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Greek Blue

I love testing out new colors…escpecially blues.   So, last week I cracked open a can of ASCP (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) Greek Blue.  Now, let me warn you.  The color is shocking when you first put it on.  It looks like electric blue.  You have to talk to yourself while you’re using it and say, “Miss Mustard Seed warned me this would look like electric blue, but all will be well once it dries and is waxed.”  Ok?  Let me tell you…this color is a stunner.  I love it. 

I’ve had this very old dresser in my basement for months.  It needed a lot of work and I kept putting off.  I finally worked on it…reattached the top, added new feet, fixed the drawers, cleaned it out, etc.  I am a bad blogger and didn’t snap a before picture, but I’m sure you can imagine it.  It was that orangish wood, dried out, tired. 
I painted it in one coat of Greek Blue and hit the details with Old White.  I then heavily distressed the piece with a palm sander and a sanding sponge followed by a coat of clear wax mixed with dark. 

I love how it turned out and was so tempted to keep it for myself, but I didn’t have the perfect place for it, which is my rule.  I am going to use this color somewhere in my house, though. 
Speaking of new colors, I just tried ASCP Olive on a dresser yesterday.  It’s a lovely mossy green color and I’ll share some pictures in a few days. 
On a different note, we had a bit of excitement here today.  Practically the entire east coast of the US was rocked with an earthquake.  I was sitting at my computer and I have a habit of fidgeting and shaking my foot.  So, I was shaking my foot and thought, “this bar stool is really wobbly.”  I stopped shaking my foot, but the stool kept wobbling.  Then, the pot rack started swinging and the stack of dishes on my counter started chattering.  “I think this is a earthquake.”  Craziness.  I hope everyone is OK and the damage was minimal.   

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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66 Responses

  1. lovely color, can't wait to see the green one. I feel myself starting to get the painting itch. so far I haven't done anything about it but the kids so start back to school this week so anything is possible 🙂 glad you guys are okay after our shake up!

  2. beautiful (as always) I totally forgot to tell you I met (and had cocktails and cupcakes) with Christy Carter from Carter's Cottage in DeKalb (an official ASCP dealer)…she brought me some paint and wax as a gift! needless to say I'm so excited to try it on like 5 different pieces in the house…I just have to choose which ones!

    hope you are well……I think your photography is getting so good!!
    xo+blessings,
    Anne Marie

  8. can't wait to see the Olive color. I confess I'm waiting to see you post pics of all the colors before I choose which ones to buy. lol

    and I'm in SC and I was sitting at work when my desk started shaking today — talk about unexpected. Here I was thinking about Irene, and we have an earthquake!

  10. miss mustardseed: when i heard about the earthquake i thought of you and checked to see if you had blogged. Checked back again, and here you are…glad you are fine. PS love your style!

  12. Marian the dresser looks fantastic and I can hardly wait to see the olive. It is a toss up between the Emporer's silk and the olive at this point. So many yummie colors so little furniture (at least for me) to paint.

    We are on the East side of Pennsylvania and it rumbled through here pretty good. Our DIL heard a "thud" and because she has an English Mastiff, thought it was the dog lying down until she notice the chandeliers in their house were swaying. Being 9 mos pregnant she grabbed the dog and ran (ok maybe quick stepped) out to the yard. She thought the house was caving in. She laughed when we talked later and I told her about the earthquake.

    Just not the sort of thing us East Coast Girls are accustomed to. Gotta call my sister in LA and ask how to get used to this sort of thing.

  13. thats a great shade of blue and they say every room needs a little blue,, the earth quake must have been a little scary,, I hope no one was injured,

  14. So glad everyone is safe and sound. Love the new blue and I can't wait to see Olive. The details of the dresser are fantastic.

  15. Wow. This is one of the most gorgeous pieces I have seen! Love the color. The white trim pieces are amazing. I assume they're original. I've never seen a piece like this. I really need to order some chalk paint. I just got brave and painted an oak bookcase (old) with turquoise paint and distressed it and now it holds some fun cottage dishes. I LOVE painted furniture!

  17. ooooh! What a great new color! My hubby is starting to build my new apothecary console for under the TV and im thinking green, distressed, dark wax… cant wait to see the new green!

  19. Oh my, my…I have yet to try the Chalk Paints…but I just may give it a go – all of your goodies always turn out SOOOOO fabulous when using ASCP!!! I need a "Miss Mustard Seed" here in the West Coast!!!

    ~Jessie

  20. Oh, how you knew I wanted to see more of this from your last post. It is awesome~ I love the white detail. I've done two pieces with the ASCP and its soooo fun and easy to use!

  21. The Greek blue was one I was sure I wouldn't like so haven't ordered. Now I'm thinking I might not be able to live without it in my life! Wonderful, and I like the old white contrast a lot. Deb

  24. Love the color…what a great choice for that piece! The hubby and I were sitting in the living room discussing the grocery list when we felt it start shaking here. I looked at him and said…I think we're having an earthquake. Interesting afternoon indeed!

  26. It's lovely as your work always is! I am so impressed by the variety of skills you have – carpentry included!

    I did think of you today when I heard of the earthquake in Frederick. I'm glad to know everything is fine.

    Bring on the Green! I can't wait to see it. I wish we had a stockist nearby.

