If you can’t hear my voice in this blog post video, watch it on our Facebook Page ShizzleLLC. You’ll find it in the Sneak Peek post with all the pictures.
Bust through the doors at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov 4 for best selection! It was like Santa’s Workshop last night with all the elves busy at work. Lots of Christmas, furniture, hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind treasures. Plus most is 20%!! Can you tell how excited I am?? LOVE this event!!
Not So Shabby’s Christmas Open House is Saturday, November 4. Mark your calendar now because almost everything in the store will be on sale!
We close down at 3:00 p.m. Friday afternoon and will transform the entire store into a Winter Wonderland. I look forward to this event every year! I recommend getting there when the doors open at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov 4 for best selection because there will be lots of hand-crafted one-of-a-kind treasures. Can you tell how excited I am?? LOVE this event!!
I’m feeling a bit emotional as I write this next post as it brings me back to a time just before the first surgery. Cathy was still here and it was business as usual at Shizzle Design. I was nervous about my upcoming surgery to remove the cancer from within my humerus so I took out my frustration sanding an old work table. I fell in love with this old thing at a local flea market. It had been well loved in it’s previous life , as a matter of fact, it was downright filthy and it took hours upon hours to clean her all up.
I’ve always admired the unique character of old piano stools and pick them up every chance I get. I bought this piece several years ago so my family would have an extra stool for playing the guitar, ukulele, violin and cello.
It’s super cool, constructed of solid oak can adjust several inches in height. That’s one of the neatest parts of the design. I LOVE that part. Who’s with me on this? I can’t be along because it’s downright awesome! It reminds me of old swivel desk chair hardware like that on one we sold last year.
I know, I’m drawn to strange things but it’s those details that really speak it me. You just don’t see that kind of craftsmanship anymore in our mass produced, face paced world.
As cool as the piano stool is, the kids keep going back to the little chippy red chair that they’ve used since they were little and we’ve got a big trip we’re saving up for. The girls and I are headed to Spain in 1-1/2 years so we’ve started selling things out of our house that we don’t use anymore. (click link to continue reading…) Continue reading “Antique Piano Stool with Glass Ball and Claw Feet in Creamy White”
I love the silky smooth feel of this piece. Seriously can’t keep my hands off it. Sounds weird right? But it’s true. It’s hard for me to walk through a store and NOT touch the furniture. What can I say?
This painted furniture makeover is basic chalk painting in it’s simplest form. I literally mixed two whites from Old Town Paint’s over the black, wet distressed it, sealed with clear wax and voila! I’m thinking it was Old Town Cream and Vintage White, or it might be Linen? I seriously can’t remember. I had a tiny bit left in two different cans and I wanted to finish them up.
It’s a cool piece though. Silky smooth because I lightly wet distressed the entire piece and because Old Town Paint in and of itself is so silky. The color looks a little bit golden in these outdoor pictures because the sun was going down…. FAST!
It’s a great size and so functional in any room. I almost kept it for myself because it could have worked in so many different spots in my own home but it’s for sale in our space within Changing Thymes in Grandville, Michigan. Changing Thymes is located at 2900 Wilson Avenue, Grandville Michigan, 49418. We’re in the main room, 2nd aisle about 2/3rds of the way down. To check on availability, email me at shizzledesign@gmail.com. It’s got a red hot price on it and is sure to go quickly.
***** SALE ALERT!!! Saturday, Oct 14, 2017 *****
Not So Shabby’s Customer Appreciation Sale!
Most items in the store are 20% off (some exclusions) some items marked 30-50% off Door prizes Snacks
STOCK UP ON PAINT SUPPLIES!
Paints, brushes, finishes, sealers and paint supplies 10% off!
All furniture and home decor in my booth at Not So Shabby will be 20% off!!!
SATURDAY ONLY!
Were talking HUGE savings!
But you have to be quick, this sale is only one day,
Saturday, October 14 from 10-5
2975 West Shore Drive, Holland, MI 49424
Here’s some of the pieces just brought in. Prices are marked firm but for this one special day,
even these pieces of furniture will be priced at 20% off!
Hope to see you there!! I hope to be there in the morning painting. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at shizzledesign@gmail.com
Last week I found a great highboy with beautiful mahogany drawers. The body was made out of maple or some other type of wood and was stained a different color. I typically paint everything but something inside me said “save the drawers!” Continue reading “Two tone Navy and Mahogany Dresser”
With Cath battling Cancer and me recovering from surgery, we weren’t able to get much work done the past six months. To compensate, I sold odds and ends of stuff we had in our loft along with a few truck loads of unpainted furniture, work tables, misc frames… to make ends meet. My heart is still not in it and the depression has me frozen in a zone I can’t seem to escape. I physically find it hard to move. I’m pulling away from everyone which I know is not healthy but it’s all I can do right now to just be. I’m not sure my heart will ever be back into my work but I have to get out of this funk and at least try to start painting again. Continue reading “Easy but Classy Makeover on a Drexel Mahogany Buffet using Frenchic Furniture Paint’s Grey Pebble, Lady Grey and Rustic Wax”
Paint brushes, wax brushes, buffing brushes, foam brushes, artist brushes ~ you name it, I have a thing for them and have become a wee bit finicky over the years in what I choose to paint furniture. I’ve learned through my own experiences that using the right brush makes all the difference in a quality finish. Below I’ve listed my absolute favorite brushes that I couldn’t do without.
