Kat's Kalamities

2013-05-30T22:20:00.001-05:00

Playing with paint. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint mix.

PLAYING WITH PAINT AND FRAMES! TURQUOISE LOVE, TRULY PROVENCE PAINT. ADD ACCENTS OF COCO AND OCHRE AND DARK WAX.LAYER FOR A CHIPPY FUN LOOK ON THREE FRAMES...ONE OF MY FAVORITE COLORS!

ALL three are painted in the same blend of color tones. The set of three would look great on a wall alone,or hang some simple treasures then surround with the frame. Empty frames are great as a color accent. The frames are all solid wood. the two larger size, are correct for hanging an oil as they are art frames

Close up on the details...do you like shabby,chipped or would you prefer solid paint. I think shabby and chip bring out a lot of character. These came from Mexico via a lady who traveled a lot in the 60's.

You can find these at Moore & Garrett in downtown Belton. I have a fellow vendor that lets me stage some items in her booth. These are placed in Marta's booth. Visit her full shop on FM 439 a great little treasure in the country.

OK a little nature mixed in, loved the texture with the paint finish of the frames, I like playing with my camera to see what I can come up with...
Thank you for your comments you do keep spurring me on, as my sales have been really tough of late...so keep them coming.

Hope you like the color and the layer treatment. If you ever have a question on how to use chalk paint just ask. I am happy to tell you how I did something. If you want to know my trick for subway art,done it. Decoupage done that too. What color I have used All tones of neutral, blue,some greens, shades of red and some black...I have made my own Chalk paint,Use ASCP a lot. Used Cece Caldwell and have more I want to try. See you on the next Kalamitie...

2013-05-23T23:34:00.003-05:00

Turquoise Love or in this case Provence Love.ASCP chalkpaint

OK I work Friday's at 6th Street Antiques in Belton. The little grain sack shelve I found their and this piece too. You need to visit great finds, great prices and many vendors shop their due to their great prices. This little end-table or what ever table. I painted in Provence turq....yummy Happy color. I did a straight forward paint job, nothing fancy some of my fancy not selling and this is a go too color for a sale...I did 2 coats, then some sanding of the wear spots. Some dark wax too.

I really like the details,the turns,legs and three levels. Very serviceable and easy to fit into many decors. A pop of color or a pop of shabby with a easy look nothing, I thought maybe I am trying too hard ,to make interesting. Said keep it simple stupid....to me. I sanded and then clear waxed.

Can I just say grow grass grow we have done some work on our yard and it is filling in,but right here is under some big oaks. So lots of rock gardens surround my trees and this little table.

In addition to the what ever table a little jar of vintage mother of pearl buttons are going to Moore & Garrett. Do you like the details on this little fun table. Excuse my rocks but if you take a pic anywhere outside of my house you will have rocks...my poor cars that hauled all these back sorry.

I will sign off with this picture,from my last piece. I had given it a coat of Ochre the nite before and let it dry well before taping details. This is my Grace, she is my buddy in Kalamities. When I am painting you usually find her somewhere in my work room. Grace and I say thank you for your comments,stopping by and those who choose to follow me...Thank you guys...see you on my next post

2013-05-21T00:43:00.001-05:00

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is my go to paint...I know it is expensive..but I can paint so many items with one quart...and I love not having to sand and prep...So much of what I do are tough pieces in sad sad shape...no one loves them...so I try to find a way to bring them back...with a touch of fun.

Meet my I love Junk ....a fun shelve unit with a pot of blooms,and a storage unit for all those flea market magazines we love to go back to...and a lil paint brush...hey I did say fun...I >3junk!

So my thought is for a great vintage lover.Kitchen or hobby room..even bedroom if red is your love.The pot of blooms are a mix of handmade paper flowers...cupcakes liners with buttons.I added burlap and some silk for a great mix...I added burlap to the pot..with a heart for junk

I decided to use a grain sack idea with the stripes. This adds punch to plain shelf's. These started out a golden oak look that is so stale...I liked the dowels and thought it had vintage charm.

Close up on how the red added a lot of punch. Emporers Silk with dark wax. I used dark wax with the stripes too...The inside of storage box has embossed wall paper on the bottom ..I like this box so versital...magazine or on top of a table with an arrangment...PS Graphic Fairy is the the best!

Do you like the distressed treatment...OK Ochre all over first. Then Green tape, I wear as a bracelet don't you. Then coco then red stripes...break out the dark wax. Sand for streaks. I love details..and sanding and bringing out the lines and color tones used,they add to the vintage charm

OK this looks way to white...this is not white it is Old Ochre distinctly more neutral compared to old white which is more yellowed...Dark wax use sparingly goes a long way. I did the whole item with clear wax once done...and then buffed and buffed. I did some more distressing,OK done.

Close up on the details.I used a old music sheet and then printed a graphic onto the sheet. I cut the design out and then Modpodged. I used dark wax to age. I like the imperfect look.

I hope you like my" I love Junk look"...and you can stop by anytime and help me get all the projects I have in my little sun room that has become my work room finished. THANK YOU for stopping by my posts have been a little few and far between.Your visits make my day and your comments help to kick me in gear to find another Kalamitie and see what I can come up with.

2013-05-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

Knee deep in Paint! So if on my knees,I will say a prayer for Oklahoma tonight.Today while painting in my little room where I am blessed with a TV to keep me company.I Saw the first reports and watched what I knew as going to be a very bad day. Nature was hard on Oklahoma Today not happy but sad and heart wrenching. Hard to do a post with a happy light heart.Let me show you first some great places. DO you know where Gruene is?my Sis was here!Yipee and we went to the hill county.My sis and I live far away from each and this was special. I am in Central Texas and she is in Wyoming.We both have states full of beauty and she shows me her' loves and it was my turn. We hit lots of the hill country and these a few pics. I love trees !!!

This is a fun spot in Gruene and they have the coolest chimes you can play Amazing Grace on these. Hanging in this magnificent live Oak. Both Kim and I loved these,I need to win the lottery and I will buy her one or two...one for her and one for me....great day and lots of shops...fun!

This is a really cool spot to visit. Gruene has the oldest music hall, never has shut down. If floors could talk..some day I will come back and show more pics...love the floors. Plus all the pictures,lots of history. They have a great line up for this spring summer..would love to come back

I said big trees and back to this spot because I want one of those chimes...this shop was so fun.

OK I will jump around we hit Wimberly too...love these rock picnic tables and I love rocks big time and trees. They go big...the Cypress are massive along the creek in Wimberly. Magical you expect a fairy to jump out. We walked along the creek deeper into the woods...no fairy's darn

I love old architecture and Gruene is blessed with lots of wonderful old building. Great road trip

Now I did say big tree's right. You feel like you are in a story line with magical trees

Ok below you see the old Grist Mill that was the start of Gruene,and boy did we have a great lunch. The Mill had several fires but they have turned it in to a great place for a meal. You can look down on the creek. Lots of outdoors areas to eat...Deserts O my heavens...huge!!!!

So fun to stay here. How fun to wake up to so much history.Historical Bed and Breakfast, and then go here live down the street to the Hall...for live music and next door the Grist Mill to eat...

Is it open yet? please we got here early,Yeah they are opening the doors...we did go in and had a brew or two...love my sis....we have had a brew at the No 10 in Deadwood and the oldest bar in Wyoming. Maybe that will be my bucket list...all the oldest bars and music halls...LOL

So what else would you like to see....how about some plants I played with. We have deer, way to many deer in our area and they eat pretties. It is hard to plant anything they won't try...so I added color via. Chairs, cushions and some paint...and yea fake flowers but they add color and the deer can't eat them....lol if you want...yes peak into the kitchen. I do have a metal German Shepherd door stop and a prism window that throws rainbows in my house. Thanks Mom and Dad

What to do with this,hmmm I saw this cool thing in Gruene so you can stack pots. OK let me try

Yeap I did it,paint thank you ASCP and then some fun little plants and with a I can do....I did...

I spray painted a little table that was so sad,and plant stand...my Grace is taking a nap on one of the pads. They were a lucky find...I had picked the paint colors before I found these...a chippy shutter add vintage fun...the wicker table was blah beige...now happy Turquoise.

Yippee!! my beige deck,has color!!Turquoise,grass vivid green and chocolate...so deer eat paint. I have color on my deck....plans for the deck down the road...See you on my next post and thank you each for checking in on me . Sorry for my lapse...life busy....but for those who come back a huge Thank you, Your comments make me so happy and brighten my day...

2013-04-29T22:50:00.001-05:00

Not your Grandma's highchair? Pantone's Emerald

Ok I am not your normal Grandma either,yes I have grand kids and I would be happy to have anyone of them use this. But they all are way past highchairs....I like color and I like bold. I love shades of turquoise and greens!! Their are a couple of blogs that I need to put on my sidebar and a face book page where they do nothing but....Turquoise!!! now don't laugh to much as I show you all the stages this highchair went through....so what is your opinion?