    -Revi

  28. Wow, that was scary!!

    HELP please!! I lightly waxed a nightstand painted with ASCP, but when I came to buff it the next morning the wax has a kinda streaky finish, no matter how hard I buff. What did I do wrong? Do I have to paint over it again or can I rewax?

    Thanks
    Tracey
    Raggygirl@gennix.ca

  29. I'm glad there was no serious damage!! Now, we Californians are happy to share the earthquakes, but I'd like to request no tornados or hurricanes, please!!?? 😉

    As for the blue….YES!!!! That is the type of color I Love!!!! You made that dresser gorgeous, just stunning!!! …..love!……..:)

  30. Ok, so all day I was rolling my eyes about you east-coasters and your sissy earthquake. What's the fuss about a little earthquake? OOPS. Until just a few minutes ago when one hit RIGHT here under my house here in Castro Valley, CA (I swear!). Aaagh. I forgot how scary they are. Not getting any sleep tonight 🙂

    Glad to hear there wasn't a lot of damage or injuries ~

  32. What a lovely color!!! You did an outstanding job on this piece, especially with all the little details like the raised areas and distressing.

    I'm so glad you are OK after that earthquake!!!

  33. Lovely! I'm just now branching out and bought the louis blue. I am a color phobe so this is a big for me lol.
    Is the green dresser the one in another photo I saw with the animal head hanging over top of it? If so I love that too!

  34. I love the color and how that dresser turned out.
    You are amazing! I have never tried something
    that detailed but would love to.

  36. Love that color…but I'm loving most blues these days! I could LIVE in your room at Lucketts! Keep up the great work! My SIL felt the earthquake in NC while trying to figure out what to do about the hurricane…all this after losing her house in Aprils tornado!!
    Sharon

  37. Glad your A Ok from the quake. Looove the new blue and excited to see the green! Now I'm extra motivated to try some chalk paint.

  39. Oh Wow, I am so glad you posted about this today. I was meeting with a client yesterday and she actually wanted details of her French Settee painted with "Greek Blue". (we ordered the color sample sheet). I was very hesitant, but thought I would take a chance on it. I love to hear someone else's review before I invest. Weird that I was debating over this very color! Your chest turned out exceedingly beautiful!

  46. The color is softer than I expected, but I love it. I really love the contrasts you used too.

    Glad the earthquake was minimal for you and the area as far as damage. I was working at in my workshop listening to NPR when it happened they announced the quake then interviews for the rest of the afternoon, it made me sad to hear how many thought "terrorist" attack as their first thought. I guess that is to be expected? that in itself is sad. Just joyful that there were no injuries.

  47. OMG Too funny…I was sitting on the couch with my feet up on the coffee table shaking my legs. I thought I was shaking my whole house until I stopped and it was still shaking LOL
    Can't wait to see the green dresser! I've been wanting to try the antilles green or another I think it starts with a V? Not sure.

  48. Our 35 yr old Ethan Allan dark pine bookcase was so scratched and beat up. To the rescue was ASCP in olive with dark wax. My first piece and it's inspired a couple others to get the paint. Now hubby has okayed my painting the laundry room cabinets in white. Have lots of ideas now and it's all thanks to reading your blog. Your work is great.

  49. Amazing timing! My husband was traveling thru TN and I had him stop at IRONIC in Knoxville to get me more ASCP. I have 6 but wanted another Old White and 4 different colors, so now have Graphite, Antibes Green, Paloma, and you guessed, Greek Blue! Plus the hubs surprised me and bought one of those fabulous huge wax brushes!

  50. Glad to hear everyone is ok from earthquake…

    Please, please explain to me the wax!? I am just starting up and I have never seen nor heard of it? Does it just have to go on the chalk paint or everything? What is it's purpose? Thanks for your insight…

    Always – Abbey

  54. I have this chest as my side table for my bed and now I want to paint it! What a great new color! Oh, and I'm just west of Richmond – house shaking was just insane!

  57. First of all I read your blog consistantly but have never commented. I saw a post where your picker has a site in Falls Church VA and that is where I live-born and raised. You also mentioned the Earthquake that scared the heck out of us all. Even folks who have been through several on the West coast state the reason for so much talk about it is because we don't have Earthquakes in Virginia(east coast) and this one lasted a little longer then the norm- my brick rambler shuddered so much causing a picture to fall and break off my brick fireplace… Anyway, I really appreciate your site and hope to get out to Lucketts in October for my birthday "month"-yes I just discovered the b-day month theory and I really like it! Thanks for all you do- you have a talent that does not just involve furniture restoration and painting-you are a great communicator:=)

    Tiffany S

  58. It's official. Now I must find a way to incorporate some of that greek blue into my home. I absolutely love it – it's bright but not too bright and a great color to design a room around.

  59. I've been wondering,can I really do what you do with the AnnieS paints?? Or does it take alot of practice/talent to get the results that I see on your pieces??

  62. Hello! May i ask what kind of paint is the Chalk Paint? I live in Greece so i haven't heard it. Is it an oil paint? Seems so interesting.

  64. Just gorgeous….. the chest, the paint color, and the technique!!! I've done a lot of DIY projects that I am very proud of but I will be attempting my very first transformation of painting a chest. I am waiting on my shipment of ASCP to arrive but I have a burning question that I think you are the perfect person to Mswer. When painting a piece of furniture drawers, how much of the drawers do you paint? Just the fronts? Front and out sides? Or the entire drawer? Thank for all your help and inspiration.

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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