A Whimsical Makeover: The Heavy Dresser Edition

A few weeks ago, my husband brought home this dresser. I was in lovely shape. Dovetailed drawers, full set of hardware, clean and smell free...However, there was one problem. It is the HEAVIEST DRESSER OF ALL TIME. I don't mean to yell but I had to load and unload this thing 3 times. I'll bet the family that bought it agrees with me. :)


I chose to paint this dresser in ASCP Old Violet. It is a dark moody blue/purple.  It is one of my favorites to work with.


I kept the hardware and spray painted it black. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

This dresser had some neat lines that were lost before in the medium colored wood. I love the scallop at the top.


I took this one to the Kane County Flea Market.

 Christie beautiful staged our space and this piece sold quickly. I enjoy it when people love and purchase my items but I love it even more when I know they are going to a good home. This family was going to place this in their new baby's room. They also bought my painted oars to match their motif.



As a bonus, they sent me a picture on my Facebook page.

This is so sweet. It is perfect for a little boy's room.:)

 Linking Up To:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Finding Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
Shades of Amber
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style
The Rooster and The Hen
You're talking too much
diy home sweet home
How to Nest for Less
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

My Current Obsessions: Cubbies

I love cubbies!!! I love all of the stuff they can hold. I love the way they look. I love the possibilities of accessorizing.

I just love them.

I have been pinning a few inspiration pictures in hopes that someday I would have cubbies to call my own. Here is what I found:

Source Unknown

Pottery Barn

Anchor Division

http://sur1airdebrocant.canalblog.com/

See what I mean? So cool!!!

Now if only I knew someone who had one of these in her garage and was willing to part with it...

Oh, that's right...I did!

Look what I got:

Over 3 feet tall!!!

This is truly a story about one woman's trash is another woman's treasure. Thanks Christie. We all have something different that catches our eyes and this didn't catch hers. However, I am jumping out of my seat I am so excited. 

I will not be painting this. It is beautiful already. We may put a layer of poly on it for protection but that is all. This will be part of my office reveal in a week or two. Stay tuned. :)

I'm Feeling Crafty - Poofs

I received a few special orders this week. The one that surprised me was an order of 50 poofs. 

50?

Yes, 50!

So...I have been working hard to get them finished quickly. My house is covered in them. It is not a bad problem to have.


Here is my serious moment...


Having a space at a shop is a roller coaster of an experience. I love making my space look pretty. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I stand back and say "This looks great!".

However, the experience is diminished when people walk past my space without even glancing at it. That causes me to question my craft quality, paint colors and staging techniques. It is hard to remember that my stuff is not for everyone.
Now, I am not the most secure person in the world but I am working on a thicker skin.  It is very exciting when large pieces move out the door but equally as devastating when your space looks the same a few weeks in a row.


I am sure I am not the only vendor that feels this way. It is just part of the game. So when I get custom orders, it makes me feel like people DO appreciate my style and quality of items.


So I will continue plugging along and evolve as I see fit. Each shopping trip, flea market or special event teaches me something new and gives new inspiration. We will see where this journey takes me.

Linking up to:
Funky Junk Interiors 

A Whimsical Makeover: The Vintage Dry Sink Edition

Duck Egg! Duck Egg! Duck Egg!

I will scream it from the roof tops. I LOVE ANNIE SLOAN'S DUCK EGG!

This vintage dry sink was a find of my husband's. He said that he "found something good". Boy was I surprised to see that this is what he found. It was in great condition, had a metal tray insert and dovetailed drawers. Not a scratch or weird smell to be found.  This was definitely a score for us.

I have had this piece sitting in my garage, unpainted, for months. It even made the move from our old garage to our new garage. Well, Kane County Flea Market time came around and I wanted a smaller sized piece to help accent our area. This was the piece and it took me about 5 seconds to decide what color to paint it. :)

I haven't painted in Duck Egg for months. I am not sure why. It is beautiful, easy to use and very sell-able. Duck Egg pieces don't last long at Carter's Cottage.


Here is the finished piece:

 I love those glass knobs.

Staged and ready to sell at Kane. FYI...It sold quickly. ;)

 Linking Up To:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Finding Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
Shades of Amber
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style
The Rooster and The Hen
You're talking too much
diy home sweet home
How to Nest for Less
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Whimsical Perspective at Na-Da Farms

I am pleased to announce that I will be a vendor at the May Na-Da Farms event. I will be joined by my fabulous friends Christie Carter of Carter's Cottage and Sherrie Larkins of A Ruffled Nest.

Christie, Sherrie and I have done several shows together and I really enjoy going through the stressful process of these shows with them. This will be our 2nd Na-Da Farms experience. I love the way Christie has specific visions that she executes perfectly and the way Sherrie never gets stressed. She smiles through the whole process.

We will be bringing painted furniture, handmade items and amazing vintage finds. 

Na-Da farms is an amazing event and I feel so lucky to be included. It truly is an amazing market with trend setting ideas.

Anne Marie works hard to make sure it is an experience from start to finish.The number of magazine features and book involvements she has had is a testiment to her style, focus and creativity.

Please visit the Na-Da Farms Events page for more information and a full list of vendors. Hope to see you there. Until then, enjoy some of my photos of the October event.

My Available Pieces

View a photo album of my available pieces on my Facebook page. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

A little paint here...A little paint there...

Last weekend was my weekend to scale down my project room. I started with a few odd pieces that just needed some paint.


