How to "antique" a chair
1. Lighting is important. Choose the poorest lit room in the house for your project. After the sun sets is the optimal time.
2. The right tools are important also. Purchase your paintbrush from a dollar store, to ensure that many bristles will fall off while painting.
3. Forget sanding. The paint will stick to the varnished spots won't it? This will give you the desired alligator effect that is so en vogue at the moment.
4. Ditto for using a tack cloth.
5. Have a small dog that sheds a lot (like a corgi) keep you company while painting. Dog hair gives the paint job character.
6. Slap the paint on in a lackadaisical manner. Don't bother to catch the drips. This will give your chair that old-timey look just like Grandma used to have.
7. Move the chair before the paint dries. This guarantees that some paint will lift, replicating years of wear.
8. Be ready to soak in the compliments that you receive from friends and neighbors, who marvel at your good fortune to find such a lovely "antique" chair with just the right amount of wear.
LOL! :)
ReplyDeleteMaria
Hi Jane! Your "antiquing" tips are great. :) With all of the golden retriever fur floating around my place I could "antique" my whole house. Have a wonderful afternoon ahead! Delisa :) P.S. Your chair came out really pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the smiles, Jane. I love your tips! (-:
ReplyDeleteEarlier this fall, I did find a wooden desk at the GoodWill for 4.99. Couldn't decide what color to paint it so it is still sitting in the garage. But now I think an antique shade of white (with cat hair) could be a good choice.
I have a house full of these! And just think: I didn't know I was so smart! I love this post, Jane!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria!
ReplyDeleteYeah, Delisa. I'm thinking about making up some antiquing kits. Georgie says he would be glad to oblige. Do you think they would sell on Esty?
Well Sandy, if the cat hair doesn't work out, I'd be glad to send you an entire crate of corgi fur!
Thanks Matty! That just because you are such a smarty pants, you don't even know when you are being a genius! (Sigh), Just comes natural to some I guess!
Ha! You fooled me....until I got past the title. But I did learn one thing, corgis shed alot. love,andrea
ReplyDeleteJust being silly today Andrea!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I laughed and laughed as I read this. My daughter has been working on paintings for Christmas and we find ourselves locking the poor cats in the bathroom and shooing the dog out of the room in an attempt to keep as hair free a zone as possible. (Imagine the orange and white kitty with blue paws because he decided to walk through while we were working -- just to let you know we're not horrid to our pets.)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Shara! We had one dog that we called "the paint inspector". He always had his nose into the wet paint. Truly believe he thought it was his job.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to bookmark this for after Christmas... too much work for an unorganized kid like me right before Christmas! Fabulous look...
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Debbie
Hi Jane! I just thought I would pop by for a visit. I hope you are having a nice day. Our weather has finally gone back down to it's normal temperature. It was so strange having it 80 degrees the other day and now it is in the 50's! It is dipping down to about 34 at night. I finally caught a sore throat bug that has been going around and I'm taking it kind of easy this afternoon, just doing some light work around the house, knitting and watching some old movies. I started another pair of gloves but I really need to finish up a shawl that I am crocheting for a friend. She is going to be out to visit the end of this month. It is made out of some really pretty gold yarn. She has light reddish blond hair and the color of the yarn looks like they made it just for her. I found the pattern on Etsy. When you put the shawl across your shoulders it kind of looks like a pair of lacy wings. I hope you have a nice afternoon ahead! Delisa :)
ReplyDelete°º❤♫ Olá, amiga!
ReplyDelete°º✿ Passei para uma visitinha.
Gostei das dicas de como pintar uma cadeira.
º° ✿♥ ♫° ·.
❤ Bom fim de semana!
°º❤ Beijinhos do Brasil
It certainly looks like you are to busy, Debbie! Enjoy it. All too soon the children leave home and the season becomes a lot more quiet!
ReplyDeleteHi Delisa! I sent you an e-mail. Hope your throat is feeling better this morning!
Olá Inez! Que bom que você gostou das dicas do meu amigo lindo!
I love the look of this chair, I will have to keep this idea in mind when I come across a paintable old chair. Old chairs are great, they just don't make 'em like they used to, the one you have pictured looks perfect to sit in and read! I'm sure my dogs would be glad to help out as well, they like to lend fur to just about every project I craft, lest any one forget they lent a hand ;)
ReplyDeleteDear Jane,
ReplyDeleteI love the hints! Bright minds think alike, I guess. My favorite "antique" job was painting cupboard doors outside with chickens around (and dirt blowing). They ended up with some nice chicken tracks, and the chickens strangely had white feet! :)
Love,
Marqueta
Hi April! It is a perfect chair for reclining in. It's the only Windsor style Morris chair I've ever seen. I was lucky to rescue it from a gal that was going to paint it hot pink and use reupholster it with pink flamingo fabric. Such indignities for a Windsor!
ReplyDeleteHi Marqueta! Maybe you could have passed the chickens off as a rare white-footed variety for your chicken book! LOL!
dear jane,
ReplyDeletei love your chair......the style is very pretty.
really perfect for reading a good book or for knitting.
i wish you a wonderful week,
love and hugs regina
Thanks Regina! I hope you are feeling better!
ReplyDelete