Do you see the angel?

Oh WOW! That's all I can say! 

For those of you who know me personally or for those that have been following my blog, you know that Sissy's Salvation was born as a result of my father's year long battle with Cancer and his ultimate death.  I prayed for peace and, as a result of that, Sissy's Salvation came to be.  It has given me a new beginning! 

Today, I posted some picutures of items for sale. 

A freind, from high school, posted a message saying that her little girl wanted to know if I saw the angel in the mirror?  No, I never would have seen it because I was too preoccupied with the task at hand.  When it was brought to my attention and I saw it, tears came to my eyes!  Thank you sweet Bailey!  Thank you for helping me see that my daddy and God are looking over me and that I am on the right path!

Thank you for your comments!

Because I haven't figured out how to reply to comments left on my blog (I'm a newbie), I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to those who left responses about my chalk paint experiment.  I've never used Annie Sloan's and don't want to step on the toes of those who do.  I have no doubt that it's an awesome product!  I've looked at all the pictures that have been posted of the furniture that has been painted with it and I drool.  Here's my view on it.  First of all, with the state our country is in, I'm only interested in buying American made products.  First and foremost!  Secondly, if Annie Sloan's paint is as easy to apply as it claims to be, then anyone can purchase a $35 quart and do it themselves. Lord knows there are enough DIY videos out there.  That should be a little scary to all of those out there painting furniture for a living.  The price, to me, is too excessive.  Never in a million years am I going to pay $35 a quart for ANYTHING!  That's just me because I'm a thrifty kind of girl!  So, I'll just keep plugging along.....  working my magic with what I have and a little experimentation only adds to the fun!   

OVER Stripping and Sanding!

I've been working on the "double YUCK twins" here for a few days now.  To say that I'm disgusted with them is an understatement. 

These girls belong to my mother.  I posted on FB last night about how I grew up with these chairs and how I'm AMAZED that none of the 1000 layers of top coat have worn off through the years.  Must be some skull and cross bones product from the 70's that ate the lungs out of everyone who came in contact with it.  I used a stripper on them.....  TWICE.  I sanded them for two days!  Still I could not get them back to bare wood to re-stain them as I had initially thought I would.  I have a tendency to have grand ideas and underestimate the complexity of certain things.  I've always thought if I set my mind to something, I could acheive it.  Don't get me wrong.  I COUD HAVE acheived it but it would have taken atleast 2 or 3 more days of sanding and bleaching.  Pure exhaustion and the aching in my arms and back convinced me to GIVE IT UP ALREADY!  So, these pains chairs are getting black paint versus black stain. 

With all that said, I'm pretty much over stripping and sanding (for the time being anyway).  I've been drooling over the ever famous Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that is spread all over furniture blogland.  However, the price makes me queezy.  What is it?  Like $35 per quart?.  My cheap thrifty heart can't take it!  I look at it, I salivate and then I look at the price and I'm like Sanford (of Sanford and Son) grabbing my heart and screaming, "it's a big one Elizabeth!"  But, then there are the claims that no sanding or primer is needed.  This paint will cover and adhere to ANYTHING.  That part is extremely appealing!  My aching arms and back say, "Yes FOOL!  Bust out that credit card and get to ordering". 

Not so fast aching body parts!  I've read several blogs giving formulas to make your own chalk paint for $4.  Now you're speaking my language!  They say to mix latex paint with Calcium Carbonate (which I could not find at my local health food store), Plaster of Paris and some say sandless grout.  Apparently the sandless grout is the formula for chalkboard paint (according to Martha Stuart).  Who can argue with Martha?  Well, I probably would but we won't go there!  So, I'm going to give this homemade chalk paint a try over the weekend and paint a small piece and see what I get. 

If this works, cover your ears because I'm gonna be squeeling from the rooftop!!!!! 

I'm in LOVE!

Little man and I were on our way home from the bank this afternoon when I decided to swing by a thrift store place not far from our house.  This is not one of my favorite places to thrift because most things are out outdoors and randomly thrown in boxes and they don't usually have a lot of furniture.  However, my opinion has changed.  I will be stopping there WAY more often! 

My heart skipped several beats when I saw this!  I was sure it was an illusion.  I found this beauty in a tent like building structure, way in the back behind a bunch of old TVs.  I was speechless.  My guardian junk angel must have been sitting on my shoulder and whispering in my ear to stop at this place that I don't particularly care for. 

