For the last year or so, i have been attempting to gather information, tips and tricks from other artisans who ship their pieces all over the united states; some even across seas! In this blog, I will try my best to give you some of the great information I've gathered along the way, as well as share with you my first experience. I can now say that I have SUCCESSFULLY coordinated, packed, and shipped my first item, and it arrived undamaged, on time, and the driver even helped to unpack and set the item up in the client's home. SCORE!!! This particular client was adamant about working with me to refinish a corner hutch for her new home. After some life and family changes, she was moving form a large home to a one-bedroom condo. This piece would be her "splurge" item. At first, I tried to explain to her that by the time you add up the cost to buy an item (and the time it could take to find one), plus the cost to refinish it, AND the cost to ship it, we could be looking right around $750-$950 total. That was crazy to me so I offered to give her pointers on how to refinish a piece on her own, or to attempt to find someone local to her that would be able to help her create what she was looking for. . She originally messaged me through Etsy and Facebook in the earlier part of July. After all this back and forth, I was honored when she still wanted to go with me. I'm really glad she didn't take my advice because without her, I wouldn't have this experience under my belt. About a month later I found this vintage corner hutch which was not only the style we were going for but also at a great price of only $30. We picked it up for her (she covered the cost of the item, the cost for a U-Haul truck since it wouldn't fit in my SUV, and I charged a $25 fee for pickup). Unfortunately, I didn't get to start work on the hutch until later in September, which already seems like forever ago. Back to the idea of shipping a LARGE piece of furniture and all the anxiety that comes along with it. Based on my own experience, as well as feedback on multiple Facebook pages asking about experience with shipping, I've gathered: 1) it's best to check out uShip, Freight Buddy, FedEx, Postal Service, Greyhound, Etc. Get as many quotes as possible. It will take time but will be worth the effort. I received at least 7 quotes from different shipping agencies going from where I'm at in Sacramento California to where she lives in Texas. The lowest quote I received was $325 and it went up into the $600 range. 2) A few of the quotes I received wanted the item ready for pickup in a day or two. Since it was nowhere near ready, I decided to take the quotes I'd gathered, finish the hutch and check back in when it was nearly ready. By that time, all the quotes had expired and we were approaching Christmas. 3) As much as I wanted her to have the hutch in time for Christmas Day, some unforeseen circumstances made that not possible. Also, I was worried that shipping would cost her more due to it being so close to the holidays. I went back to Facebook to ask what other's experiences have been like with shipping items around that time of the year. The information I received basically said that the cost should remain the same throughout the year but if you ship outside the end-of-the-year holiday season, you may have to wait longer for the item to be picked up and delivered. There's actually more trucks going through different areas in November and December due to the holidays. A few weeks went by and the corner hutch was FINALLY ready on January 10th. What I had learned back in September is that it's better to post your listing when the item is basically ready to go. I listed the item on Sunday, accepted the bid by mid-day Monday, and the item was picked up on Tuesday afternoon when the driver was already going to be in our area. This all happened pretty quickly looking back. We ended up going with a shipper through uShip who bid with a quote of $375. I asked if he could come down to 325 since that is what was listed as the high end average. The shipper agreed to $325.00. On top of that, uShip charges a fee and that brought the cost right to $349.99. uShip gives you a range from low to high on typical bids for the item information you provide. You then have the option to "name your price" or allow bids to come through. You can ask questions with either option, communicate through the website or app with the shipping company, and decide to accept or decline an offer when they come through. For instance, an offer came through for $480. I instantly declined that offer because I knew our goal was to stay under $400, plus, uShip would have added their fee on top of the $480. After about 24 hours, the company with the $325 offer was out best bet. They provided the most reasonable price and they had hundreds of positive reviews. Now, $350 sounds like a lot of money, which it is for a lot of people like myself. On the other hand, this item is solid, customized and the complete cost that the customer spent is still less that what you would have paid for a brand new corner hutch online, without the option to customize. With that being said, SHEESH! that's still a lot of money... I was very nervous about actually packing the item but I'm now confident that it was properly packed. On Monday after picking up the kids from school, we ran over to