Shabby Chippy Goodness

Just a few quick pics of some of the
wonderful chippy painted pieces
we found...
wouldn't that chest
make a fabulous
coffee table!

Feel Free to Put Your Feet Up...

I decided to work on some things
for our home yesterday
because it was too hot for the studio...

As I was cleaning
I decided I wanted a new coffee table
so off to the warehouse we went
(yes, it IS nice to have a 1500sf
warehouse packed to the rafters full
of options!)

My living room
gets tons of light
but it's not great
for photographing
so please pardon the wonky lighting

The coffee table I was using
was a darling little French Provincial
painted piece...
my boys sit on it
their friends sit on it
they put their feet on it
I was waiting for it to collapse!

This Empire piece is as solid as they come
I painted the base in two colors
then heavily distressed
(before the kids did it for me!)

I wanted the top to look sort of like pickled
or bleached-out wood
so I did a color wash
then clear waxed the whole piece

Now the boys can
put their feet on it
eat at it
sit on it

heck,

they could dance a jig on it

if they really wanted to...

and being boys, they just MIGHT!

ch ch ch ch changes...

We had such a lovely vacation...
no agenda,
just a glorious week
of...
whatever we wanted to do

We hiked....
We explored...
We sat in front of the fire
enjoying each others company

The kids got along...
we even brought Mack's girlfriend, Jess

The downtime gave me time to think...
I need some balance in my life

If you don't already know,
I actually have a full-time job
aside from Stiltskin Studios

I work in Marketing,
and I love my job
(ok, MOST days!)

But a FT job,
coupled with
Stiltskin Studios
(Etsy, website, custom work, FB, blog...
you get the idea!)
two kids and a husband
is a lot for anyone to handle

I used to hit the gym daily
(can't recall the last time I went)
and bike ride with my family in the evenings
(ditto)

I used to have time to
get a pedicure
read a novel
fold the laundry
(ok, so maybe I don't miss that last bit so much!)


I hate the term 'resolution"
it seems so cliche...
and why wait until a specific date
to evaluate and resolve?

But in the spirit of New Year's Resolutions
I've decided to make some changes

I usually embrace change.
Change can be good, right?

This change scares the pants off me
and keeps me up at night

(hey, if I'm up, I might as well paint!)

Junkin'

The three photos above
are of an antique railing
pulled from the courthouse in
Ellijay, GA
I wanted it.
I REALLY wanted it.
My sweet husband offered
to strap it on top of the car.
I think it would be great
to separate rooms in an open floor plan
OR
maybe...I could use it at the store
to separate our space from our neighbors...

We leave tomorrow.
If you see an Expedition
driving down the interstate
with an 8 1/2 ft railing
on top
well, I guess you know...

We also found this great chest...
not my color choice but fabulous
just the same

I had this off the wall and in my hands
but decided I was being silly
It was expensive
and I already have one
Still kinda wish I bought it, though!

At $200, this was no bargain
but isn't it fabulous?
It's a bit more blue in person

I really loved this old chippy fireplace surround
the colors were great
but alas, no way to safely get it home...

We were very surprised to find that the best picking
really is in Florida

The prices everywhere we went were
higher
than our retail
after repairs and paint!

Adventures

(yes, it's a wooden coffin)

Stiltskin Studios is on an ADVENTURE...
OK, so it's really just a vacation...

We're up near Blue Ridge, GA
and found this wonderful
(and way over-priced!)
junk shop

There were many, many things I wanted to take home

I did buy just a few things
and we're hoping to find more
fabulous things to bring home

Tell me YOU wouldn't slam on the brakes
and throw it in REVERSE
if you spied this on the roadside??

A New Home...

We refinished this piece about a month ago...

We were undecided about adding a lighter accent
on the raised areas...
so we painted the whole piece pale grey
with a light glaze

It felt like every piece we did was a color
with white on the carvings...

The pieces sold, and I offered
to highlight the raised areas

And as I finished, I realized
there is a VERY good reason
I use this color scheme
so often...

It simply works.
Every time.
It always looks great.

I'm thrilled with the outcome
and pleased the client allowed me
to add the white...

She loved it, as well...
and it fits in fabulously with
the rest of her AMAZING items
(I am talking drool-worthy!)

Did I mention her house is a
darling Bungalow??

Gorgeous!