I used several colors on this but the final is Pantone Emerald,suppose to be the color of the year, I added and played with some Craft paints in a copper tone. Looking to get a patina of copper that has patina. I like the color and I have a bench I would consider painting in this tone for my own home. So want to see how this all started. I let furniture talk to me,telling me what they want to be. Call me crazy( Willie Happy 80th Birthday) I will take crazy. But this highchair was not a piece I wanted. Thus trouble in what to do. I have a friend who has a sister who bought a place AS IS and inherited a lot of stuff. Some good some not so good....So I bought some of what she needed to clear...so take a look

Yeap a brown paint say 60"s this is a older style but you tell me when. Stage one was a white paint. ASCP was great for covering all the brown.You can see this is stage one, after cleaning,sanding and fixing leg and resetting the tray...yes got to love helping other folks stuff.

yes working late and not a great pic...get real this is how it goes...so now all white some would say OK but not me....I like fun stuff not just paint it white....of what I see so much of .

OK now I am CeCe Calwell Kentucky mint that I like but can't figure out what it really looks good on...and then a stencil and though bet they would use for plaints and such...but once I started said to myself this looks cheesy...yea amateur hour the stencil OK but the flower not so much. SO?

I took some of my embossed wall paper ant cut and fit it to the tray. This has been painted and then touched with accent for the look I was going for. I used Mod Podge heavy seal twice so it can withstand clean up if used for it's intended reason. But also I see this on a porch with plants in the seat and on the tray....maybe even hanging of it....

I have to say this is a pretty little highchair. Great turns and legs and curves. I hope some one decides her little girl needs this one. Emeralds are for a Princess and this would be fit for a
Princess, or Empress or she has been sealed,fixed all nails resest ready for her next home. I am thinking 60.00 for solid wood ....what say you????

OK spring who is ready...this is my sign

OK Jazzy has been flirting for a week or so...but had not bloomed until yesterday....this plant started as a 3qtr pot....and now O 15 years later we have Jazzy who gave the folks that did out siding and the guys who put up new gutters....a head ache cause she is one big girl

If I could ship you how she smells think Jasmine,waifing across the fields....she is a star Jasmine. She stays green year round in our Central Texas and each she puts out new vine...the brighter green in new and underneath is a dry vine that supports her weight...I would say she is on the way to Obese...but I still love her....but we have to pull her back and wrap again..of our house would be covered...LOL

PS do you like my new camera...better pics I think....Happy Spring to all and leave me some comments on what you think...I need to redo my blog...got some ideas.......?

I want some ideas on my blog redo...I won't flip my lid. I just don't want to start and go through 4 or more redo's like this highchair.....plus if you find some makeover,refresh,re purpose fairy's send them my way cause this is just a little of what I still have to paint and recreate...Crazy yeah I am!

Yes stacked in the corner...and 15 frames in the rafters and 4 shutters outside and a small chest off to the side and two big pieces in my garage...and more sitting outside my door to the deck...I need Samantha from Bewitched who remembers that...PS that tray I going to stick on top of a TV tray so it spins for a garden lazy Susan....Crazy is right., By for now lets see what Kalamities I can find....

2013-04-19T23:54:00.000-05:00

Where have you been? Did you miss me...???

THOR TURN AROUND AND SAY HI, YEAP GOT TO GO CHECK OUT THE WORK CREW SEE THE LITTLE CORNER OF THE TRUCK, OUR HOUSE WAS 50 BRICK AND THEN HARDIBOARD, NOW SIDING REALLY GOOD SIDING WITH EXTRA INSULATION AND MY HUBBY NO MORE ON A LADDER GOING UP AND DOWN A TALL REALLY TALL LADDER....NOW THOR TURN AROUND DO YOU LIKE THE MAKE OVER ?

MY LEG WAS BROKEN OFF, THE DRAWERS BOTTOM OUT, AND THE LEATHER SO SAD, NOW PRETTY LEGS LOVE THOSE LITTLE WHEELS. THE DRAWER FIXED AND THE LEATHER ALL WAXED AND THE COLOR CAME BACK RICH RUBY RED.

YES I PAINTED THE DRAWERS AND THEN MUSIC SHEETS REALLY OLD TO MATCH THE AGE OF THIS SWEET TABLE. YES BOTH SIDE OPEN...I LEFT A LITTLE OF THE REAL WOOD SHOWING TOO..I LIKE HER AND THE LEATHER INSET IS COOL...

SPRING IN TEXAS. MAY I TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY A PRAYER FOR WEST TX. WEST IS ABOUT 45 MINUTES NORTH OF US. WHEN YOU DRIVE I35 YOU DRIVE THROUGH THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. THE BEAUTY OF DOG WOODS ARE GOOD PLACE TO SIT AND PRAY. THE YARD IS REALLY LUSH RIGHT NOW. SUN AND WATER

WELL HELLO THEIR PRINCESS WHAT A SWEET LITTLE TABLE. GREAT SHAPE AND SIMPLY GREAT COLOR FOR A SIDE TABLE. LITTLE DEPRESS LOT OF PRETTY
LOVE THE LEGS THE TURNS SO USING A MIX OF COLORS AND DARK WAX AND A GREAT MIX....LIKE THE LEAVES WE BAGGED 30 LARGE BAGS FULL OF LEAVES...WAS I CRAZY O YEAH WE PAINTED OUR LIVING ROOM TO, YEAH THOSE REALLY TALL CEILINGS AND DID THE "NO YOU DIDN'T YES WE DID COVERED THE FIREPLACE...IT IS STILL THEIR YOU JUST DON'T SEE IT..FINALLY WE HAVE SEATING FOR OUR FAMILY! YIPEEE

THE PURPLE LANTANA IS IN BLOOM THE PURPLE IS ONE THE DEER WILL NOT EAT

SO DO YOU LIKE THE PRINCESS...O YEAH LOOK HOW SHE STARTED....BETTER?

SO LIKE MY FACEBOOK INSPIRED STORAGE UNIT. SHE CAME FROM GALVESTON AND WAS UGLY GOLD FROM THE 60'S.SO I PLAYED.TURQUOISE HAPPY AND THEN ACRONYMS USED WITH EMAIL,FACEBOOK AND TWEETS....ONLY NICE ONES. I PAINTED THE INSIDE THE SEA BLUE GREEN AS SEEN IN THE LIKE SO CLEAN INSIDE AND OUT. SHE HAS A CHALK BOARD TOO,OLD CABINET DOOR. I THINK PERFECT FOR A PRETEEN TO YOUNG ADULT...WHAT YA THINKING CRAZY
I DID TYPE UP ALL THE MEANINGS FOR EACH ACRONYM HOPE YOU <3 THIS. SHE IS ON LARGE WHEELS TO...SO USE FOR A OFFICE PIECE....I THINK SINCE I FOUND HER BY THE GULF. I WAS TRYING TO GET THAT WATER COLOR.

BOTH SIDES HAVE FUN WORDS CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THEY ALL ARE, DO WHAT I DID LOOK UP A LISTING...28 PAGES HEAVENS I DID NOT CHECK BEFORE I PRINTED. SO XOXO FOLKS

SO YOU HAVE TRADITIONAL, YOU HAVE SHABBY IN BLUE AND YOU HAVE FUNKY FACEBOOK FUN....SOME PRETTY FLOWERS...AND A SOME FYI ON WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING..AND I LEFT OUT A LOT...I HAVE LOTS OF STUFF IN THE WINGS HOPING A FAIRY COMES HELP ME, I HAVE A STASH OF 15 FRAMES. HIGH QUALITY AND I WISH I DID BETTER CARPENTRY WORK....

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND IF YOU HAVE A MOMENT,TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK....I CAN TAKE IT I WAS IN MANAGEMENT FOR 38 YEARS I REALLY CAN

2013-02-28T23:51:00.001-06:00

I should have called my blog,Paint in my Hair but Kat's Kalamities is what it is, and during this dresser redo their we're a few Kalamities and paint in my hair.

I am a vintage 30's to 40's waterfall dresser I had water stains on top,lots of scratches and a spots where the veneer was torn off...yeap of course if you were some where in your 80's you may have a few wrinkles and age spots. This gal,deserved a makeover and a 2nd chance. So I gave her one. I played with three colors,ASCPOld Ochre,ASCP CoCo and a little CeCe Caldwell Kansas Wheat(love this color tone) I used a dry brush to create a blended look. Then clear wax and lots of sanding .A little dark wax very lite touch and a little more sanding. Then guess what I did, I painted the inside and the side rails of all the drawers.

Yeap the handles said red,So I painted the inside and side rails with ASCP Emperor's Silk, this really is a rich color tone. I like a surprise when they open the drawers.Plus nice and clean for their items. The drawer pulls were very fun,love the art deco style. So what did I do next well...she was kind of plain.

Ok don't you just love the set up I did, Ok LOL that is the paint cloth,and the lighting be honest is kinda well bad, the wind was crazy the day I finished this or should I say finished.So in my room,I had found a pretty drawer line roll. It hit me this would look cool on something,so I bought it. Because their was a little red in the postage stamps and the drawer pulls. When I painted the drawers and then distressed the edges, I let a little red show. The decopage I did in layers.I layered and used a matt ModPodge. Once I got the look I wanted I used a little dry paint of Old Ochre over to soften the look. I did this top to bottom.