How to Create a Venetian Bronze Finish on a Brass Chandelier
When I first started creating this type of finish, I was using toxic products from a very well known brand of chalk paint. It makes me sick to think about the horrific odors my sister and I inhaled back then and even more sick to think that I occasionally used them around my family without realizing how toxic they were. That paint itself contains chemicals known to cause cancer which is very concerning and their horrifically awful smelling wax is even worse. I The sad part is, I never read their labels. Since then, both Cathy, my mom and I have been diagnosed with cancer. Is it a consequence of working with all those chemicals? We’ll never know, but we’re all doing what it takes to stay alive and there’s no room for exposure to toxic chemicals.
I’ve learned so much since then and no longer expose myself or my family to those products. I still love the look of Venetian Bronze, I just to do it now with all natural products like those from American Paint Company. Their paints and finishes are so much easier to work with and create a much superior finish. It’s a no brainer.
The beautiful European paint finish we create on brass chandeliers is amazing! It looks and feels better than the Venetian bronze you find at local big box stores and the depth of texture is incredible. Can you see it?
Typically I start out with a brass chandelier like this. Maybe you have one of these laying around your garage! If you do, and have no desire to do this, drop it off to my house before tossing in the trash. We’d love to re-purpose it and save the landfill!
Skip the primer! I don’t prime brass or any other type of metal for that matter, EVER. Our paints are special. They are different than others on the market. We’ve been doing this a long time and have tried lots of different methods on a hundred different products. We really do know what works and what doesn’t so trust me when I say… when using our paints on metal, skip the primer.
How is that possible you ask? I don’t know the science behind it but I do know they adhere better than a lot of primers I’ve used. If you however want to lean on the side of caution, then a five minute scuff up with a sanding sponge should be more than adequate. but don’t waste your time and money priming the brass. It’s not necessary and you won’t be able to distress back to the metal.
This finish can be created using any of our products, but to create this exact look, use American Paint Company. They have just the right in their deeply saturated paints and dark wax to create the perfect Venetian Bronze.
To recreate this luxurious finish, start with Gun Powder or Freedom Road and either Espresso or Kona. Kona is a bit more saturated and a touch more warm than Espresso but either will work. It’s more a personal preference of what you like; they’re both gorgeous.!
Shizzle Tip– If in doubt about a color or finish, practice on an old piece of scrap wood or an inconspicuous area of your piece.
Slap on one of the colors in a sloppy, random way covering a 75% of the brass. Intentionally leave parts of the brass exposed and then catch that when you go over it with the 2nd color. The key is, don’t overwork it. Let an area dry before you start adding more paint or it could pull off the first coat. It’s your choice which color you start out with ~ continue painting until everything is has nice layers of coverage, then let everything dry completely. It will dry fast and if you set it out in the sun, it will be dry in a heartbeat.
At this point, grab a damp rag and start wet distressing. Never wet distressed? No worries, it’s easy. Simple get a rag wet and ring out like you would if you were going to wash the kitchen counter. Gently start rubbing the surface of your chandelier. The key is doing it with a light touch; no need to muscle it. The wet distressing gently softens the paint so you can blend and meld the colors almost molding them into an incredible finish. It’s not something you have to put much thought into, it just happens as you’re gently rubbing over it. The one thing I would say though is, don’t over muscle it or you could take off more paint than you wanted.
If you do end up removing more paint than you wanted, it’s no biggy. Simply take a little paint and dab or feather it into that area. It only takes a second and I for one, usually just use my finger to do touch ups like that. Seriously, don’t overthink it, this is a super easy finish to create.
I personally like exposing tiny bits of the brass. That’s the beauty of all this. We teach that in all our workshops. Be your own artist. Create your own masterpiece. Everyone has different taste and a different touch and that’s what makes it so cool. Do what YOU like!
The raw paint will look dull and chalky so don’t freak out, it always looks like that before it’s sealed. What you’re looking for here is coverage. This project isn’t one where you want a thin wash of color. When you paint on metal, go for good coverage.
Once you’re happy with it, seal everything with American Paint Company’s Dark Wax. It’s super quick and easy to apply the wax using a good wax brush. Ours of course are my favorite. I’m fussy about brushes and are are the best! Just sayin!
Anyway… I tend to gently scrub the wax into the paint. You’ll see a dramatic difference as soon as you start to apply it. Tap your brush into the wax, dab off any excess then start waxing. Copper and Pewter metallic mica powders also look fabulous when pounced into the wet wax which adds another cool layer of dimension. Buff it immediately using a lint free hemp rag for best results. You can also use an old t-shirt, but these rags are fantastic.
We have a steel gazebo on our deck, not the portable easy-up type, but the stationary type you bolt down creating a permanent structure. These gazebos usually have a metal piece hanging from the center that you can hang a light fixture from which is perfect for a candelier!
How gorgeous is this? With our long harsh winters, Michiganders do everything in our power to spend as much of our time as possible outdoors during our beautiful summers. I really love the way these look outdoors ~ they really finish off the look and offer a lot of functionality to an outdoor space.
Oh yeah, did I mention I add candles to them? I strip out all the wires and replace the light bulbs with candles.
This particular candelier sold within minutes of putting it on the market so I had to make another one just for us.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think they’re so pretty!
The candelier can be used indoors or outdoors. This also looks great finished in a vintage white patina. Can you just imagine how beautiful these would look if you hung several of them under a large white tent for an outdoor garden wedding?
You don’t have to just stick to this particular color combination. You can also create a cool finish using neutrals like we did for our latest garden wedding candelier. If you have any questions regarding which colors to choose, feel free to email me at shizzledesign@gmail.com or call or text me during normal business hours at 616-438-2644. Thanks ~ Shelly
Order any of our products on our Online Shizzle Shop or stop in and stock up at one of our West Michigan locations open 7 days a week. Our wide variety of chalk and clay based paints, supplies and finishes are available at these locations click: here.
Continue reading to learn how to create this paint finish.
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