I mentioned last week that I had painted a secretary to sell at Lucketts. Well, it made it to the Lucketts parking lot, but I had a buyer before I even posted the pictures.
The before wasn’t too bad, but it was a little scratched and the finish looked a little dated (in my opinion.) I thought the fretwork looked a little busy and the wood tones didn’t match.
A reader named Erin sent me an e-mail, inquiring about the secretary I mentioned. I sent her some quickly-snapped pictures and it was just what she was looking for. We met this morning at Lucketts and both left happy.
I must admit, I left the interior natural wood out of laziness. It’s a pain to paint all of those cubbies and it’s hard to do it well, even with a sprayer. I ended up really liking the warmth of the wood against the painted finish. I also decided to paint the hardware because of the knobs and keyholes on the cabinets. Those would’ve been a nightmare to try to replace. The secretary is painted in a mix of Louis Blue and Paris Gray with details painted in a Paris Grey/Old White mix.
My pavilion was half empty and totally picked over when I arrived, but after working hard this week, we packed our van and truck to the limit and filled the space up again.
See the farm table in the middle? I call it the “frankentable.” It just happens to be green, which is appropriate for the name, but I call it the “frankentable” because it is a mish-mash of two tables. My poor husband had the task of marrying a farm table top (with legs that were uneven by about 8″) with the table legs from a mahogany drop leaf frame. I sanded the top and sealed it to make the surface usable. The base was then painted in Antibes Green with a heavy coat of dark wax to tone down the color. I really wish I had a spot for that table. It has great character and is surprisingly solid.
See my new dresser to the far left? I’ll share the before and after on that next week.
I’m sort of digging grass green at the moment. Maybe I’m ready for spring. And it works nicely with my usual blue/white/grey color scheme.
While photographing my pavilion for the blog, I met three of my blog readers. That’s always fun! We chatted about chalk paint and furniture styles. I then purchased something from my pavilion neighbor before I left and on the way home I bought something for you! Well, for one of you.
Would anyone like to win one of these? I’ll be having a giveaway, soon!
You can still enter the Baby Jewels Giveaway, if you haven’t already. The comments are open through Sunday at midnight EST.
55 Responses
I really wish I lived near you so that I could come shop in your beautiful Lucketts space… you get to do exactly what I wish I could do, give new life to beautiful pieces. If I'm ever in your area I promise I'll drop in :).
Your work is just genious…
genius I mean!!
Hey Marian, love the Frankentable, does it have large bolts attaching it? (sorry, bad pun) I don't know how you keep up, your hubby sounds like a dream. I love, love, that little pot carrier, so yep, count me in!
xo,
Debra
Marion, I finished my secretary and posted on it today….I stumbled upon a curiosity with the chalk paint during the second phase of adding the old white and am wondering if you have discovered this issue too?
Your secretary looks great, and I love the grass green myself.
I love how you finished the secretary and left the inside as it is — it works perfectly. And I love your frankentable…it's wonderful!!! I would love to win what you are offering and I look forward to when you post the giveaway!!
I wish I had a Lucketts to shop and to sell my stuff at… I have given up on finding a place to sell my wares. Garage sale this summer and I am OUT.
The secretary turned out beautifully. I really dig tall pieces since they work well in my small home. Glad to hear Lucketts is working out for you.
You do such amazing pieces! If you don't mind me asking, where do you find all your pieces? Thrift stores? Estate sales? I love your little shop, wish I didn't live 15 states away!! Inspiring! I'd be flattered if came by and visited my little ol' blog ~ paintedparlor.blogspot.com
Julie:)
Your shop looks fantastic! But it's starting to sound like all you really have to do is open up your truck in the parking lot and you'll do fine just selling from there! 😉
I love the green scale…I collect scales and have never seen a green one….I live in Illinois…would you consider shipping it?
