Put A Bird On The Table

The weather has been perfect for painting.  I have a long line of projects waiting for makeovers. 

You surely have noticed that I have begun to "style" my finished projects in creative little vignettes - usually about the yard.

I have had a few neighbors stop by on their daily walks to ask what I am doing.

I know they think I am crazy.

I do not mind being the crazy old lady who takes photos of her furniture.

At least I am not the crazy cat lady.  Our neighborhood already has that position filled.

This is the jewel in the rough.  She was sturdy - no loose joints, but her previous owners had roughly abused her top.

Those of you who work with tables know this style is popular for their versatility.

I had to peel off some veneer and in this corner build it up with some wood putty.

Then wait, wait, wait.  It is better for the wood putty to completely cure for several days before sanding and painting.

That's my story and I am sticking to it!

It was heavily sanded, then given a coat of flat white latex.  I did not take a photo of the next step as I was throwing paint on everything in sight.  If you peer into the right bottom corner you will see the peachy-pink color I painted next.  It was the same as the Patisserie Table. See here!

Then I distressed it with a heavy grit sandpaper followed by a fine grit to smooth.

 I haven't worked with stencils in a while so I pulled out the distressed harlequin pattern and some antique white paint.

Some stencils do not require exact measurements, but this one does.

I came close - it is hard to measure curvy edges!

 A this point I usually start shadowing the pattern, but I thought this was just too plain for the table.

I decided to leave the harlequin and paint something on top.

"What?" was the question.

Well, when in doubt everybody knows to put a bird on it.  And that is just what I did.

I used a large stencil of a bird on a branch and lined it up with the harlequin pattern underneath.

 I pounced with craft paint in gray, red, green and brown.

Putting a bird on it proved to be the right decision.  

I followed with a couple coats of satin craft varnish.

 This is where I became slightly crazy.  I rushed about the house gathering objects off shelves and other tables. 

I was going to go all out on the styling of this table - she deserved it.

A book, some birds, some zinc pots, some lace, a zinc box, and a finial.

By now I had three neighbors coming over to look.  They made suggestions for placement.

 
I have a new neighbor -an older man - who stood on his porch trying to figure out in what kind of crazy place he was now living.

 I probably should have mentioned there was a bluegrass festival going on down the street at the polo field. 

We were singing and dancing as we styled.

My table was where I wanted her - with a bird on her - and styled for the photos.

The three ladies who helped were entertained and it made their day.

The guy next door?  Well, he is still eying me with a bit of mistrust, but I am sure I will win him over.  


He came home with a pile of used lumber to put in his carport!!!

I think we might be friends.

See y'all!

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