Candlesticks and Crochet

The day was HOT and sunny.

Ninety-four degrees to be exact.

A day to spend inside with the AC turned on super high
and a glass of iced tea slapped to your forehead.

But Michelle and I are not wimps.

No siree.

We were bound and determined to meet up for our first flea market jaunt of the season

 in Allegan last month.

And despite the heat and humidity, 

we dragged our hot, sweaty bodies through that market three times,

taking a couple of ice cold lemonade breaks along the way

(and secretly dunking our toes in it).

At the end of the day, 

our very hot, sweaty hands clutched fabulous treasures -

some that needed a little TLC

and others that didn't.

 As we made our way through the rows of vendors at the beginning of the day,

the first thing our radar landed on was an incredibly gorgeous vintage bed

that was set up in the grass,

painted ASCP 'Graphite' and distressed to absolute perfection.

The price reflected it's perfection, too.

Bummer.

I would'ave given my eye-teeth for that bed

(that also had a matching dresser and side tables),

but it was waaay out of my budget.

(Sorry. No photos were taken because we were both too busy petting it...)

However, this sweet pink vintage crocheted throw was

tossed casually across the end of that beautiful bed.

It was in perfect condition

It was a perfect pink.

It would be perfect at Heaven's Walk.

And I paid a pretty perfect price for it.

Vintage pink chicness at it's very best
thrown over the overstuffed chair in my bedroom.

Another treasured discovery that day was a pair of very old candlesticks.

I spied them sitting on a table that boasted a "1/2 OFF!" sign on it.

After almost knocking Michelle down on my attempt to get to them,

(she's actually very used to me doing that to her and thought nothing of it)

I picked them up,

oohed and ahhed over them,

turned them over,

and imprinted on the bottom was

"Made in Italy".

Shut. the. front. door.

A pair of Italian candlesticks for six dollars....?????

Dollar bills were flying out of my wallet.

I couldn't pay the vendor quick enough.

But they needed some Rub-N-Buff magic.

In my studio, I pulled out the Rub-N-Buff in 'Patina'.

It's a beautiful verdigris color like weathered copper.

{You can see another one of my Rub-N-Buff projects here. }

I used a small foam brush this time and swished and dabbed.

After letting it dry for 1/2 hour or so,

I took a very wet brush

and my can of ASCP in 'Pure White'

and wet washed over the beautiful aqua patina.

I dabbed it lightly here and there with some terrycloth to pull back the aqua.

As it slowly dried,

it left behind an old world weathered finish that made my heart flutter.

AFTER

The wax in this medium rejected some of the watery paint

which created this incredible patina...

which reminds me of the sea.

(See that sweet sign in the frantel?  Michelle gave it to me when we met up at the antique market. She made it from a vintage piece of wood.
The inscription says, "Les petits moments dans la vie" which means

"The small moments in life".

{I truly believe that God speaks volumes in the smallest moments in life...
like when friends surprises you with an unexpected gift made with their own hands.
Thank you, dear friend!}

I originally bought candelabras to sell over in my booth at the Emporium.

But...I'm rethinking that right now.
They're looking quite at home right here.

(I'm finding that that happens quite frequently for some reason
when treasures are transformed in my studio...)

So, for now,
they're gracing a mantel (or a table) at Heaven's Walk.

~ Blessings ~

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