HGTV Tutorials

I'm still working on my second union jack dresser and spent most of the day out of the house.  Since I don't have anything new going on, I thought I would share the links to some of my newest HGTV.com tutorials. 

You can find the plans and step-by-step instructions for making this cottage style storage shelf here. 

An easy way to hide the pipes under a wall mounted sink is a sink skirt.  Find the tutorial for making one here. 

And lastly, check out this tutorial for a low-sew roman shade. 

I hope these tutorials can help you out with some projects on your to-do list!

Take Two Part Two

I'm still in the process of making my second Union Jack Dresser.  I shared the first steps yesterday and today is part two. 

The picture above is the original UJD and the picture below is where I am in the process with the second one.  Believe it or not, the same exact colors were used.  This gives you a good sense of how much glazes and distressing can change the look of paint. 

This is also a good example of how different colors look when they are wet vs. dry.  I didn't adjust these colors with photo editing software or anything.  When the blue is painted on, it looks like a bright royal blue.  It dries to a deep navy. 

I used my opaque projector and a piece of chalk to sketch on the flag and then hand painted over the chalk.  The colors used are Naval (blue), Stolen Kiss (red) and Creamy (white.)  All are Sherwin Williams colors. 

A second coat is needed and I'll clean up the lines a bit on that second coat.  That's all I got done on it today.  Between church and picking up some Craig's List dressers, I didn't have a lot of time in the workshop. 

I did take a minute to snap the first signs of spring in my pathetic front garden.  The funny thing is that I have done everything I can to get rid of these bulbs.  I dig them up every year and they just keep coming back.  It just shows that God can grow beautiful things no matter how much we get in the way. 

Union Jack Dresser - Take Two

Last month, I painted one of my favorite pieces of furniture ever...the Union Jack dresser. 

I rarely do the same thing twice, but this dresser received rave reviews and sold in a wink (with six other interested parties), so I thought it was worth making another one.  I found the perfect dresser when I was out antiquing with my mom a couple of weeks ago. 

It's a little bit smaller and the details are slightly different, but otherwise it's the same. 

If there was a paint or a thick finish, I would've stripped the top, but since it just had a thin topcoat that was half-worn off, I simply sanded it with a palm sander. 

Applying stain to a dry, sanded wood is one of the most rewarding things in DIY.  It instantly looks better, rich and warm.  It's like magic.  I applied the dark walnut stain with a scrap of drop cloth canvas (left over from an upholstery project.)  If you're staining for the first time, wear gloves and rub the stain into the wood with a clean rag in the direction of the wood grain.  Allow it to soak into the wood and dry before finishing with a protective coat.

I painted the body of the dresser in a rich blue called Naval (by Sherwin Williams.)  It looks like a bright royal blue in these pictures, but once it dries, it look like the blue in the first picture in this post. 

It's been too cold to use my sprayer (I can't open my basement doors for ventilation), so it's been the foam roller and brush method for me lately.  Come on spring...

Painting can be a killer on the back, so I use a child sized chair to sit at the level of the furniture and save my lower back and hamstrings from all of the strain.  We went out to dinner at a friend's house tonight, so I had to leave the dresser with a stained top and two coats of paint.  I hope to work on it more tomorrow. 

Between coats of paint, I worked on a new project for HGTV with delicious ruffles.  You're gonna love this one.  Just wait!

3 Beautiful Home elevation designs in 3D

Architect : Praveen.M
Civil Engineer: Prasanth.K.P
moyacheri (ho)
kottakkal
vatakara(via)
kerala
india
04962275234(house)
+91 9645457494,+91 8943241759
+91 9388744505
Email:praveenarchitect.m32@gmail.com
Prasanth.K.P

The Numbers Game

This morning was gloomy, grey and rainy and I felt sluggish.  Around noon, the sun came out, the snow was melting and I felt like a new woman.  I baked some bread, filled a bowl with bright green apples for my kitchen counter and was ready for Spring and all that comes with it...the birds chirping, the swing sets in motion, the daffodils peeking out of the soil.  I took advantage of the mood and the pretty light and completed one of my Spring project photo shoots.

