Two More Table Makeovers

Here's some more table talk.  I told you Tuesday that I've been knocking out tables for Lucketts.  Here are two more.

As you can see, I didn't take the time to style these photos -- I'm moving and grooving people!  I'm deep into painting mode, which I have to be if I want to get enough done for the Market.

Here's the before of the first table.

I sanded down the top to reveal the beautiful wood inlay.

Now, I'm not a talented enough furniture refinisher to be able to stain each of the inlays individually, and I didn't want to lose the differentiation of the sections.  So after sanding I just used Howard Restore-A-Finish in walnut on the top. It gave it a bit of color, but not so much that it covered up the inlays.

I painted the base in ASCP Old White and distressed it.

Wax and a pull from Hobby Lobby finished the piece.

I didn't get a before photo of this coffee table, but just imagine your basic 70's wood finish.

I painted the base and part of the top of the table in ASCP Old White.

The two squares on the top were done in ASCP Coco.

For this one I used a stencil that picked up on the square detail, and went well with the neoclassical look of the hardware, which I was keeping.

I used the stencil across the entire top of the table.

I lightly distressed the piece and sealed it with Ce Ce Caldwell's wax.

 

Now it's ready to join the pieces in my living room, aka "The Lucketts holding area!"

One of these days I'll have the house back in order ... but for now it's on to the next piece.  :)




Sharing at:

Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired

Painting Tables and Lucketts Market Anxiety

Furniture piling up in the living room ... check.  Painting from morning to night ... check.  Messy house where nothing else is getting done ... check. Nightmares about an empty booth ... check.

Ah yes, Lucketts anxiety has totally settled in!

Last year was my first year at Lucketts, and even though I busted my butt in the weeks leading up to it, I did not bring enough inventory.  By Sunday my booth looked pretty empty.

Saturday

 

Sunday

I swore to myself that this year would be different, and I would start early sourcing and painting furniture for the Market so I wouldn't stress out.

And I did.  But this year I have a booth for Mr. P's Emporium in an antique mall. So things I had earmarked for Lucketts ended up at the booth to replace pieces that have sold.

Between things taking longer than anticipated and Mr. P's Emporium's new booth, I'm not nearly as far along as I should be.  Plus I'll be missing a week of working on things while I'm out-of-town at the end of the month.

So I'm busily painting my heart out!  After finishing the big dresser I showed you, I wanted to work on some smaller items, so the last few days I have been working on small tables.

I've been whipping these babies out and didn't even stop to take "before" photos, but here are a couple I've recently finished.

This set was painted in ASCP Paris Grey, with Old White on the drawer. 

The tables had a leather insert on the top, which I thought about keeping.  But the leather was marked and had cup rings I couldn't get out, so I painted it.

I detailed the top with Old White in the indents that were around the original leather, and lightly distressed the piece.

The original hardware was cleaned by soaking it in a mixture in ammonia and water (I trick I learned from Susan at Uniquely Yours ... Or Mine -- thanks Susan!)

The tables were finished with Ce Ce Caldwells wax.  Between the paint and the wax, you can't tell or feel what part of the top is the leather insert and what part is wood.

This little table was painted in ASCP Provence, including the drawer pull.

I lightly distressed it, then waxed the bottom part of the table.  The top I finished with Ce Ce Caldwells Satin finish, which I used for the first time.  I love how it gives it a nice, soft sheen.

I'm finishing up two more tables today, which I'll show you in a post later this week.  Then it's back to some big pieces.

There is a countdown clock on the Lucketts blog  that gives me heart palpitations whenever I look at it.  Today when I looked it said  31 days, 15 hours, 32 minutes and 23 seconds. 

(Why even look you ask?  It's kind of like scratching a mosquito bite.  You know you shouldn't, but you just can't help yourself!)

Back to painting!

I'm so excited I may throw up!!

If you live in the DC/VA/MD area, or if you're a reader of Miss Mustard Seed or Primitive and Proper, you've heard of Lucketts.  It's a great antique shop located outside of Leesburg, VA.  Each year they have a big spring market with hundreds of vendors selling vintage furniture and wares.  Marian from MMS and Cassie from P & P are there each year, as well as other bloggers and dealers from throughout the area and the rest of the country.

From last year's Lucketts Market

(luckettstore.com)

I've gone to the market a few times since we moved into the area, and last year I made a point of introducing myself to some of the people whose work I've been following.  Cassie was especially sweet and encouraged me to start a blog--something I'd also been thinking about.  So soon after that I started Confessions of a Craigslist Junkie.  I also thought, "what the heck, I'll try to get into the market next year." 

luckettstore.com

I actually never thought I'd get in.  They offer space to previous vendors first (and of course everybody always signs up again!), and then it's determined by space availablity and first-come, first serve.  But today I got the packet in the mail-- I'm an official Lucketts vendor!!!

luckettstore.com

Luckily I'm not in it alone, otherwise I'd be really freaking out.  (Actually, I'm still freaking out, but at least I have someone to share it with!)  A few months ago I asked Connie from Hartwood Roses if she would be interested if we could get in. She was, so she and I are going to share two booths! 

It's in May, and I have a ton of work ahead of me.  I have a lot of pieces that need to be painted (my husband will be happy that they will finally get out of the garage--and hopefully most will not be coming back!).  Connie has a head start because she has a booth in an antique mall she keeps stocked.  However, my last contract just ended, so the timing is good for me.  Although I'll still have to look for another consulting or freelance job, I can take advantage of my time off to get productive--I just have to hone up my time management skills!

luckettstore.com

This fits right into my business plan for Mr. P's Emporium (one of my New Year's resolutions was to get a plan formalized), and I'm very excited.  I'm also very nervous about making sure I have enough big items ready.

So I'd better get off the computer and go buy some more paint!