I love all the details, and yes I did clean those handles. I really am happy with the blending.The script was I think add lots of fun details to what could have been a plain Jane, Now I think I have a new name for her...lets think?

Janett'e and she has a saucy interior.Dressed to impress with french touches.

So what do you think, pretty gal I will call Janett'e and she has a little treat so you will remember her.

I had picked up these scrap books but I will be honest I am not good at scrapping I thought this would be great for a crafter too...so open her up and she had some books for you...heading to Moore and Garrett tomorrow.Then driving back home to get a mirror I did,Pictures to come. She will 250.oo and I do a 20%off

PS start planning for Marta and Friends in April...lots of fun

Remember all the fun stuff I created for Marta and Friends and we're in the country and the blue bonnets bloom in spring....check out Crafty Marta's Room and she facebooks info on the show.Looking forward to Spring.....by for now and tell me what you think of my dresser Janett'e

2013-02-23T00:12:00.002-06:00

Ugly Chairs Make Over, yes a little Annie Sloan Paint and Wax plus redo of the fabric and well.....da daa....you have chairs that are pretty!!! update!!! yes so pretty that they sold once I walked into the building to take upstairs. I went upstairs to think where will I put and O MY" I found out upstairs will close. So I will be moving downstairs. The owners have a great idea for upstairs,so down the steps my stuff will come, I will be a busy girl!

Getting ready to load them up and this is 3 of the 4 chairs.Two side chairs and 2 head chairs. Painted in Duck Egg Blue and then waxed with a ASCP dark wax.

The Duck Egg was too blue and the Dark Wax over the blue changes the shade to a soft green toned blue which works with the material, So you want to see UGLY.I mean seriously these chairs were UGLY but the lines spoke to me...

Seriously Ugly,some stuff from the 60's are cool, but this yellow not so much. So I opted for blues because a calm pretty tone. Two vendors in our location do the shappy creamy whites so I do my furniture in other color tones and even it it is creamy I do something different. So I found the fabric on sale, for 7.00 a yd. I had plans of doing the backs too....but

This fabric, I should have done the chairs first then buy fabric, cause the design made it tough. To make everything flow right you loose a lot of the fabric. The back I thought I would cover and had even figured out how,but making the fabric all fit with the design and I will be honest. These chairs a bit of a pain, who out their does'nt get tired of all those rungs,The front and back plus top to bottom I gave two coats and then the wax all over then sanding for the right look....I got tired of all the steps and the thought of more stapling and fitting....I just decided I need to move on.....Has anyone else said enough!

So do you like the fabric and paint tones together...I hope someone else will
loaded to head to the store tomorrow...first pieces in a whole month.

OK it is not something to show off...but it is a somthing to haul my trash to treasure finds,yes the chairs we're headed to out over full landfills. I was able to put all the chairs in and the 2nd row still room to sit. Love my new Flex and it has a name. I know some of you out their have pickups...but my hub drives to pickup and we still needed a road trip car.I needed room for a full dresser when I find one(and I have) plus when taking care of my grandkids...so this is my new ride. Her name is the Enterprise.because she is one smart car.
SO we took her on a road trip.

Pretty cast iron all around the porch I love architecture!

So do you like architecture,and history. Some of these buildings can almost talk, and these homes are all within one block of each other. This is just what I needed after almost a month of flu,to Pneumonia and then a infection within the skin of my face....slow coming back. So sorry for no posting...I have lots to redo and share with you so thanks to the over 12,000 who have stopped by and a few more followers...so sweet and again Thank You!

A couple more pics of Galveston, and the food Yummy!

Good nite blog friends hope you like some of the pics, entice you to visit Galveston, sign off with a pretty door from the church.

2013-01-31T22:37:00.000-06:00

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, a Dumpster Dive chair and Big Dogs Rule!
So what do all these words have in common?

You see big dogs,when eating should not bend all the way to the floor so thus I started making these chairs and this is chair number 5,finding old solid wood chairs tossed to the curb. Playing with neutral paint tones enables the chair to fit into any household. I use the Big Dog Rules line on each chair for fun...if people want I will place the dogs name on the bracer bar across the top, for my own dog..it would say Thor, the wonder dog...my own German Shepherd....this is a small frame chair so it will not take a lot of space,where ever used....So what big dogs do you love?

Can I say this is not a great picture. My back room has been the off load spot for all the work we have been doing in our living room...you will see pics down the road.

Back to the dogs folks......Say hi to Lucy and Linus, LOL names for this guy and gal,I call them the Polar Bears, I dare you to hurt a hair on one of my grand kids.They are sweet and they think their lap dogs...but they love their kids and they handle tons of abuse from them and take every roll. These two are a perfect example of a big dog and why a dog chair is great, solid and hold up to their feeding. I use Annie Sloan chalk paint because it is so hardy, with the wax finish just wipe it off....I place a layer of Velcro in the hole and it that helps secure the bowl in place...

I want to say thank you to each of the over 11,000 folks who have stopped by and so sorry I have not done any posts since the start of the month. Between the work on the living room and a terrible case of the flu that became pneumonia I have been out of blog land posting....so now time to get back into the swing of clearing my corners of all the projects that have been sitting waiting for some type of kalamity....

2013-01-01T00:59:00.001-06:00

2012 Round up and a Happy New Year wish to all, a year of positive, pay it forward actions and peace......and let it start with me.

I know a bit remiss on posting...I am taking a little break while my Mr Kalamitie or my best friend and hubby and the guy who can fix any problem I struggle with, is enjoying his much deserved Christmas break. I do have lots of projects in the wings....or garage,and my backroom and my craft closet....amazing how projects fill up all the nooks and crannies.

SO how are your projects lists looking? Has Christmas break slowed your progress? Priorities...family family family and the projects will be their waiting. I have had too much fun playing with grand kids, the menagerie of dogs and cats we have...and Mr Kalamitie.

We celebrated another Birthday for Britton my grandson with the unending imagination. I dug this out from my pic archive's. Brittons first birthday where have the year's gone.. he is wearing his grandpa's boots true vintage. He is now the master dragon trainer and has a ongoing story full of imagination and energy that stops only when he collapses...Happy Birthday Britton

March of 2012 is when I started my blog. Thank you to my son Matt who first pulled the plug,and started the progress....then I started playing with the layout. I felt OK but not what I foresee and this is when I went to Miss Karen Valentine.....she is wonderful to work with and I will be honest with 2013 I have again reached out...I want a fresh look and would love your suggestions...don't worry I am thick skinned Hey I was in management for over 38 years...Karen's Button is on the bottom of my blog...check her out! My shop is called Alexandria Attic and this little precious was the inspiration for my shop name....she is now the Shark Loving, no fear and full speed ahead grand daughter who has me wrapped around her finger....

# 1. This is my most purchased item, my own version of the muscial sheets turned into a garland that is great for holiday,but does not stop their...hang over your windows.....hang on your bed posts. I have asked before do you want a tut....I have had comments that led me to telling them how.....if you want to know the tricks I need to hear from you....

#2. This is my #1. inspiration a no sew ruffled tree skirt....(I have to learn the steps so one post takes a person to another post) Miss Mustard Seed inspiration....I have sold 4 of these and next I will be doing some small versions....I am thinking the whole tree for table tops HMMMM But I fell in love with her blog and thought if she can do that so can I...so I started..and now my head is full of ideas from blog hoppin....I had never even read a blog before 2011....now I can't stop

#3 Paper Love I fell in love with old musical sheets and how to take them and make something unique and beautiful with paper...plus I am a tree hugger....and to reuse this product in a new eventful way is so much fun...This was in March and I wanted to get the word out about Marta and Friends.....this was the first one and now with 2 under our belt and a Christmas open house...Marta and I are on a roll ...planning for Spring.. Paper love a wedding cake from a vintage dictionary and a ballerina from a falling apart dress form, a old lamp base and imagination.

# 4, OK this piece has been my no# 1 commented item. The before and after is drastic...yes look at June posting for all the details...from what was a trunk that most would walk away from, to once I said I can make this better....sold within 1 week The amazing power of paint and ASCP

# 5. My No.1 I wish I had taken this outside for a better picture.The piece was so great but the pics never did it justice. Again another learning curve that I have a way to go...

# 6. My No 1.dumpster dive save. This dress form was trashed, the paper mache broken and the magic of decopage and The Graphic Fairy....love her images...most of the mannequins find their way to another vendors shop...to be used for their displays.

#No 7 My biggest project to date and the most work from start to finish. What was a blonde version and really Blah! became very cottage shabby. Lots of work and surprise went into the home of a lovely 70 year old lady who has a big family and 6 chairs and the leave was perfect.

