PJH Designs

Friday, June 15, 2012

Changes

Hello blogger friends! Today I wanted to talk about Changes. A little different for me as I usually stick to business and just share my furniture and home improvement projects.

I've already shared how I will be changing the way I share on my blog by refinishing several pieces of furniture and then blogging about them later as I rest between jobs.

By the way here is a cute little side table I recently finished and carried to the shop.

Isn't it cute?! (Sorry couldn't help myself! lol)

It is hard for me to share my personal life as I feel most people are busy with their own and don't want to be bothered, and...it's personal!

Anyway, I have severe osteoarthritis and fibromylgia and problems with discs in my lower back. So I am trying to learn to pace myself. I just cannot possibly give up my passion in furniture and buying and selling antiques!

I am also starting on an anti-inflammatory diet as put forth by Dr. Weil. Anyone else doing this kind of diet? I would love to hear how you are doing and what you like to eat, etc... I'm trying to take control of my health before it totally takes control of my life.

Okay. Enough complaining! I hope you'll stick with me as I go through this process. Thanks for listening (or is it reading) lol.

Here is a close-up of that little table.

I know I'm hopeless. :-}

Here's the before:

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha! I totally got that make over in this post about improving your health. lol

I would love to hear any advice you might have in this area of health or if you are going through the same process.

Until next time have a great weekend.

Update

Thanks friends for your well wishes & prayers I appreciate it so much.

I'm sorry I didn't give more details on the little table. The center was one of those faux marble pieces. I just popped it out and using Mod Podge decoupaged a toile wrapping paper I picked up in Canton, TX at First Monday Trade Days to the top. (I love that paper and you'll be seeing more of it I'm sure) I let that totally dry and applied the rose image on top. Then I sealed all of it with two more coats of Mod Podge.

The table I painted with a mixture of two-thirds "Old White" and one-third "Pure White" Annie Sloan chalk paint. I then add some water to "Paris Gray," just enough to make it a little thinner so it would spread easily. I washed this into all the details of the table to give them a little more depth and wiped off the excess.

After that I just sealed the table with two coats of clear, soft wax. It was so much fun to re-finish. I love cute little tables.

I'm joining the following parties:

Friday
Furniture Feature Friday

Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Twiced On Tuesday

Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
POWW #93
Be Inspired

Thursday, June 14, 2012

French Typography Table

Hello blogger friends hope your day is starting out well.

I wanted to take a quick minute to share a coffee table redo that I finished recently.

I do not have a before picture. So sorry. I’m a terrible blogger because I forgot to take one, but it was a plain, light brown stain that was pretty much worn off everywhere but the legs.

Here’s the finished product.

I painted it with a mixture of Annie Sloan’s “Old White” and “Pure White” which gave me this gorgeous, buttery soft, white. I used two-thirds "Old White" and one-third "Pure White."

I used Photoshop to enlarge and print my graphic and traced it on using the chalk method. I’m sure you’ve seen it around blogland. You rub chalk on back of design and then trace it onto the table with a ball point pen.

I then filled in the design using Sharpie markers. Easy peasy.

Tip: Be sure to seal the finished image with a poly sealer that does not yellow as the Sharpie will smear.

I then applied two coats of a soft clear wax and buffed lightly.

I really like the embellishments I added to the sides. Don’t you?

Have a great weekend and Happy Father’s day to all the Fathers out there.

I'm joining the following parties:

Wednesday

Wildly Original Round UP

Show Off Your Stuff

Thursday

Transformation Thursday

Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Furniture Feature Friday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Victrola Cabinet Redo

Hello blogger friends! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been having trouble getting pictures off of my camera, but finally I found a solution and can start sharing the pieces I just finished last week and carried to the shop.

First, I like to share this Victrola cabinet redo. Here’s the after.

When I first saw this piece I knew I wanted to save the beautiful woodwork on the front. The top and sides had some issues that would have required expensive veneer replacement.

Here is the before that I shared with you when I gave you a preview of my kitchen before renovation.

I totally stripped all the front panels on the Victrola. Actually, I hand sanded them which took quite awhile. I then painted all the other areas in Annie Sloans “Old White” and the trim was painted with gold Rub & Buff.

The top of the cabinet is where the actual Victrola was originally. It had already been removed and a new bottom put in and then lined in felt. I removed the old piece of felt and replaced it with new in a royal blue.

The inside top was sanded down and finished with a clear gloss polyurethane.

I then painted the inside with a beautiful matching royal blue paint I already had in stock.

The outside top was painted with “Old White” and I then applied a pretty stencil I special ordered to the top with the gold Rub & Buff.

After that I waxed and distressed everything painted “Old White” using a clear soft wax. When that had dried I applied another coat of wax and buffed lightly.

For that gorgeous veneer on front I applied three coats of clear gloss polyurethane.

I love the juxtaposition of the old chalk paint finish and the high gloss finish of the veneer.