::Antique Wash Stand and Dry Sink::

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

----------------------------------------------------------------

Peeps.

I'm so behind in showing you all my before and afters.  

Here's two of my recent faves.  First is Daisy the dry sink:

Daisy before:

I used DIY chalky paint with calcium carb in a Sherwin Williams 'Watery' Color-to-Go sample.

I used her original hardware, using some Brasso to shine them up.

I'm having a hard time parting with her.  May need to keep her as a bedside table in the new house. :)

Next up is Annie, from 1850....so says the English ironstone pitcher and basin:

Here's her original incarnation:

She was treated to American Paint Company's 'Blue Jeans', then 'Home Plate'.  I used a baby wipe to rub back the white to reveal the blue, which compliments the ironstone so well!

I have several others to show you too, but that's it for now!

I have another market coming up as well as some more custom orders to do this week, and 3 SUPER big announcements to tell you about!  My life is crazy full with awesomeness right now :)

Hope everyone enjoys their Labor Day festivities tomorrow.

Me?  I"m heading down to a family picnic then VIP tickets to see

MUMFORD & SONS!

(compliments of my brother who is their booking agent....that's him being kissed by Winston) 

Wahoo :)

Partying this week at:
Mod Vintage Life, Elizabeth & Co., Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, Farmhouse Porch, A Stroll Thru Life, Cozy Little House, Stone Gable, No Minimalist Here, Green Willow Pond, Domestically Speaking, Redoux Interiors, Shabby Art Boutique, The Vintage Farmhouse, Jennifer Rizzo, French Country Cottage, Common Ground, Rooted in Thyme, Start at Home, Craftberry Bush, Mustard Seed Interiors, The Cottage Market, DIY Vintage Chic, DIY Show Off, The Happy Housie, Mod Vintage Life

::My Big News::

So my band of Paint Mavens have been doing pop-up vintage markets together for the past couple months. One gal who owns a shop has moved from her North Webster location to right downtown Fort Wayne!

Her shop is all cutie-patootie home decor, gifts and upcycled furniture....including my soap :)
Check out Emiley's Haute Cottage!

The shop is located in an old brick carriage house.  Here's the front (and the courtyard where we'll do our vintage market during Saturday's Grand Opening.)

But here's my great news!  The Paint Mavens are selling our furniture and finds in the upstairs of the carriage house!  Another Maven (Aimee of Restyled Vintage Designs) is a retailer for The American Paint Co, and her paint can be purchased there as well.  Her first 'Refunk your Junk' class is coming up!
Others are Cottage in the Woods, Foreverest Handmade Home & Vintage, and Revived. 

Here's a sneaky-peeky of what I'll have there from The Serendipity House:

You'll have to come Saturday to see them in their full glory :)

If you're anywhere around NE Indiana, this shop is definitely worth your time to stop.  All unique, one of kind items!  We're all thrilled to be joining together in this endeavor, doing what we love to do in a group of supportive women who all understand furniture hoarding and paint samples.  That's saying a lot.

I'm still fighting this sick thing, but slowly coming out of the fog.  Hoping to be 100% by our show on Saturday....would just love to meet any local readers!  Please introduce yourself if you stop by :)

::The First Maven's Vintage Driveway Sale::

Peeps.

I had THE best time on Sunday.  You should've been there.  All 1860-ish of ya.

My Painting Mavens of Awesomeness set up a pop-up sale together in one of our driveways, which just happens to be on the corner of a fairly busy road.

 (Next few pics are my craptastic stuff, some of which I haven't posted about, but will do so this week.  Perhaps.)

It was magical.  

There was wine and guacamole.  Come on now.

I brought Walmart cookies....I paint, Peeps, I don't cook or bake.

We had pretty steady traffic all day, and everyone sold stuff.  

Sara (our hostess)'s set up....go like her at Revived!

This is Kari's set up....go like her at Cottage in the Woods Creations!

Next up is Aimee's Hubby.  And her set up....go like her at ReSyled Vintage Designs!

And our newest Maven Alexandria....go like her at Foreverest Handmade Home & Vintage!