# 8. My fastest sale to date and not even a good pic...Ombre detailing from the top to the bottom. Fun distressing and again the pic does not give a true read of the Moody Blues of this 1 hour sale. This also is my go to color tone...I have sold more items painted in shades of aqu,turquoise and ASCP Provence....Turquoise love has a whole board on my pinbords

# 9. My biggest mistake painting chairs and playing with paint treatments..Thinking I can get both chairs to match. Not using a solid paint but a mix of colors and layers for a weathered look. One came out darker and I could not get the other to balance....so one chair became a Tiffany blue and this one became Miss Paris...she sold in one week and Tiffany blue took 2 months.

# 10. My big lesson in pricing. I know I undersell some of my labors. Our market does not support the same pricing of say Austin nor the venue south. I sold this for 150.00 The work to put it all back together when the top had to be reassembled. The mirror placed back into the mirror. I used ASCP and my sander and found this wonderful original milk paint. She was so cottage chic. A vendor from Waco bought her and turned my 150.00 and all my work into her sale of 400.00 Ouch

# 11. My no 1 repeat in furniture...Big Dog Rules..I have another one ready for the shop. This chair was in sad shape. So a mix of ASCP. then some green tape. I have done 4 versions of this idea and each sells within 2 months. My dogs are my inspirations...Thank you Thor.

# 12. My not for sale but best art work, I have ever done. My one 2013 personal goal, get back to my pastels and create.

So a review of 2012 and my Blog journey to date. TO all my followers thank you so much and to those who comment...I appreciate your time ......those who stop by for a visit....thank you!

2012-12-21T17:13:00.001-06:00

Updated pic,of the dresser....now pretty in place at the shop..Annie Sloan paint Success....check off the train going down the track ....I think I can...now my garage you can move with this huge piece at the store....can you see the plan I had, I will say a recent comment took me to a wonderful example....of a similar dresser with stenciling on top...Next time...I will do that,if I get a Silhouette..Dear Santa, I have tried being a good girl! it is so hard.....

Hope this gives you a better idea and many thanks for stopping by....Hope you have a wonderful holiday with family and friends, and may we keep the spirit of the season on our hearts year round.

See you on the next project, on the road to go see my treasures,
Kat

2012-12-20T00:46:00.001-06:00

A quick post...do you love art....do you love beauty.....do you love good causes...then hop over to ART IS BEAUTY....She had such a great idea!!!
For funding to Sandy Hooks,Elementary take a moment and hop over to her blog.
She is on my sidebar, so take a look at her amazing art and consider the good cause!

2012-12-19T22:06:00.001-06:00

Keeping it real, and a dresser to show and Thank yous too, so this a crazy post..if I say Annie Sloan Chalk Paint it will bring people...but today Keeping it Real.

Hi Guys,yeap I am from the Midwest originally. This is a little, oops! should say a big! ugly 80's Dresser,weighs a ton big! and had a mirror that I discarded as it was too yuck. But this is the real picture in the garage...and not staged pretty! Keeping it real ...as the pic is in a garage folks...how many of us in Vintage Redo? Make it over! or add our out of box work> in our garage or basement (MMS) and I was running out of time....The pic is a little yellow due to the garage fluorescent lights....out side is better any day for true color....So this is the dresser and I said good bye to the country mirror. So guys what do you think, does she have a little updated look.

I painted her completely in ASCP Old ochre,first time to use this color, kinda like it...she was painted completely in this color...inside the drawers...inside the doors, inside the drawers behind the doors...and then I used French Linen,of which I used on the coffee table turned into a ottoman...I slapped paint on and then used a sanding pad...and evened it out...this was a trial and error type of paint treatment. I just did not want a basic Old White base...too many doing that....

OK the top is a flat chalk look paint, with a buffed sanded finish over the French Linen in this area...then I sanded and Used the Dark Wax over the whole top...

The pulls I painted with a homemade chalk paint of black and eggplant, I have used several times...I then waxed the pulls. The top I used the same paint. A Mix of Rustoleum flat black and Behr Eggplant and some Plaster of Paris...The paint I mixed, but the addition of the Plaster of Paris comes only when I use...Boy this was a big piece! This took 2 days from start to finish...do you think 200.00 is fair...

Close up on the details...the groves,lots of sanding. The edging also sanding and waxed, the corners all sanded. The handles, your should have seen my hands a black mess..but painted and then waxed....to team with the top...

Behind the doors, a full three more drawers, big and deep....perfect for lots of stuff

See big drawers for lots of stuff...this was in the late stage of work...So what ya think so far....and you have to love my paint cloth,currently in the washer...very Pollack art look..My hubby Mr Kalamitie had to fix the door, broken.

This is a shot of the top from one end to the other...painted. Waxed. then sanded.Then buffed...a matt look with edges sanded and waxed...I was trying for a more sophisticated look,Nix the country look...what ya think? Did I do it.

Was I right ugly, 80's pine very heavy pine with a veneer...not pretty. So Yeh or Nah
did I do it, a better look from a sad fate ....I think yes....

At the shop, I did not take upstairs...too )(&(^^&)*)(+)+k heavy, My wonderful Mr Kalamity, ran by the house to help me, please those in education...and this is where some of why I did not get a picture at the shop, when I made it pretty with fun stuff on top,,,is it a Dresser or a side board...I think in our world it can be what your want...But Mr Kalamity said whats wrong...you look like you do not feel well and swollen on your left cheek...you need to see a doctor Now....but I have so much!,

I placed this with the dresser... they kinda looked cool together, if I get by the shop, I will try to get a picture...but why did I not take a pic,when setup looked so cool! when I placed it..back to my hubby saying what is wrong...I took my temp before leaving yeap a temp, I had a ear ache for a month...but now a fever and headache,and swollen lopes and my cheekbone is tender and all feel hot and pain yes...plus red across my cheek...Yeap he said GO NOW to the doctor, So I did! I love the minor emergency that our local hospital has created...TOP 100 in the county Scott and White..and My Doc she is from Yugoslavia and she checked it out...yeap a raging ear infection, limp nodes swollen and sinus track all infected and spread into my skin...now this is not to get pity....it is to tell those of us, who will try too tough it out...get REAL and take care of yourself!
So one shot of antibiotics...and then a tetanus because she is just a good DOC..then a prescription for more antibiotics...feeling kinda loopy with all that fighting the infection....SO that is why I said keep it real!!!

OK so guess what also happened today when I stopped by the shop...All of this sold today.When I thought so late...and promising myself to start Christmas sooner next year..but all this stuff sold, the door to a fellow vendor who says it looks so cool in her home next to the tree...how cool is that....

MY two tone burlap MMS ruffled tree skirt sold...I delivered..cool

My silk satin sold too....and the same customer bought guess what....O I wish I had been their, I would have shown her the Christmas ball...would look good with the look, the wreath too....overall a fun original look for the holiday...upstairs I have a wreath with music also....I would love to do a whole vintage room for next years holiday...like what Luckett's does...have you ever looked at their stuff! so cool fun

She bought the garland too...I really think the Christmas music balls would have been a nice accent....my retail experience talking....So one day my sales jumped...Yippee

So what else am I thankful for, I am over 9000 readers...yeap I know for some not a big deal, but for me...to think some of what I have done has been seen by people all over the world....amazes me...So a HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!!!!

A special thank you to MMS as so many, come to me via her Friday Furniture Link party, many come via link parties, many via Pintrest thank you Miss Bliss as she has pinned many of my items...several others on my sidebar, who have link parties are part of more success on my blog..A thank you to each and all...and take care of yourself....cause if you are not healthy you can not take care of other...

SO my Thanks! to each of you, for those who do Link parties, to those who follow me, to those who comment and to those who read me...now comments..read my comments on the last post, and go to the gal in Malaysia her Denim Tree will amaze you and I must need pin....I think I will do that now...PS even MMS gave her a KUDO

DID you see !I did my pin board...

Thank you guys,see you on the next post...and Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Peace filled 2013 with NO news of acts, that hurt and cause us to ask why....

BOY Kat ,chatty, is it the shots and antibiotics......I know I have spelled something wrong, that is the real me...

2012-12-16T14:09:00.001-06:00

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Imagination!

Yeap, a little imagination and some paint and this is what I came up with. So would you like this at the end of your bed, or a really good size living room. Can you guess what it is or should I say was?

I love the lines and details. Now you notice them, with the attention to distressing and wax. So you might ask how did I get this driftwood look in the paint treatment.

This is what you do. Clean a horribly orphaned coffee table from Drexal, good solid wood. With a top that has seen way too much sun thus the finish had fallen apart. So sorry to say lack of taking a before picture...Just imagine,faded charm and pealing veneer...not pretty you guys. So I cleaned her up,then sanded some of the edges and got rid of bad veneer strips..

Next get out your paint, I started with ASCP old white. Then before dry I went over the whole piece again with ASCP French Linen. I then got out my sanding block, and to be honest some sheets of sandpaper I tear into small pieces for those little corners.

The next step I used ASCP Dark wax. I put a little on a paper plate and took a soft cloth(old tee) and started waxing in spots. I did not want to wax the whole piece because the dark wax would change the look, just enough to highlight the details. Then a little more sanding in the right spot.

