Wednesday, August 1, 2012

quick update

I've been MIA, so I thought I'd give you a quick update.
(I have ten minutes till we're supposed to leave for our last little summer trip.  Never mind that the "trip" is to a hotel 20 minutes away.  My kids don't care as long as we get to watch tv in bed and all sleep in the same room!  We're super adventurous like that).

If you follow me on instagram or twitter, you've already seen these photos.  
Last week, I headed off to Texas for two days to help my sister-in-law get some painting projects done.

I painted and upholstered a dozen dining chairs, painted a darling waterfall dresser and ...

a whole slew of cabinet and drawer faces.

Dallas is hot and humid and this mask is no help at all!

I didn't end up getting any after photos because I finished up early and rushed out to get on an earlier flight.  I didn't make it, but I enjoyed the relax time at the airport after two really long days.

We're headed out the door right now and I'll be posting or "trip" photos here (and here) if you want to follow along!



15 comments:

  1. Thank you sooooo much, Natalie! I will send you some "after shots" to share. I got lots of compliments on the chairs last night at a little surprise birthday party Jason threw for me. Thank you again so so much and for spending time with the kids, also. That was an action packed 48 hours!!! You're the best!

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  2. Thank you sooooo much, Natalie! I will send you some "after shots" to share. I got lots of compliments on the chairs last night at a little surprise birthday party Jason threw for me. Thank you again so so much and for spending time with the kids, also. That was an action packed 48 hours!!! You're the best!

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  3. Thank you sooooo much, Natalie! I will send you some "after shots" to share. I got lots of compliments on the chairs last night at a little surprise birthday party Jason threw for me. Thank you again so so much and for spending time with the kids, also. That was an action packed 48 hours!!! You're the best!

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  4. Your work is beautiful and inspiring! I too love to refinish old furniture, and I just finished this desk: http://www.pardonoursawdust.com/2012/08/02/desk-and-other-inanimate-friends/
    I am now turning a dresser into a changing table for a friend as well. Thanks for the great blog, I'd love to see more of your projects!

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  5. You came during the hottest week we've had so far this summer! I'm glad to know you were painting in these weather conditions. I've been wanting to paint but was worried how the heat would effect the final product.

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  6. I was worried about it as well! I was mostly worried that the paint would drip as I sprayed - that often happens here after a rain when the humidity above 60%. Surprisingly enough, everything turned out well. It remains to be see if the paint cured as well, but I think it probably did.

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  7. Natalie, I know you've said before that you don't run oil through your gun but I saw in an earlier post that you spray primed a dining room set. Did you use kilz spray cans for all of that or do you use a latex primer on some things? I'm about to start a dining room project and I'm a little leery of using latex primer but it would cost a fortune to use kilz spray on everything! (and it's super humid in Atlanta all summer...I keep a dehumidifier in my shop to help the paint cure). Thanks!

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    1. I used an oil-based gripper primer - I hated cleaning my gun, though. If you will be heavily using this table, I would definitely recommend the oil. It will hold up longer and will cling to the wood much better. If you're not using the table much, I think you'd be safe to get away with water-based primer.

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    2. I might have to bite the bullet on this one and just clean my gun with solvents. I've heard good things about the Glidden Gripper latex but haven't used it myself. Zinsser Cover Stain oil based is my go-to primer (other than Kilz spray) - I love that it's easy to roll, dries in 60 minutes and sands easily. I've used it on dressers with the BM Impervex latex lacquer and it looked like a perfect factory finish - I almost cried! Thank you so much for all your advice and inspiration. :)

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  8. I am just getting started on painting my hickory kitchen cabinets BM White Dove. I have 4 children (ages 5, 8, 10 & 13) So, you know it's going to get hammered. Any suggestions of types of primer and paint I should use? How about drying times in between coats of paint?Thanks so much!

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  9. With cabinets, a good solvent based gripper primer would be the most durable. The directed time on whatever paint you use should be fine. Most paints take an entire month to completely cure and lose their softness.

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  10. Thank you for the help. Should I plan on not putting my cabinet doors back on for 1 month? Is there a specific primer you recommend? Thanks a ton!

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  11. Kilz or Zinnser are both good choices - don't go for the water-based or low odor. That's code for 'not so good'. I would put them on after a week, just realize they aren't going to be as durable in the first month.

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  12. Thanks a million! Wished you lived in UT, so I could have you do instead. :)

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  13. LOL, I know what you mean. MY DH is Product Development for a major home fashion manufacturer in the US. They represent Calvin Klein, Barbara Barry, etc. I am always at a loss when the new lines are introduced. Colors are always so exotic. Never purple or red, but summer orchid and desert poppy. I am like, come on for real????? LOL.

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