Andrea 🙂
AndeM1@hotmail.com
Love the hutch and your Frankentable. Grass green always makes me smile….it was the primary accent color in my old apartment. I reeeeeally love the dresser too. I'm on a turquoise love journey right now after seeing an old, weathered, turquoise table in Flea Market Style. That would look great on the wall behind my sofa. 😉
That new dresser is seriously amazing…and the farm table??? Oh, dear…let's just say I wish I lived in PA…from Illinois isn't too far to drive just for a visit to Luckett's, is it????
You are just amazingly talented! I love the secretary and love your booth! Boy do I wish I lived in your area, as I'd be one buying your stuff out of the parking lot too!
Great giveaway!
Pam
I am seriously taking a road trip this summer! With a truck! 🙂 Blue-greys and greens are my colors. Awesome stuff!
You are my new BFF, girl! Hugs…
loving the green thats "springing" up in your booth 🙂
I luv what you had done to it! Look's 100% better Thank You for sharing your fun project….TALLULAH'S
Oh how I wish I lived near you! Love what you did with the secretary. That frankentable is awesome and so is the dresser. Love that little pot carrier.
sandraallen260@centurytel.net
i would love one of those pot carrier's! would look great in my little garden space outside. you do beautiful work!
I read your blog every day and am inspired by your joy and your creativity! Take a look at mine and tell me what you think!
http://www.debrapaesslerdesigns.com/
Awhile back I picked up a gallon of "oops" grass green paint. I love it but was so hesitant to put it on furniture…so I've been trying to firgure out a place in my house to use it. After seeing it on your table…I now can't wait to find the right piece of furniture to try it on!
I love how you finished the secretary desk, and I think the wood left as is was perfect! YOur space at Luckets is darling!
I love what you did with the secretary, it's such a gorgeous colour. I have just started redo'ing furniture myself in my barn here in the UK and was wondering what brand of paints you use?
B xx
Love the work you've done on the secretary – amazing. I would faint if I won one of those amazing pot carriers – they are totally awesome.
A xxx
Love that farm table and the green is perfect!! The secretary turned out so fabulous! I can see why it sold right away!! Luck customer!!
Your pavilion looks great by the way! Chalk full of great items…sigh! Wish I could come shop for sure.
Love the pots in wire…so cool!! Great giveaway!
Hugs
SueAnn
The three readers were delighted to speak with you and glad to get the inside scoop on the chalk paint! Thanks for all of your tips. We love your booth and WILL BE BACK!
Heather
notyouraverageheather.com
Is it wrong that I am trying to convince my husband to plan our vacation around a trip to your store. You are such an inspiration!!
PS. The little pot carrier is the coolest givaway!!
I know that Green has genrally fallen out of favor ( for now) but I am LOVING It.. ordered some more paint but think I need that green too!
Maddie
Man I wish I lived closer because your booth at Luckett's is just dreamy!! I love the Green Table!!
I love the green table, and your entire space at Lucketts. You rock.
Every day I love having coffee with you… the space looks fabulous and oh my goodness do you inspire me! I slipcovered a sofa but was too lazy to take the cover off for the before picture to post… And, if anyone reads this and has time to help me… I do not know how to link to a post instead of just my blog and I am not sure how to put your link on my blog… I am so new to this link stuff … I know how to place a link inside my post in script form but don't know how to do the before mentioned… Happy Sunday to you! CeCe.. Oh and my email address is cecedreams@gmail.com if anyone can give me direction.
Too bad my money tree is bare… I'd meet you at your shop with a large U-Haul, then you'd really have to work extra hard to fill it out cause I'd clean you out!! Love the green too! and the blue… and the gray! I just better stop now.
Dear Miss Mustard Seed,
I love your blog, your furniture pieces and your space at Luckett's as well… Great work! I paint furniture as well, in a different style all together but I love how you bring your " foundling's back to life! I would love to win those pots! I've started an indoor herb garden and they would be perfect!
always love my visits here..
Happy Painting!
Deb
I so want a secretary for my mom's house :(. The lines of the one you found are great–not too plain or too curvy. The blue dresser is tres cute!
I love the Frankentable, too … it's perfect! Would I like to win this? Are you kidding me? Don't you know, if those arrived in my mailbox I'd be doin' the woop, woop, booty dance, booty dance, rump shakin' all day long. You are so generous. Can I just say "I love you!"?