Now comes the imagination, it was a coffee table. But that top was too far gone, and it just said ottoman to me! So out came some of my foam(we replaced our no# bed and I kept the foam piece. Because it is so firm and an higher quality, very comfy!

I picked up this french inspired fabric from Hancock's, thank you for a 40% sale. I have said it before,material is my weakness. I really do have that champagne thingy going on, because I can pick them. I did a little better this time, steered clear of the $35 material,this one was 24.with 40% off. I needed 2 yards because of the size.

I think I can I think I can,measure and trim!

Get those wheels going, Finish this project!

I had to get my gears going to figure out how to staple under the lip and not have to lay on the floor.

So once I got moving along. It was chugging on, Pull material, staple,pull, staple,pull staple

I was getting a little bleary eyed once I got all around, cause those darn staples were not going all the way in.

Then light bulb moment, take two TV trays and make a work bench, hey that it easier I am not laying on the floor, I used my hammer and pounded the staples in nice and tight. Then around the table again making a clean edge of the fabric and stapling it all in place. Now I think we can pull out of the station.

What was once a sad orphaned coffee table. Now gets a new lease on life as a pretty French Chic Ottoman

Sorry about the bad tongue in cheek side trip, to the train station. Some pic's I took a while back and played with..But I am feeling a little like the train that is chugging up the hill, I think I can, I think I can. Door done check, chair to a dog feeding chair almost done( My buddy is cutting the hole for the dog bowl) Now the Ottoman. I think I can,I think I can, next a little chair. HMMMMM what will my imagination come up with?

Thank you for visiting and I love your comments! They make my Day!

Take care of you and yours, and share a little random kindness Today

Kat

2012-12-14T17:35:00.000-06:00

I ask WHY and know their is no answer,

My mind is unable to understand the act of 1 individual,and the pain that his act has caused for the families of those in a small community.

Today our country has a heavy heart,let us unite to pray and hold them in our hearts.Take time today, to hold your own family close.

I am counting the days, when we travel to see my own grand kids..my own treasures.

My husband is in education, he has done Elementary and He to is thinking of all those life's he has touched and asks the same question.

WHY? their is no answer

We need some Brave steps in our world to stop the actions of the One so that our next generation has a chance for laughs and smile.

Prayers for each who has lost a child,a parent a friend ,a grandparent and those who live in this small community. Life for our children is meant to be feeling loved and light hearted and not of fear. Prayers that we can find a way to stop these act.

2012-12-13T22:10:00.002-06:00

Subway Fun and all I want for Christmas is a

Silhouette Cameo !!!!

So can you see why I am asking Santa for a Silhouette. Yes this was a time consuming project...and a little of my crazy OCD it has to be perfect...and I have to learn to look at what you do..because I had to do a DO OVER.......cause you misspell! I have learned to relook,and do not work at 1AM...

Their are several layers of paint...what you see is Elegant Finish over ASCP old white...and then Emperors Red then some ASCP Dark wax...

Got to love Hobby Lobby,the door handles are from their half price sale also the cabinet knobs...hang your stockings...now the peal and stick letters are not on sale..and with as many as I needed,OUCH price scare...and I forgot my 40% coupon....or I should say my Laptop CRASHED....

So do you like the RED Subway door, I hope someone does....taking to the shop tomorrow.

So now when Christmas is over, you have House Rules, or inspiring Words.
So now this would look cool in a kitchen or end of hall..and then I would hang another subway sign.I think cool to layer a another sign, or a chalk board on top of the door...so Hopes this sells...if not....after I finish all the other stuff in my garage...I will come back to this...and attach a small table with two legs to the door....on the black side...I am pricing at 140.00 with my 20% discount
So what do you think, does this show why I want a Silhouette...

So when You are working do you have the tools of the trade out too....it is a little of everything....and I finally learned to punch holes in my ASCP so the paint does not build. Green Frog tape helps to keep lines even....Just reordered my cards from Vista Print....did you catch their one day sale !

Hope to see you on my next post, working on a chair...that will become a dog feeding chair....I know you have to have seen these, I have done 3 to date and this is number 4......as always thank you for coming by and those that leave comments you are my inspiration to keep posting...Thank you to each...

Hope you got a HUG today,and some random kindness

2012-12-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas Trim, and a update on our Holiday Party at Marta's Room...Tomorrow...

I am going to leave you with some pretty RED for the holidays....and climb into bed,time to dream .....
I have a door,that my paint job failed....I spelled Silent incorrectly...working at 1am is not always smart....dreaming of the dresser, the 5 chairs,the other chair to turn into a dog chair, another chair to do something crazy, a old sewing machine, a coffee table to make into a ottoman, a ironing board to do subway wording on it....and two little tables to repair and paint plus a chair to reupholster, a sewing storage box to repair and paint...and a old train case to do something as ....time to sleep...tired thinking of all....this...

So hope you like the reds...I did some and don't you love Marta's red room....O a lot of it sold today.....See you soon and as always thank you for your comments they make my day!

Sweet Dreams.....MMMMM...elves dancing in my head,,,or maybe doing all my projects...a girl can dream....see you soon

2012-12-05T19:45:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy Wishes to each and all! May you each make many special Memories!! Plus a little Burlap love!!!!!!

Now to each and all you are invited to a some fun in the country, remember that little place I call a treasure in the county...Marta's Room yeap on FM 439

Marta is planning a little fun, a Holiday Open House!!!!! So if you are wanting to find some pretty's, some vintage,some treasures....we hope to see you on December 8th- this Saturday, from 10-6 at Marta's Room located on FM 439. This road is between Belton and Killeen ... speaking of Belton you need to make a plan to shop Market Days, this Saturday the 8th. Also a Parade to celebrate the holidays will occur in Belton...so a little fun in the city of Belton. So for a fun day you are invited to Downtown Belton for Market Days, and to see a Parade to Celebrate the Holidays...and then stop by 6th Street Antiques, to check out what Mark and Lori are up to. A new shop full of fun and funky junk...then head out to Marta's Room on FM 439. Plus Blora is open for evening lights. Yeap lots to see, so all vintage, antique and a little junk ...we invite you.

So I did say Burlap Love, yes again. I have made another Miss Mustard Seed inspired ruffled tree skirt. I did this with two tones...I really like the light and dark. Need to trim the fray's (got to love burlap) Hair spray helps, the sticky slows down the fraying.

Do you ever look at crochet work, and think of the talented hands that created these detailed beauties...This one has the addition of a few of the talents of my grandmother. Grandma Hazel was a very talented and I will always remember her as fun and feisty.

Fun playing with music sheets, bits and pieces. Modpodge and some craft paint. So I took some sorry ornaments, you know the ones that get little holes, or loose their hanging piece...so I took some music sheet bits and pieces, some burlap and played...my finger nails will never be pretty. But the world will have some pretties...for holiday...

So do you see the star, OK use your imagination it represents a star. I found these springs...and looped them together...and sprayed a little glitter on them.

Yeap this is a Burlap,Music sheets heavy post... I made a Oval music sheet wreath, my last wreaths all sold, the star I made sold..ect...so had to replace...and these little pumpkins are really cute, and I think holiday in silver and beads...only 12.oo so why have they not sold...

So do you like my latest old dress form remake, I think she is kinda cute. A little skirt of Burlap, reminds me a touch of a Ice Skater..some vintage crochet,cupcake roses,pearl pins,Graphic Fairy images,music sheets and lots of Mod podge then some hot glue...a few()&*%^*( my burnt fingers and then make it look like a snowy day and you have a little piece for your Boudoir

Hope you like some of my latest fun stuff, Do you want to come and help me clean my garage, closet and back room of all my unfinished projects...So are you in the same predicament....to many projects and not enough hours.

Yes this is the start. I was a broken up body form, so I found a old floor lamp and a-fixed it to the form and used tape, that good stuff for fiber glass. So now you know how I started out...not so pretty

Really not pretty, so what have you been up to lately and I want to show you what

we did over Thanksgiving.....

ALEXANDRIA TURNED 3, A FEW DAYS PAST THANKSGIVINGS..AND HER MOMMY AND DADDY PLANNED OUT A FUN PARTY. THEY LOVE BRAVE. SO DA DA....WE HAD A BRAVE PARTY AND DADDY FOUND SOME KID FREINDLY BOWS, CORI CAME UP WITH SOME FUN STUFF. MY SON FOUND THE WIG FOR HIS LITTLE PRINCESS,SHE LOVES DRESSING UP....WE ALL HAD FUN AND IT WAS MEMORY WORTHY STUFF......YOU NEEDED SOME COLOR

BEST DADDY, AND ALEXANDRIA IS A DADDIES GIRL, SHE HIT THE TARGET!

Britton is waiting his turn, actually standing still ....so unlike him....

OK a little tug a war, with Daddy .....guess who won....so they tried everyone

Sometimes when you loose you win. A fun day full of laughs, memories and color. You needed some after all the creamy whites.....

Thank you for stopping and my thanks to those kind comments I received on my last posting....Now back to my glue gun...