I wish I had a project to share today, but I've been spending most of my work time lately on projects that will be published down the road.  I am going to pick up the slipcover tutorial series in the next few days and I have some new sign creations and furniture makeovers waiting to happen, so stay tuned. 

Until then, I recently passed the two million page impressions mark, so I've had numbers on the brain.  

I have to confess that I am a competitive person and I like numbers.  I like measuring progress, growth, change, earnings.  Anything.  This interest in stats can be a good thing and a bad thing when it comes to the blog world.  It's good business to know your numbers and how to interpret them, but it can be a bad thing when you get too competitive and your blog becomes all about the numbers.  So, after blogging for about a year and a half, these are my thoughts on numbers. 

Everyone Starts Somewhere

It is true of every blog, from Pioneer Woman to the one that just started today, that we all started with one follower.  And that first follower is usually yourself, your spouse or your mom.  Don't get discouraged in the beginning if you feel like you're talking to yourself.  It takes time and a lot of attention to grow a blog, so just be patient.  You can't put an acorn in the ground and expect to harvest mature oak the next day. 

Know Your Numbers

Don't obsess about your numbers, but it's good to know where you are.  It's also a lot of fun to watch your blog grow, learn who your readers are, know which posts are most popular, and find out who your biggest referrers are, etc.  The best place to learn your numbers is with Google Analytics. 

Now What?

Now that you know your numbers, what do you do with them?  Well, it depends on your goals for your blog.  If you just blog for fun, it's nice to know who is reading.  If your blog is a business, numbers help you know who your "customers" are and you have information when pitching yourself and your blog to sponsors, advertisers and companies.  For example, when Donna presented her book idea to a publisher, she also shared her blog stats and demographics.  The publishers had information to work off of to know if Donna was a good investment or not.  (They signed her on, by the way!)  

You May Be Surprised

My demographics were a real surprise to me.  I figured my readers were just like me...young 30's, toddlers, etc.  I found out that most of my readers are closer to my mom's age! Is that why all of you are telling me to get some rest?  I don't just have followers...I have about 4000 additional moms!  Actually, a lot of my readers are in my stage of life, but knowing that the bulk of my engaged demographic are women like my mom makes me think twice about what kind of giveaways I host and what topics I tackle.  

You Are You

I know it's so tempting to compare and I admit I do it sometimes.  "Why are her numbers there and my numbers are here?"  Well, we're women and that's just how we work.  Don't let it control you, though.  If you're obsessed with competition and numbers, it will show in your blog.  You should focus on your content, photography, uniqueness and your numbers.  Because your numbers aren't just numbers, they're people.  Focus on the people who read and love your blog and more will come.  Unless you're Google, there is always going to be a URL out there with better numbers. 

Growing Your Numbers

I'm asked often how I grew/grow my blog.  Well, I'm sure it's a number of things, but I did really work at it.  I linked up to parties right when they were posted to be at the top of the link list.  I left A LOT of comments on blogs I liked.  I posted often...sometimes two and three times a day.  I teamed up with other bloggers (like Donna) to generate some cross traffic.  Now, we can't get rid of each other!  (Just kidding.  She's my BBFF - Blog Best Friend Forever.)  There were a lot of really nice people who featured me and linked to me as well.  To boil it down: post good content, take good pictures, be original, be social and be nice. 

Why Bigger is Better

As your blog (and audience) grows, you do start to get some attention.  I never dreamed I would be featured in and writing for magazines.  I never knew it was possible for someone like me to write tutorials for HGTV.com.  I never knew I could make a good income from my blog.  I just started a blog one day with no strategy or goal.  I just thought it would be fun and it took off.  Now, I get all kinds of offers to try free things, attend events, get featured, etc.  Having a blog can really expand your horizons. 

When Bigger isn't Better

You don't only get positive attention.  There are some people who will leave nasty comments and there are even cases of people starting blogs simply for the purpose of picking on another blogger who rubs them the wrong way.  You also get a lot of offers from people who just want to use you and your numbers for their own good.  They don't care about your content, your integrity or your readers.  You have to protect yourself and your readers from those kinds of offers. 

