More playing with chalk paint

I am obsessed with chalk paint! I've been staring at the work I did some months ago. I've been researching techniques and looking at others work.

None of these are done but I wanted to get it posted so I can remember what I did, and be able to consider how to finish them.

The bed and dresser which were Maui Sand, got 2 layers of Cascade. They were still kinda dark, so I added Sheepskin to it in a mix, and gave them a coat of that.

As I was doing it, I noticed it would also be a good candidate for a color wash so I paused to get a picture of that.

Now I'm wondering if I go with a slightly darker glaze...more to come. 

The sleigh bed got a coat of Castle, a sort of taupe color. Not sure yet what is next for it.

I pulled out more inexpensive stuff I have in boxes, and did 2 coats of Sheepskin. The nightstand looks really good so far!

This is an unfinished Bespaq table I have had for a few years, just waiting for the right inspiration.

And an old Sonia Messer table I've never placed in any house.

Finally, this bed is a kit I had put together, not sure yet what the plan is for it, but it can certainly benefit from a coat of chalk paint. I have been imagining this with upholstered insets. This will go into my Chateau house, which is still a shell.

Furniture Painting

Back in the spring, I played with painting some furniture - using chalk paint. I have been wanting to do this for over a year and just hadn't gotten to it. With the majority of my French Country done, I was contemplating this. I bought several colors of Chalk paint from Joann's and pulled out some of the inexpensive furniture I have had for years.

Still in the works, I was experimenting with base colors and sanding, and top colors...I have also purchased some small wood and metal embellishments and have some ideas on adding them and then painting over them. I haven't done that yet....

Items from the 2017 Miniatures shows

I went to all 3 shows, taking Friday off and going to both the 3 Blind Mice and the The Miniature Show. Saturday I did the Bishop show and then went back to 3 Blind Mice to complete cabinets I needed for the kitchen.

This doll from Lilli's Littles called to me. I don't usually buy many dolls but I had to have her. She's sitting in a JBM leather chair also purchased at the show.

These bedroom pieces seemed perfect for the 3rd floor girl's bedroom. They are from The Cutest Things LLC.

The red leather chair and some canes will reside in the study.

Here's a much better photo of the canes (and the stand), handmade from a gentleman from France.

I selected 2 pieces from BB Miniatures - I love her work.

An unfinished bookshelf, and a cute basket. 

Some of the kitchen cabinets I got from M&R Miniatures. 

More 2016 Miniature Show Findings

Illuminations by Mel K:

BB Miniatures:

Crescente Miniatures:

JBM Miniatures through Greg at All About Miniatures

Thornhill Design Resources and Notes

Keeping track of colors, sources, how-to's is something I'm not very good at so rather than keep a paper notebook, I'm going to post here.

Wallpapers

• 2nd floor guest bedroom - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Bird Toile 704A
• Bath - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Rose Toile 656
• Man's Study - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Wildlife Collage 302B
• 2nd floor Hall - Itsy Bitsy Mini - French Kitchen 590A
• 3rd Floor bedroom - Itsy Bitsy Mini - Curtain Toile 710A
• Kitchen 'tile'  and overlay is World Model (2 1/8w x 2 5/8h)

Flooring

• Wood - 3/8" Cherry strips from S.H. Goode & Sons 
• Kitchen & Dining room tile - Le miniature di Eurosia terracotta
• Foyer hall 1st and 2nd floor - Brodnax parquet
• Sun room/Conservatory - Lawbre tile adobe
• Bathroom - cut tile

Built-in items

• Kitchen cabinets - M&R Miniatures
• Fireplace Living Room
• Fireplace Man's study - Braxton Payne
• Fireplace back wall Man's Study - Lawbre AE925 - Wall Panel

Furniture

Bespaq

JBM

DeCava Interiors
BB Miniatures

Paint/Finishes

• Living Room/Hall - color wash - Ceramacoat Antique White base, wash of McCloskey (Valspar) Raw Umber Glaze
• Dining room
• Kitchen
• Master Bedroom
• Exterior - spackle and color wash
• Kitchen cabinets - Folkart Teddy Bear Tan 419, and a color wash or Burnt Umber color wash from 
• Kitchen counter - Fleckstone
• Chimney - DecoArt Sandstone Light Brown
• Foundation  - Duncan Granite Stone - Sand

Staining Furniture

I've been staining furniture and its been a learning experience. For some reason I've wanted to use gel stains and haven't been successful. So I switched back to regular stain and am getting the deeper richer color and finish.

I'm using Minwax Red Mahogany for the man's study bookcases, a pedestal, and the kitchen island. There's also a night stand that isn't stained enough to share.

Bookcases - Bespaq. They are coming along. I think this is the last coat but I will wait to see how they look when they are dry.

Here's the Kitchen Island. I have had this nice marble top for years and really wanted to use it. I added corbels from Lawbre, and stained it. Its looking really nice, even if it is hard to photograph.  Since adding the corbels and top, this piece is top heavy. I found some weights they use for pine derby cars and those are going to sit in the bottom shelf which will be sealed to hide them. 

 

This is a pedestal table, also Bespaq. It's also hard to photograph...it does look better than the photo.