The Mermaid Chair

Isn't she a beauty!!!

Here's her story...

I bought this chair at a yard sale for $2. There was just something about the shape, and age, and style of the chair that made me buy it. The condition, however was not so wonderful.

The previous owners must have left it outside, as it was very weathered, had been visited by birds, and upon closer inspection, may have been in a fire.

But...she had potential. I knew that she could be beautiful!

Here is the original condition, as I found her.

$2 price tag

The seat was covered with rotted leather and stuffed with what we believe to be horsehair.

We removed the rotted seat and thought that maybe it was for a chamber pot, but soon realized that it was originally a cane seat.

We started to scrub the chair, and were intending to clean, sand, and re-stain, and possibly get a quote for cane-ing, but, after an hour of just trying to remove the dirt, decided that we would sand, distress, and paint instead.

I sanded her for almost 3 hours on a Sunday morning, when the temperatures were in the low 100's (yuck, it's been so hot here in Maryland this year)

Then, Scott took the chair and used his air compressor to remove all of the sanding remnants, and he dropped her.

And she broke her leg

And I cried

And he fixed her

(Gorilla glue and an air screw gun)

Then we painted her Whitecap Gray from MyColor Pantone (Lowes)

I wanted an off white/ivory color, and that is what this paint is- I don't see "Gray"

This paint is self priming, and drys pretty quickly. 

We used two coats.

Then Scott distressed the old fashioned way by randomly marking areas of the chair with a white candle.

 (Use what you have!)

He then Painted her with Valspar's Mermaid's Song paint. 

(OHHH..so that's why she's called the Mermaid chair!!)

And we distressed with Steel Wool in all of the right places, and recovered the seat with padding and a floral fabric.

Here is the finished project!

Linking to:

Little White Chair

We recently overhauled our Master bedroom.

 (Or should I say, "Started" to Overhaul our Master bedroom.)

I chose a completely "out of the norm" color for the walls called Teal Zeal (but I modified it by adding some additional white to lighten it up) And we hung crown molding, and added baseboard molding, gave our windows frames and sills, and installed Berber carpet over the cold hardwood floors.

The room is not complete, but don't worry I do plan to have a Reveal post when it is finished.

I was going for a fun beach spa like space. I chose a white quilt with bright flowers including teals, pinks, yellow, and reds. Oh my, I can't wait to finish the room and accessorize!!

I also decided to add a small writing desk in our room, and wanted a chair to go with it, you know to write cards, and letters, and my memoirs......Reality check time.... The chair is purely going to be for decoration, and hanging bras and my purse on!!

So anyway, I found this little lovely at a local yard sale. Perfect Size, Perfect Style, not perfect color, not perfect fabric...but are you ready for this...Perfect Price......TWO DOLLARS!!

BEFORE

 Nice fabric..ewww

We gave her a coat of fresh white Krylon Spray paint and Recovered the seat with a Pinkish/Salmonish/Reddish fabric.

And here she is!

Actually, it will probably look more like this...with my purse sitting on it!

Total cost? $10.29

Chair $2

Fabric 3/4 yard sale price $8.29

Spray Paint Free(Leftover from another project)


Linking to:

Shupp's Grove Antique Flea Market

Scott and I are junk antique collectors. We like all things old, and worn, and retro, and shabby.We prefer them in the "aged" state, not the refurbished state. Give us an old box with chipping paint and distressed wood any day!!

We don't really have a "collection" of a specific type of thing, but a "collection" of a little of everything.

If we see something that we like, and it's a reasonable price, we get it, no regrets!! 

(See picture above that was actually posted at a booth)

We hadn't been Antique-ing in a while, unless yard-Sale-ing counts, but it is totally NOT the same thing.

Yard Sale-ing and Thrifting to me, means, "deals" and finding prices that are a steal!

Antique-ing means paying Top Dollar for items that people consider highly collectible and rare.

So, with the current economic state of my household, as well as most people I know, Antique-ing hasn't been on the list of activities lately..until...my parents told me about a place called SHUPP'S GROVE.

During the weekend of June 24,25,26, they hosted a "Summer Extravaganza".  

The extravaganza was literally a huge Antique Flea Market in the middle of the woods. It consisted of approx. 150 private antique booths that were set up in the most wonderful SHADY setting. Shupp's Grove is in Adamstown, PA, 

(about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Baltimore)

 in Lancaster County.

We made a few purchases, including my latest obsession, Fire Grenades. They are so interesting and rare. I found a couple in the winter in Antiques stores, some for over $300 each. I found one at Shupps, with the mounting kit, for $30!! I absolutely love it, and we have mounted it on the wall in our family room. We also purchased a minnow trap, 2 vintage wooden fishing lures, an old wooden fishing rod and reel, 4th of July Sheet music from the 1940's, E bought himself a Duncan Yo-Yo, and my mom bought a vintage tricycle.

Enjoy a few pictures that I took that day..

Some of E's favorite items

Cannon $1200 

Child's Bike $35

Larger then Life Beatles!!

Top Hat $35

What I loved about Shupps-

Location, shade, mix of items, prices, food building, free admission

Most vendors were interested in negotiating prices.

What I didn't love-

A lot of empty "booths" made the vendors spread out, and not easy to navigate aisles.

Some items were EXTREMELY overpriced

Check out their brochure for more events scheduled this year.