Numbers Aren't Everything

Low numbers don't mean that your blog stinks. It may mean that you just started, the word hasn't spread, yet, or your content is not very broad. My dad has recently been writing a wonderful blog about the history of our family. He only has two followers...me and my mom, but what he's writing about, though fascinating, is so specific. On the flip side, high numbers can be artificially inflated and are not necessarily an indicator of a great blog.  Just take it all with a grain of salt.  Write and relax. 

Those are my two cents on numbers. 

Ha!  After writing this post, feeding the kids, and running an errand, the sunshine is gone and now it's snowing again!

I forgot to mention where I found the demographics about my blog.  My great friend, Karen, introduced me to Alexa.com, a site that ranks all of the web addresses in the world.  Type in your blog address and you can find all sorts of information. 

Furniture Feature Friday - Favorites & A Link Party

Good evening all of my furniture-loving friends!  As always, I was thoroughly impressed with all of the amazing entries last week.  I get so inspired each week by all of your makeovers.  Last week, I found a new color that I want to try (Newburg Green, courtesy of Cassie), learned a really cool metallic paint technique (courtesy of Jen) and was shown the idea of slipcovering a recliner is not totally ridiculous. 

Mimi from Blue Roof Cabin took on one of the hardest pieces of furniture to slipcover (after only a 1990's sectional) - a recliner.  Not just any recliner, but one of those with a puffy pillow back.  I was stunned when I saw that she turned one of those beasts into this chic and updated beauty.  Mimi, you get a standing ovation from me. 

Another standout for me this week was Alison's grass green dining table turned coffee table/play table.  (The Modern Cottage)  I love the color, the functionality and the two brightly painted farm chairs tucked under it.  The room says, "It's OK to play here and you can put your feet up as well." 

I also fell for the collection of antique cabinets shared over at Arbor House Lane.  This white corner cabinet was my favorite.  There's something so beautiful about the worn finish, the simple lines and the great hardware.  This is a very special piece. 

Feel free to link up and mingle for a while.  I promise you, you'll find some amazing inspiration here...because my readers rock. 

Here are the rules for this get together...

1.) Your post has to be about furniture.  Please, please, please...just furniture.  If you find your link has been deleted, it's not because I'm mean, it's because your post was not about furniture.  You can share makeovers, awesome finds, favorite pieces, furniture arrangements, or even pieces on your wish list!  Built-in furniture like kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities qualify as furniture.  

2.) Post a permalink (the link to the post), not the link to your blog.

3.) The link party closes Friday at midnight PST and I will choose my favorite(s) and feature their piece on next week's FFF.

Furniture I Love: Christy Oates Design Edition

Christy Oates Design

Motoart Ejection seat bar stool

Hat tip to the great 1800Recyling blog who blogged yesterday about warplanes and alike being turned into office furniture.

I don't blog much about office furniture as its not really my thing but Motoart caught me eye.

The collection is pretty amazing from seating pictured to table and lamps, well worth checking out the site here http://www.motoart.com

Discovering Sam Maloof

Thanks to Woodworker's Journal, I found out about this Huffington Post piece on an upcoming Sam Maloof exhibit.

Perfectly Imperfect Painting Tips

Today the lovely Shaunna from Perfectly Imperfect and I are taking the floor on each other's blogs.  We're not talking about just anything, though.  We're sharing some of our best painting tips with you, so you can see how we do things the same or different.  You're going to get a lot of information in both of these posts, so get ready! 

Here's Shaunna!

Well, I can't believe I'm over here at Miss Mustard Seed's.  I've admired her work since I began blogging a little over a year ago.  That's me up there, and I am pretty much Marian, only I'm from Alabama.  I paint furniture, blog, my husband works with youth, I've got two adorable and busy toddlers...you see the similarities.  :-)

Let's talk paint, shall we?  There are a million and a half ways to transform your furniture and household items with paint, and if you've never given it a shot...go for it!  There is nothing more rewarding than this process of creating.  I say all the time that painting furniture is more an art than a work.

My Style and Favorite Techniques

As with any artist or creative, we all have a style.  That's one thing I love about Marian...her style is so her.  I find huge inspiration from Wisteria, and nothing makes me happier than a layered treatment.  I do lots of white washing and dry brushing...and LOVE all things coastal, cottage, and French.  My style is quite eclectic, never pinning down to one specific spot on the map of design, and honestly, I love that.

