Primitive Chest

Found this primitive chest on the Low Country Crawl (see Friday Finds HERE ).

It is large - about four feet in length.

Well made, but has been repaired through its decades of use.

There were many bumps and bruises.

It has lost its lock and catch.

The inside was rather clean.

I vacuumed it out.

Lightly sanded with a fine grit paper.

I love chests with this wood piece on top.

I do not know if there is a purpose in the wood or it is merely decorative.

If you know, please tell me.

On the outside I used a walnut stain/varnish.














Used Howard's Feed'N Wax on the inside.

See the difference?

Excuse the prop.

I try not to stress the hinges of trunks when working on them.

Some of the wood is pine and some of it appears to be cherry.

Ready to head to the booth.

Luckily I had a small primitive table to place the trunk.

It is a monster to lift.

I hope someone buys it soon.

I am quite taken with it.




See y'all!

BE SURE TO COME OVER TO SEE WHICH ITEMS TO LOOK FOR AT YARD SALES THIS SUMMER.

THIS WILL BE FUN!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Quickies - Pedestals

A true Quickies post today.

Like 1-2-3!

Two pedestals in okay shape, but in need of polishing.





One is missing part of the base, but it is not a necessary fix so I left it alone.

See how dirty, dusty, and dry they were?

Scrubbed.

Polished.

Done.

Available in Booth W-10. 






I am in a rush because Melissa of Melissa's Antiques gave several of us homework which is due Wednesday.

As a former teacher I procrastinate on everything.

Everyone will be able to see what I am talking about on Friday.



See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Friday Finds

I bragged to some of you last weekend about NOT buying one thing for days.

Well, that streak ended this past Tuesday when I went on a Low Country Crawl with my niece Leia for her birthday.

This is an annual event so I really could not turn it down.

We shopped at four thrift shops and one antique mall between Summerville and North Charleston, SC.


A lime green rubber kangaroo and a tiny pink ceramic something (bunny?).

Both need cleaning.

A great assortment of baskets.

An old straw hat.

Stacks of books.

Bags of rusty springs.

Round Italian floral tray.

Black floral tray.

More baskets.

Assorted kitchen gadgets.

Small plant stand.

And that is all of the smalls.

Leia also purchased a few items for baby shower decor and prizes.

Now for the biggies!

We hit one thrift store right when they were pulling out all the furniture from the back.

This mauve bookshelf caught my eye.

I claimed it.

A mauve cabinet.

I claimed it.

Two Pennsylvania House end tables.

I claimed them both.


By this time the furniture manager was standing beside me writing sales tickets as the workers hauled out stuff. 

Remember I was 130 miles from home and had to take everything with me.

Then a guy rolled this right up to me and said he knew I wanted this primitive chest.

YES, YES, YES!!! 

Another customer tried to take this away from me, but the manager told him it was on my ticket.

HAH!

Two large mirrors.

This particular thrift store is unlike other stores. They insist on loading your items.

All of this fit into the back of the Old Coffin Carrier (My S-10 Blazer - she is 20 years old this week!) 

 

Leia, the manager, and I fit it all together like a jig saw puzzle.

I did have to bungee cord the back window to close a two-inch gap.

And Leia and I were a bit squeezed in the front seats.

Off we went for a delicious long lunch (Mexican) and solved all the problems in our lives and the world.

Then I started home.

Anyone who has traveled Highway 61 between Bamberg and Highway 17 knows it is mostly desolate.

Which means you can fly.

Like 65 MPH or more fly.

So how did I end up with the mauve cabinet in the front passenger seat?

As I was cruising at a high altitude speed, a car coming toward me kicked something up in the air.

 
Came down under my car.

KER-POW!!!

Instant flat.

I drifted over until I was half off the road.

This iron rod was the culprit.

It is seven inches long!

The hottest day so far this year - 93F in the shade.

Swamp on the left of me.

Swamp on the right of me.

I waited for over an hour.

Thank goodness for AAA who figured out where I was. (There are few landmarks on this stretch of highway.)

Thank you, Phillips Towing (Ruffin, SC) and Benny for finding me and changing the tire.

I had to move the pink cabinet to the front seat so the flat tire would fit in the back of the truck.

The tire was gone and the others needed to be replaced.

I hope all that load will pay for a new set of tires!

(This was the first blow-out I have ever had.)


See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Chalkboardness

I must admit to a certain chalkboard- dom.

So many chalkboards, yet here goes another.

 

 

This started life as an ale house sign with the hours open for your drinking pleasure.

The letters had been peeled off leaving a nasty residue. 

Several sheets of sandpaper gave their lives in the conquest.

The back and the frame painted in Serene Blue - Americana Decor Chalky Paint. 






Followed by two coats of Americana Decor Ultra Matte varnish.

No compensation - I genuinely love these two products.

Three coats of black chalkboard paint.

Condition the board with chalk.

It is a chalkboard.

Large.

Arched.

Blue.

It pairs nicely with the table from yesterday's post. 

Available at Booth W-10.

So I think I will call this  chalkboardness instead of chalkboard-dom.

More chalkboards at a later date.

 

I will let you relax a bit...




See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Amaze Me Monday #160

Blue, Primitive, Chalky

The little brown table is now blue, primitive and chalky.

On purpose!

Remember the table once used as a giant puppy chew toy?

A hand sander worked its magic to smooth out the splintered bits.

I left the holes for character.

The table cleaned up great.

The plywood top was furniture grade so it was already smooth enough for chalkboard paint.

Americana Decor Chalky Paint in Serene Blue.

Followed by Americana Decor Ultra Matte varnish.

One coat paint.

Two coats varnish.

Only the legs and the table skirt were painted.

Used black chalkboard paint.

No primer needed - the paint acts as a primer on most surfaces.

One coat vertical.

One coat horizontal.

One coat vertical.

Three coats in all.

Drying in the sun.

Read the directions on the can as to how long to let it dry between coats.

Used the Distress Stain in Brushed Pewter for the edges.

Up close and in person you can tell the difference.

I promise!

I did not wish to drag the table inside to stencil.

BUT I did want to stencil.

BUT it was a very windy day.







Extreme amounts of blue tape required.

When lettering I start with the middle letter and work out to either side.

I have an obsession about the letter and number stencils.

I fill in the gaps.

I also shadow around the edges - used metallic pewter craft paint.

CHALK

Succinct.

Notice I added a highlight to each letter. 

Condition in each direction.

Careful to use the soft side of a piece of chalk.












 

Use a soft cloth to erase the top.

It's blue.

It's primitive.

It's chalky.

Available in Booth W-10, Riverfront Antique Mall, North Augusta, SC.







See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA16

SHOP HERE! 

Talk Of The Town #16
Amaze Me Monday #160