I used some left over custom mixed paint to detail this cute frame. A bit of Duck Egg and bit of custom mixed Coco.

Then I was off to a mirror redo. I was inspired by the color on this potting table from the cover of Country Living Magazine. I loved the dark teal wash. 



So then it was off to this wonderful new (old) mirror I found a few weeks ago.

 I went to my paint mixing lab (scary, scary basement) and began playing with Provence and a dark glaze mixed. After some tweaking, this is what I came up with...

I love this mirror. It is currently at Carter's Cottage in Dekalb.

And last but not least is my favorite project from last weekend... An old table top.
This is one of those moment when I forgot the "before" picture. Here is the rundown on that: broken off table top: black latex paint: chipped laminate.
This is absolutely something that most people would toss to the curb and I almost did. However, I am so glad I didn't.

A bit of Antibes, a cute bird stencil and a good dose of dark wax. This junked table top is now a cute wall hanging.

I was hoping it would fit in our entry way but it was too small. So...off to the shop it goes. :)

Thanks for stopping by.
Laura


 Linking Up To:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Finding Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
Shades of Amber
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style
The Rooster and The Hen
You're talking too much
diy home sweet home

A Whimsical Makeover: The Tiered Table Edition

A few weeks back I posted this picture on my "pick your paint" Facebook Album.

It is a beautiful table with slight water damage on the top. It needed to be redone. I waited for someone to snatch it up (about 3 hours). Then I couldn't wait any longer.


Naturally, I knew what color is had to be. A color that I have been neglecting lately....Duck Egg!!!


Here she is now:

I chose to pair a custom Coco mix with the Duck Egg. This showed off the details nicely. 


This table is currently for sale at Carter's Cottage.

 Linking Up To:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Finding Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
Shades of Amber
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style
The Rooster and The Hen
You're talking too much
diy home sweet home

This Week's Treasure Hunt

It is the beginning of garage sale season and I kicked it off with a good start. 


I found this sale on a Wednesday night, a block from my house. Yep, that's right...a Wednesday night.

It was meant to be. Here is what I scored:

Ironstone cup and platter and Milk Glass display bowl

Pulley, Oil Can, Haeger pottery, very old decorative Globe

Red? Check! Chippy? Check.

Some of this is for the shop and some of this is for me. Try and guess which ones are for me. :)

A New Page

I realized that the one thing I was most proud of, didn't have a designated space on my website:  the house that Ron and I are making our home.

Well, here it is:

Our Whimsical Home

Enjoy!

A Whimsical Makeover: The Understated Cabinet Edition

Have you ever felt like people don't really see you? Do you blend in with your surroundings? It doesn't feel very good. If cabinets had feelings, that is what this dark and dated cabinet would have felt.

There are no defining characteristics. The hardware is average. One of the door is slightly crooked. It's highlight was 2 nice drawers inside. I had been looking at this cabinet collecting dust at a local store for almost 8 months. 

 
I wanted it (because plain is my style) but wasn't ready to commit. Boy am I glad I did...

 Oh yeah... Did I mention that someone had colored on it in Sharpie Marker? Did I mention that I had to pop most of the veneer off? 

I transformed it from dark and dated to light and captivating. I used my favorite ASCP Old White on the trim. Then I used Coco, French Linen and Old White on the doors. I painted a heavy coat of the darker colors and streaked through the Old White while it was still wet.  Then I finished with Clear and Dark wax.

I wish I had taken more pictures but in the craziness of finishing 5 pieces last week...I forgot.


This is one of my all time favorites because it is so "me". However, it sold very quickly at the Flea Market last weekend. 


Don't pass up those that lack character. Create your own character.


Linking Up To:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Finding Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
Shades of Amber
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style
The Rooster and The Hen

It's mine!!! All mine! - My Grown-Up Blog

I am pleased to announce that I am now officially www.whimsicalperspective.com! 

Christie of Carter's Cottage urged me make the change over. I am glad that this site name is now officially mine. I feel so important and grown-up. ;)

My "blogspot" address will still work. It will forward you directly to my new address. Same great look - brand new location.

A Whimsical Mini-Makeover: The Detailed Mirror Edition

I am a sucker for mirrors. I picked up this beauty at a friend's sale back in February.

It had beautiful detail but the dark stained wood was not doing it justice. Nothing a little Duck Egg couldn't fix. 

Now it has character and color. This lovely mirror will be at Carter's Cottage in a few days.

Linking Up To:

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
My Romantic Home
The Shabby Nest
Finding Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Mod Vintage Life
 Coastal Charm
Shades of Amber
Primitive and Proper
Savvy Southern Style
The Rooster and The Hen

My Flea Market Finds

We had a wonderful time as vendors at the Kane County Flea Market. We are excited to return but that won't be for a few months. Until then, you can always find me at Carter's Cottage in Dekalb Illinois.


One of the best parts of being a vendor is ample shopping time. We periodically took trips around the venue and searched for unique finds. Sherrie came home with some amazing dressers, Rachel grabbed a one-of-a-kind bed frame and Christie bought many things including a pair of  "very Christie" doors.


Here is a glimpse of my finds:

Vintage Stool for our Kitchen

Frame for our Frame Wall

Old Hose Reel - A Whimsical Perspective project int the making.

Old School Bench

A stool in need of some love.

Last but not least...my new work space. I love my new desk!!!

Stay tuned for more Treasure Junking Finds. Tis the season. ;)