Red Trunk Makeover

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I got some flack over at Hometalk for doing my last trunk makeover.  Some of those people over there are harsh.  I figure I saved it from going to the dump, it's mine to do with as I please.  We will see what they think about this one when I share it.  Luckily most people there are happy and supportive but it only takes a few to make me feel like not sharing there.  Funny thing is, it doesn't make me want to stop making things over, just makes me not want to share.

This trunk isn't even wood, so I'm not sure if that will save me from the wrath of the "anti-makeover" people or not.  This trunk has been used for storage for at least the last 20 years, how long I have had it before that I don't even know.  As you can see I started to do a makeover at one point, but with four little kids, I didn't get very far.  I stripped off the wallpaper and cleaned the inside.

I painted 3 very thin coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor's Silk.  This is the first time I have used a purchased chalk paint so I wasn't sure what to expect.  Now I know that I should have just put on a heavy coat the first time and been done with it, but these are the things I learn along the way.

I put a coat of polyurethane on it, and when that was dry I used ebony stain to antique it. 

I went round and round on how I was going to finish this piece.  In the end I chose a rose compass...

and this saying that I found on the internet. Before I put the words on my daughter told me I shouldn't put it over the compass because it would be too confusing.  She thought I should put it across the front of the trunk.  I went ahead with my plan, and found out she was right, why oh why did she have to be right?

I put another coat of poly over the top and then antiqued it again to tone down the white.  After that I outlined the words with Silver Rub n Buff.

Now I finally like it, until this point I was wishing I had gone ahead with my other plan.

 The wallpaper inside was still in good shape, but was quite smelly so I put a couple of coats of varathane on it. 

The last thing I did was put some feet on it.  These are some of the feet that I made while in Mesa for the winter.  Unfortunately it was not a quick process. After painting, antiquing, and polyurethane, I had to make little divets in the top of the feet in order to be able to put them over the screw heads and the bumps that were the current feet.  This was fairly time consuming but it had to be done.

They would be crooked like this if I didn't do something about it.

I dabbed on some red paint so I knew where to make the holes, then went back and forth to the drill press carving them out.

 

I also put another coat of polyurethane on the whole thing to protect the antiquing and stenciling.

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Being Productive, While Not Producing; Wintering in Arizona! (My snowbird life)

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Hello all!  I have not dropped off the edge of the earth, we are spending our first winter in Arizona.  Ahhh, the sunshine and warmth is fabulous!  I live in an area where we get a lot of sunshine in the winter, unfortunately it comes with very cold temperatures.

While living the life of a snowbird I am not able to keep up my regular routine of working on furniture, but I am not wasting my time down here.  I am learning some new things.  I have long wanted to learn stained glass, and now I have my opportunity.

This is my very first project.

I took an oil painting class.  I've never worked with oils before, it was very interesting.

One evening a week I sit around with a group of old guys and they teach me to carve, they are great, and very humorous!

Once before I turned two pieces on a wood lathe.  I have decided to use my time here to do some lathe work in a way that will benefit my "furniture habit" when I return home.  The picture below is a turning that I did which will be 2 legs for furniture, once cut in half.

This is a picture of 4 of the legs above and 4 shorter legs, plus one more piece of wood from which  I plan to get 8 shorter legs. You will see these used at some point this summer, maybe on a trunk, not sure yet.  I just picked up another 4 X 4 at Home Depot so I see a lot more of this in my future.

While here, I am hoping to do some work on my  photography skills, which I really need.  

I think hiking starts tomorrow, so that will give me more opportunity to practice my photography skills.

Here's a secret for those of you who stuck it out until the end, we are looking for buying a little "Park Model" (aka Tin Can Trailer) here, and if we do... the makeover begins!  Keep your fingers crossed for me!  

I went out last night to a little discussion group about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which I have never tried, so we will see where that goes.

Until next time, stay warm all my friends and family at home!  I will be seeing you before we know it!

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