Walmart and picked up the needed items to pack the hutch up nicely. Thankfully this item is a solid piece and does not have legs. I feel like having to protect 4 individual legs would be extremely stressful, and require even more packing materials. The packing items that I used were cling-wrap, bubble wrap and moving blankets. I started by wrapping each shelf individually in brown packing paper and placing them on the very top of the unit where they would be secured (they fit perfectly because the very back of the piece stuck up some so it was a snug fit). I then added multiple layers of the cling-wrap to make sure that the doors and shells on the top were all secured. Next, I wrapped the entire piece in two layers of bubble wrap. I added another couple of layers of cling-wrap, then the two moving blankets (one over the top and one around the face of the hutch), then additional cling-wrap. Right around the area where the two blankets overlapped, we did add bungee cords to help them from moving around at all. Voilà! On Monday and Tuesday, I communicated with the driver to confirmed a pickup window time-frame. uShip releases your information and the shipping carrier once you accept their bid. They showed up Tuesday afternoon with a large moving truck. we got the item loaded and they secured the hutch to the inside wall of the truck. They are a husband and wife driving team, and come to find out, they are in my area just about every other week. Now I know for future needs that they are a great option and in my area about twice a month. The piece was just delivered yesterday and it was a great experience for the customer. The driver was very friendly, helped unload everything, unpacked it and helped her get it set up in her home. That was unexpected and it was a great experience for both her and I! Once I receive the notification from uShip that the item has been delivered, you release payment to the shipping company. So there you have it! As intimidating as it was, I am sooo glad to have that experience under my belt now. Cost is very important and I was clear with the client from the get-go that shipping would cost anywhere from $250-450. We ended up being right in the middle of that quote. Thankfully, most of my pieces sell decently fast locally. Often times though, when I'm working on a new piece of furniture I have to keep in mind "what colors will sell best- white, gray, black, neutrals, etc" and I often find myself not wanting to push the envelope too much because the more detailed you get, the more you vary from the neutrals, the more eclectic your piece becomes, the more narrow your market gets. Feeling comfortable with offering shipping on your pieces opens you up to a whole new world and expands your audience. Sure, someone here in Sacramento may not be into a bright blue buffet with stripes and gold leafing, but I'll tell you what, someone out there will be! What I will leave you with is this: If I can do it, so can you! Again, shipping a piece of furniture with legs seems scarier to me, but completely doable. People like you and I are shipping items like this everyday without any issues. So put aside some of that fear, start the year out right, know your worth, and get your first item shipped! Some additional feedback/comments that were very helpful when packing the item and selecting a shipping company: • "Use moving blankets secured with shrink wrap. Wrap handles if they will knock, secure any shelves inside. Doors and drawers should be secured when you blanket and shrink wrap. Try to think of everything that could move around in a truck" • "Suggest that you not put anything plastic directly onto painted surfaces. That can go over carefully placed furniture blankets. Whenever I ship anything, I always purchase full replacement value insurance. And take lots of photos from every single angle so shippers cannot say that dings and dents were already there. Have shippers give you a receipt for your item with adequate description and photograph them loading it up. You can't be too careful IMO." • "You need to have very specific text stating that item is covered for full replacement meaning what the customer paid in full--the total cost to replace item. You need to clarify that full replacement value or cost is based on price you sold item for, not what shipper's insurance company thinks it might be worth. You need to keep good photographs from every angle so that shippers can't lie and say that dings and dents were already there. Safest way for YOU to ship is to make it the BUYER'S responsibility to arrange and pay for shipping. Then YOU can make these suggestions but YOU are off the hook if the worst happens. In this case, you have shipper sign document indicating that they picked up your item. Once this is done, you are no longer responsible. I have shipped this way when I was the purchaser. Otherwise, if you will be doing a fair amount of shipping, be sure to establish a good relationship with one shipper and don't go with the cheapest." Please share any comments and tips you may have. We're all here to learn and support each other along the way ❤❤❤
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**In no way am I affiliated with or being paid to promote any of the products listed below. These are products I have personally used and have had positive experience with.
