Wednesday 29 April 2009

wielding the paintbrush..................

Having procrastinated for long enough, a particular speciality of mine, I decided to venture into the spider (and probably rat) infested shed and dig out the old paint remnants and tackle a few of the jobs around the house.

Our kitchen table was a £23 ebay bargain. It can be extended using the lovely wind out mechanism and fits in the space brilliantly. The top however was a mess, lots of different colours made worse by my attempts at stripping it back to give it that bleached farmhouse look. That didn't work so the next idea was to paint the top and leave the legs in their natural state. It's taken a bit of getting used to but now I think I like it. I figure if I ever get sick of it I'll just chuck some oilcloth over it.

Next the lampbase I bought in the sale from Homesense. This was a perfectly acceptable cream base but I had visions of a red gloss version, similar to the ones Cath Kidston used to do. Out came the red gloss used for Jack's chair , I added the beautiful shade purchased from Frances at the V&H fair and the transformation was complete.


Finally, my latest treasure, a £1 car boot cabinet, hauled home last Sunday. This was a particularly fetching Germolene pink which didn't really sit well in our bedroom so another paint remnant was unearthed and it became this, a sky blue beauty. This blue is one of my favourite colours, it pops up everywhere in this house, it makes me smile and I find I'm drawn to it whenever I see it. The addition of a little bit of CK wonderfulness and it's a completely new (old)bedside table. Just got to find one for Ian's side now, not sure he'll agree to the floral loveliness though!
Lastly, whilst the creative urge was upon me I raided the box of gorgeous vintage cards I bought last year from the car boot (must show you those at some point) and made a new addition for Kit's wall. She's thrilled to bits with it, in fact she loves all her pictures, zoom in and you should be able to see the latest car boot picture, a Margaret Tarrant print - bottom left. The seller had some lovely large prints but at £10 each, way beyond my car boot budget. He must have taken pity on me because he gave me this damaged one for free, what a result! Don't look too closely at my new creation, as with most things I make it's slightly haphazard and lopsided, I'm far too impatient to get to the finished product. Same with painting, preparation - Pah! Sanding between coats - who are you kidding?! Surround them with enough stuff and nobody notices - I think!
And look there Hen, see who's nestled among the blankets? I saw the one you made for the Munchkin and I couldn't resist having a go myself. I love it, so much so I have thought of adopting it and giving it a new home on our bed but I don't think I'll get away with that one!
Now the sewing machine has been taken out of hibernation there may be a few more creations to show you soon...............

24 comments:

Christine said...

Oh, I can't wait to see more! Will you come over and redecorate my house? Yours is quite lovely to look at. :)

Hollace said...

Love the new bedside table. You're so brave to just do it!

Bobo Bun said...

Your lamp looks fantastic. I think it's this time of year as I've been sploshing the paint around too. I never bother with all the prep either as after a minute here it gets bashed anyway. Cabinet a fantastic bargain by the way.

Lisa x

Rubyred said...

Hi Julia,
it all looks wonderful!Love the lampbase,I hate painting with gloss though,it's the cleaning up after!The cabinet looks fantastic too!
Rachel x

Hen said...

Hi Julia,
What a productive week you've had! I remember seeing that lampshade at the V&H Fair with a big "sold" sticker on it and thinking how lovely it was; great to see it again, looking fab with the base, in a good home! Loving the bedside table too. Kit's room looks fab, makes me wistful for a girl...(almost!) Owl looks brill, well done you. Harry's owl has just been to Antigua and back - a very well travelled owl indeed! He's looking a bit well-loved now. See you on the 30 May...
Hen x

charl said...

i love your little bedside table it looks sooo pretty
well done !!!

{Love, Love, Love} said...

Great finds and I love what you have done with them x

Mary Poppins said...

Your daughters room is adorable, I am in the middle of decorating my DD's Attic Bedroom and have to say I am finding it very enjoyable :)

X

Anonymous said...

The bedside cabinet is fabulous! xxxxxxxxx

RR said...

omg you got some bargains and such pretty pictures,that picture and bedside table are gorgeous

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

my you have been busy !!! i am also a very good procrastinator but have been inspired and am looking round for something to paint glossy red now !
lesley x

Beki said...

Love the owl, my DD would love it too, will have to try and give it a go for her.
Can I ask what paint you used for your bedside table, it's just the colour I want for mine (which is very similar in style too lol).
Take care
((hugs))
Beki xxx

Floss said...

This is looking great! I also need to tell you how much I'm cheered by your lovely header picture (the plates) whenever I click on your blog. My problem with painting, perhaps, stems from having been taught to paint by an obsessive perfectionist husband, who sands, sands, sands, paints, sands, paints, sands, paints and then worries about the finish. I think I have to relax a bit before I can nerve myself to paint the furniture I've picked up!

Kathy said...

Hi Julia, wow you have been busy, love, love, love the table lamp it looks fab. Gorgeous bed side table too. Today I went to a fab fabric sale at Donna Flowers (fabric of my life blog). Wonderful I am sure you would have loved it. Kathyx

sharie said...

Wow, you've been busy. Love the lampbase, the cabinet and the wonderful framed vntage card.

Jacoline said...

What a great job. And sanding is a job for people who have nothing else to do, not for us!!

cheltclaire said...

look like some fab finds. i'll have to get up a bit earlier and get to the car boot before you!
claire
xxxxxxxx

Carol said...

Everything looks so lovely Julia.
I do love a spot of painting, I find it relaxing, I never prep, just slop it on. My hub cannot believe it, he has given up on telling me to rub it down, then prime, then rub , then undercoat.....on and on and it still chips!
Carol x

Unknown said...

I love that picture "just 4" - lovely!

Attic24 said...

Been drinking Pimms today and thinking of you!
Have a fantastic bank hol wkend :o)
Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Attic24 said...

Been drinking Pimms today and thinking of you!
Hope you're enjoying a lovely bank hol wkend...
Lucexxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

claire Maraldo said...

Oh ,Alexei has the same Margaret Tarrant picture in his bedroom! how strange! I hate sanding down between coats too. So boring, but I get severely told off by the other half if I do it sloppily!

Jessica Lonard (The Crafty Librarian) said...

I love all of your things! I'm so jealous! You should come join my Vintage Objects Swap on swap-bot... http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/35871 it seems right up your alley. But you seem to do very well for yourself, vintage-wise :o) Lovely to meet you :oD

Tinyholder said...

Just catching up on some of your posts. I am exactly the same with blue, I love it (and also green). It just seems to end up in every room in my house. Love the cabinet and that lamp is gorgeous.