SuZeQ
That Secretary literally looks like you breathed new life into it. It was really drag before, and I love the colors, and how you did leave the cubbies natural. I would have never even *seen* the gorgeous feet on it, if they weren't painted up!
Kate
Hurray! I've been waiting for you to say "I mixed…" about the chalk paint. I just wanted to see it done and it looks gorgeous. That secretary is genious – I do like the warm wood inside. It's just excellent!
I do…I DO want to win one but I am so totally ashamed of myself that I would even admit that. I just won those wonderful prints and I MUST give my chance of winning to someone else.
You are very sweet and generous and this is an awesome giveaway.
xo bj
OH! What a wonderful give away!
Your paint colours are so wonderful…it is hard to decide which ismy favorite!
The secretary is so pretty & i really like the wood tones that you have left unpainted!
*** OK, girlfriend, I'm not "GETTING" depressed… I AM "depressed"!!! How DO you do alllll that you do, and DO IT SO WELL annnnd take care of your family n' friends n' home and STILL look so cute DOING it??????
Now THAT's what you can maybe SHARE in another blog sometime!!! You just A*M*A*Z*E me!!!!
Warmest,
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
*** P.S. I LOVVVVVE that secretary!!!!! ***
Love the secretary! and your shop looks so yummy! I want to come visit! I'm driving up to VT this summer from Florida, any chance I'd be passing through the town it's in?
Meg
You are making me tired just reading about you! Did you know I have an MBA? If your things are selling so fast, you are not pricing them high enough. You need to value your time more. Have you calculated your buying time and expenses? You will get a real flurry (not a business term) of customers in the next few months because you are a new vendor and have unique pieces. Take advantage of that. There will only be so many Miss Mustard Seed originals. I hope you are signing and dating each one. They are going to be collectors' items. Ann
Would you like to meet another one of your blogging friends? Love the secretary! and your shop looks so inspiring! I want to come visit!
Pssst, I'm having a handmade spring basket givaway starting Monday, stop by if you get a chance.
Laurie
xo
I would LOVE to win one of those!!!
Kaye
love the secretary, it looks beautiful! i'm on the hunt for a few pieces to paint, you inspire me! have a great week! susan
would we like to win one of those?! of course!!! BTW- I bought the PERFECT chair today and I want to make your feed sack chair!
Lucky lady who took that piece home! I've been searching for something just like it. You have great vision. I love the changes you made, and I think leaving the interior dark was a great choice. Love the contrast. ~ Sarah
MMS~
Do you use a sprayer with the chalk paint? I am fining it hard to get an even coat. Thank you. ALso I am new to this and don't have a blog so really don't know which profile to choose when leaving a comment.
rsugar1@msn.com
Hi,
I follow your blog religiously and lurve it!
I paint furniture like you to sell at a local Antique Mall. I read on a blog somewhere that the paint wipes right off with a damp rag after it's dry. Is this true in your experience? If so I'll have a hard time selling furniture that the paint wipes off of??? Help….
Thanks and Cheers,
Lisa
I love the secretary! I am a gardener and would love to win the clay pots and carrier!
Oh Boy! I love your space, and wish I lived closer. The secretary looks greeat, and I love how you painted the hardware. I am jealous of your Craigslist find. What a smart idea. I can not wait to see what you are going to do with it. It is a beauty for sure!
LOVE your things and work! Ironically, I majored in Art in school, loved to draw and some watercolor but am afraid of getting the colors wrong when painting furniture and walls! You are doing a great job. I love to search the blogs for redone furniture and room decorating but also am a gardener and after sseeevveerrraaalll years, have a nice large greenhouse…the pots and carrier are something along the lines that I have been looking for to display my cuttings of the scented geraniums I am growing. Also interesting that you have a green scale…I am 'going green' right now with green as my decorating color. I am collecting all kinds of 'green.' I just recently am finding your blog…thanks for sharing!
@aol, tibrze