Author Archives: Dana

home

palm springs

, , , 1 Comment

I  really don’t know why but Palm Springs just comes to mind when I see that vintage linen tapestry below.  I really couldn’t think of another name for this post.  Palm Springs. Palm Springs.  I have never been there and actually know nothing about it.  The palm like leaves pictured are actually printed on unique Irish linen but somehow Irish Springs doesn’t seem as interesting a title as Palm Springs.mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

Now that we got that awkward introduction out-of-the-way, let’s discuss today’s project.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

Just this cute as a button happy little nightstand painted in Mustard Seed Yellow milk paint.  Not to mention that antique phone.  Seriously…LOVE.  Oh and that 1940′s traincase.  Mmm hmm.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

I don’t have a before shot of this one unfortunately but it started out in a dingy ivory which had seen better days.  I scrubbed it and lightly sanded with a palm sander which I pretty much never do.  Then mixed up my milk paint with bonding agent in the first coat.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

The 2nd coat had some bonding agent left in it too however it is not required to mix it in both coats but doesn’t hurt either.  Using the bonding agent does just that – helps the milk paint bond to a smooth or varnished surface.  Since this one wasn’t raw wood and I didn’t want it chippy I used the bonding agent.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

The little nightstand was waxed with Miss Mustard Seed’s furniture wax.  Just along the edges, I added the tiniest bit of antiquing wax.  So subtle…

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

Then I added another pop of color to the single drawer with the coral knob from Anthropologie.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

The original was a white porcelain knob which would’ve went just fine but how fun is the coral?

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

Surprise!  I used the remaining paint to stain the inside of the drawer.  Of course, I love how the grain comes through.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

That’s all she wrote.  A happy little nightstand.

All of this can be yours…for sale now at Serendipity Shops of Doylestown.  Run!  Don’t walk.

mustard seed yellow milk paint nightstand palm springs vintage

Linking to Homestories A to Z

About these ads
wedding

our wedding invitations

, , , , , , 2 Comments

Hey guys! I can’t believe it is Thursday evening already in the middle of June. This week has flown by. In fact the past month has. Ryan and I have been married for just over a month now.

And I’ve barely given you any wedding details here on the blog yet! Shame on me.

That is about to change.

Get excited because you my friends are going to see every last vintage-lovin’ DIY detail throughout the summer. I am aiming to do a post a week highlighting the projects and details that antique junkies like us might find interesting when it comes to wedding planning.

Let’s start at the beginning shall we?

The invitation. It had a vintage spin for sure with none other than a blue mason jar as the solo image.  Come on did you expect anything else?

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

I conceptualized these 5-7 half folded invites in my sleep I think.  Once I had it worked out in waking hours, I pre-stamped and water colored all of those cute little flowering jars, pre-cut the cardstock and lace that would serve as the belly band holding all of the inserts.  Then I corralled some of my favorite crafty ladies to help me assemble and stuff about 90 of these dream invitations.

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

Yes, we are sitting in my dining room and that’s me in the stripes bossing everyone around.  Feel free to note how much the decor of the room resembles the invitations and in fact the whole wedding scheme.  I’m consistent like that.

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

So here’s what we were working with on that day back in February.

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

Lots of hands went into the final blue and green product.  I love how they turned out.  I think the foreshadowed the casual vintage vibe of the wedding.

spring mason jar wedding invitation DIY blue green

Can’t wait to share another element of our vintage-style wedding next week!

home

nautical tricycle

, , , , 2 Comments

There is something very summery about Miss Mustard Seed’s Tricycle milk paint.  I have now painted my 3rd oak dresser Tricycle.  The color is so vibrant! I love it.  The two pictured on the right were done last summer.  I just completed the one on the left.

