This ‘n That Monday {ASCP Graphite Table}

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend!

Only 7 more school days for me with kiddos and then a work day and then — graduation time!  Fortunately, my head cold didn’t hang around too long (thank you, Airborne and Alka Seltzer Plus!), and I managed to make some major headway finishing up the guest room so it should be ready to share late this week.  I also tackled the garage (with some teenage help) and though it’s not totally finished, it’s looking much better.  And THAT is a great feeling!

If you follow me on Facebook, you know I got a seriously awesome Mother’s Day gift when my daughter got her grades from UGA… 4.0, baby!  So proud of her. 🙂

Friday I had a customer come pick up her table that I’d done a custom finish on.  She bought the table at the Queen of Hearts (where my booth is), and she loved the shape and size but not the black spray painted finish that was on it.  When she spotted a little side table in my booth, she asked me if I could duplicate that finish on her table.  I went out on a limb and said “sure” (because that’s how I roll. :)).

Once I got into it, I got nervous.  It was a much bigger table than I’d done before, so getting a somewhat even finish on it was challenging.  I knew she didn’t want it perfect but weathered and distressed, so it took a little doing.

In the end, I was pleased with the result and so was she.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any before photos, but it had a matte black finish on it.  Here are the afters… sorry I couldn’t stage her properly but rain was threatening and this baby took two people to move. 🙂

She wanted charcoal gray, so I used my Annie Sloan Graphite paint.  I love this color and have a couple of other pieces that will be getting a similar treatment.

I distressed the edges and the legs a bit and what I discovered is that the top originally had a wood finish but the legs had been painted cream.  I texted her a pic of it to make sure she was good with that cream showing through and she was.  It is kind of neat to see the layers of paint.  You can also see the black paint in several places.

I used a coat of clear wax, some touches of dark wax around the edges, and an extra coat of clear wax on the top.  She was buffed, and buffed, and buffed some more.

Getting the top right was the biggest challenge, but it looked good once the sun came out and I could see it in brighter daylight.

The most important thing is that she was thrilled.  Whew.  Pressure!

I was happy to send it on its way though, because the great graduation preparation is in full swing.  I’m reusing a few of the decorations I crafted for my daughter’s high school graduation two years ago, but since he’s not going to college right away, I’m doing a few with a patriotic flair… here’s a sneak peek of what got started this weekend. 🙂

Lots more to come in the days ahead, if I can find the time to photograph and post. 🙂

And just for a glimpse into what my world looks like now…

Can anyone relate??

Enjoy the day, friends — I’ll be buying my flowers for my garden and containers after school today in hopes of getting some planting done in my after-school hours this week.  Better eat my Wheaties and take my vitamins!

Sharing the table at ReDoux!

… and Jaime’s Inspiration Gallery.