 It's happening folks.  My vision is happening, and I'm sooooo over-the-moon excited to see where this journey takes us all.  I have new friends who get me, who share my desire to support one another and cheer each other and teach and learn from each other in an otherwise very competitive market....pooling our talents to make us all better.  I was awed by how each of our spaces looked different, how our individual artistic interpretations reflected each of our individual tastes and talents.  It was amazing.  Just like I talk about in ::the robin's nest::  Yeah, we all paint furniture (build a nest).  But we each add our heart and soul and creativity using the raw materials we stumble upon to work our magic.  We own our art, reflect our tastes, and appreciate each other's interpretations.  Magic, I tell ya.

Some of us will be setting up again in a couple weeks in another Maven's driveway, so if you're heading our way, watch for info on times and place. I'll introduce you to a couple more Mavens you've not met yet as the time gets closer.  They're all kinds of awesome too.

And fist-bumps to my Painting Mavens of Awesomeness.  Serendipity strikes again.....thanks for joining me on my journey.  You rock my world.  And that's sayin' something.  A big something.

Sharing with Claudia's Favorite Thing Party....these women and these markets are my lifeblood right now.

::Another Waterfall::

PSSSST...I'm no longer blogging here!

You can now find me at

www.acottagegirl.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------

This time a dresser I picked up for a song at a junk shop my dad found.

I named her Janie.  Just because.

She started out life with a bad staining/glazing job.  Poor thing.

I mixed up some DIY chalk paint using SW Creamy for the white, and then for the drawers I used SW Comfort Gray on the first layer and Oyster Bay over that.

Mercury Glass knobs from Hob Lob.  Totally make the piece, IMO.

I did the petroleum jelly resist technique, which is easy, but kinda messy.  It's a good way to get the bigger 'swipes' to pull off though.  Candle wax does the same, but it's better for just the edges.

I distressed her and waxed her using Maison Blanche clear antiquing wax, which buffs to a very matte finish.

I lined her innards with some coolio scrapbook paper...just in the middle.

I think she looks beachy and marvelous now.

Janie is available at The Serendipity House for any locals (within 2 hours of Fort Wayne IN).

But she'll also be looking for dance partners at some weekly link parties, which will be posted when she arrives with her bean dip.
Restyled Sundays, That DIY Party, Masterpiece Monday, Mod Mix Monday,  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Inspire Me Tuesday, Knick of Time Tuesday, Tweak It Tuesday, The Scoop, Project Inspire{d, Be Inspired, The Inspiration Board Creative Party, Fluster's Creative Muster, Inspiration Gallery, Party Time, What We Accomplished Wednesday, Paint Parade, Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits, Transformation Thursday, Be Inspired, Simple & Sweet Fridays, Home Sweet Home, vintage-love, Redoux Interiors, Fabulously Creative Linky Party, Feathered Nest Friday, Shabbilicious Friday, Junkin' Joe, Inspire Me Please, Inspiration Gallery, Catch as Catch Can, Before and After, Party Junk, It's Party Time, Furniture Feature

::Vintage Market::

Remember I told you about my wee group of painting mavens?

We're all trying to make a go at flipping furniture and vintage goods, so we're working together brainstorming ideas and sharing techniques and tips.

One of the gals owns a shop in a small lake village nearby, so a few of us schlepped our wares up there and set up a vintage market in her parking lot.

(visit her facebook page here)

Tons of fun.

Here's some pics I snapped of some of our set-ups...

Aimee of Restyled Vintage Designs did the turquoise table and frame set up on the right, and the other items are Sara's of  Revived. 

Look at this crackle!  Aimee is a new retailer for American Paint Company....she also sells out of a shop called Yesterday Once More in Shipshewana IN.

Sara and her hubby Eric brought lots of cool stuff....they turn over items faster than anyone I know!

And here's some yummy-ness from Kari's Cottage in the Woods Creations.  Love her painted yardsticks and signs!  That buffet is done in Annie Sloan's Cream....total bliss.

This was my set up....only brought a few small tables from The Serendipity House and tons of my handmade soap.

When things were slow, I brought along an assortment of paints and waxes, brushes and boards for us to try out new products and techniques.  I didn't get a pic of that because, well, I was playing with paint and waxes....

We've all had a great time getting to know each, sharing ideas and dreams.

I'm excited to see where our little group goes, and we're hoping to add more artists to the flock

I can't wait for the REAL Serendipity House to get itself built so I can host pop-up shows where my painting mavens can showcase their talent :)

Sharing at Claudia's A Favorite Thing party because new friends and vintage markets are definitely a couple of my favorite things!