Movie Wardrobe for Kids

Seeing as my daughter has everything this year for Christmas I wanted to give her something that will encourage her to use her imagination.

We bought her a Flip video camera and to go with it I transformed an old dresser into a Movie Wardrobe and filled it with vintage finds.This is a perfect project for a child that is out of the princess faze but still young enough to dress up and have fun.(My daughter’s 7 years old)

Here’s how you do it…….

 

Depending on the condition of the wood you may need to use two coats of primer.

When all of your base painting is done the fun begins.I wanted this piece to have a vintage flare so I added some hand painted movie decals which we are  familiar to everyone .Then I added a chalk board on the front for movie announcements,showtimes and plain old fun!I replaces all the handles with vintage look glass hardware and added some sparkle to finish it off.

Once the piece was complete I filled it with all my vintage finds…shoes,dresses,vests,suspenders,hats,belts,gloves and ofcourse some wigs and clip on ponytails from Ardenes.

Christmas morning this was a hit!!! The kids were dressed up from morning till night.Once our friends arrived for dinner their kids were dressed up imediately too and the movie making began.

This project can be done with a dresser a chest,anything that you have hanging around your house.If you are not an artist in the hand painting department you could always stick on decals or decoupage some old movie posters on the piece.It is up to you.

The smile on your kids face will be worth it.

Happy Painting!Tonya

Chalk Board Placemats

I now have a new love for chalk board paint,I can`t get enough of it!!!

Recently on one of my detours through Pinterest.com I stumbled upon a great DIY project that is super easy to do.

Here’s how you do it.

I purchased cork board placemats at the SuperStore in Mission.They are 5$ for two.I prefer to give sets of 6 so $15 dollars for a set!!!What a steal.The design on the placemats do not matter because you will be painting over them.

Now you need some chalkboard paint.This paint does come in colors but I prefer Black.

I purchase all my paint at General Paints in Maple Ridge.

Lay out all the placemats on paper(this is an oil based product it is very hard to remove)and begin to roll on the chalk board paint with a sponge roller.Wait 1 hour before the next coat.Two coats should do the trick.

 

After the Second Coat you must wait 24 hours before using chalk on the placemats to be sure the paint is cured.Once the paint is cured you can wrap them in sets with ribbon and include some chalk.I am sure your friends will love the idea and they will get lots of use out of them.

Happy painting!,Tonya

 

A Punch of Color

My house is finally all painted!!!After 3 years of admiring builders beige I have finally completed the last few walls in my entrance way with a pop of color.

My latest turquoise “Entrance way Collection”was my inspiration.Unfortunately I have a small entrance way so I have to pass on my beautiful creations to someone else in need of a little color.

Here are the before and Afters…

I had started of with the chocolate brown last year but had left the wall going downstairs waiting for some inspiration.I chose the Apple green because its bright ,happy and  unexpected.Turquoise is a big color this year in interior design and just happens to be a favorite of mine so I added the turquoise to a few pieces(the table,a picture frame and the coat hooks)that are easily changeable,just in case I get bored and want to switch to a new accent next year.Or who am I kidding…in 6 months.Things change around here a lot…lol

 

Well that was my little home make over for the week.I just wanted to show you a punch of color can be fun not scary.Just because your house came painted beige it doesn’t have to stay that way.Color is your friend its easily changeable and never permanent.I hope this inspires you to paint that color that you wanted but were to afraid to commit to.

Happy Painting!

Tonya

Show Room Open Daily

I have recently set up a show room at my home base.This gives you the opportunity to view some finished pieces and see the possibilities for your own furniture.

The show room is OPEN DAILY by appointment only.Early morning and Evening appointments can be arranged as well.

At the moment I have an assortment of Black and White French furniture available for purchase.You can view my portfolio ,check out the glass hardware I have available and see all unfinished inventory too.

Refinishing your own furniture is always an option.You can email me a picture and I can send you a quote,then after arrival of the furniture we can decide on finishes ,design  and hardware.

New furniture is arriving daily if there is a certain piece you are looking for send me a quick email I might have it in my unfinished stock.

See you all soon!

Tonya

 

Classic Vintage French

One of my favorite styles is French Provincial.The curves ,the delicate legs the over all feminine look.Not to mention it is very practical ,being  raised quite high off the ground makes it easier to clean underneath which is a definite bonus for me.

Every one has seen these sets during their childhood trimmed in gold and slightly creamy yellow in colour.These sets today make an amazing girl’s bedroom or baby’s room furniture or even master bedroom furniture.The trick is to always update your hardware.Hardware can date a piece to an era that is better left in the past.Don`t get me wrong vintage hardware can look great but there is a time and a certain piece that will make it shine.

