleep in it's bed (not that they really do, but it is dreamy to think of).

I feel a little past due. I am starting to get irritable. Ok, I am irritable. I will admit. Really, we are only about 35 weeks pregnant in house terms. We are finishing the tile in the bathroom around the shower and tub. None of the floors are finished. We have two out of four rooms left to paint. We are having trouble with the air conditioning of the addition. It sounds like we may need to buy a whole new unit for that side. Also, we discovered the duct work underneath the house is not the best. Go figure! :)

We also have to move the door that used to go outside that attaches the old house to the new part. We need to do all the trim work. I really should not say we on that though. I am inept on trim work. I am very good at "buttering" tile though . . . when I show up to work. :(

Really, it's not that much more, but the thought of starting another school year in a construction zone is making me crazy(er). Hansel is going to be in 4th grade public school this year and Gretel will be homeschooling for her 3rd grade year. Don't ask me why we do the things we do. I just go by what I feel is the best option for them each year. I guess I could say, I go with my gut.

Ok, so now I feel better getting all of my ranting out. The "baby" will be born soon. My gut says so.

Tooting My Own Horn!

If I don't toot it, who's going to toot it for me?

Just kidding, but I did want to tell you that I just started writing for 5 Minutes for Faith as a guest contributor. It was sort of a dare I gave myself back in May to have some pressure to write. Last week I wrote on "The Lost Art of Letter Writing." It was Writing Wednesday at my house and that was what was sitting on my brain at the time. Check out the blog sometime, I think you will be encouraged not just by me, but the other writers as well.

Have a great day and thanks for visiting Clappy Shoes!