I was recently asked if I could donate something to a local private school for a fundraising auction event. I sort of hemmed and hawed over it and dragged my feet. For some funny reason, I felt like I didn’t really have anything to donate that people would want to buy. I know. A lot of you probably want to smack me in the head through the computer, since anything I put in my shop sells out in minutes and my booths at markets are wiped out in an almost comical way. I think that’s because in the blog world, in this little niche, I’m a “somebody”. Outside of that, I just go to the grocery store and church and my kid’s school and I’m just Marian. Well, most of the time. My two worlds are colliding more and more frequently, but Miss Mustard Seed used to be my secret-to-people-who-know-me-in-real-life-alter-ego.
Anyway, I asked the woman in charge of the auction if she thought people at the auction would “get” one of my furniture pieces and would they even be interested in accepting one as a donation. She assured me they would be happy to accept it. So, I worked on a pretty cabinet that’s been hanging out in my house and then basement for a while.
I don’t have a before picture, but it was a crusty cabinet that was obviously used in a garage or workshop for storage. It was dirty and had linoleum tacked to the shelves and top. It was gross, but I could see the potential…even in its crustiness and grime. I removed the linoleum and gave it a good cleaning. I then painted it in MMSMP Linen with a wash Shutter Gray on the inset panels and interior.
There was a lot of cracking, sloppy paint brush strokes, dents, dings and texture to the finish, so I took advantage of that. Instead of trying to hide it, I celebrated it with a light distressing and some Antiquing Wax in the nooks and crannies.
The cabinet has its original glass and hardware, which adds more charm to the piece.
It looks so pretty that I wonder what took me so long to give it a proper makeover!
This cabinet will be up for auction on Friday, March 7, 2014, at 7:00 pm at Adams County Christian School located at 1865 Biglerville Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325. If you need more information, call the school at (717) 334-9177. The auction is open to the public and I’ve heard there are a lot of other cool things going on the block. (I’m going to be there to check it out.)
PS – The ironstone isn’t included! 🙂
16 Responses
Such a charming cupboard. I love the original hardware and the fab little drawer at the bottom. It clearly is the perfect piece for displaying one’s ironstone. Hope the highest bidder has something similar to display inside!
Gorgeous! Love the colour combination blue against white!
I wonder if they will accept an out of state bid! I’m swooning down here in Alabama!
It is wonderful!!! Thanks Marian!!
Marian,
When I first started reading this, I wondered if this was the school you were talking about. Laurie Sensenig is my husbands aunt and we have friends whose children attend Adams County Christian. Small world! Someday I would love to run into you while out shopping since we frequent many of the same local stores.
Your cabinet is stunning and a lovely donation! Have a great day!
WOW….so pretty, especially with the ironstone. What a donation!
Donate something else! Keep that pretty thing! It would go so well in your house!!!
SMACK! 🙂 Marian, you are a household name girl!
Yes, Im sure nobody is going to want it :p
You are crazy, people will be fighting over it!!! I love everything you do 🙂
Love the cabinet. Amazed that the original glass was still intact, given its stint in the garage.
Just a comment on your pix: I love them, but want to see them. Maybe it’s my eyes, or my monitor, but the pictures are just a bit washed out to me. Or maybe that’s the mood you’re going for. Really pretty pictures, but just a tad too dreamy (if that’s possible).
I’m wondering if your cursor is running over the picture as you scroll down, they get a “film” over them when the arrow/cursor is directly on the picture. 🙂
Thanks for that suggestion. I put my cursor over the pic and it got even dreamier! Starting to think it’s just my preference for a touch more contrast in photos.
Oh my goodness, it’s gorgeous! Thank you so much for donating it! I’ll definitely bid, but am quite certain that I’ll be outbid beyond my means in about 1/2 a second! (And by the way, I totally understand the colliding of worlds!)
The cabinet is beautiful. I have been wondering how you deal with hinges. When you paint them, do you have any problem with them peeling after they are used a while? Thanks
So pretty! Amazing how blue the Shutter Gray looks on this piece!
Beautiful!! Our Christian school is doing a silent auction fundraiser tonight and I was delighted to be able to make over a little Ethan Allen side table I dug out of a trash heap by the side of the road! I used your Flow Blue, Curio, and Ironstone to spruce it up and I also used a cool script transfer technique I found on Pinterest to give it just a tad bit more character. I am hoping (and praying) the bids go high so we can get some extra funds for the school (okay, and my pride is also hoping that people are that impressed with it ;0). You are an inspiration and I just love getting my creativity on with all of your fun products! Just finished a sweet little desk with Shutter Gray, Apron Strings, and Artissimo to sell in my booth. Keep it up, girl!