I tried really hard to think of what necessary items are needed without all the extra, Also keeping in mind cost (they range from $5-$25). I can tell you that after selling my first piece, I made enough to cover all the supplies I had purchased. And the nice thing is that almost every item listed here is able to be used on multiple/many items. Leave me a comment and feel free to post to the Facebook page any feedback, experience, products you LOVE, etc. xoxo, Tina Last, Let's Start with Prep: Reusable hand sanding tool with Refill Sanding Sheets Please spend the $10 and buy this. I was buying sand paper sheets, sanding blocks, etc. None of them come close to this! The hand tool is superior ergonomically and the sanding sheets are wonderful! I actually prefer using this tool over a power sander. You can buy additional packs of the sanding paper. This was a HUGE game changer for me! https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-2-625-in-x-4-75-in-x-2-in-Reusable-Hand-Sanding-Tool-with-2-Each-80-120-220-Grit-Refill-Sanding-Sheets-RHST-KIT-PGP/303197113 Klean-Strip GIDDS-881056 Jasco TSP No Rinse Substitute Cleaner Quart This stuff is a must for a good cleaning of old, dirt and grime filled furniture. Here is the spiel "For the fastest cleaning and surface preparation, use this no-rinse one-step formula to prepare your surfaces for repainting or refinishing. It is recommended to bond old enamel, oil-based or latex paint, varnish, or lacquer finishes to new coatings, or before wallpapering. It removes grease, grime, mildew stains, food stains, crayon, dirt, smoke, old wallpaper paste and wax from painted or unpainted wood, metal, or vinyl wallpaper." https://www.amazon.com/Klean-Strip-GIDDS-881056-Jasco-Substitute-Cleaner/dp/B000BZWW28/ref=sr_1_2?crid=ZXF70TJBA305&keywords=tsp+substitute+cleaner&qid=1556402756&s=gateway&sprefix=tsp+su%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-2 Then the paint: LD Carlson Calcium Carbonate, 1 pound Capacity ok, here's the deal.... if you are someone who has not yet made the leap of faith to spend some good money ($30+) on a pint/quart of brand name chalk style paint, this is your ticket! please do yourself a favor and buy calcium carbonate over plaster of paris. it is finer and will give you longer shelf life (less clumping at the bottom). wear a mask whenever working with fine powder, sanding, etc. you can get a 1 lb bag for $5-$10 and i store the powder in a mason jar once opened. the recipe i use is: mix 2 tbsp calcium carbonate (cc) with 1 tbsp water. stir until no clumps. add 1 cup latex paint (any sheen but matte or flat is best) and stir very well. i use smaller size coffee canisters. even better is when you can buy a sample size (usually already in a 1 cup/8 oz size) and you can mix the cc/water mix right in! now, i will say this- if you are able to drop $20 on a quart of chalk style paint, i still recommend going with behr decorative chalk paint. you will get great coverage out of that quart (multiple pieces) and you will not have the mess and loss from mixing the paint. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064GZPPO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00? Next, the Brushes: Brossum Large 2-in-1 Round Chalk & Wax Brush for Painting Furniture inverst in a decent brush. yes, these are not perfect and you will occasionally need to pick out a random bristle from your wet paint. until you are confident enough to spend the $27+ for a high quality brush (I now have 2 Cling On brushes and love them) make sure you have a nice sized bristle brush for waxing. this specific brush comes in at about $15 and you can use for waxing and painting. i have this brush and will continue to use for waxing. https://www.amazon.com/Furniture-Professional-Quality-Natural-Bristles/dp/B0195ZU730/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Brossum+2-in-1+Round+Chalk+Paint+and+Wax+Brush+for+Furniture%2C+Natural+Bristles&qid=1555795124&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush love these brushes!!!! you can find them right by the paint section at home depot. i have had no issues with loose bristles, love the comfort of the short handle, no irritation or blisters from the rubber vs wood handles on other brushes, and.....they fit nicely in a sandwich baggie! (fyi- instead of cleaning your brush after every use, you can store in the fridge for same-color painting. don't worry, i didn't realize it at first, either.) These brushes are around $7 each and are totally worth it! https://www.amazon.com/Wooster-Brush-Q3211-2-Shortcut-Paintbrush/dp/B00YSRG3K2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FE4XNBL64XES&keywords=short+handle+angle+paint+brush&qid=1555795228&s=gateway&sprefix=short+handle+angled+paint+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1 KINGART 2" Foam Brush Value Pack - Set Of 20 foam brushes are a must-have for applying stain and top coats. i like to have a variety of sizes available. you will also use these when wanting to apply small amount of paint to highlight details. you can also buy the round foam brushes which are prefect for stenciling. i love to pick these up at ross and other local stores. https://www.amazon.com/KINGART-Foam-Brush-Value-Pack/dp/B07FN6RL49/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=KINGART+1%22+Foam+Brush+Value+Pack+-+Set+Of+25&qid=1555795864&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0 