Gossip Table Redo!!

I was going to write about my fantastic Mother's Day, but it was just too wonderful and special to describe and share. Really, that great. Memories created for all. The kids keep talking about what a great day it was....and it was!! Gardening, relaxing, and eating yummy food. Okay, so I shared a little. Here is a picture of the kids and I making silly faces after dinner (yes, I am in my jammies.....again)!

Now, my second reason for this post....my gossip table redo! I LOVE how it turned out. And I definitely learned some lessons in painting furniture....the biggest being that I need to SLOW down and be patient!!

Here is a before of the lovely. My in-laws gave it to us. I know my mother-in-law used it while sewing. She is an amazing quilter and I think when she was handstitching, she would sit at this table and watch t.v. while working. I am not sure where it came from before then. Anyway, we have had it for a few years and just kind of moved it from area to area and threw a blanket over the cushion. The past two years it has lived in our garage.

It is hard to see in the picture, but the chair/table really has some pretty detail and curves on the chair. I decided I would paint and then attempt to distress, hoping to reveal some detail. Easier said than done. And I started out WAY TOO FAST. I bought a sample container of Martha Stewart Sea Glass paint. I read somewhere that since I would be distressing/antiquing it I didn't need to prime. Not sure if this is accurate or not, but I went for it. First mistake, painting with five year old son who wanted to help. While entertaining him and trying to keep him out of trouble, I accumalated a few drip marks on side:(. Oh well. It took two coats to cover dark wood. I did one coat, waited 24 hrs. and did second.

I next finely sanded edges, purposefully (no accident this time)taking off a bit of paint here and there. I then used my black antique glaze and rubbed it all over with towel. This only turned out OK. Definitely need to practice that !!! Without alot of detail ( I am used to antiquing smaller items) it was difficult to achieve the look I was going for.

My third mistake was to leave the table in the garage for days and days without sealing it. My girls put a cooler on top of it and left big chip marks:(. So, I fixed that today. I also sprayed the table with Miniwax. It took me forever (and I am still not done searching) for fabric for seat cushion. I typed dishtowel for cushion cover in google yesterday and found a post from a girl who used a Target dishtowel to cover hers. The chair and color looks so similiar to mine, so I had to run to Target and get the same dish towel...for $2.88! I had to put it together right away. While I love it, I am still searching for fabric because the lamp I am putting on it does not go with that fabric. I am very wordy right now. Here is the reveal pics!!

Here are some daylight pics, you can see more details.

So, I need less paint where the detail needs to show through. And paint slower. And hide from children to finished. The towel is not attached yet because I am keeping my options open. Carly had to jump in a shot:)! I am going to see if I can find the site where I got the Target dishtowel site.

Toodles, Beth