Chevron Dresser

The counselor brought home a beast of a dresser a few weeks ago.  It was a dark wood midcentury thing with four wicker cabinet doors.  Problem was, the wicker on one of the doors was torn and damaged.  With a little help from a very sharp pocket knife, the wicker on each cabinet was cut out.  Behind the four cabinet doors was very sturdy panel wood. One thing you’ve got to love about old furniture is it’s built incredibly well.  About 100 staples held each wood panel in place.  Once I realized how it was all put together I had an idea.  I wanted each panel removed so I could paint a chevron pattern.

Tada!

Lots of work, but totally worth it.

I loved the gray and cream look so much, I painted a French dresser in the same colors.

Linking up to:

Merchant Square - Summer of Dressers

There are very few things I want in life - a house on the beach, the counselor home ALL THE TIME, and for quite some time now, I've wanted to get into Merchant Square.  Merchant Square, in Chandler is the largest antique boutique in Phoenix.  It's absolutely glorious.

I never realized how competitive this whole re-sale/furniture up-do has become; with so many people who are so good at it!  Do you realize how much trash has been saved because so many of us re-purpose, reclaim and restore!  Amazing.  Well, after 1 1/2 years  of being on the waiting list at Merchant Square, I was finally selected.

Here's a peak at my portfolio I submitted with my application.  I had found this old opera bill play - Carmen by Georges Bizet.  I used the colorful and dramatic pages to showcase my furniture re-do's.  Here's a few of the pages.  

  

In all, I had about 25 pages of trash turned treasure!

Payson was with me on move-in day, and so was Waffle Love. YUM!

Everything was moved in, booth 73.

Here are a few others I've painted since move-in day.  I think I should get bonus points for painting when it's monsoon in Arizona.  110 degree and let me tell you, it's NOT a dry heat for the next few months.

Every time I run down there, I have another kid join me.  It's a mom/kid date thing! :)

Things are moving pretty fast.

I'm still blessed to be in Mesa at Antique Plaza, booth 52 which has been great.
Antique Plaza was voted "Best of the East Valley" in 2010 and is the oldest antique mall in Mesa.  It's pretty cool to be the oldest at anything is you sell antiques.  One thing will compliment the other.

Matching head board.

Ha!  I actually took one down to the shop I didn't paint.

So far, I've loved being at both locations.  

My goal is to keep both spaces stocked.  Wish me luck.

I also wanted to post my new favorite song - makes me happy.  Do Life Big by Jamie Grace.  Be ready to start dancing.



Linking up to:

Could trash get me to Hawaii?

I have four amazing younger brothers.  My brother Matthew whom I adore lives in Hawaii.  I’ve written about him here and here.  He knows about my dreams and life goals; one of which is to visit to Hawaii.  Every time we talk he asks “When are you coming to visit me?”  I’ve blown it off in a sort of pitiful way.  When daily showers aren’t even an option, getting to Hawaii seems impossible.  Because of obligations, schedules and hungry mouths to feed, I think us mom’s have pushed the pause button on many of our dreams.  I mean really, how could I ever find time to go to Hawaii when my focus in life is kid's homework, chore charts and healthy meals?

Still, I’ve been dreaming about it.  The sunsets, the waves, the marine life!  I’d never been and have wanted to go so bad it's like an ache in my soul.  This may be because of my love for the sea, my desire to be a mermaid and my background in ocean conservation.  Either way, being with my brother in Hawaii would be something close to heaven.

And then, one day as Derek walked out the door I kissed him and said “I really want to go to Hawaii.”  And he smiled and said “Sounds like fun.  I think you should go.”

All day long, I kept thinking “I want to go to Hawaii.”  I’d had that thought a thousand times throughout my life, but on this particular day it kept popping back up inside my head.  I started brainstorming about how I could do it.  I felt like I was conspiring against my family, knowing Derek would have to stay behind and help watch the kids.  Still, I pushed ahead. 

My first goal was to earn money for the flight.  Could I do it?  Was Hawaii really within reach?  

Bring in the trash and paint.

Painting this dresser was the start of a busy week!

Here's another.

If I could do a few more, I just might earn the money.

White usually moves fast, so white was necessary. 

 And a Tiffany blue French dresser for good luck.

Off they went to Antique Plaza!

FYI, if you ever want to go check out my trash, I am in booth #52.
Just look for the My Dear Trash sign.

So, did I make it to Hawaii (wink, wink)?  More on that next week.  

Linking up to:

Help painting a French Provincial dresser.

Painting furniture has turned into a passion of mine.  I used to purchase art paper and watercolor sea life and mermaids.  Here are a few of my favorites.

The more children I had, the less I painted.

But know, I've found furniture and it's my new expression.

Sometimes I paint white (this dresser was going in the dumpster when I rescued it)

or black.

Red and gray turned out cool.

Baby blue?

Mint.

My personal favorite is always turquoise because the blue reminds me of the ocean.

But, this piece French provincial dresser, 81 inches long, I need your help.

Gorgeous, but I have had no interest in it at it's current 1970's colors.

What color should I paint it?  White?  Black? Something bolder?

Help!