A Farmhouse Table and a Custom Bench

I thought I would show you all this gorgeous Farmhouse Table and Custom Bench that went to a customer a couple weeks ago.  I started with a dark stained top and black base table.  It actually wasn't bad looking at all, but we wanted the brown and white look, so let the sanding begin!! :)

Here is what I started with, although I had already gotten started and have the top completely sanded in this photo.  I sometimes forget to get that before shot! :-/

I use a palm sander to remove the finish.  Usually with an 80 grit sand paper, and then I move up to a 150 or a 180 grit sand paper before I put the stain or paint on.  You could try to use a stripper to remove the finish, but I will be honest and say that I HATE strippers with a passion.  {Maybe I should choose my words better} haha  The chemicals are stinky, and they burn you if they touch you, and I honestly feel like they take just as long to remove a finish as just sanding does.  But if you like the strippers, then feel free! haha

 

I don't always bother to get every inch of paint off if I'm going to paint over it.  And it's actually really pretty to see the layers when it's time to distress later on.  Just make sure to get any of that sheen off so your paint doesn't peel later.  As for the top, every bit of the finish needs to be removed, otherwise the stain will end up splotchy and won't take to the spots where you may have missed.

I painted the base of this table and bench in one of my favorite whites, Vintage by Valspar.  I use a flat sheen, and it only takes a couple coats to cover really well.  For the top I used the Minwax Mission Oak.  It's warm and kind of a light chocolatey honey brown.  Next I distress.  I do most of it with my palm sander, going back here and there with a sanding block until I get the look I'm after. 

I always roll on the Deft Clear Wood Finish in Satin, with a foam roller.  I like to do three to four coats on my dining tables, since they will get a lot of use and wear.  Make sure to sand in between each coat, after drying.  As for the legs and skirt of the table and benches, I use the spray form of Deft Clear Wood Finish in Satin as well.  I do this same process for all my chairs.

 

I built this custom bench to go with the table.. it's all out of 2X4's, so solid, sturdy and HEAVY!

 

Well, I hope this was helpful and you love this farmhouse table as much as I do!  Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

Red Riding Hood and a Peacock Princess!

Well, Halloween turned out to be a success this year!  Cute costumes and A LOT of candy! haha.. It's always nice to build up a stash for the year!  So my original plan was to do a little mini photo shoot of the girls in their costumes a few days before Halloween, but we all ended up sick and I barely pulled out of it by Halloween evening!  So we ran down the street and took these, headed back home to grab dad and out we went!

I made this little red cape for my daughter Isabella.. I had planned to make a long matching red skirt, but the amount of material I had to work with wasn't enough.. But I am actually pleased with how it came together. We paired the red cape with a fancy white dress, and a vintage apron with red details on it.  Added a basket and a red and white plaid table cloth I picked up at the dollar store awhile ago and walla, Little Red Riding Hood!

My baby girl Olivia had been planning to be a Peacock Princess months before Halloween!  So we worked together to create her costume and give her the dream she had in mind!  We had fun picking out the neat colors for her tulle skirt, and all the different things we needed to create her mask.  The original plan for her costume was to pick up a dark blue leotard for the body, but try finding something like that in a store!  Your only options are white, black, and pink! haha  But we grabbed this cute rhinestone blue shirt at Justice, so she was happy with that, and she can wear it regularly, which makes ME happy! :)

And my two baby girls together, growing up so fast..  Where have the years gone??  I just wish time would slow down a little!!  

 

I hope all of you had a fun and safe Halloween with your kiddos!  It's a fun time to be creative and spend some time together carving pumpkins, and designing costumes!  Until next time, have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Touches of Fall

Happy Fall Y'all!  I hope you're finding this fall season lovely and bright with warm colors and crisp Autumn smells!  I finally changed up my Mantle decor.  It's been stuck on my spring decor since March!  I was so busy this summer that I never got the chance to change it up!  So I thought I would share my fall mantle scape along with my simple fall entry table.  

I dressed it up with staggering white chippy candle sticks, popping orange berries, white carnations, golden sunflowers, a few decorative pumpkins and squash, and my large chalkboard with my fall themed drawing!

I added the banner to my picture on Pic Monkey!  LOVE that program!

I tried to go pretty simple on my entry table.  I tend to me more of a minimalist and having too much will tend to freak me out after a few days! :)

I added some warm yellow flowers, a couple birds, some large berries on bottom, a couple candlesticks, and some layered frames, one with our family picture from last fall.  I plan to turn that gorgeous white one into a chalkboard.. just haven't got there yet!

