Hello friends.....it's very early Sunday morning and I am sitting in my favorite chair (Salvation Macy's) and quietly enjoying a hot cup of coffee. Miss Carmen has developed a habit of nudging me in the face every morning at 4:45 am. Don't adjust your screen.... I did say 4:45 am.....Sheesh! And you wonder how I manage to snap so many gorgeous Virginia sunrise photos?? Orange juice anyone? Enjoy! This week end I hid myself in my basement while working on my newest dresser restyle. Pardon the photo quality..these were taken in a basement with a cell phone. I found this little children's armoir at my Salvation Macy's. It is solid maple from the 1960's. I know that because someone wrote on the inside door: "Solid Maple from the 1960's" I am such an astute detective...I see clues others miss. Love the little pull out clothes hanger rack....too cute and very functional. This is a great piece, just very ....bland and very orange. My inspiration for the color came from one of my students at my Annie Sloan workshop last week. She had painted a sample board in Coco and Duck Egg Blue. When the piece was distressed, the two colors were so beautiful layered. I knew that was going to be my next color combo. so I took her from this.... * * * to this... What do you think? I knew right away that I wanted to paint something on the door. It was a blank canvas in my eyes. While trying to decide what to paint, I remembered seeing a simple, but beautiful design that Annie Sloan had demonstrated in her book, 'Quick & Easy Paint Transformations' Annie called it "cow parsley" but we in America know it as Queen Anne's Lace. It was so easy...I'll show you how I did it. I took a cut piece of cereal box and tipped the edge into some Old White. Then I simply made long loose stems..no perfection here please! Rustic charm is the goal..keep it loose. I made the dots with the end of a match stick. After my cow parsley dried thoroughly..the dots might take a little longer, so don't rush, I lightly sanded to make it appear worn. Nice touch...don't you think. Anyone can do this and you don't even need a paint brush! I did the same design on the large wooden knobs, but I used Coco instead of Old White. The old knobs looked chunky and dated now they look stylish. I love the Coco peaking through the Duck Egg and the patina of the clear and dark wax. I painted the drawer sides in Coco for a nice visual when you open one. Love it when I can salvage the original knobs. See the subtle Coco underneath? I am really happy with the pretty simplicity of this piece. So that's my latest. I can see this armoire in a child's room or maybe a farmhouse kitchen. You could hang your vintage linens and dish towels on the pull out rack. Sweet! Thanks for the inspiration Annie! I will be sharing my little dresser with these lovely blogs: Hope Studios My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Savvy Southern Style Shades of Amber Miss Mustard Seed Stay tuned my friends...I have a fabulous GIVEAWAY planned for this week. You are going to love it!! Until next time...be kind and stay creative.