As you know I use glass hardware for almost all of my pieces,it freshens up the piece and gives it that sparkle for a timeless french country or shabby chic decor.

Here is a few pictures of my last french set that has been brought back to life for a little baby girl.

 

 

• If you have a dated set that just needs a little refreshing to shine new agan feel free to contact me through email or give me a call.

Back To School!!!Crazy!!

Summer is almost over and back to school is just around the corner!I can`t believe it ,where does the time go?

I have stocked up on desks for those who have kids that are transitioning from grade 1 play time to homework time.All of my desks are youth size not adult size and will suit kids from 5 to preteen.I try to collect desks with storage because we can all use more storage.All of the available desks are white based but themes or designs can be added.

If there is a certain piece you are looking for just send me a quick email,I have stock which sometimes doesn`t make it to my site.Good luck with all your back to school shopping and enjoy our last week of rest!
Tonya

Albion Women’s Business Fair is Coming up!!!!!

To everyone who enjoys Hand Painted Furniture I will be at Albion Women’s Fair on May 27 th at 6:30pm

My Vintage glass knobs will be for sale for $3.50 a knob,this will be a one time only sale.While supplies last!!!

FREE draw for a hand painted piece of furniture!!!!!!(still to be decided)

I hope to see you all there!

Tonya

 

 

 

 

Refurbished Vintage Jewelry boxes

Being a frequent shopper at our local thrift shops I come across many old wooden jewelry boxes.After collecting a half a dozen I decided to start revamping them for Birthday parties.

My daughter gets invited to a few parties a month which starts to add up.Most of these jewelry boxes sell from 4-6$(try not to pay more)

After spraying theme with a coat of oil paint you can customize the top with a theme the child likes , flowers,crowns,fairies or just a fun design.

When your design is complete spray the box with a clear coat to prevent scratching or chipping.For that added touch add a few dollar store rings ,hair clips or bracelets and you will have

a thoughtfull custom gift that will be sure to attract some attention.

Depression Glass

Saying life was rough during the Great Depression is a huge understatement.Those who were not jobless were forced to take pay cuts.Learning to live on almost nothing was a way of life for most families for a decade or more.

Today we refer to many items used in the 1930′s as collectibles, including Depression glass.Depression glass was relatively inexpensive and in such a dark time brought sparkle,light and color to many homes.

The more common colours for Depression glass are pink,blue and green.I have recently found a source for Depression glass pink coloured glass knobs.In my last project I used these knobs to add colour,sparkle and interest.Perfect for a little girl’s room.

Although coloured knobs are beautiful, the clear glass can also update which once was a tired piece of furniture to a masterpiece.

 

Great places to find Depression glass knobs are ebay, Lee Valley and Antique markets.

Have a great Day!

Tonya

Two Teenage Girls and a Tiny Budget

Hats off to all the moms with teenage girls,how do you do it?

My last client is a mom of four,two boys and two teenage girls .She is in desperate need of a bedroom over haul for her girls.Like most parents with teenagers the mess has gotten a little out of control and the arguing has now stopped.Which brings us to the before pictures.

The main problem in this room is the lack of storage and the need for major cutbacks.I know at this time of life every letter,picture and nicknack from your friends is the most important thing in the world but there is a place for everything.Drawers can be designated for crafts and letters.Frames and  boards can be hung to display pictures and collectibles and clothes should have their space in the drawers or closet.Now this is easier said then done but if you give them the space and storage necessary I am hopeful they will use it.You never know maybe they will be proud to show their friends the new space and in that case keep it organized.(we can hope)

In the before pictures the one girl was sleeping on a mattress the other a futon.To divide the room into two separate spaces for them I purchased a set of bunk beds and put them side by side with an inexpensive nightstand between them that adds more storage.In the case of a sleepover I purchased a small sofa which folds out to a single bed.Great for sleepovers and great for just hanging out.The overstuffed dresser is now thinned out and is in the closet where shirts ,skirts,dresses and sweaters now hang above on the rod.A storage dresser was purchased to act as a TV stand and add more storage. Beside the TV more storage units are placed to eventually fill with whatever they choose.Inexpensive canvas has been painted by the girls to add some matching decor to the wall.Above each bed inexpensive frames and picture boards are added to display pictures of friends.

All of the above purchases were made from Craigs List and second hand boutiques.The new items added are the bedding ,curtains and the grass carpet to divide the bed space from the lounge space.The paint was purchased as a miss tint and cost less then half of the regular price.

All together this make over total was $350 and a little bit of help from the girls.

And there we have it ,a tiny budget with a big difference.

Thanks for your Interest!

Tonya