No Fear Layering

After playing with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for the past year, and seeing the beautiful transformations by Rosemary at Villabarnes and Amy at Maison Decor 

(who, by the way, show no fear by combining colors and washes) ~

I'm learning that the beauty of a painted piece is all in the layering of paint colors.

(Kind of like getting dressed in the morning.)

This little French side table is by far my most favorite piece I've completed since I started painting furniture ~

because of the layering technique I used with four colors.

(Back in April, I applied a two-color technique on this beautiful French dining table.)

When I brought her home from the antique market last month,

this is what she looked like.

Chic and pretty in her little black dress.

Legs to die for.

Detailing to swoon over.

But I envisioned her in a light, summery dress that would compliment the master bedroom better.  Something less formal.

(You know me...no formal attire here.

Scrappy blue jeans, boho tops and bare feet, baby.)

This would be the first time that I would layer so many colors on one piece,

but I was ready to give it a whirl.

I applied a light coat of Duck Egg Blue first.

  

Pretty ~ but not enough interest and depth yet.

(Like a new pair of jeans that desperately need to be broken in.)

I applied French Linen next.

After letting that dry,

I distressed it with my palm sander

which brought back the Duck Egg Blue as well as the original black and bare wood.

Better ~ but not quite finished yet. 

(Like my soft, broken in, distressed jeans with the holes at the knees.)

The next step was a whitewash of Old White 

which I immediately wiped back with a terrycloth rag.

The watery white paint crept into the nooks and crannies

highlighting the beautiful detailing. 

(Like throwing on a favorite lacy top over those holey jeans.)

After a coat of Clear Wax and rubbing to a subtle shine,

(like putting on my favorite big, silver hoop earrings)

she danced her way into the bedroom in her new summer dress...

barefoot, of course.

It's all in the layering,

whether you're painting a table,

styling a room...

or

 just pullin' on your favorite jeans.

~  Blessings ~

PS ~ God bless all of you who kept us in your prayers concerning the selling of our lake house. God sent us a buyer (finally) and we close on it this week! The terms and price weren't quite what we wanted, but we are considering it an answer to long time prayer and trusting that we're making the right decision.
Thank you, Lord!  :)

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