https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Round-Sponge-Paint-Brush/dp/B073WX34MM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1292R79TI8SIK&keywords=foam+brush+for+stencils&qid=1555797334&s=gateway&sprefix=foam+brush+for+ste%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-5 Linzer A 1506 Chip Brush Multi-Pack Chip brushed are great to have access to because you will want to use these for applying stain, wax, glaze, etc. I try to keep on the look out for these in a pack at discount stores and the can last a while. You do not want to rely on these for your regular painting. https://www.amazon.com/Linzer-1506-Chip-Brush-6Piece/dp/B00GP59WOY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=chip+brush&qid=1555270786&s=gateway&sr=8-3 Moving on to Hardware: Bar Keepers Friend Powdered Cleanser & Polish 12-Ounces (2-Pack) Trust me on this one. When you come across a piece of furniture that has all the hardware, that is a plus, especially when you love the look! One of the biggest concepts you will hear me talk about is "prepping a piece" to be painted. This includes the hardware! Vintage pieces, and really any piece of furnitfuure that has been sitting around for a few years, will accumulate lots of dust and gunk. Bar Keeper's Friend is a way to really get through all that so that you can A) leave as-is, B) paint over, C) wax. You aren't doing anyone any favors by painting right over the dirt. This is your ticket to a nice, clean surface. the stuff is amazing for cleaning, in-general. right under $10 for a 2-pack. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JPO0KJ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Then the Extras: Rub-N-Buff 3 Color Assortment (Silver Leaf, Antique Gold, Gold Leaf) this stuff is amazing! you can buy a single for about $7 or the triple pack (antique gold, silver leaf, gold leaf) for about $13. i use this to cover my hardware (after being cleaned with bar keeper's friend), to highlight detailed areas, to blend away edging from a transer, for stenciling, etc. this will help you take a pretty but plain piece to the next level! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBVRKZF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 4 of Vestil LEG-D Specialty Leg Dolly, 200 lbs Capacity, 5-3/4" Length x 6-3/8" Width. When you can, drop the $24 or so and get a 4-piece set of these. they will make your life SO much easier. i have heard of some people claiming that furniture legs can easily come off the roller but that is the purpose of the hole in the center- you can screw the roller right onto the bottom of the foot/leg. i have one set and plan to get more. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052PNBW2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Groom Industries Flairosol Solvent Free Aerosol Type Sprayer, Black get one ASAP! when working with chalk paint you will often find yourself needing to incorporate small spritz of water. these misters are amazing and put out the perfect amount. no more annoying spray bottles with too much water in one area. you will use this when blending, needing to give your paint a little more work time, for wet-distressing, when making corrections and needing to wipe away paint because the stencil didn't come out perfect...again. i use mine ALL the time and need to get another one, just in case. around $8 and TOTALLY worth it! https://www.amazon.com/Groom-Industries-Flairosol-Solvent-Aerosol/dp/B00R24ZZPM/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Groom+Industries+Flairosol+Solvent+Free+Aerosol+Type+Sprayer%2C+Black&qid=1555795534&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape, .70 inch x 60 yard, 2090, 1 Roll You will use tape more than you think, even just in small amounts. Whether it's to tape off a mirror, to hold a stencil in place or to arrange molds to determine prefect placement, it is ALWAYS wise to have some quality tape on hand. I also have Dollar Tree painter's tape available for those not-so-important instances. https://www.amazon.com/ScotchBlue-Painters-Multi-Use-1-88-Inch-60-Yard/dp/B00004Z4DU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=L1ULT1MEL9QA&keywords=painters+tape&qid=1556403560&s=hi&sprefix=painter%2Caps%2C193&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1 Last, we have the finishing touches: Minwax 785004444 Paste Finishing Wax, 1-Pound, Natural When you're just starting out and on a budget, go grab some of this stuff! You can apply with a round bristle brush, lint-free rag, etc. Follow the instructions and you're good to go! https://www.amazon.com/Minwax-785004444-Finishing-1-Pound-Natural/dp/B000LNOZAW/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1EPMO50Y0UIOH&keywords=clear+wax+for+chalk+paint&qid=1556403816&s=hi&sprefix=clear+wax+%2Ctools%2C188&sr=1-5 Rust-Oleum 284473 Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane, Satin When needing a non-wax finish (I use wax mostly on the body of a piece) my go-to is a decent Polyurethane. You can purchase at just about any hardware store and most brands are decent. i really like the Rust-Oleum Triple Thick in Satin. This is a great option for the tops of tables, dressers https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-284473-Varathane-Triple-Polyurethane/dp/B00RWVR2ZG/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=polyurethane+satin&qid=1556404277&s=hi&sr=1-11 Chalk Mountain Supply Co - 100% All Natural Furniture Finishing Waxes I love this stuff, and a little goes a long way! Stock up on some lint rags and grab your round bristle brush or a chip brush and your ready to glaze! Add some onto corners and detailed areas and wipe away excess. Put too much? No worries! Add some of the clear wax and it will come right off! WARNING! Make sure you do this part LAST, after wax or Poly, or your paint/wood will absorb more than you may want. The clear wax or poly gives that layer to work on top of. This will give your piece some age and depth. https://www.amazon.com/NEW-LOOK-Mountain-Furniture-Finishing/dp/B01FMZHLKY/ref=pd_sbs_60_1/137-6950348-8550956?