It was love at first sight!  I HAD to have it!  So little man and I jumped in the car, sped home, grabbed the keys to the "Tank" and headed back.  She's mine.  I just don't think I could ever part with her.  Now to decide what to do with her.  Hmmm?  She needs A LOT of repair but she'll definitely be worth it!    

Crazy Week! (A Random Post) All over the board!

After I returned from my leave of absence from Sissys' Salvation (vacation), I decided to work on a couple of small pieces to get me back into my paint groove. 

I started with this great picture frame. 

I was away too long because I forgot to take the before pic.  Imagine brown and dingy.  It dawned on me to take the picture after I applied the primer.  Duh! 

Here she is after white paint and brown glaze and the sweetest picture of my daddy when he was just a tot.  He was such a cutie and the likeness to my son is uncanny! 

Then I worked on this beast.  The Pirate Ship wine wrack! 

This crazy looking thing reminded me of a pirate's ship.  It's big, rough and chunky.  I envisioned it looking like a piece of driftwood.  Never did I dream that something so small would be so much work!  I just couldn't seem to get it right.  Eventually, after many hours of work, this is what I ended up with. 

The picture quality stinks because I wasn't patient enough to take the pic the next day when there was daylight.  However, today has been so crazy there was no time for pictures.  I'm now calling this one "Ship Wreck" because it kicked my butt!  Please excuse my disgusting looking work table and try to focus on the piece.  :)  Sarah!  Calling Sarah the photographer!!!!  Are you out there?  :)

So, I've been home 4 days.  I've been painting and totally neglecting housework, cooking and laundry.  (you ask, "so what's new about that?").  Nothing really.  I haven't even completely unpacked my suitcase.  A girl has to keep her priorities straight, right? 

Today, I jumped in hubby's crew cab dual wheel truck (the "Tank")  to pick up an antique mahogany dresser from a client and two of my mother's kitchen chairs.  I will be refinishing the dresser and the chairs (2 at a time... total of four because I didn't want to leave her with no chairs).  That should keep me busy for a while. 

Tomorrow, I'm off to Lowes to buy supplies and get started.   I can't wait!  I'm a little "all over the board" at the moment.  Trying to get back into a routine and so excited about my new found salvation and all the possibilities.  I'm just so happy with where I am and what I'm doing.  Finally, something that is all mine and it feels wonderful. 

In my travels today, I stopped at the cemetery and had a long talk with Daddy.  I had so many things weighing on my mind and so much to share with him.  I put a little garden ornament bird in his flower arrangement some time back.  It's wings go around and around when the wind blows.   As I talk to him, at certain points, the birds wings whiz even when there's no wind.  That's my sign that he hears me.  It's hard to explain or even understand how you can be hurting so deeply over the loss of a loved one and yet be in the best place you've ever been. 

It's been a crazy week!  It's been a crazy life but I'm so excited to see where it leads me.  I'm no longer afraid of anything.  That's the gift my father gave me at the end of his life.  Nothing I do ( or possibly fail at) can compare to what he went through.  Thanks to my sweet father for giving me the strength and courage to  follow my dreams! 

Out of Touch

I've been a little out of touch the last two weeks.  Went on vacation, and it was great, but I'm glad to be back home in my new found salvation.  For the majority of my life, I hated to see vacation come to an end.  I would begin the very first day counting down how many days I had left.  Not anymore!  I have found my comfort zone and I could NOT wait to get back home and start painting! 

However, any time I'm on salt water with my boys my heart sings.  Here's what we saw this week. 

Beautiful SC marsh views from our deck.

Breath taking sunsets! 

My "happy" place, Bay Point.  This is my deserted island that brings my heart so much peace.  You think you can just reach up and touch a cloud. 

This beach goes on forever!  I can't express how blessed I feel every time my feet hit these sands.  I know that I am one of the very few people who ever walk it.  There's just something so sacred about that! 

My sweet husband waits patiently for me as I explore.  The tides are too high and rough to put the anchor down so he can't join us.  He simply waits.  SWEET MAN! 

Look what I found on "my" island!!!!  Shells galore!  I'm so freakin' happy, I don't know what to do with myself!!!! 

