Busy Chalk Paint Day

The Pioneer Woman has a section on her blog called Keepin’ It Real.    I appreciate that and started to title this post “Dear PW:  I am keepin’ it real” and include a photo of my dirty house and the ring in the bath tub.     Instead I will focus on the project and spare you the story of me taking two baths back to back to get all the grunge off after chalk painting all the live long day.    I’m not complaining…I love working in my shop.  I just didn’t realize it was over 100 degrees today and that I looked like a made mud pies all day when I finally came back in the house.   Here is the day in pictures:

Packed up the Aggie with food, boots and moola.    Kindly note that the moola laying on the top was not for the picture.   It was for the forgetful Aggie who called when he got back to TAMU to ask me to bring the hamper full of his clothes that he forgot.   I forgot to include all the fajita meat in the freezer.   Shhhhh,  I keep those things quite.

A Few Aggie Essentials

Then I went out to the garage, aka shop, to forget that the Aggie was leaving again and summer has ended and I miss him and I love him and I wanted him to grow up and be independent and responsible, but I didn’t know it would hurt so much…..so I chalk painted alllllllllll day long.  My younger son helped me.  I think he knew what I was up to and was a little sad himself, probably because he has already started school.

These are Duncan Phyfe Tulip Back chairs, still sturdy, but a little worse for wear on the finish.  I taped them off so that I could preserve the insert and allow the beauty of the old wood finish to be seen.

Duncan Phyfe Tulip Chairs – Before

The better part of the day was spent on the detailed painting of the chairs.  My youngest son made lunch.  He was really taking care of me today.  We had salad and baked chicken breast and he painted, too.   These lovely chairs have a drop leaf double pedestal table with two leaves still with the table to go with them.   I am thinking about keeping it which would create an interior avalanche.  You know how those things work.    You place a new piece in the room and you love it and then you notice some things in the same space that you don’t love so much and decide to change those too and your husband comes home and wonders aloud, “What was wrong with the old table?”    You ask yourself the same thing, but never admit it out loud.

Duncan Phyfe Double Pedestal, Drop Leaf Table and Tulip Chairs

This has been a tribute to “Keepin’ It Real”.   I thought it might be nice to see how chalk painting takes shape outside in the shop, aka garage, which is very messy and needs a good organizing session with a professional organizer.   Let me know if you know of a professional organizer who will take on an Irish Lady who chalk paints like a little kid making mud pies.

P.S.  I’ll try to remember to take a nice photo of the table and chairs when I figure out where they will land.

The Irish Lady Antiquities at Hermann’s Antique Mall

Have I ever mentioned that I have an antique booth at Hermann’s in downtown Brenham?  There is a section of the store to the right that houses antique vendors of all kinds.  My booth is way in the back in the old meat market section where you can still see the meat hooks hanging from the tin tile ceiling.  The history of Hermann’s is so interesting.  You have to come see the place.  It’s huge.  Well, back to antiquities and such, here is a sampling of what I have crammed in my space.

Keyed Round Front Solid Oak Lighted Curio,  Drexel Heritage Chair Painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Distressed,  White Furniture Company of the Carolinas Accent Table Painted with Annie Sloan.   And, many many accessories..

Bright Sunshine Yellow Formica Table from around the late 40’s early 50’s.  This one is rare in that it has it’s original leaf and accompanied by four Sears and Roebuck Oak Catalog Chairs from the 30’s painted black with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and distressed.  Two tiered black accent table painted in chalk paint.  There’s a 1920’s ice bucket and several ice cold beverage pitchers.  The lobster platter hails from the paper machiere era and compliments the wooden serving accessories.  There are six snack plates with pineapple serving bowls and a few platters.  These would be great pool side or porch.

I have tons of linens made by my grandmother that have been embroidered and crocheted.   Table cloths, round and square, dish towels, pillow cases and even towels are there.   Next to the linens is an old iron bistro table and double shutter in red.

…A better glimpse at the bistro set.

An 1800’s armoire, with dove tail drawers on the left and cedar lined hanging clothes area on the right,  still has it’s very own skeleton key.  The chairs are cained and painted with white chalk paint.

Come visit The Irish Lady at Hermann’s Antique Mall, Downtown Brenham, Texas.