Painting a tabletop and grainsacks...

Last Friday at 4 in the afternoon, I got the idea that I would paint my kitchen table top. I'm one of those people who always underestimates the amount of time and trouble a project will be. I think, "Let's see, that should only take a couple of hours, and I'm going to use chalk paint so it should be a piece of cake". I'm also the person who thinks she still looks 40, until I catch a passing glimpse of myself in the mirror... Actually, it wasn't a big deal, just took me longer than I thought since I wanted a more protected finish. And speaking of "finishes", I'd like a new one for that mirror reflection, please.

The table top was a light "Honey" stain manufacturer's finish that had seen lot's of wear and tear over these last eleven years and needed some help in the worst way. No kids or grandkids living here, just us two and the cats, but I DID have a run in with a bottle of scented oil that you use to refresh potpourri a few years ago, and after that the table wasn't the same. lesson learned the hard way.

You can't see all the places where the finish had actually worn off, scratches, dings, and not to mention I'm not a fan of "Honey" stained anything...least of all my table top. I bought this because of the pretty antique white paint finish and the fact that I fell in love with the chair backs.

I had reached my threshold of "blah" with it, and decided that paint was easier than stripping it and re-staining, even though a dark stain would have been beautiful. I used my palm sander for just a little extra help on getting rid of the inconsistencies of the finish.

Here's a pic from last Fall. Covering what I can of the table top has always been my way of dealing with the problem.

So I did 3 coats of ASCP in Old White and then 3 coats of Minwax Liquid Polyurethane, which I love, and is super fast and easy and gives great protection. I just "lightly" distressed it around the edges, it will have enough "distressing" on it's own.

The painted tabletop color is pretty close to the original finish on the rest of the table. Maybe just a hair lighter, but not noticeable. (The liquid poly adds a little depth of color) The chairs still have the stained finish, but I can live with that at the moment.

I'll continue to keep some sort of table runner on it just to ensure a little more protection. Things tend to float over here and land, like cell phones, mail, keys, etc. so I've told hubby, everything has to fit on the runner. Right now I have my antique heavy grainsack runner with the red stripe. This thing is durable and nubby and I love the look. I've ordered another one with a caramel stripe in the center, and it's on it's way from Austria. Christina from Grainsack on Etsy has beautiful antique grainsacks for great prices. You can take out the stitching like I did, and it becomes twice as long and works wonderfully as a tablerunner.

My tool caddy with vintage blue Ball Jars and faux hydrangeas

 is a staple here, year-round.

Wish I'd have done this sooner, because this looks so much better. Now, if the fur girls will just not attempt any crafting on the table top things will be good...

joining in on these great parties:

Inspiration Gallery at Yellow Bliss Road

WOW Us Wednesday at Savvy southern Style
It's a Party at DIY by Design
Homework at Worthing Court
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
Treasure Hunt at From My Front Porch to Yours
Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable
House Party at No Minimalist Here
Share Your Cup at Mrs. Olson's
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Redoux Interiors
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
Furniture Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Shabby Art Boutique
Blitzed on Pinterest at Debbiedoos
Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush
Funky Junk

hope you're having a great week,

xoxo,

I'm fickle...

when it comes to decorating that is.

A couple of weeks ago I did a post called 

Decor Therapy

Yep, I actually thought I could make it to 

Valentine's Day

with the 

tweaked

look I had for Christmas...

I should have known

that wasn't going to work.

Last week I needed a change.

I thought about buying some new fabric for a tablerunner.

but in the end I just dug around in my stash

and found this wonderful 

washed out linen floral.

and the basket full of poinsettias...?

buh bye.

Back to hydrangeas.

That meant the adorable little vintage tablecloth with hearts

would have to go, too.

(moss covered letter "O", courtesy my sis)

burlap to the rescue.

and of course

the church pew 

got a needlepoint floral pillow

to "compliment" the new tablerunner.

table top vignettes were given the

switcheroo

and my three pitchers

replaced a silver set.

but I won't tell you where that is...

cause it's still floating around

just like that little Chippendale shelf.

The Girls asked to have their pictures taken.

you'll notice this one's trying out the new runner...

While this one is sitting on the marble pastry block.

...by candlelight

can you see that Miss Wrigley

is smiling for the camera?