2012-11-09T22:24:00.001-06:00

Hello, and I know long time know see or no new posts. The last time I posted was on the 19th getting ready for Marta and Friends. Now what I am about to say is hard.

I lost my Mom on OCT. 20th. it was not a surprise as I had-1. had seen her a month earlier. 2. She was in her 10th year of the Big A. or Long Good Bye as I and many call it.3. She was struggling with eating and not swallowing correctly and this is the issue with many with ALZ. as they develop pneumonia. My Mom was a free spirit, with many interests...and today I like to think of her dancing while doing the dishes and giving my Dad a tough time lovingly. SO if you have not told your Mom or Dad I love you lately, take a moment and do it...and when you have time, ask them to tell you a story. Build a memory and give them a HUG and hold on to every memory. I am a private person on some details so this is my ....where have you been.

OK I am not putting this in second place but it is just too hard to go their all the time...so let us look at some of what I created for MARTA & FRIENDS. Yes we are in the middle of it right now...Friday is over and tomorrow is the last day....if you are in the area...hope to see you.

So do you see the metallic look in this little night stand or end table, yes I played on paint...my budget has been hit hard of late. Lot of expenses and so my ASCP budget is limited....and I am trying to find some other looks ....I painted this first with Zinssers Bulls Eye primer base.Flat white. This covers all that old veneer look, This is solid heavy pine with a Oak Veneer. I then painted using some Valspar, a lil pot of a almost Royal Blue...then while this was wet I went over using Deco ART Metallic Paint and then again while still a little wet Valspar Signature Antiquing Glaze. While still a little wet I used a sanding pad...and wiped for a little streak effect. I painted the handles in a matt black. I used some of my embossed wall paper for a drawer liner. So now their is a dresser that matches but since not done. I may paint in a less dramatic shade. What you think do you like the look.

Do you like dreamy blue, I had big plans for this but as stated time became short, so a basic paint job. Or as close to basic as I get....yeap same step started with Zinsser's Bulls Eye primer and sealer...then the blue by Behr...a very soft shade of blue a little Turq, but more blue in tone...and I painted and sealed the handles ...yes I used the Deco Art metallic...it is this bright a tone of silver. The little frame is the same blue but with a Glaze for a Antiqued effect...and used some remaining fabric from a couple of chairs....I like these for their quick write a note and stick a pin in it...

So what else do I have....Lets take a look....

OK the chair has not sold yet...and this is in a pretty blue shade....I am not a blue person but I am becoming a fan, it is so soothing and for a bedroom perfect for Dream time....

OK I know a little tough to really see, But you must love the Bird Cage,it is a beauty, and I filled it with some tin pieces I painted blue...I think if they do not sell I am going to cut and make a star....for Holidays...and then some of my lead cut glass..the really good stuff...that no one wants any more ...sad so pretty...

See how pretty good cut glass looks in sun light...really can be used for so many fun items...I use one of my cut glass bowls for my hair barrette's,why not. Who doesn't like pretty.

Yeap some music sheet wreaths...of course you know I would make something from music sheets...I just did not get everything done I planned ...but I will thinking square wreaths...and angel wings....hmmmm I have plans...

Yes my garlands, are my top sellers. Need to make one for MMS, she has inspired me on more then a few looks, to try.

OK it is not all paper, but some grapevines,some pine cones and some spay paint, in a matt white. Then I added some ice skates I had found in Wyoming, a little bling and some snow white....and you have a pretty for your window...

OK now how about a Holiday Chandy....yes you can hang your wreath anyway you want ...I hit this with some spray paint...a lite frosting...then some netting and some pretty ribbon...and then some fun lite's and some balls, and crystals...and made some yarn balls...how to hang. Use a garden hanger for a chandelier look...if it sells great if not...I can reinvent it....

OK not the best pic, someday maybe I will get better...the tree I did in a hurry, burlap for garland some lights...and then yeap it is another MMS no sew just burn your fingers with hot glue .....gorgemegus tree skirt ...yeap and they are really pretty but I need to trim some of the frays...on this one..

So do you ever look at the clouds and see forms and shapes and people and stuff. So this looks like a crown and yeah it is not really but it looks like one, or is just me. The garland sold...so now I need to make another halo...

Yes this is another tree skirt, I did say I ordered lots of burlap, Now if you do this with this intent...think ....this stuff frays...I used hair spray to stop the fraying it slows it down but does not stop it....so do you like the satin silk skirt or the burlap skirt.....me I could use either but I am more a burlap Girl...then satin and silk.....

So back up and take a few pics of the big picture...that is what you are about to see...and I hope you like what we at Marta and Friends have been working on !

Pumpkins Marta made hers with bling, me I did mine with bling from a different angle....and Teddy he found a friend...but so fun for deco

Swing your blues away....and a great shop from the outside looking in...

So many of what you see in this white tea cart has sold, but not the cart....

You have to have some orange and Thanksgiving...love that Victorian buggy, and the iron bench...and the little table...fun fall colors...next door to white holiday look....so do you want to come....one more day for Marta and Friends

Well you use a old slip for a tree skirt don't you...well after seeing this everyone will...and hot pink ....I wonder if white will dye....turquoise

For those in the northeast I know no cold weather we will pray for you..and check out SOCKS FOR SANDY>>>>look at Funky Junk Interiors on my side bar

Marta loves to layer mirrors...she sold a mirror she glittered...I missed taking a pic...got to do one my self...hmmmmm

This turquoise traveled all the way from Bryan Texas...I know someone would love to take her home...and their all lots more in this paint look....luv turquoise

Marta's Angel Bless's you for your visit...thank you so much. As always thank you for your comments...hope to see you again on my next post...Kathryn

2012-10-19T00:13:00.001-05:00

Tools of the trade, Green tape,hot glue, paint,Lots of paint, wax, Hobby Lobby sticky letters,burlap, and lots of hours.....

A re-purpose of a 40's stereo unit. Another subway art all cities that are great places to PARTA !!!!!!!On top a nod to a great old movie...set in a bar...

Yeap a little Casablanca, and a tray with some fun chalk work...and bar tools..

I also had a couple of little glasses nothing special, so I used a little black board paint, and for some pretty....a touch of red...RED is such a rich color with black...and this black is a mix of a Behr Eggplant mixed with a flat black mat paint my Rust oleum . This was painted over a primer coat in flat white.

So what is inside this little unit, looks great for storage, but all this bar stuff?

Well hello their, a fun little bar set up, with lots of storage...and lots of fun spots to tell a story of what you party will be. The little shiny box is a storage box for Bar Tools. The old Magnavox label is on both the lid, and the front. I used some of my embossed wall paper on the bottom of each and then some silver paint for a tin look. So do you get the nod to Green tape, yes keeping all this paint separate and the straight lines around the chalk boards...

The lid lifts where once the turn table sat. I did a full messy paint look here...with a message that it must be 5 O'clock somewhere...It does not open fully, so this one will not show too much.....

This was a line from the movie, Casablanca and looked fun for a bar...

Just filled in the chalk board a little with term of the bar trade, I like a Mixer

Lot of storage for Glasses, serving pieces and linens if needed...

Yeap I was in fair shape, but the top was water damaged and beat up...

Got to make a mess, before it gets pretty,,,and this is where lots of tape, came in. The Emperors Silk Red...I did two units like this on the interior lot of painting plus a chair...the can is now at the bottom...just a little for touch up...

It did not fail me, my chalk paint did but the tape did not, what happened on the little section with the less sharp lines...the chalk paint came of in sheets...
Doing a piece like this is time intense...outside has 2 coats White by Zinserrs Bulls eye primer. Then two coats of the black after I spelled out all the cities, and again used the tape to line up letters...New Orleans....is a fun misspell on how the say it...Neworeans..like one work. These are all Party Cities.

Paper pretties...again ....yeap getting ready for Marta & Friends in November and I have three of these done now. I thought you would like a close up...I don't see any one making garlands like this...and they really are cool for window swags, of course for the mantel, or as I showed last month on a bed frame. This one is a double length...all of them are this length with burlap trim...I thought my Purple Lantana shows this off with a more vivid contrast. These sell for 40.

A little more paper magic. A wreath and a square wreath, I have one of my Coffee filter roses..and lots of Burlap. I am thinking of some small frames attatched to the burlap for a family wreath...

Ok the last thing to see today, if a chippy frame I painted and made a bulletin board, the paint treatment is about 5 shades of paint then waxed with ASCP in clear. I cut the board sanded and painted with 3 coats of chalk paint...all this is loaded in the car to take to Marta's Room on Saturday. Staging my new stuff their..so it will be fresh for those that shop Moore & Garrett and also this show.

So take a peak at the previous post and find out what is Marta & Friends....

Thank you for stopping by, and hope to see you again, Kathryn

2012-10-14T00:48:00.001-05:00

Mark your Calendars Now!MARTA & FRIENDS

OK so do you want to know how to get their, suggest use your GPS if you have other wise...

Now how about some pictures from last springs...show....we have to date over 30 Vendors...and Three food vendor to keep you Happy...and here are some pics from last Springs Show !

