Free, Like a Saint Bernard Puppy

From the curb during a neighborhood yard sale, I rescued four chairs - free.  The owner even helped load them into my truck.  They turned out to be as free as a Saint Bernard pup.

These pics above are the "after" shots.  I must say, the finish is now terrific.  I am happy with the outcome.  But they were a lot of work, more than any chair I have re-done.

They required lots of sanding, which I do by hand.  I went thru a lot of sandpaper!  Then I painted using a semi-gloss paint.  After a few days of curing, I sanded and distressed the finish, following up with Bri Wax in Light Brown.

Painting and finishing the wood frames was the easy part. 

I used a double layer of burlap, which is inexpensive.  However, the tedious process of finishing the backs was time-consuming.  I went through 18 yards of Chinese braid. 

While I like the finished product, I wouldn't attempt these again.  Typically, people don't want to pay very much for chairs at local venues and I feel like I should get $80 to $90 each.  We'll see what happens - they're at Good Company for this weekend's sale. 

Here's the before picture - they were covered in a polyester fabric.  They are solid chairs - Salem House Furniture pieces. 

French Provincial Child's Chair

I found this darling French Provincial child's chair at Good Company.  The bones are great - the fabric was shot!  So...I mod-podged the fabric to keep it from tearing further, and covered it with burlap.  Of course, the terrific legs must show! 

Heywood Wakefield - Is It Wrong to Paint It?

Okay, I may have been impatient.  But, this hutch top was abused by its previous owner - scratches, ink, water damage. 

Nothing that a coat of paint can't solve, I thought.  So I painted it with a gallon of "oops" paint from Lowe's.  Then after distressing lightly, I used Briwax with a light brown tint. 

I never think to take a "before" photo!  But you can see what the design is like.  I love it!  It is now at Good Company in Merriam, setting on a harvest table.  Kudos to Kelley, the owner, for recommending such a piece of furniture to anchor the space. 

 

Chair Re-Do

After paying $10 for this chair at a garage sale, I decided to strip off the red plaid fabric.  Beneath was the original fabric - very drab.  So, I reached for the Sherwin Williams Pro Classics paint and changed the looks.  With a tad of sanding, I distressed it and finished the look with Johnson Paste Wax. 

The decision to leave the front of the chair back loose and blousey may haunt me!  It's going to Good Company in Merriam for this weekend's sale.  Wish me luck!

Antique Booth at River Market

It was time...

I sort of neglected my space at River Market Antique Mall for a few weeks.  Traveling, prepping a kid for college, etc...just...life!

I added these 2 mid-century end tables.  They are $90 for the pair at River Market.  The fainting couch has never sold and I don't want to bring it home.  It's standing on it's end to make room for other stuff. 

Check out my etsy and ebay sales.  I sold a couple of nice pieces of jewelry on etsy last week.  One item sold within 10 minutes of posting at 10:00 in the evening!

Now, it's weekend time...I skip yard sales most Saturdays.  I would rather hang around home if the family is here.  If everyone's gone, I go junkin'.  But not today.  However yesterday I hit some sales and brought home a full truck.  I got a set of 4 chairs free;  they were on the curb and the owner came out and helped me load them.  Now there's generosity!  The material is not great, so I'll paint the wood and re-cover.  Pictures will follow!  And I'm still working on other projects for Good Company and The Fleeting Flea.

Wallflower Chair Makeover

It's amazing what sandpaper, paint, wax and burlap can do!  This chair is shown in the photo below.  See the green chair.  Yep, that's it.  It's now gracing the presence of Good Company in Merriam, just in time for the weekend sale. 

No one paid attention to it before - I had it in the Gypsy Flea Market and it was the wallflower of the sale.  Now...let's see if anyone falls in love with it!

Junk for Sale All Over the Place

I have junk for sale all over the place.  These are the updated pics of what's going on in this dealer's life.

Isn't this a great velvet chair - it swivels and is only $50 at River Market Antique Mall.

Hurricane lamps aren't that special, but this antique lamp has a four-faced base.  How cool is that!  I listed it on ebay for $199. 

Crown Trifari made this vintage plastic bracelet and it's in my etsy shop - anniemason.etsy.com

Ditto with these earrings - sterling with rhinestones.  They are among several pieces of jewelry in my etsy shop.

The bones of this chair are great.  It was recovered in a red check, not bad, and probably should've just sold it that way!  The original fabric underneath is boring.  I have painted the wood and will recover it soon.

 Good Company is full of fun stuff and I share a space with two girlfriends.  It's a 2-weekend-a-month venue. 

That's what I worked on last week.  I have more projects and will take you along!

Good Company this Weekend!

If your're in the Kansas City area, stop by Good Company.  It's located in Merrian, Kansas.  I am a vendor and love this boutique.  Truly a hip little place, and not all that little!  There are fabulous finds.   (It's located 1 block north of I-35 and Lamar.)

Next week I am participating in the Gypsy Chicks sale in Parkville.  My friend, Tracy, has an incredible farm and we will be having the sale in her barn.  ReDeux is one of the other vendors.  So excited to see Stephen and Dale there!  It will be Friday and Saturday 8-4.  More info will follow.

Good Company - the new digs

Two of my dear girlfriends and I have embarked on a new space in Good Company, a vintage boutique open the 1st and 3rd weekends of the month.  It also boasts a reservation-only dinner party on the 3rd Friday of every month.  And...the owner, Kelley Jones, also hosts private events there - 3 this week alone!

Enjoy the pictures!

Trying to Find the Right Fit

Always trying to find the right fit for selling wares, my girlfriend Antonia and I are going to become vendors at Good Company in Merriam, Kansas. 

Good Company is a darling boutique which is open for selling the 1st and 3rd weekends of every month.  It is beautiful and girly and not-as-rough-looking as the venues in the West Bottoms, which I love also.  What's fun is the atmosphere.  Old records are playing on the record player!  It's only been open 6 months and I feel lucky that we are getting the chance to sell there!

Unique to this shop is that they host a dinner party the 3rd Friday night of each month.  It looks like a smashing success. 

Put these weekends on your calender!