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

I'm joining these parties this week:

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

TTT at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch

Budget Decorating at Creative Cain Cabin

DIY by Design
From My Front Porch to Yours
Tips and Tidbits at Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
My Romantic Home
Jennifer Rizzo
Craftberry Bush

xoxo,

A little Grain Sack Inspiration

If you're like me you need a jumping off point; something that inspires you, and gives you direction. I had it in my head this year that I wanted to do something less fussy, maybe a little more "Winter-ish" than an all out Christmas blow-out. I've seen some amazing "all out" Christmas decor, but for me, I just wanted something simpler that could maybe make it at least through part of January.

During the late Summer and early Fall I used a table runner made of dark grain sack fabric with a black stripe. I loved it, and started looking for a runner in a red stripe with a light background early. Chalk one up for me... I'm usually late on making decisions. I waited too long and now the infamous BOXWOOD wreath has eluded my grasp this year...grrrrrr.

I knew I wanted to use this white wooden lantern that I've had for awhile, so it had to nest in the old windowbox. Now, back to the tablerunner issue...soooo....I couldn't find the fabric, but actually did one better by finding this amazing antique grain sack on Etsy from a wonderful gal named Christina from Austria. (From The Etsy Store Grain Sack) I ordered early in October, so it was here just in time for the Thanksgiving change over.

I took out the binding that held the sides together, so I would have one long piece in a single layer. Then centered it on my off white burlap. I want to cover up as much of the B-R-O-W-N table top as I can...

Perfect.

Christina's Photo

It's really beautiful and immaculate with no damage or age showing at all. I highly recommend her shop.

Then, I started digging in my linen stash and came up with this vintage "Turkey Red" tablecloth for the buffet.

I just folded it lengthwise.

A little more "grainsack" with the ribbon.

And a grapevine wreath with a red transferware cup. The more I look at that wreath, the more I know it must have lost an apple or two since last year. Sorry, it's now on my "to-do" list!

Had to have some plaid, ya'll!!

My sister made these adorable pillows for me for Christmas last year.

more red stripes

(and birdies)

big pillow was a Pottery Barn must have last year!

I changed out the bittersweet on my little Fall Nature Tree for some festive winterberry garland. I put the snow owls to bed and added in some glitter birds in their place.

I have an old friend that's making an appearance in the Dining Room this year. I'll share him this weekend! (If you look closely you'll see a peek of him.)

I'll be joining in these great Holiday Parties this week:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
TTT at Stone Gable
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Shabby Art Boutique
 French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence

Hope you're having a fun week,

be sure and check out 

It's live all week.

xoxo,

Asking the age old question...

Oh I know, we've all heard it...

usually it's our husband's asking us,

 but right now I'm asking myself;

"where are you going to put that?"

and the answer is... 

well...

I'm not sure...

but it was one of those things 

I've been looking for and when I found it...

it came home with me.

A wonderful old medicine cabinet with the perfect "chippy factor";

 sturdy, and a good size, too.

It will end up somewhere...I'm sure of it.

(I thought it was a bargain for $30 at Relics.)

And on another random note, I wanted a more muted Fallish look for my twin sofas in the Living Room so I was looking for a soft floral with some autumnal tones. ("pretend pillow" below)

Then, I found some more yardage of a fabric

 I had used last Fall for a table runner.

(I noticed Yvonne and I have had the same idea)

My next project it to make simple pillows

for the twin sofas.

you know the saying,

"simple is as simple does"

that's me.

no cording, no fringe, no hair pulling.

this time, just plain pillows.

I still love my frenchy toile ones,

but wanted something different for Fall.

We had rain last night, 

thank you Lord.

We live a long way from the official rain gauge site, but I think it must have been well over an inch, as our parched ground is still wet this afternoon. I'm hoping our weather patterns are in for a change. It's about time. Days on end of the 100+ temps and no rain has been horrible. All my birdies and outside critters are doing the happy dance today! 

I'll be linking up to these party places this week:

Southern Hospitality for Thrifty Treasures

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Make it Pretty at the Dedicated House

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Knick of Time Tuesday

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

White Wednesday at Faded Charm

Very Merry Vintage Style

No Minimalist Here

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Rooted in Thyme

French Country Cottage

At the Picket Fence

Stuff and Nonsense

The Charm of Home

Don't forget to enter the Give Away from Sweet Magnolia's Farm

by clicking HERE

Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday,