Dry Brush Painting Technique Tutorial

There have been several questions as to what I mean when I say I dry brush something.  So today, after cleaning the garage, and finding a quick item to redo I thought I'd show you.  Stay tuned next week for my huge garage undertaking :-)

My corner cabinet is dry brushed.... We did not use stain on top to prim it up.

OK, now let's get started.... I picked this UGLY cutting board at the Goodwill.  Cantaloupe anyone????  If there is something painted on your piece it is advisable to sand it before base coating.  I sanded mine a little.

First coat is your base coat.  This is the color that will show through.  You all know I like black. So.... Be aware this is after 2 coats of black.  If you look closely you can see the round shape.  I probably should've sanded better. Oh well :-) Let this coat dry completely before moving on.

The second color is your top coat.  I choose a grey so you could see it better. You will want to use a DRY brush with very little paint. Barely dip your brush in the paint then wipe it off on the side.

When you brush it on use very light strokes.

Use as much or as little paint as you want... if you work quickly you can always go back over and rebrush if it seems to heavy in spots. You can still see my circle if you look close... Anyway, brush lightly and quickly.

After this is dry completely you are welcome to go back and sand spots if you so desire for a more prim look.  I did not sand on this piece.

Last step for me is stain.  I like to use Minwax gel stain.  I buy the darkest color available.  I use an old sock and gloves on my hands to wipe my stain on.  This stain will not wash off right away if you don't use gloves!!!!  If you don't want to use stain you don't have to.  I personally like my pieces darker.

 
There you have it.  My dry brush technique :-)

Happy Friday!!!!

Hello my friends :-) !!!!  Today is the first day of Summer Break for both of my kids, and I was the mean Mother who made them go to the dentist this morning bright and early 8am.  teehee... Don't feel bad for them because I made it up to them with a trip to Goodwill (OK that was more for me) and a huge brunch when we got home.  I also told them that they'd have the rest of the day to do whatever they wanted after their appointments.  The bad thing is it's raining.  I came home and finished up a swap I am doing with a Facebook friend.  I can't show pictures until she gets her package.  The theme was Americana.  I am really excited about one of the items she will be getting. ;-)

Yesterday I was hoping to get more done than I did.  I spent the day doing "research" on the computer.  Yeah, that's what it was.  I found a wonderful out of print book I wanted and spent most of the day tracking one down.  

Doesn't this book look intriguing my stitcher friends? I finally found one on Amazon.  I'm not happy with how much I paid, but there weren't any on Ebay and none of my Facebook friends had any.  I still can't wait to get it!  I saw it on a blog post from someone a few years ago as I was looking for some inspiration for some new pattern ideas.  I may just need some elf stitchers with all the ideas I've been getting recently.

As promised I wanted to show you my $.99 1984 Longaberger basket. As you can see the handle has been mashed, a couple chipped splints, but it's still usable.  I just put some of my Feed N Wax on it and the patina got even more beautiful. That's my lunch box in the background. LOL.

Hey ya Mary what's in your basket? I heard someone ask in blogland.  Well, that was my find today at Goodwill.  Wood fruit.  They really aren't that bright.  They reminded me of stone fruit.  What I really need is a wood compote to put them in.  But for now they will sit in my basket. :-)

I also found this wonderful treasure...

I'm still debating whether to paint it (black of course) or just touch up the stain.  I do know I have to give it a bath in Murphy's soap because this must've been near a kitchen as it is greasy in places. ewwwwww.... I think I'm going to put it in my living room above my couch. in place of the strainer where I wanted a hooked rug or penny rug.

Then I found these 100% black wool skirts that I'm going to cut up for wool hooking or penny rugs.  I rarely come across this kind of stuff so I bought both.

Well, I need to go and get some things priced for the booth.  I am doing a major renovation this weekend as a big display piece sold and a few smaller display pieces sold.  I need to decide what I want to get rid of or move around here at the homestead to get pieces out there.  I may take my storage buffet in my craft room out there for awhile. Only time will tell.

I'm at a stand still on my cross stitch for the time being as I can't decide how to proceed.  I just have too many ideas and can't decide on just one! lol

I will be sure to take pictures of the booth as it gets a face lift :-)

Checking In

Just a quick post to let you know I'm still alive. LOL.  I worked most of the weekend then spent yesterday with Steve.  It was the first day in quite awhile that was just us.  So I took full advantage of it.  OK I snuck away and charted my American Eagle cross stitch chart while he napped.  Then we had a small picnic with my parents last evening and celebrated my Mom's birthday.  Since I haven't talked to you in awhile I started a new design.  I'm not sure where this one will go, but so far I really like it.  I have also made the decision after some friendly nudging to sell it when it's done.  Yes, you heard me I'm going to start selling some of my stitcheries.  I will also be making this chart available when it's finished also.  I had a request today from a Facebook friend to please make it available even though it's not done yet.  I had already started to chart it so that if I ever decide to stitch it again I would have it.  So, easy peasy to make it into a pattern.

So far this is what it looks like...

I finally got my free motion quilting foot for my sewing machine too.  I've been playing with that and am having an awful time with my tension. grrrr.... So, I may just do straight lines on my Americana quilt until I get this figured out.  My quilt has been sitting on my sewing table and it's driving me crazy.  As if I wasn't already there. lol.  I need to finish it up.

My daughter was done with school last Friday and my son is done this Thursday.  It's still mind blowing that my daughter will be a senior.  Where did time go? I'm now thinking about senior pictures, graduation announcements, prom, and graduation party.... uuuggghhh.  My son will be in 8th grade and turning thirteen so at least I'll have a little reprieve before he graduates.  However, I'm realizing he's not my little boy anymore.  :' (  He's becoming a "man."  Boy do I hate puberty!!!!! lol. 

I will check in later this week as I work again tomorrow then off for 4 days.  Then maybe I'll have some fun stuff to share other than my $.99 Longaberger basket I found at Goodwill!  You heard me right! It was the deal of the week. :-)

Thrift Store Finds

I gave into my addiction last week of going to the thrift store AGAIN.  I just couldn't help it as I hadn't been to the actual Goodwill for awhile.  Maybe 2 weeks. lol.  I really need to stop!  My kid's are almost done with school and will be home for the summer.  When they are home I rarely go.  So, hopefully I will be able to stay away and redo the stuff I have.  I doubt it though.

I swear I didn't buy this for the stitchery in it. lol.  I'm so happy to have a frame for my cross stitch now.

 I see making a mini make do chair in my near future.  I will be selling this!

 This is hard to tell, but this is a make do cubby with plastic containers for storage.  Right now there are odds and ends of hardware like hinges, nails, and that type of stuff.  I'm thinking this would be perfect for my craft room.  They even put those 2 large bolts in to hold the containers in place.

 It's hard to tell from the pic, but the basket on the left has a beautiful patina on it.  It is a rich brown color.

Yes another basket :-)  I will be redoing this baby.  You know me white isn't my thing.
 

Last but not least I need to make some candle nubbies for my candle holders. These should do nicely.

Now, I really need to stay away from the thrift store.  I don't need anymore stuff.  Gee, didn't I say this last week after I went. lol.  I mean it this time!  LOLOLOL  I sound like a broken record.

Have a great day friends :-)

A New Design

Good morning!!! :-) I hope everyone has been doing well.  I just got home from a grueling 24 hour shift that I have ever had in my entire career at this company. All I can say is ugh....  Heck,  I couldn't even get my new embroidery floss on the shuttles I was so busy.  So, I apologize to those who sent me emails yesterday I will get to them today.  Luckily I had the prior 4 days off to rest up for this shift.  That being said... I couldn't wait to finish up my newest cross stitch design.  So I plugged away all weekend and it is finished.  AND... believe it or not it will be going to a well deserving home.  Yes that's right I'm not keeping it.  It will be going to a wonderful Mom of a soldier who is fighting for our freedom.  She has allowed me to make a pattern first before I ship it to her so that when I have time haha I can stitch up another. Not sure if I will sell this pattern unless there is interest.  The best part is she has so graciously allowed me to do a trade for one of her wonderful handmade items in exchange.  You absolutely need to check her out.  This is her blog My Glory Stars.  I can't wait!!!!  Then we found out we only live a county away from each other.  I'm trying to con her into teaching me how needle punch next. lol

So, here is my newest design...

I also finished off my other stitchery.  Like my coffee stain clothes pin marks?  Don't worry I fixed those right up.  I decided not to put this one in a frame.  I have yet to decide where it will go.  This is a Words of Praise design.

Well then I had coffee stain left over and decided to bathe one of my older quilts I made in it.  This quilt is going to a good home in Georgia.  Yes, I sold it too on Facebook.  I am in a selling mood!!!! lol

But sorry to say I didn't go through anything more to sell on here... yet.  That was my plan for today and tomorrow, but my uncle passed away and tonight is viewing hours and tomorrow is the funeral.  So, I won't be getting much done. That and I'm totally exhausted.  I'm doing the bare minimum of laundry at the moment today.

I have to admit I did go to another thrift store.  :-/  I thought that addiction had passed, but NO.  I got some really great stuff that I'll show you tomorrow.  Have a great day!!!!

My Newest Adventure

As you all know I'm trying to sell off and get rid of my stuff I'm not decorating with anymore.  Well, you knew it wouldn't be too long until I began buying again. lol.  I just can't help it when things are fabulous prices and you just can't pass them up.  I guess it just means I better get to cleaning out some more stuff. :-)  Anyway, since this is my last week of no kids, on my 4 day stretches off, I decided to hit up the flea market and thrift store.  I will tell you this ahead of time that I spent about $40.00 total on everything.  So, now that your mind is racing shall we begin? lol...

First stop the flea market.  Not only to pick up our sale money from the booth, but for me to look around.  I purposely did not take my purse in so as to deter myself from buying.  Ummmm yeah that didn't work!  Of course today I would find this great stuff.

The box up in the upper left corner is a grey color and it is just like the cheese box (upper right) only bigger.

LOVE the red box!  I think I'll just leave it closed and stack stuff on top of it.

After that I decided to go to my favorite thrift store to see if they had any great fabric I couldn't live without.  I only found 2 fat quarters :-/  Poor me.... what ever will I do? lol  Since I was there I thought I'd just take a quick glance around not that I was interested in anything else.  Well lo and behold I found the PERFECT candle stand/plant stand I've been wanting for $3.50!!!!!  It is a beautiful walnut color.  It does have a chunk taken out of the back of the spindle part, but you don't see it if I turn it this way.  I snagged it and was carrying it around when the nicest older gentleman came out carrying my new prim drying rack or quilt top holder....  I had another one I bought that was wood and plastic that would keep being blown over in the wind when it finally broke.  It was so cheap where this one is solid wood.

As if you're not jealous yet... for my stitchers out there I found a piece of linen 25 count and all this beautiful glorious floss.  The floss is no cheaper at the thrift store but all the money goes to a church mission.  So I'd rather buy it there. :-)

Last but not least.... some early 80's Early American Life to drool page by page over.... of course this is done in my spare time. LOL.  I have so much to do on my list I may never get to look at them. :-)

I finally have some more boxes and will be shipping soon.  I've been waiting and asking Steve to make some boxes and I'm tired of waiting.  He's been super busy at work.   So if you have paid for your goodies I will let you know when they ship I apologize for not shipping sooner. 

I better get busy around here packing boxes and unpacking boxes in the basement and garage.  Who knows I may get some more things ready to sell.  I will let you know :-)

My Project Progress

I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday.  We didn't do anything since I worked a 12 hour shift.  I was also still exhausted from my shift on Friday night then my cousin, who I haven't seen in 16 years, came to visit Saturday night and stayed late.  I think I'm still recouping from lack of sleep. lol.  My cousin was in town because of my uncle.  He's still hanging on, but today they will more than likely put him in Palliative care at the hospital.  His liver is not working and his kidney's are barely working so he is filling up with fluid.  He gained around 30 lbs in a few days.

I haven't done much of anything fun except work on my projects I started last week.  I took Anita's (Betsy's Basket Blog) advice and went neutral.  Anyone want to quilt it for me? lol  I still can't figure out how to free motion quilt on my sewing machine. grrrrr.... I've tried and tried and tried.  I'm tired of doing straight lines an want to do something different.  I think I need a darning foot, but I'm not sure because I have a foot to use when I'm darning fabric.  I've tried it dropped my feed dogs and still it doesn't work.  I've watched a ton of instructional videos, and they make it look so easy.  lol.... 

I also made a little progress on my stitching since I worked this weekend.  I'm using one of my free patterns I printed off last week. Like I say I know how I want it to look and I have ideas I just have to figure out how I want to incorporate them.  The other day on Facebook I asked for opinions as to whether people liked "In God We Trust" or "One Nation Under God."  One of those saying will be incorporated somehow in this stitchery.

I had a little scare yesterday as my eye was starting to hurt again.  However, I woke this morning to a sty.  yyiippee!!!  I'm excited over having a sty and not that uveitis stuff I had a few months back. I know I'm strange. lol.  Today I have a ton of errands to do and then tonight my daughter has an awards banquet at school for her Interactive Media class at the career center.  She says she only has 2 weeks left of school.  WOW! Where did time go?  Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful day :-)