side table make over...

Before... not so lovely and the colour is just too dark. Even though she was in really good condition with no scratches I had other plans for her. She also has a 'hidden drawer' that had no handle which is at the top front section, so you just pull it out by grabbing underneath.

I gave it a couple of coats of Louise Blue Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and decided to add an applique to the drawer instead of a handle, so you always know which side the drawer is.

To finish her off I added some gold highlights with Rub 'n Buff to the outer edges of the top and bottom shelf, in the grooves and on the applique.

Then sealed using AS clear and a bit of dark wax.

In my shop.. Shabby French & Vintage.

This was one of the pretties make overs I did and she sold pretty much within a couple of weeks.

I have a new page now above where you can see some of my other finished furniture makeovers.

take care,

Maryann xx

store photos and some furniture makeovers...

Well it's been 10 months since opening Shabby French & Vintage and it's been quite an experience. I'm still in the process of learning. Learning about sales and marketing, learning about my customers, learning to take each day as it comes. Does one ever really stop learning? I don't think so. Always trying to improve and try different things. One thing I know for sure ... I have to stay true to myself and my style.

I purchased these French Provincial wall hangings which are backed in a French linen.. they are 2die4!

I've also been doing up a few pieces of furniture...

The above side table was a reddish timber so I painted it ASCP Louise Blue and then added gold highlights. 

I absolutely love the detail on this half circle console table painted in Old White.

This was just a pine cabinet painted in bright pink and purple.. a lot more country now.

What a difference a bit of paint can make. I'm working on 2 dressing table at the moment.. one will be shabby white and the other not quite sure yet.

So till next time..

take care, Maryann xx

Roller Coaster ride..thanks to my store.

I've never been one for roller coaster rides. In fact I only ever went on one once and that was enough! I literally thought I was going to die that day with my heart beating so fast and hard I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. Yep, that was the first and VERY LAST time I had gone on one some thirty years ago and swore I would never go on one again.

Yet here I find myself on one again for the last 5 months since opening my store!
I liken it to a roller coaster as there are sooo many ups and downs it's just exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Except this time I don't want to get off.

I am so happy and grateful that I have the opportunity doing what I love and working in my own shop that I will take the good the bad and the ugly all in the name of following my passion no matter what the outcome.

It's definitely been a learning experience and I still have a lot to learn .. about my customers and the business. I've had really good feedback so far. I've learnt through time that the childrens' vintage toy section was probably not a good idea so will be replacing that with something else like womens' clothing. One can only try different ideas till I get it right.

I love my new bright pink banners... if that doesn't flag people down I don't know what will.

I know it's been a while since posting and I will try to post more often about the journey and what I'm up to.
                                                           So take care and until next time,
                                                                                  Maryann xx

Shabby French & Vintage.. finally opens

So it has been 2 weeks already since I opened my store. I have had good days and a few quiet days but it has been such an experience! Meeting new people and seeing their different personalities when it comes to shopping is quite interesting. I am still getting a feel for what is generally wanted around my area. I have located my shop near a few antique stores and in a country town where visitors from the city come for the day so I may have to diversify a little along the way! Here are some pics of my store so far...

I am always tweaking and yet to good professional signage put up and a few chandeliers too but it's coming along nicely. I love going there everyday and am still deciding which is the best day to have off, but today I am off to a trade show.

So take care ladies!

Maryann xx

Buffet & Hutch make-over finished

Well I finally finished painting the buffet and hutch I purchased a while ago. I painted it using Annie Sloans' Old White and gave it a light distress and then a coat of clear wax.

I also chose a pretty damask design wallpaper in duck egg blue. Love the statement this wallpaper made!

This was a bigger job than I thought it would be. Mainly because of the 2 side glass panels on the hutch. They do not open making it harder to get in and paint and to remove and reinstall the glass!

Above: in my store ready for sale.

Before.

take care, Maryann xx

hutch inspiration....

In a previous post I mentioned I was working on making over a buffet and hutch. I did paint the bottom section but came to a halt because I wanted to back the hutch section with wall paper. Since there are no great wall paper shops where I live and the ones at the hardware stores are very limited I decided to look online and found a website where I could get some samples which I am waiting on as we speak. There were quite a few that I liked and couldn't decide which is so typically me. So in the meantime here are some inspiration photos I found on pinterest...

This one is painted a different colour has the same effect.

I hope my project will turn out as nice as these!

take care, Maryann