Natalie came up with the title.
After we painted the built ins 6 times. Literally.
So originally, I thought I’d paint a base coat in Pure White, then wash in French Linen. Okay, here’s where I digress. You can wash in several ways with Chalk Paint, but my favorite is to paint a solid coat on top, wait until it dries, then wipe it back with a damp cloth. It’s an excellent technique, and looks beautiful…but it can take some serious wiping. And those built ins are HUGE.
So, I thought I’d try to cheat by watering French Linen down by dipping the brush in water. I thought I would save time this way. I started slapping paint on in different directions and wiping back to see which direction I preferred.
I hated all directions. I hated how dirty white it looked. Ep-ic fail.
Let me be honest…I typically don’t do this. I sit with a piece or an idea a while, and then I paint it as I’ve imagined it in my head.
NOT THIS TIME.
Then, I decided to go ahead and paint the top coat in french linen to wipe off….but I just didn’t dig it on such long, flat spaces. And I had scrubbed it off the whole thing for 2 hours.
Um, yes.
The pic above was taken as the 2nd full coat of French Linen was painted on.
In the end, we went with solid French Linen and Pure White (aged with FL). I’ll show you close-ups too.
It was important to me for you to know that we all struggle with carrying out vision sometimes. Painting furniture requires carrying out vision. Decorating our homes requires carrying out vision. Raising our families require carrying out vision. Opening this business (and the renovation we’re doing in 31 days) requires carrying out vision.
And it’s perfectly alright to take a step back, gain another perspective, and begin carrying out your vision again.
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*this post is part of a 31 day series…click here to find all the posts up until this point!
Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve done things and redone things so many times as I’m still learning how to do them and carry out my visions. It’s good to know that even the professionals sometimes make mistakes. Now I don’t feel so bad posting my blog about my latest piece later this afternoon. I adore your site and especially 31 days! Thanks so much for sharing!! 🙂
As children, my daughters would tell people “don’t stand still too long, cause Mom will paint you” I too had to regroup and find my vision and start again, sometimes multiple times on painting things. Lol What you are doing looks like great fun, to me.
Oh girl, I feel ya on this one! I decided to paint an antique high boy and I started with Country Grey and loved it. Then I put the dark wax on top to age it…I so don’t like it all. Going to wipe it down with mineral spirits and start over. Of course, that’s how most of my projects go.
It’s so exciting to watch you on this journey! I’m so happy you decided to do the 31 days of your adventure. I’m living vicariously through you!!
I’m not laughing at you..I’m laughing with you!! I know the heartache of remodeling and carrying out a vision! It will be all worth it in the end!!
“He who makes no mistakes never makes anything.” 🙂
Your post- and the subsequent posts of your readers has been SO AFFIRMING to me-thank you all for sharing the “thorns in your sides” and for your honesty-SO GLAD TO KNOW IT’S NOT JUST ME!!!! Very valuable post!
I have been following you for months and have yet to leave a comment. I just need to tell you that I think your vision for your children, your life and your store are beautiful.
Wow, love this honest post! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank goodness I’m not the only artist that makes mistakes!!! Love your blog…. so excited to see the store too 🙂 It will all look great in the end
Shaunna –
We opened a storefront here in Orlando in 2007 (which we have since sold) and I also had custom built-in shelving. At the time, I thought it would be a good idea to stain them to make them look like a dark wood (oh dear). I will never forget my best friend and I adding coat after coat of stain – and then it would dry and just look dull. It’s amazing how much stain the wood will soak up. Lesson learned!
And I referenced you in my “31 Days”post yesterday (I may need chalk paint for my own piece in question!). The pieces you have restored and brought back to life are always so amazing and I love following your 31 Days!! Can’t wait to see your finished store! So exciting!
~ Claire
And sometimes, you just have to sigh and move on. While on Fall Break my students wanted me to paint my classroom. I invited them (7th graders) in to help. The paint wasn’t mixed well. The order (or more accurately the the DISorder) they painted really made it worse. And they were messy. Sigh. So I’m going to have to go back to school with a room I never envisioned. BUT. . .it is a reminder that they asked and I said “yes”. . .that I didn’t allow the “control” side of me say “no”. . .that we tried something new. . .that failure is always the best way to learn. . .that sometimes all that work *is* for something. . .I just know it’s frustrating when you’re on a timeline and your visions don’t turn out the way you think they should. Move on. . .inspiration will follow. I’m loving following this adventure of yours!