Is there anything more beautiful than seashells?  I could spend days, weeks, months picking these up and NEVER get bored.  Every one is different!  I guess, "junkin'" is in my blood.  Whether it's a deserted beach or a thrift store, I could hunt and search FOREVER!  Hidden treasure is what I love!

Labor of Love

I finished Brett's rocking chairs!!!  I feel like celebrating.  This was a true labor of love and, while they will never be perfect, I'm thrilled with the outcome.  These girls were in serious need of some TLC. 

Do you remember them before? 

YIKES!  Lots of scraping and sanding but well worth it. 

Aren't they lovely?  So simple and classic.  Now Brett's wife can actually use her grandmother's chairs and rock till her heart is content.  It's rewarding to give new life to an old piece of furniture but even more so when there are memories and stories attached.

Makes me wish for a Mint Julep!  Southern Belles they are! 

I was working on a serious timeline with these ladies.  Not just because Brett's wife's birthday is fast approaching but also because I'm heading to the Coast on Saturday for a week in beautiful historical Beaufort.  My happy place!  I can smell the "fluff" mud already!  I'm going to sit on the dock and watch the sunset every evening and watch the dolphins swim by.  Can't wait!  I'm SO ready.  Well, mentally, I'm ready.  I haven't packed the first thing or shopped or done the laundry.  I have nothing ready.  I've got two days left though so I'll be okay.  I'm actually not stressed about it.  That is HUGE for me!!!!  Stress used to be my middle name. 

I've always been the World's biggest worry wart but not anymore.  My 5th grade teacher actually wrote in my year book, "To my favorite worry wart."  So, if I was that much of a worrier at 10, you can imagine what the adult years have been like. 

I give credit for my new found peace to my daddy and to God.  There's nothing like watching someone you love go through the dying process to make you realize how precious EVERY day is.  Life is too short to stress over trivial matters or those things that you cannot control.  There's no gift more wonderful than the sense of peace.  I'm SO thankful for the peace I've found in Sissy's Salvation.  Somehow, I know Daddy is watching with that sweet, gentle grin of his and that makes my heart smile. 

There's Wood Under Them Thar Layers!

A very dear friend, from high school, asked me to re-do two rocking chairs that belonged to his wife's grandmother.  Of course, I said yes!!!  Brett holds a very special place in my heart.  Do you remember what it was like being a teenage girl?  So many days of being just plain miserable?  Maybe it was your boyfriend treating you like crap, your mother grounding you for breaking curfew, a bad hair day.....  you get the picture.  Anyhoo, Brett was always a ray of sunshine.  He had an infectious smile.  I could be having the worst day EVER and turn around and see him coming toward me, with that grin, and the troubles seemed to melt away.  There was just no possible way to feel bad when Brett was around.  So, there was no way I could ever say no to him. 

I met him last week to pick up these chairs. 

They look a mess!  Years and layers of paint with redwood stain underneath but very sturdy.  No bad wood or repairs needed.  They are very nice chairs!  Brett wants these re-done for his lovely wife as a surprise birthday gift.  What a sweetheart he is!  They hold great sentiment and memories of her grandmother.  He wants them re-painted glossy white as that is how his wife remembers them. 

I broke out my business partner, Mr. Sander, and got to work.  I didn't plan on coming down with the whooping frenzy right in the middle of this project.  We are working on a birthday deadline here!!!  I woke up Thurs. not feeling well but I got to work.  By Thurs. night, I was down.  I'm talking flat on my back down.  Needless to say, I was out of commission yesterday and I was worried.  This morning, still feeling like road kill, I pulled myself up by the boot straps and got back to it.  I can't let Brett down! 

Here's where I am now. 

In retrospect, I should have used a paint stripper but I'll work an extra ten hours to avoid going to town for something.  I'm a home body, what can I say?  It's impossible to get these girls totally down to bare wood but they are nice and smooth so after primer and paint, they will be beauty queens!!! 

I'm so excited about this!  They will be simple.  No frills, no glazing, no distressing.  Just very classic.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to do something special for a friend who doesn't even know how much he helped me with just a smile. 

Isn't it strange how people come and go in our lives?  We move on and go our separate ways but the really important ones, the ones who made a real impact, always seem to re-enter at just the right time.

Thanks Brett!!!!