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01FMZHLJU&pd_rd_r=1378bffe-693e-11e9-afd4-2da01f345a74&pd_rd_w=3z7pw&pd_rd_wg=6aZPr&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=NN9K566HSV2SARK5Y4V3&refRID=NN9K566HSV2SARK5Y4V3&th=1 One of my goals for 2019 is to create more organized spaces in our home and to begin letting go of items we do.not.need!
Now that I am spending more time in our home i am realizing how much clutter can cause anxiety. i have a really difficult time being home and "relaxing." this usually only happens once i am in bed because i put the little one down and don't want to get back up. besides that quiet time at the very end of the day, i can look in any direction in our house and see something that could use cleaning, organizing, throwing away, etc. it creates a constant mindset of busy work. oftentimes my husband will tell me to just sit down and relax and my answer is always that i have so much to do. for a long time i would get irritable because i wanted him to be right there with me, battling the never-ending list of chores. but if i'm being really honest, majority of the clutter is my doing. i'm the "shopper," the "keep it for a possible school project someday," the constant "facebook marketplace and offerup searcher"...i bring A LOT into our home. to give myself some credit, i'm also the organizer, the person of action, the rearranger and the creator of beautiful pieces and spaces. i'm going to face this head on and try really, really hard to learn to let go of all the unnecessary items. i began the 1st of the year off with reorganizing our master bedroom closet. i added some (unused- just stowed away in another closet lol!) attachable cubies to the top of the closet to help create spaces where we can dedicate items and find them easily. I also donated a large hamper full of tops and a bin of shoes. It felt SOOO good to get rid of it! not to try to sell or give away but to just drop off and drive away. byeeee! next was our bedroom. besides our bed and 2 matching dressers and nightstands, there is not much cohesion, which helps to create peacefulness. i began searching on pinterest rooms that looked cozy and brought in light. i also began to collect ALL my sons toys and items and move them OUT. he has an entire room to himself. no need to have any of his shoes, toys, books, etc just sitting around in our room. "our" room. it's been a long time since that master bedroom was just for husband and wife.... I cannot wait to upgrade to a king size bed from our queen. in the meantime, i decided to shop at marhshall's for some bedding. although Ross is my FAVE(!!) i have found that their bedding and comforter sets are not well made at all. one wash and the seams and threading can be coming apart. marshall's tends to have better quality and name brand sets. i ended up buying a new king size down comforter on clearance for $28, standard pillow cases in white ($10), king size pillow cases in white and taupe pinstripes ($13) , a taupe color, SUPER soft king size quilt ($40) and a very pretty white throw blanket on clearance for $10. using our existing nightstands and some decorative items and pillows, i added some garland and wall decor from hobby lobby and now we have this beautiful, clean, fresh look. I swear to you, each time we walk into our room we talk about how great it looks. Yes, we/i spent some money, but just moving the room around and decluttering has already help to create this sanctuary space in our home. it's been a looong time... there is still much to be done in that room, and all the other rooms, but my goal is to continue working from one end of the home to the other, with the garage being last. I can't wait to set up our garage as a more open, organized work space where i can refinish beautiful pieces of furniture (without having to sand in the home...oops!). i've already began getting rid of toys and clothing from Nic's room and hailey's is next. we have a super cute, vintage bed to refinish for her, and in the meantime, we will keep working to get rid of all the necessary knick-knacks, papers, art supplies, clothes, etc. trust me, it all takes time but it is SO worth the effort. the way i see it is that a little each day, and a lot on some days, will make a HUGE difference in a short amount of time. Let me know what you think of the new look and I'm always here to answer any questions or offer any advice. Next up will be my "how-to" on hanging wall shelves. Can't wait! General finishes "How do i prevent water based topcoat or light colored paint from yellowing?"9/2/2018 For any of my fellow furniture artisans and DIY'ers, this is a WONDERFUL FAQ entry from General Finishes (honestly, ALL of their information and videos have been beyond helpful to me!). If you are having any issues with yellowing topcoat (like polyurethane) and/or yellowing color, please read this! Such great information and tips.
