Redoing a Vintage Sewing Cabinet

Now that the holidays are over, we are all back with sharing our regularly scheduled "Furniture Refresh"!

This month, we have a theme: "Spray Painting".
Perfect for this vintage sewing cabinet I found at a thrift shop!

If you follow me, you may remember my thrilling moment when I bought it. (posted here) Intending to give it a makeover, I wanted it to go from "vintage" to more of an "antique look".

The exterior is covered, or "upholstered", in fabric. I originally planned on removing the coverings and replace them with wood. After considering what it would entail by attaching pockets on the inside, I might as well build another one!

So, painting this one made sense.

I cleaned it up. Then spray painted it with a spray enamel paint.

It needed more than one coat.

So, before painting again, I added scrolled wood appliques in the corners and one in the top center on each exterior side. They are glued on, then I used small finishing nails to secure them further.

Once the appliques were in place, I finished spray painting the entire exterior.

While the cabinet was drying, I printed out antique sewing ads in 3" x 5" size onto iron on transfer paper.  (Using three graphics per large pocket on the inside of the cabinet.)

I handpainted the interior of the cabinet with chalk paint. Then, ironed on the graphics by placing the opened cabinet on the floor with hardcover books tucked inside the pockets for a hard surface.

 The paints were dry, the ironing was done... and this was a wrap!

I was going to add a graphic on each side of the exterior, but I ran out of time. When I do it, I'll just add a photo of it on this post. 

Now that the cabinet is finished, I can fill it up with all of my useful sewing notions. And "sew" on and "sew" forth... (wink!)

Although this is fabric covered, it does have a thick cardboard in between the inside and outside fabric pieces. It's quite sturdy. Now, the painted surface makes the cabinet easier to clean.

The appliques give it a whole new personality.

The faded look of the ironed on graphics makes the interior pockets appear aged. 

Overall, the goal of going from "vintage" to "antique" is accomplished.

Now, let's go on to the rest of the "Furniture Refresh" group!  I can't wait to see what has been created! Join me while I check out what pleasant surprises awaits us!

"Before Photos"

Sue at A Purdy Little House

Robin at Redo It Yourself Inspirations

Anj at Making My Apt a Home

Michelle at Michelle James Designs

Michele at Shelstring

The thrift shop jewelry tree transformed into a pin cushion can be found "here".

Featured at

With Angie at Tuesdays with a Twist

With Evija at Wonderful Wednesday 

Furniture Refresh Projects

Welcome back to Furniture Refresh! We took the summer off from our monthly challenge and are getting back into the swing of things. 

Each month, we take a furniture piece and revamp it into new life. 

Although I didn't have time to participate during September's Furniture Refresh Challenge, I really need to share those of my friends that did.

You've got to see the refreshed projects! 

Michele at Shelstring scored a desk to makeover for her daughters' room. 

Sue over at  A Purdy Little House found this night stand locally and upcycled it into a beauty! 

Megan's antique shop buffet turned out stunning over at C'mon Get Crafty! 

Michelle at Our Crafty Mom certainly refreshed this hand me down bench. Wait until you see it! 

Be sure to come back for next month's challenge when I'll have a piece with a tutorial. 

A Table Makeover: Ms. Black Velvet

It's another Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest!  This month it's all 'bout that "Bling-Bling"! Which is super exciting because the sponsor is none other but the amazing Country Chic Paint! Not quite what you would expect, right? Did we announce that right? Bling and Country Chic Paint? Well the participants are making that theme work with "metallic creams"! Oh, yes we are! The fine company supplied each of us with one pint of gorgeous metallic cream AND one pint of All-in One Paint to create from! And they were so kind as to include stirrers AND a brush! (Get outta here!!! Talk about "top-notch!) Wow-zers!!! We are so luuuuucky!!!!

So, I chose "Liquorice" (sleek velvety black) as my "All-In-One" paint coverage; and to go with it, "Pocket Watch" (gold)! It's for that black velvet look with a touch of bold-gold-bling. The combo is simply "classic".
Like "Bond" classic.
(Bond; James Bond.)

Let's check out what I had to work with.
Yee-up. A broken table.

Oh, it's one of those repair jobs again. ( meh!) It wouldn't be my life if it wasn't.
The free insects were temporarily exciting.
But those curves, and legs...
cat legs..."Mee-ow!"
Which Bond movie was that one from?

I had to glue and clamp before filling in the missing chipped off wood on both sides of the framework where the loose leg was. So it took endless wood filler applications followed by buzzings of sanding after each one. Ten in all.
I think.
I may have lost track after eight.
Separated pieces on the top were filled from underneath and on top to fill gaps. Extra sanding was needed to smooth out the cigarette and... "chemical" burns? Maybe that's what the yucky stuff was. It was gross.

