Retro Cute Rainbow Chairs

My latest completed upcycling project (with the help of the upholsterer!)...not much else to say really, I think the photos say it all :)

The design was a collaboration between the client and myself...I must admit I had some reservations about some of the colours she wanted to use, but I was blown away when I saw them all done...they have come up really well and are certainly eye-catching!  

xx Karen

More Wreaths and Stuff...

No painting for me this week...too hot and too many things to do before Christmas...plus the kids have finished school.   I still had an urge to make something, and while it should involve butter, sugar, eggs and the oven, it involved fabrics, pinking shears, bias binding and my sewing machine!

Red Dotty

Candy Stripe

Red Plaid and Gingham

Red Plaid

They were all for sale here but are selling fast!

The other pretty that I whipped up today was this wee cutie...

Upcycled Doily Bunting

I thought it was a really nice way to give a new purpose to some pretty things from the past, that don't necessarily fit into 2010 life...

Well, that is probably it from me for 2010...

so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

Thanks so much to all of my readers, especially the ones who make regular comments...

Cassie, Sandy, Lenore, Allison, Pam, Jami, Sonia, Sharon, Anita and Kim & Christine, what talented and inspiring ladies you all are.  Thanks for your support and encouragement, I love it.

Of course too, thanks so much to the lovely people that have purchased my creations this year, or entrusted me with their furniture to give new life to :)

See you after the holidays!

xx Karen

Bedhead (Headboard) & China Cabinet for Peta

Here is another client commission that I finished up last week.  Peta brought me her china cabinet and bedhead that she wanted to be painted white (Resene Alabaster) and given a shabby chic look and feel.  Here they are in their 'before' state...

Hard to tell from the picture, but the top of the cabinet was pretty pitted.  I used builders fill to repair the pits that were too deep to sand out.

The bedhead was in great condition, just very dated with its dark veneer finish...but look at that 'carved' detail - just gorgeous!

Looking better already with just sealer on, above :)

Below, all finished and looking fresh and pretty in white, with light distressing as per Peta's wishes.

That mirror in the back, and my reluctance to move the cabinet too far for fear of damaging the glass, made this a very hard piece to take pretty pictures of!

I am not normally a fan of such white white furniture myself, (although I did use this colour for my daughter's bedroom furniture and love it there)...I far prefer a warmer off white, but I think it turned out quite nicely still, and most importantly, that was what the client wanted :)

Peta didn't want any distressing on the bedhead so I suggested we give some definition to the 'carved' details by adding a deeper colour paint, used as a glaze.  I chose the same paint colour that Peta has on her walls.

I do love how this turned out!

That is the last of my hand painted commissions for 2010 finished, and all now returned to their owner's homes.

Bring on 2011!

xx Karen

Dressing Table & Stool for Tracey

This is a recent project of mine that sold while I was still working on it.  Tracey purchased my Embellished Bedside Cabinets and matching tallboy, and when she came to pick them up, she spied the duchess and decided she would purchase it for her daughter.

Here is how it looked when I purchased it...

This piece was in lovely condition, and also had a matching stool which I don't seem to have taken a photo of until after I finished it, sorry!

As usual I sanded, washed and primed, then painted with 4 coats of off white in semi-gloss water based enamel.  Then hand distressed.  Here it is all finished...

I had the seat pad recovered in a gorgeous creamy rose oilcloth which I think looks perfect.  The young lady who was to own it wasn't so sure though, and last I heard, was still deciding if it was to stay.  

(I had already made the choice for the seat pad before I knew it was sold).

Next up for the same family is a similar dressing table in black, I am looking forward to getting stuck into that one!

xx Karen