(You can find more of their helpful FAQ's here: generalfinishes.com/how-to-finish-wood-faqs) *HOW DO I PREVENT WATER BASED TOPCOAT OR LIGHT COLORED PAINT FROM YELLOWING? All bright white paint will yellow slightly with time, with or without topcoat. Water-based topcoats are reactive and more likely to draw out substances in the wood such as tannins or unknown substances in existing finishes causing the topcoat to yellow. This is an industry-wide issue and we have added warning labels regarding the yellowing of topcoats to our bright white paints, Snow White Milk Paint and Chalk White Chalk Style Paint. General Finishes background was originally on the professional side, and the incidences of yellowing topcoat over white paint were almost nil, and when our sprayable professional finish, Enduro White Poly, is used, there have been no incidences. But as the use of our paints has increased in the up-cycling and furniture refresh markets, we have heard more reports of our topcoat yellowing. Our original response was to teach about prepping, testing your finish schedule and finally creating Stain Blocker, our stain and tannin blocking primer, but this is not enough. Just as we advocate prepping all finishes, we are now advocating NOT using a clear water base topcoat over BRIGHT WHITE paint. We are listening and General Finishes is in the process of developing a brushable version of our professional Enduro White Poly (available only in gallons), but that will take some time and rigorous testing before we can release the product. Here is what you should know to protect yourself and also some immediate suggestions to decrease chances of yellowing. There is no way to reliably predict yellowing ahead of time. Sometimes yellowing occurs, sometimes it does not. Every existing finish is different and we rarely know the finishing provenance on an existing piece. Every tree is different and every piece of wood is unique. Wood can bleed tannins immediately after the topcoat dries or months later with a change in temperature that comes with a change in seasons. Oak, pine, mahogany, and Douglass Fur are particularly prone to bleed-through. As is true of most "water-white" topcoats, our High Performance Water-Based topcoat is a clear drying finish over a non-reactive substrate such as plastic. When white paint sealed with a water-white topcoat is applied to something as unpredictable as wood, all bets are off and the reason is often unknown. Yellowing can be caused by the top coat activating the tannins in raw wood or aniline dyes, stains or contaminants in a pre-existing finish. This is most evident when using BRIGHT WHITE paint and most prevalent in the sculpted details of furniture, where the topcoat can collect, intensifying the color change to an unacceptable level. To add to this issue, all bright white paint will yellow slightly with time, with or without topcoat. You have probably tried to touch up white woodwork in your home after several years and noticed that the new paint is brighter. SUMMARY
TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF AND PREVENTING YELLOWING
I cannot believe I'm "working from home." SOMEONE PINCH ME! I have the "Lumineers" station playing on my Google Home, drinking a fresh cup of coffee, doing what I love with my pups in-tow. I swear, 6 months ago if anyone had told me that I would be working less hours at my "job," no longer commuting 2 1/2 hours a day dropping my son off at daycare for almost 10 hours/5 days a week, and no longer limited to fitting in quality time with the family for 2 hours in the evenings and over weekends...I would have cried tears of joy. I understand that a huge part of how all this is happening is the unfortunate reality that our son was diagnosed with autism in June, but the other extremely important factor is that I have this creative, inspiring outlet which is allowing me to make the necessary changes to fit our family's need. Our son needs me. We need consistency and patience and time. I have somehow found a way to continue working with my employer on weekends, keeping our amazing medical benefits, while being able to have SO much more flexibility and time during the week. It's amazing!
