Pretty Vintage Script Cabinet

I could call this the cabinet that almost wasn't, but I'm glad I persevered and finished painting and distressing her.  I call it a her because she is definitely feminine.  I found her at a yard sale about a year ago and she spoke volumes to me.  I knew I had to reinvent her and I knew I would need my husband's help.    While I think of myself as the furniture whisperer (because I listen), my husband doesn't hear the same thing that I do.

He took an instant disliking to this little piece and felt it was total junk.  A couple of times I said fine, put it out on the curb.  Needless to say there was some disagreement over her beauty.

I don't have a before before picture when she was still in her original wood finish, but I do have a photo of her with the base coat.  I two-toned her with aqua and old white, then I added the appliques I purchased from Rita at Mammabellarte. I love these appliques and they really brought out the vintage in this piece.  I also used a gel stain to age her even more, then finished her off with Deft Satin lacquer spray.

I added script with my new French Poem stencil from Royal Design Studios.  I even put the script on the back of the piece.  I got a little obsessive.

We misplaced the original hardware in the year she was with us, or maybe she never had any to begin with, so I used simple wooden knobs.  I didn't want the hardware to compete with the gorgeous appliques.  Since the cabinet was in such rough shape, I had no choice but to shabby her way back.  I knew she wanted her years to show through anyway.  I'm pretty sure she's been around for 80 to 90 years.  It's so hard to find these fabulous vintage pieces I wanted to keep the feel of the cabinet in tact.

Here she is in the workshop waiting for her extreme makeover.  I hope she's happy with her new looks. Thanks so much for visiting us and taking a peak.

As a postscript, I am not being compensated by either Rita or Royal Design Studios.  I'm merely sharing my sources of materials should you wish to use their products to recreate something beautiful of your own.

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A Visit to Cambria

This past week my friend rented a beach house in the central coast of California in a charming little town called Cambria.  She invited me up for a couple of the days so we could visit the nearby towns.  There were lots of great antique malls to visit and some of the dealers there were very creative.  I asked the shop owners if I could snap some photos to share and got permission.  I wanted to remember the projects so I could recreate them myself with some of my found objects.

The above photo is a bird house with a spoon perch made from an old portable sewing cabinet.

Terrific mail box.  I just happen to have a wooden one that is waiting to be reinvented.

How about these boxes?  I have some pages from some old French periodicals.  I am so going to give this one a try.

I pass these trays up all the time.  Never again though.  I'm sure this is a Maison de Stencil design.

What a great table.  Another Maison de Stencil.

Chalkboard from an old cabinet door.  

This is a Graphics Fairy French graphic.  This gal put some major work into this fabulous drop leaf desk.

I'm sure this cross was patterned after our California flag.  A bear with some metal stars.  Terrific for a boy's room.

Wonderful collection of some old barnyard animals.  I bet some of these are over a hundred years old.

This might be my favorite sign ever.  If you are a dealer in a mall, you totally get this one.

Last but not least, here is the view from the balcony of the house my friend rented.  This quaint little house on the beach is purportedly owned by a television actor although he was not there this particular weekend.  I hope you liked the creativity displayed in these photos.  I can't wait to try some of these projects for myself.

Thanks for taking a peak.
I may be partying at...



Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    Common Ground