Tricycle milk paint oak dressers

They all seem to have a subtle nautical vibe but this last one is just so much more obvious due to the rope details on the dresser and pulls.  I left the two knobs unpainted and added some antiquing wax to darken the color.

tricycle milk paint nautical dresser

And here’s the before picture.

oak dresser before milk paint

And here’s the top drawer.  There was a great ship wheel applique but part of it was broken and beyond repair.  There is a slight shadow left where it was attached and I think that is pretty cool.

oak dresser before milk paint

I love its shape – great for a little boys room.  Or a beach house of course.

tricycle milk paint nautical dresser

If you come here often, you probably know how I feel about antique oak…fab!  Something about the grain of oak wood is just beautiful.  Sometimes I don’t want to paint it at all.  It just depends on the patina of the wood I suppose.  However, the color can sometimes be orangey or blah.  That doesn’t mean the beautiful grain has to be lost.  I used the milk paint as a stain on this piece because it was very raw oak meaning it would absorb the color.  I applied just one coat letting it settle unevenly in some places to give it a nice aged look and to allow the grain to show.  I topped it off with furniture wax and buffed a little bit.

tricycle milk paint nautical dresser

By the way, there is a new Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint group page on facebook for more color inspiration.

Did you meet my friend the sailor boy?  Isn’t he a darling little paint by number?  I have had him awhile and can’t seem to part with him.  I think he needs a name – any suggestions?

tricycle milk paint nautical dresser

This dresser is headed to West End Garage in Cape May this week so it can find a forever home, hopefully at the beach.  Don’t we all wish for that?

Linking to: Home Stories A to Z

Miss Mustard Seed

treasure

they found me

, , , , Leave a comment

Sometimes when I’m simply minding my own business, not hunting for vintage or even thinking about it – ok that part’s not true. I’m always thinking about vintage.  But minding my biz and just running errands, non-vintage ones.  The weirdest thing happens.  Treasures find me!

vintage library chairs

They really do and that’s exactly what happened with these chairs.  They pretty much tapped me on the shoulder and asked to come home.  How could I say no to this cheery aqua fabric?

vintage library chairs

vintage library chairs

Perfect nailhead trim.

vintage library chairs

Birch construction. Mid-century capped feet. Oh and that library book rack!

vintage library chairs

This set of vintage library chairs is looking for a contrasting table to pair with such as a white Saarinen tulip table.  Wouldn’t that be fabulous?

vintage library chairs

Sometimes they just find me.

vintage library chairs

Happy weekend friends and happy hunting!  Don’t forget the last Clover Market of the season is on Sunday.

home

the green guy

, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I’ve been on a kick lately with small chests and night stands. I’ll admit that they’re easy to maneuver and transport without any help and that’s probably why I’m going for them. I love the simple shape of this one with its curved base and original brass pulls. A little TLC and here’s how he looks now…

lucketts green milk paint chest (2 of 30)

A far cry from its chewed up before state.

chest before

But with this piece being solid wood, it had potential.  I sanded the top down to prepare for an ebony stain – my typical stain color of choice.  And filled in any gouges.

chest during

lucketts green milk paint chest (8 of 30)

For the base I used a very light coat of boxwood milk paint which added depth under the second coat of lucketts green milk paint.

lucketts green milk paint chest (18 of 30)

I didn’t use any bonding agent (primer) in my milk paint solution since the wood was very dry to begin with plus got a light sanding.  Therefore the milk paint primarily acted as a stain on this piece.

lucketts green milk paint chest (15 of 30)

I used a top coat of Miss Mustard Seed’s furniture wax and some antiquing wax to add to the aged look.

lucketts green milk paint chest (1 of 30)

I love the original brass pulls that came with this chest however one was incomplete so I had to improvise.  I chose to add 2 aqua & brass Anthropologie knobs on the top drawer.  This gives the otherwise antique style piece a hint of modern.

lucketts green milk paint chest (5 of 30)

Plus I’m a fan of aqua (in case you didn’t know!) and the knobs paired nicely with the vintage globe!

vintage bert doll, mid-century lamp & replogle globe

And Bert he’s just so darn cute, isn’t he?

vintage bert doll & replogle globe

We have a pair of these funky wooden mid-century lamps.  Ryan and I really want to keep them but don’t have a spot for them.  I don’t even hate the original lampshades as I normally do.  Surprisingly no one bought them at Brooklyn Flea Philly last weekend although many considered them.  Maybe it’s a sign.

vintage mid-century lamp

The ship ink & watercolor, Bert and the Replogle (Made in Chicago) globe have all found new homes though.  Like fostering puppies I tell ya…

lucketts green milk paint chest (20 of 30)

I’m pretty happy with the color choices on this chest.  So what do you think, has it inspired you to paint?

Linking to Miss Mustard Seed