Well, that sums it up for my fall touches around my house.. The rest of the house stays the same through out the year.. I hope you're having a wonderful day and fall season!  I am reminded this time of year to count my blessings and I have many!  I am thankful for my family and friends and each one of YOU!  Thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer

Linking up at:
Ella Claire - The Inspiration Exchange 
Clean & Scentsible - The Inspiration Exchange 
One More Time Events - Share It One MoreTime Party 
 Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Imparting Grace - Grace at Home No. 82 
 

Before and After, and New Pieces at the Shop!

Hey all!  I finished a couple pieces and took them to the shop a couple days ago.. This a a short post, as there is a lot to do today, but I wanted to share!!  Enjoy!

I restored this hutch to a more neutral, farmhouse like piece.  The green just wasn't right! :)

I LOVE how it turned out!  I stained the top to match the farmhouse table set I currently have for sale.

Yikes right?!  I mean, it's not horrible, but it definitely needed a makeover. 

I just love this new stain I tried out.  It's called Mission Oak by Minwax.  It's a soft honey brown.  Mmmm! ;)

I threw some fall accents on the farmhouse table. I didn't take a lot of time with it, but it gives it a bit of color!  I'm going to do a post on some fall and Thanksgiving Tablescapes soon!  So come back for that!

Here's a shot of one burlap and eyelet table runner I made.  I have a few to choose from right now, so if you're looking for something new but rustic for your Thanksgiving table, come on by!  This one is $22.00.

My newest table!  It's so beautiful in person!  It's good sized too.. 

I still have this end table in the shop!  Someone come and get her! haha

The addition we built is just lovely.. I LOVE staging my space with the barn wood as my backdrop.  But as you can see, there is still work to do! :)  Like the back wall... hmm.. will it ever get finished..?  I'm sure you can all relate to projects taking their sweet time right? :)

Well, that sums it up for today!  I hope each of you has a day filled with joy, peace, and many blessings!  Thanks for visiting!!

Jennifer

Linking up at:
Furniture Feature Friday - Miss Mustard Seed 

DIY Fall Floral Burlap Arrangement

Wow!  It feels like forever since I've posted!  I went on vacation for a week and all the work of trying to get ready and then play catch up when I got home was insane!  I am still fighting to catch up with many things.  But I have to say, it was the time of my life!  My Aunt and I went to Maui for a girls trip and we explored the entire island, staying in three different places, and adventuring it up with amazing activities, from sea kayaking, to a helicopter ride, to the largest zip line in all of Hawaii!!  We pretty much did it all and saw it all!  The beauty of this island is breathtaking!  Really shows what a creative God we have.. It's mysterious and magical and just stunning!  Anyway, onto the DIY for today!

I had posted a preview like a month and a half ago and it's taken me this long to follow through with the post.. Sorry about that ;) 

  So here are the supplies you need for this, and how I put it together.

several fall floral bouquets in different colors and textures 

{I bought mine at the dollar store, 6 blooms each bouquet}

burlap cut to 30" x 15" 

{color of your choice, I chose blonde}

foam 

{for arranging the flowers}

jute string 

{cut long enough to double around and tie}

hot glue gun and a lot of glue sticks

 Step 1:  Start by hot gluing along the edges and simply turning it over to create a fold.  This doesn't have to be perfect, it's a bit rustic.  

Step 2:  Cut your foam to the size it needs to be to fit into your burlap once its folded over.. sorry, I didn't get this measurement, but it's pretty hard to go wrong here.. " So here are the supplies you need for this, and how I put it together. :)  Cut all of the stems off of the bouquet and make sure you leave them long enough to insert into the foam, while long enough to come out of the burlap sack.  Start arranging your flowers and placing colors and textures as you desire.. 

Step 3:  Place the foam arrangement onto half of the burlap and simply fold over, and hot glue the sides together.

Step 4:  Grab your jute string and circle around the burlap sack twice to give it interest and then double knot.  You really can use or do whatever with this part.  You can use a thicker jute rope, tulle, burlap, other fall material.. you get to decide!

And that's it!  You're done and you have a beautiful rustic floral arrangement! 

 I made a smaller one too!  Isn't it lovely? :)

 

 I hope you found this tutorial easy.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions at all! 

As always, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving comments!  I love them all! Have a wonderful and blessed day!

 

Linking up at:

Farmhouse Porch - The Scoop

Confessions Of A Plate Addict - The Scoop
Clean & Scentsible - The Inspiration Exchange
Ella Claire - The Inspiration Exchange