That was fun. Or not.
I even used a blow dryer at one point to hurry the wood filling process. (No, it does not work. It cracks and you just need to fill again. Don't bother trying it. Really.
Really, really!)

But I couldn't wait to get started with that gold. Of course while "Goldfinger" lyrics went through my mind... "Mr. Goooold-Fing-gaaah"... all I wanted to do was get to painting!

Gah!!!! I blew away the dust and started wiping up so fast that I was shaking!
Finally! Paint and sparkles!!!

Now, I kind of wish I did the whole thing gold. With velvet touches.
Eh, next time.

I painted with the Liquorice first. Then, the top router off trim and all of the carvings were carefully painted with Pocket Watch. Finally, the entire table got one coat of Country Chic Paint's "Tough Coat".

Whiiiiiit-wheeeew! Pretty legs!

Dainty feet, with raised heels, dressed in gold.

Now I'm going to be brutally honest.
I added big diamond shaped rhinestones into those three upper carvings on the legs. I thought "earrings"= "more bling"... and I always stay true to the contest theme! This one is "Bling".
Guess what.
It looked cheesy.
Fake. Way too... not good. Well, I certainly don't have any real diamonds laying around!
So I removed those stones and fixed up the little spots with the gold again.
Much better.

I also ordered diamond cut "crystal knobs" for the front to make a fake drawer front.
Again.
Not good.
Less is more.

Soooo.... while I named this table as she is...  "Ms. Black Velvet"...

let's just get back to the Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest deets!

Our May Sponsor is 

Country Chic Paint is a beautiful furniture and home decor paint specifically designed for DIYers with a love for refinishing. This fabulous paint is eco-friendly and contains no harmful solvents. You can use it with your bare hands and no mask needed.

This month, the theme is "Bling Bling".

The contest hosts are 

Evey at Evey's Creations and Stacy at Anastasia Vintage 

Disclosure:
Sponsored by Country Chic Paint with painting supplies to create this project, all opinions and statements are entirely my own.

Wish me luck! 

Bench Makeover: Elegant Country Style

Country Style Bench Redo

Furniture at yard sales can be so exciting. When I saw this oak bench, I quickly snagged it up. But the price was a bit crazy. So I haggled and got it for slightly less. Eh, win some cheap finds and pay a bit more for others always balances out in the end. 

It's an ugly duckling! Knowing what style I was redoing it in, just made me smile all the way home. I thought I'd make it more elegant. And that's a good thing because this month's theme for the Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest ™ is "Pure Colors, Original Elegance". And get this: it's sponsored by Pure & Original Paint USA with luxury paints imported from the Netherlands! 

I was thrilled to choose a color for my bench! Every participant was supplied, free of charge, up to 2 colors/quarts of this amazing paint in the "Classico" line. 

I chose "Fondant". But oops... I thought it was much darker, and perhaps my pc screen didn't show it properly. It arrived more of a chocolate brown and it really didn't go with my fabric. 

That was not a problem! I tinted it and wow!!! The super deep color and the way the paint just glided on was a real joy! It dried quickly and hard. NO flaking off and when I distressed the bench, I had to really add some pressure with sandpaper. That's impressive. (Hmmm... note to self... remember this for the bathroom cabinets!)

I wasn't even upset over painting 12 spindles (they aren't fun).  The paint didn't ooze all over the place. Ha! Now I just might grow to specialize in spindles with this miracle paint!

Once I painted the bench, and distressed the edges, I added natural wax for more durability.  Then I upholstered new cushioned seats with a horse blanket. 

Well, I wasn't horsing around, I was serious about this Elegant Country Style! 

Check it out now! It's exactly the look I was going for. Blanket plaid and super satiny sleek paint. My own Ralph Lauren style, ey? 

 

After I attached the cushion seats onto the bench, I set up a spot for it. 

Isn't it handsome now? 

The paint is amazing. 

Gorgeous colors, made of natural minerals, chalk and water.

I couldn't be happier with the finished piece. 

The ugly reminder and the new fashion statement. (wink!!)

So, back to the details of The Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest!

Our April Sponsor is 

with the theme "Pure Colors, Original Elegance".

The contest hosts are Evey at Evey's Creations and Stacy at Anastasia Vintage 

CONTESTANTS WERE GIVEN A FREE PRODUCT TO TRY IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR CONTEST ENTRY.    ALL STATEMENTS AND OPINIONS OF MY POSTS ARE 100% MY OWN.