It might sound boring to some but I am sooo excited for school to start and to be able to finally volunteer in our children's class, and to be there for drop off and pick up. For 6 years I've been the "project" mom, "Did you read and finish your homework?" mom, the mom that always bought supplies and clothes and lunch food but never got to go on the field-trip or last day of school celebration. Now is my time! Every single day I will have appointments and errands and work to do. In-home therapies, speech therapy, evaluations, regular doctor and dental appointments, chores, school work and projects, etc. When I am home, I swear I work 10x harder. With that being said, I can't wait because I will also be dedicating more hours each week to my craft- revitalizing outdated furniture! So thank you, THANK YOU for all the "likes," comments, shares, motivation and enthusiasm for what I'm doing. For those of you who have purchased from me and/or entrusted me to complete a custom piece for you, from the bottom of my heart, T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U!!! None of this would be possible without your support. Working weekends is a drag. Making less money is stressful. Running around all day, everyday is exhausting. BUUUT...I'm so, so, so blessed, beyond grateful and can't wait to see what the future holds. We are all on the right path and my faith tells me that good things are in store. 💜💜💜 #blessed #generalfinishes #vintagerevitalized #painteverywhereIdontcare |
HI YA'LL!
in 2012, i refinished my first hutch. I was SO proud of it. I remember when my dad, the carpenter, complimented how great it looked and I felt so proud . With that being said, I didn’t know much about paint, stains, repairs, waxes, tools, etc. I used spray paint and no sealant...it is very pretty but dull. In 2017, I got the idea to buy, fix up and sell children’s playhouses. It was so much fun and a great creative outlet. It was also a way to bring in some added income on the side. Once we got toward the end of that summer, I could tell there was less of a want/need for outdoor play items. my mind began to wander for the next creative outlet. A friend at work, Sheri Courtney from “Spruced Goose Designs,” had been refinishing furniture for a few months and I LOVED EVERYTHING she was doing! She is the one who taught me how to make chalk paint, who Annie Sloan is, what waxes and glazes to try, how to stain wood, and so on. I finally took the leap and purchased a small, outdated TV console. I painted it in a “duck-egg” blue color, sanded and stained the top in Kona, painted the hardware in oil-rubbed bronze and replaced the glass with chicken wire. I sealed it all with wax and a charcoal glaze and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!! I sold the piece just a few days later. I felt so accomplished and happy. I was ready to go! All day, everyday, i can't wait to find time here and there to go into the garage to sand, paint, repair, and tinker around. At least 75% of my clothing now has paint stains because I’m so impatient to get my hands (and hair) on that paintbrush! Since I completed that first piece in October 2017, I’ve transformed many pieces, including varying sized dressers , large hutches, dining table and chair set, vanities, buffets, and so on. I also work on custom pieces for clients. A lot of time, effort, attention and passion goes into each piece. They are my babies and I love knowing that I am helping to give them new life, and ultimately, a new home. I love working with new products, colors, and stains, and I’m constantly trying new things. Recently there have been some changes in my family’s needs, specifically my young son. I have cut back my hours at my “job” to be home more. So, keep this in mind- I am a working mother and wife who has found a hobby that she REALLY enjoys. I love my family and try to get in as much time as I can with them. I would LOVE to refinish furniture as my main career, but until then, I will continue to work on pieces that bring me joy (and sometimes a few swear words) because that is what life is all about- spending our precious time doing the things we love and are passionate about. I love the quiet, the tools, the photos of the pieces in their new spaces, the new people I meet and the art of it all. And until I have my very own workshop and a reality show, a girl can dream (while making those dreams a reality ;) . If you decide you would like to have some of your pieces “revitalized,” please know that I truly appreciate the faith that you have entrusted me with. Your support creates the opportunity for me to continue doing what I love, while I can be with the ones I love 💕 Tina B. |