Project motivation

Sometimes all ya’ need to get motivated to get projects done is an “event”. In my case… we had our neighborhood garage sales this weekend (which I always participate in)… so I had to get my garage cleared out! It was the motivation I needed to finish the painting projects that I had sitting in there!

So without further adieu….

Remember these pots that I needed motivation to start:

The designer asked that I make them look similar to the fountain I showed you on this post. She didn’t want them to look “fauxed”… which I translated into “don’t make them look too perfect or matchy-matchy”. Sometimes that is harder than you think.

I started by spray painting them a nice tan color…

Then I applied Aqua’s turquoise Stain & Seal for my blue in a “consistently-inconsistent-unmatchy-random-not-trying-too-hard” pattern…

If you are a professional faux finisher and have never used Aqua Finishing Solution’s Stain and Seals…. you need to. I have my studio always loaded with them. If you are in KC… you can purchase Stain and Seal from Surfaces Fine Paint... they are the local Aqua distributor.

After drying, I added Aqua’s Rich Brown Stain & Seal.

Again… trying not to make it look “too nice”.

I smashed it around… rubbed some of it off with cheesecloth and let it dry.

And here is the big reveal:

I like how they turned out so much that I may do a pot or something in my house the same way.

One project down. Two to go….

I had this dresser from another client.

I started by painting it Sherwin Williams “Mannered Gold” first. Then I applied Sherwin Williams “Sawdust” over that…. not 100%. Again, consistently inconsistent….

I added some “worm holes” with a Modello stencil removing tool.

This is the best “worm holer” that I have found. If you have never put “worm holes” on a wood piece… you should try it. It’s a great stress reliever.

(Pay no attention that I haven’t had a manicure in months. These are workin’ girl hands! But feel free to marvel at the fact that I was talented enough to stab the wood with this picker thing and snap a photo with my other hand AT THE SAME TIME! Serious skills…)

After that, I glazed the whole thing with Van Dyke Stain & Seal and called it a day:

Two projects down…. one to go.

My last garage project was transforming this old desk/bookcase that my client bought off Craigslist:

Into this:

This is a great example of transforming an ugly piece of furniture that has “good bones”.… into something marvelous! I love it! Great find Jill!

I finished it and delivered it on Thursday. Just in time for this on Friday:

My mom, my friend Shauna and my friend Laretha all got to spend a lot of quality time in my garage with me for 2 days. It’s a good thing we all love one another!

And to my dismay, Ava discovered dirt:

I think by the time it was all said and done, we all kinda felt like this bunny:

Poor bunny. He didn’t even sell…in fact, now that I think of it…. the reindeer and one of those bed frames didn’t either?!?!?! UG!

Three projects down… garage is empty… it’s a beautiful thing.

If you are interested in more furniture transformations…. head over to Sanctuary Arts at Home for some serious inspiration.

Many blessings,
Jennifer