From Old Lady Drab…to Tootsie Style Fab! (and a small tutorial)

Hey guys!!! How the heck are you? I’m good…good and tired.

Why- you ask? Well…let me tell you!

I have been a busy girl with all the flowers, kids, back to school prep…life’s obligations (of which I can hardly wait to share …(another time)…and a little bit of this and that…okay…a lot of “this”…ya wanna see?

I am so relieved that you said yes…or we’d be stuck in a rather awkward moment here…haha…

So the story begins…after all the obligations and commitments are taken care of each day, Tootsie has got to play...

There is a lot changing in my and my kid’s world lately…and we are taking steps to change things from drab, worn and sad, to Tootsie Style , fresh, and FAB!

This dining room set has been in my house for a few years now. We use it every day three times a day. It is pretty isn’t it?

ya…pretty sad…pretty worn…pretty old lady-ish and looking very drab…

What’s a Toots to do when she is looking at things…and they either bring back an UGLY memory, or they are looking a little past their prime?

Well…SHE CHANGES THEM!!!

Out came the sander…out came the primer, the stains (all 3 colors) and out came the rags, brushes and of course the camera.

I started with the chairs…and slowly but surely got them all done…then moved on to the table and the china cabinet. I thought I’d give a small tutorial of how I did this for those who might ask…

Step 1. Sand off the shiny finish

Step 2. prime

Step 3. Rub Dark Walnut gel stain over the primer to desired shade.

Step 4. Add accent color with Cabernet Gel stain

Step 5. Detail with Black semi-gloss paint

Step 6. Rub lightly again with Dark Walnut stain…

Step 7…ENJOY!!!

Here is how it went for the table…the steps are the same…but the mess is very different…the table is heavy…too heavy for me to move…so I did the table and cabinet in the house…

I added the leaf to the table…and let the sanding begin…

did I mention I had a lot of help???

‘The Duch’-age 11 my hero

‘Busy’ age 5 my shadow

‘Georgie’ age 9 my delightful challenge

oh the giggling!!! they were supposed to be using sanding sponges…how did they end up with both my sanders???

ya…they really enjoyed themselves…we all had a great time!

But the job got done…and the mess was huge…we had stuff everywhere…and dust…let me tell you…no..on second thought I won’t…you can just imagine…haha

The table was done and I had to do the china cabinet…so I borrowed some muscles from a friend…and had the top removed from the base…did the whole process to it…and then left it all to cure for a day or so.

The big day rolled around…and all I could think about was getting things put away…I had dishes all over the house…dust everywhere and being a clean freak in a mess like this was no fun at all…but how will I get the cabinet back up on the base??? It is solid oak…and heavy as HECK. (you thought I was going to say a bad word didn’t ya??? hahaha) My borrowed muscles were away for a couple days…and I did not want to wait for another set to come over…(it was a 5 hour wait!!!) So…I did it myself!

How the heck??? yea…I know you want to see…(you are just nosey that way) haha

I dragged the shelving in from my greenhouse…and made little steps with it! I’d lift it up…and “Duchy” (my 11 year old son) would push it steady. Then we’d add two shelves to the pile…and the process went on and on until…

We had a couple huge stacks…and

WE WON!!! All my son could say was “Man mom…are you ever strong!”

“ROAAAAAAR!!!! that’s me! – I couldn’t have done it without you“ I said! haha My son is not only very protective of his old mom…but he has been a great help to me these past months. This project brought me and my little gang even closer together than we had been…and we loved every moment of it. I’m glad I let them help…but…I fear I have created three sanding monsters!!!! haha

Okay..back to the finshed product.

After an entire day of cleaning…touching up..and primping…okay…Okay…okay….just look!!!!!

TA-DAAAA!!!! Take a look!

from this…Old Lady Drab…

To Tootsie Style FAB!!!

and as a bonus…Bad memories got to be erased…

Damaged surfaces erased…

Old lady drab …gone.

memories made with my gang…

..and the promise of many more wonderful memories of true friends and wonderful family to be made on my one of a kind creation!

So? What do you think? Will you be trying my stain mixing???

My next project to finish up involves the installation of a fireplace in my house! I can’t wait to share it!

Until then…hugs and smiles to all the great followers of Tootsie Time…and as usual winks to a very special three…*) *) *)…you know who you are!!! {;)

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`*.¸.*´Tootsie
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