My First Experience with Chalk Paint

Greetings dear friends & readers,

I have read lots of bloggers rave about using chalk paint & have wanted to have a try myself for a very long time now.

I contacted my clever friend Michelle & she gave me some good advise so I felt confident enough to give it a go.

I emailed Ali at Newtons Paints & this exciting little package arrived in my mail box

I have to say Ali was just lovely to deal with & very helpful & informative .... she told me not to hesitate to get in touch if I needed any further information.

I watched her painting video here & found it just so helpful

This little table above had sat in my sleepout for many months now.

I had put off doing anything with it as the varnished finish on it meant I would've had to sand it back before painting.

Not so now . . .

I simply gave it a good wipe down as Ali suggested, then off I went with my first coat of "Aged White"

I gave it 2 coats of this as I felt I was a little hesitant with my first coat & only applied it rather thinly

I let it dry for just over an hour then I applied my "Pale Duck Egg" which I had bought as a test pot

This is how it looked after the coat of Duck Egg had been applied.

I really liked the way the aged white colour was showing through in places

Then I let it dry for 24 hours before lightly sanding the areas I wanted "distressed",  then applying the wax.
 Ali explained the wax makes it wipeable as the chalk paint itself is quite porous.

It also gives a lovely light golden sheen to the finished article

I was so thrilled with my new/old table & am pretty sure there will be quite a few other things around here getting the "duck egg treatment" rather soon

Looking a bit more blue in this photo than it actually is 

Some other snippets from my week included . . .

This cracked china teacup above was rescued from the Op Shop rubbish bin by my friend Joyce

Yesterday afternoon while I had no power for two hours I was able to sit & put together a dainty little teacup pincushion.

I weighted the cup first with a little fine gravel then added some wadding & the circle of gathered fabric. 
The rest is all simply glued in place.

I had to wait 20 minutes for some photocopying to be completed whilst in town last week.

I wandered a few doors along to the Red Cross Op Shop & managed to come away with this darling vintage cane basket & 2 doilies in excellent condition for the sum total of $10.

Though I forgot to take a "before" photo, this little cross stitch was so gorgeous, but had been framed in a heavy matt black frame which did absolutely nothing for it.

It was sitting on the shelf at the Op Shop just wanting to come home with me.

I removed it from the frame, used my chalk paint colours & transformed it.

Though my intention was to pop it for sale in the Cottage, I did think it looked lovely sitting on my new/old table in matching colours

My friend Lois asked me to make her two cushions to gift to her son
Her instructions were "2 large cushions, about 40 x 40, plain blanket backing, reds & blacks, flowers not hearts, anything is fine"
These were issued out the car window as Lois drove out the gate one day in a hurry.
"Oh & both the same" she added !!

I was really thrilled that I managed to get the entire order out of my fabric stash with the exception of 25 cms of black ricrac which was purchased.
Lois was delighted & collected them late yesterday - in a hurry  - as always.

I have been painting on my outside table & usually have company of the 4 legged variety.
I had to quickly nip out to post off a package & returned home to find Blackie had slid off his cushion in his sleep

He is a dear wee soul our Blackie & no longer the hissy, swipey, scratchy feral cat he once was.

With the little touches of autumn in the air I noticed the two furry ones are tucking up together alot more

Leg only partly ""in the air" today Willie  !!!!!

Thank you so much for your visit today dear friends ... it was so lovely of you to pop by
I hope the rest of the week treats you kindly
sending much love & friendship to you all,
Julie & the furry ones
x0x0x0