Yes we are in the County, I always refer to Marta's Room, as a little treasure box in the country...so no BlueBonnetts in November...but lots of fresh air and country vibe...to enjoy the treasures.......

Example of what you can find from Gatherings in Georgetown TX. Stephanie has a great shop!

Do you love wicker and pretty cottage charm. The paper garland you see on the porch...ME

I love Rowena's creativity, Now this is spring...expect fall and Christmas to be the theme for many of the looks, Do you like Warrington, Canton and the looks you see..well we try to best to give you a little taste...Marta has a Dream and I am joining her, some day we want FM 439 to be a fun spot...twice a year...with vintage, Junk, repurpose and much more....up and down the road.

More fun stuff from some of the wonderful vendors, Easter was a theme...so think Thanksgiving

I love these pattern boards, and think they would be so cool in a dressing room,for a vendor

This classic pantry was perfect,with flour sifter and all! Moore & Garrett ....Sold

Most of the Truq tones and blues ,were mine...everything you see SOLD

Lots of Music sheets,lots of hot glue, burnt fingers, and lots of hours..all of this yeap it is me! Will I repeat, Yes some of the look but more Holiday ...with all my family travels I am behind...and I need to get down and bizy....so If you don't here from me for a while...my fingers have been sizzzled and I am trying to finish...all my projects...I have 100 yrds of burlap coming...what would I be thinking ...yu will have to come and see......

Marta, O boy has she been the paint queen...I wonder if she will paint a chair again...who knows?
You get a paint sprayer in her hand and you might get sprayed....LOL Everything SOLD

Yeap this ocean Turquoise, with map details..I did this one...and yeap SOLD

This little corner unit can still be found at Marta's Room...I think I might paint the interior...

Minnow buckets...well yeap see the one on a wrought iron base...it is a light...the other hangs and again both have lights....who makes a minnow bucket into a lamp....ME and all SOLD

Marta and some of her treasures...the basket sold, the desk sold, the luggage sold...SOLD

Marta found this garden set...all SOLD....what will she find for holiday, and HOME...

Lamp Ruffled shade,Wedding cake from a Dictionary...and lots of Coffee Filters.Heart wreaths...and lots of frames...All sold and I am the one who does all the paper fun at Moore and Garrett in Down town Belton....I guess I am the crazy one ....glutten for punishment

Inside Marta's shop, everything you see....SOLD...but she has found a lot more...to treat you

Yeap if you have stuck with me this long...we will have lots of fun stuff...these are example of what we have to show you...and this is just some of my stuff and Marta and some fellow Vendors....We will have Rusty,Doors, Windows, stuff to repo...and stuff repo'd and lots of pretty....

I hope to see you at MARTA & FRIENDS. You can check out more info at Crafty Marta For the Love of Junk. Marta's blog is on my side bar...Their will lots to look at and two days to check it all out.....so how about a drive across the lake .....about 15 minutes down the road from Marta's

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY AND MARK YOUR CALENDAR, MARTA & FRIENDS!

2012-10-13T00:15:00.001-05:00

Paint or not to paint, some things are such true antiques with years of patina!

Welcome fall with the color of real wood, beautiful years of use and care creating a wonderful patina in mahogony. What can I say hey, I am a red head so I guess this color I could not touch. She is a perfectly perfect little desk and chair. For a true antique as she is over 65! and looking pretty good.

65 years of age is the factual number for qualifying as a true antique. I know her at least 65 years old, and very few wrinkles and no gray hair. She is still has her original color of rich mahogoney (why is my spell checker not working...I know that is wrong) you get the point...she is solid too top to bottom and inside and out and front to back, you don't see that as often until you get to true antiques...and her chair is the same age and needed no help standing up straight..pretty lines...I like the simple with a little detail.

Got to love those pulls, and the curved drawers. I told you she is a beauty!

Pretty fabric, I love the antiqued tone against the duck egg blue look

I did update the chair,and I think she looks really sharp with her new seat.I like the accent of the color with the patina of the wood. This would be perfect for a small den,or in bedroom.Perfect size for a laptop, or as a nightstand.

Fall in Central Texas, the Mimosa is starting to shed. My Dad bought this tree when we moved into this house, it was the size or your wrist. Today she is pretty big for a Mimosa. Hard to imagine we have been in our house here for over 20 years...and his little desk has served us for 38 years or our live and previously my Hubbys Dad...we just no longer have need for her and with inheritance from family we are furniture heavy in our little house. So time for her to find a new home, I hope they love her as much as we have...she is a grand little lady...ready to be adopted into a new home.

Mink bolster style pillow, OK this is a mink stole that had not sold, So I made a mink pillow, in a bolster style. Add a little burlap. Then make up some fabric rosettes. Contrast with burlap and velveteen rosettes. Pearls for centers..and a little satin ....CAN I say I wish this had been done in sun shine, as the pic comes out a little faded compared to the rich tones of mink.

I can see this on a bed with lots of other pillows. Pretty ivory pillows...and a few velvet.....what would you team with this.....Bolster look, I would say she is a bit of a Opulent pillow with a little casual, and a touch of vintage chic.Now I may be pricing her a little high...but I have look'd at mink pillows on line...and fake are 75.00 so real and double the size....my firm price...80.00
do you think too high.....

so until next time, thanks for the visit and hope to see you again soon, I have a garage full of projects, do you want to come help I feel a little over welm'd

Thank you for leaving me comments! you make my day! I am close to 60 followers..so to each THANK YOU

2012-10-04T19:10:00.001-05:00

Wardrobe, redo of a redo....sounds like a crazy title for a post.

My granddaughter Alexandria,

Yes she is a cutie, and my Thor and her are tight, I took care of Lexie, from 1 month to almost age 2...so they hung out a lot...and she loves her doggies.

Well she needs a closet, her room was a den and and no closet, so a wardrobe I had done, and no sale to date.Do over the Do over....This is what the first Do Over looked like....let me say it started out in horrible shape, cobweb heavy with lots of breakage of the veneer.... so back to the first Do over

So I had done lots of repair on the veneer but have to say she still showed her rough and tumble life. I painted with ASCP in Paris Gray...and then stenciled across the bottom and along each side, replaced the knobs and hoped it would sell..this is a shot from Marta and Friends last spring...now we will have another this November and I have to start looking for items ...to Do over.

I did not put this all back together because we will have to haul it to Texarkana this weekend. Kat this is a blurry pic, yes off my phone, I forgot my camera when I was out of town. OK how did you do this...the story goes like this. Get out the wood putty and just do it and fix once and for all the broken veneer. Sand and smooth out the imperfections, then paint. I painted the whole unit inside and out, with the same color I painted the room...then I went over sections using different tones of this paint...highlighting it's shape..also now it will match the bed. After layers of paint. I started the stencil I did this also to mask some of the imperfections of the repairs. Plus she needs a little pretty!!!

Lots of stencil details and when it is all together, I think a improved redo of my redo...Inside I hung a cubby unit for folded. I waxed the whole unit sealing the paint. So what ya think to you like the before or after...O yeah hard to tell until it all together....

On my last post I showed a frame and handbag, that I have given to Lexi, she is too little for these hanging in her room. This detailed beading is wonderful and from France so to the guest room they will go..I have 4 more that I have sewn to a pretty fabric in a vintage frame..this will go above the wrought iron bed.

Now I have more work to do on project to take to my treasures...and I am running short of time..See you on the next post and wish me luck on finding some great items to Do Over for Marta and Friends, November.

Thank you for your visit and love the comments..

2012-09-30T23:12:00.001-05:00

Chalk paint pretty,and the things you do for family.....My little car has gotten a real run for it's money this month...Sept. I have added 4700 miles...in travels to Colorado,Wyoming,South Dakota and all the states in between and then off to Texarkana and a step into Arkansas...back home for jury duty. Hope I don't get picked and then paint a wardrobe for my Alexandria...and then pack it up and take to Texarkana to deliver the wardrobe and pick up my son who I left their to continuing taking care of my other sons house and puppies..if you call polar bears ....puppies.... OK that is where I have been and not posting much...so here is what I did while taking care of the puppies..

I did say Annie Sloan Chalk paint right...so lets get to it

I will say this unit kicked my ......and the before pic...oops and )()(*(&^ I forgot until too late...the story on this unit is...First I was in Iowa,Grandpa Charles stereo radio unit...and a deep cheery wood veneer...with those cool ring pulls..then it went to Rapid City and was in My hubbys family, then to my Hubby who used it in his college dorm...USD Vermillion So.Dak. them to our little 1870 house we rented when first married....then into our boys rooms...in Waco, Dumas,Belton and then Morgans Point Resort/Belton Tx...then to my younger son when they moved back to Texas...so then to Temple, then Georgetown and now Texarkana...we know where it was built Tennessee this little unit can tell a story....do you ever think of all the places, your treasure have lived....