The same goes with my furniture.  I go through phases of creativity, one quarter of the year over half my projects will be painted white and distressed, and the next they'll all be quirky or layered pieces only painted with a brush.  For now, I'm in a layered treatment wonderland (as shown above) and I'm hanging with my brushes a lot.

I use Purdy brushes, my favorites being the 2 1/2 inch angle and the XL Cub.  I do own a sprayer...it is a Wagner Power Painter Max with Optimus.  It really is a wonderful alternative to an expensive brand.  Fill it with paint, plug it in the wall, and you're good to go.  I really can't say enough good things about it.

Favorite Paint, Sealer, and Finish

I love Sherwin Williams.  I mean, really heart them.  That's the ProClassic you're looking at above (and clearly I take special care of all my cans).  Because I use so much white, I keep gallons of the ProClassic tinted to Benjamin Moore's White Diamond on hand.  The formula is SO durable, and really works almost as an enamel...meaning less coats and higher quality work in the end.

I seal mostly with Minwax Paste Finishing Wax right now.  It has such a lustrous and hand-rubbed quality.  It is also absolutely fool-proof...you just can't mess it up.  It wipes on with a cloth, and you buff after 10 minutes...voi la!  

After staining, I do love using Minwax Wipe-On Poly in a Satin finish.  I lean toward a Satin finish most of the time, but semi-gloss is not so different.  A little luster on your furniture is more forgiving of scratches and scuffs.

Distressing

I love a piece to look as if it's worn over time, so I really stick to distressing those spots with a medium grade sanding block.  It's my favorite tool...I use it to buff my furniture in prep work (unless re-staining...then I'll strip it down), smooth in between coats, and to distress in the end.

I also distress with paint by dry brushing quite a lot when working on layered pieces.  It's a refreshing change to see a color peeking through.

Go-to Pieces

I, like MMS, love all things French.  I'm also drawn to coastal and modern cottage style.  Sometimes I find random pieces like the plant stand I painted gray, and sometimes we like to build our pieces, like the daybed you see.  We took the doors from my childhood home, and built and painted that bad boy.  It's one of my most treasured pieces now.  I sort of go through shopping phases, too.  For a while, I'll pick up all the good deals I can find and then I'll slow down a bit to catch up.  I sell my pieces strictly online via the blog, so there is no shop to fill frequently.  I now take on mostly client work, which allows me lots of time to work on the blog and my eBook.

The Skinny on Glazing

I don't glaze every piece by any means.  When I do, I usually use one of three products.  Valspar's Antiquing Glaze is my favorite for glazing.   If I need lots of workable time, that's my go-to.  If not, I love using an ebony stain to cool down a piece (like this chest above) or a dark walnut stain to warm something up.

For hardware, my favorite places to shop are Hobby Lobby, Lee Valley, and Ebay.  I do buy in bulk from Lee Valley, so this keeps my costs down.  But, if I could shop Anthro all the time, you better believe I would.

In addition to the work I do, the painting frenzy makes its way into almost every room in our house.  It truly is a freeing thing...knowing you can change everything with a little paint and time.  The art of painting furniture has become such a passion of mine, and so has the blog.  My sweet readers kept asking me to write something more comprehensive, and through their encouragement and support, I began my eBook last August.  Seven months later, it's almost finished.

My eBook, Creating Your Masterpiece, will release next week.  It'll have all the skinny on my painting techniques, sitting at just under 200 pages and full of photos and video.  It's been such a blessing and something I can't wait to share.  If you'd like to know more about it, you can see some sneak peeks here and sign up for the email list to get the discounts. :-)

Alright, so that's me: wife, mom, and furniture painter girl, in a tiny nutshell.  Thanks so much, Marian, for having me; I'm completely honored to be here with you guys.  Hope y'all will stop by sometime!

:-)

Oh my...don't you just love that day bed?  And some of her finishes are perfection.  It was interesting for me to see how many of the same techniques and products we both use.  To see my answers, visit Perfectly Imperfect today!

Creative wall decor stickers