So what happened to this unit...My son painted it white and green and put gas station stickers on it...and it was cute...held my grandsons books...but they were too tough on it....and it was not a ladder...so I painted it for the guest bedroom in their new place...first a coat of ASCP old white...Jason had used a spray paint so I had to cover a high gloss finish..chalk paint rules....so two coats of the white, the inside I used up my CoCo and then Emperors Silk two coats for depth of color..then I used the peal and stick letters...darn this one was harder...and this was not my first time...I see with the pics a few spots I need to fix too...some times you just have to step away to see your ooppps...

OK this one has a Travel theme...She deserves it, so I thought of all the words for travel, journeys, and then some places to visit...Hey that is not how you spell Britain and It's Rome....Yeah I know...but this is a personal piece..and My grand kids have parents who love history...I mean my son is close to his degree major, history...and science...So Rome is Roman and Great Brittan is Britton and Alexandria is the great City with Roman influence and great history in Egypt...So I mixed a few other cities that would be interesting to see and Dublin is a must for Irish history buffs...So that is how the names came to be

Love color and this is painted inside the doors and the entire interior in the red, and then the outside is a mat black with a little eggplant mixed....then add plaster of Paris...mix and you have home made chalk paint...the whole unit was waxed and buffed...then up the stairs to the guest room. Jason had given me these tins...I used in another little piece I did with this idea..and since they did not have a place for all their office stuff....I fixed that problem...here we go a place for it all...and the tins came back to them...now one problem was I worked for 3 hours with the door on top....it would not go back on...was not fitting like it had before...so I thought place on top...and I kinda like it this way...hide what you want, easy access to what you need...

So I added the little pot, and painted it red too,and then some chalk paint...took pic before I got some chalk. I did a chalk outline around the chalk paint on the little red pot, and wrote VISIT on it...then tucked in their latest magazines....then hung Jason's Marine pic from basic trainings...painted the frame to match...I had given them a little history of a vintage History book in red...yeap on top. Hung up the framed Medal from my Great Uncle Fred...he served WWI and WWII...this medal was awarded for those who served during 1912 to 1919, he served 1915 t0 1919...my Uncle Fred was very special to me...I think he would be happy to have Jason taking care of it now..O yea on the basic pic...is a Marine Epaulet from a sweet man who served in the Marines 1941..I met him while working and found out my son was on the USS Pelalui and he fought in the battle of Pelalui Island...History seems to find it's way into our lives...

Some more of the guest room, this was my Bed from age 14 until I married...when I picked it up a few years back...I asked my son and Daughter in law...and they said yes...for Alexandria down the road...what color they said black so I painted a high gloss black...if you only knew all the layers of paint I chipped off of this when I was 14....I hung some of the items I have passed on from my Mom to Jason and his family...the frame original held the purse...but now it stand on it's own for pics...the purse I picked up for Alexandria starting a collection of Vintage purses..She was too little I have learned! this use to have more beading that hung from the bottom...O little girl....likes shinny

I need or I should say want a new camera...I work on the pics but some times I can't improve them to show the beauty of what it really is...This picture was one I gave to Jason last year...a very pretty vintage frame and picture...

Do not give 2 year old vintage too early.....but she still is pretty...

My Shark loving grand daughter...if some day you find out their is a gal studying sharks...I know who it will bee...I Painted her room a Turquoise...Pic does not show true...and then this material is from Spoonflower.Fabrics.Check it out...most original..I found the site and then My daughter in law, Cori and Alexandria looked and she picked out the one she wanted...Burp that is what it is called BURB...Bubbles...we need Bubbles in the Ocean Turq...so I found these crochet hoops at a garage sale in Wyo...and now they are Bubbles...in her room...with Sharkys as she calls them ....

So how about a few other vintage items that have been passed on to the next generation in our family...Cori is a huge Jackie and Jack fan...so when I saw this Magazine that my mom had...she framed the whole magazine...

My mom had this original photo given to her from the photographer at the newspaper...the largest earthen Dam when they were starting the project....

And finally back to travel and History...a cool map that's mate needs a new frame..I love old maps and think this is a special one....when it's mate is back it will be even more special....

Thank you for stopping by, and see you soon on my next posting...thank you for your comments, they make my day.......Kat(LINK'd at Miss Mustard Seed)

2012-09-23T23:42:00.000-05:00

Fun with Paper...I play with lots of stuff, paint, decopag'e, hot glue stencils, and even ever now and them my sewing machine...that could be it's own post...but before I get in the car again for another trip, I will show you some of my paper creations....Or better explained as taking old music books in sad shape and torn pages and recreating with staples,coffee stains,use of cinnamon for staining, hot glue, mod-podge, and a I can do this..........

This is my most successful creation, I call it a garland. Can be used many ways, this is a close up of the folds...and yes lots of folds...this is time consuming, and you have to like details because it can be many steps. I have sold over 15 of these...garlands for windows, fireplace, over a door..or a bed.

This one shows how to use with a bed, and I think a great example of pretty. I made this one for my sister. She has a 100 year old Arts and Craft bungalow and this is her attic. One side is for her pretties and her grandkids, the other side is for the guys...

This shows the whole garland, it is two sections. with lace ribbon on each end, the brass bed was my Mom's as was the hat, she used it for antique shows take a look at the top of my blog and you will see her dressed up with my Dad...he was teasing her....the Muff was Moms also, I had it-but decided to give it to my niece, she has the coat Mom wore with the Muff . Love all the textures...and that lil panda in the corner...Dad won it for mom at a carni...

This shot shows a little more detail, the pic was in the attic..and a lil dim so the coloring shows very golden but more creamy in truth.Do you notice the straw hat, yeap that was my granddad's but my dad wore it too..

Do you want to see who checks you out as you head up to the attic

Ok this is Norman, yeap a Moose and a biggen....got to love Wyoming

So what else have I done with music sheets and paper

Yes this has been posted before, but we will have another fun time at Marta's and Friends in October...I better get busy!! The Ballerina O my, this is work. each of her Roses around the neckline and tucked at the waste. They started as coffee filters and cupcake liners..and then burlap ribbon...then lots of music sheets...rolled and hot glued to create a skirt..this was all glued and sew'n onto a dress. This really can be unzipped in the back and taken off the vintage mannequin...everything is attached to the dress....The cake is another time intense project...the top and middle are on book folded and glued and is intact to the book spine in the middle..the bottom is a paper mache box covered with rolls of papers...then again coffee filter roses and cupcake roses...ever sheet has been dipped in a coffee and cinnamon mix and then popped into the oven....on a low heat to get a vintage look- PS every thing you see has sold and most during Marta & Friends event...So see you in OCTOBER

Yeap she is sassy, and a lil french...all music sheets and graphics from who else but the Graphic Fairy, see her on my side bar and jump over...I printed and then printed the graphic on the music sheet.Then Mod Podge sticky fingers to create this sassy lady, she is coverred head to toe,oops no toes..

I said she is sassy, and the look on the back really says Paris chic perfect to hang all your pearls and beads...

I added a flirty slip that I stiched a burlap ruffle along the waist..can be worn on it's own...so what was a sad falling apart, is now a sassy gal ....paper and a printer and the wonderful graphics....really look at the Graphic Fairy blog...

See this is how many thing start, Paper and looking for inspirations.....

Close up on the coffee filter roses...they really are pretty, and with a show in October I guess I will be busy...O my burnt fingers..

This shows the how you can make this in sections...old crochet work, ruffles and lace, watch those sales at Hobby Lobby and Walmart...and for a flat top, I use the same things that people making real cakes use, a cardboard round

This is a two layer cake, and the bottom section opens up for keepsakes..

So if I can make a cake, why not a cupcake...so I made one, I took a solo cup and cut it for a cupcake shape, then folded music sheets and hot glued around the cup...then a cut a round of cardboard and decopaged for the bottom

I open up and a great place for a wedding ring, or a special treat..fun for a gift, or request some more for a party treat....I even made it look like frosting

I then did a ruffle fold to create a top for the cupcake...nope has not sold yet ...but I hope ...maybe I need to make a even dozen...

Close up of the cupcake roses...they are really pretty and a lil easier to make

Amazing how stuff that is broken,torn with holes can be pretty, and she sold ...kinda sad to say I had to mark her down- for her to find a new home...20.00
But she started out with a few holes in her paper mache' body and this was all covered by a layers of music sheets...and then folding sheets in a way to create the look of feathers...OK I think you are paper tired by now ...yes I do wreaths too....we will show the hows of some of this down the road...but I will be hitting the road tomorrow and will see my Three Treasures....

Ok Britton lets go clean your face, a little spagetti...but u got to say what a character...he is the Dragon trainer....with imagination that does not stop

This girl, was into her cake, and sticky fingers and all....Hugs for Lexie

A little fuzzy but the terror trio, at play..Roman has Lexi's sharks...she loves her sharks..give them back now.....love the pucker ....and Britton has a smack down on the gorilla....So I will see them tomorrow....and they are headed to Disney World...with their other grandma...and parents....

I love that you stopped by- and if you are interested in the how to's- leave me a comment...I am interested if people want some tut's on how to make these lil treasures....so let me know via a comment or email...some of these are fun for holidays...or special occasions .....prepare for sticky fingers..and watch those hot glue guns..

See you next time, Kathryn