News / Annie Sloan

This weekends work...

I was asked by a lovely lady to help transform her dining room furniture. These chairs had already been some upycling before getting to me. The chars originally had an open style back - the client has had this set for some time and wanted a complete new look. She had them re-upholstered locally with a gorgeous teal fabric, they filled in the back and added stud-work to finish off the look. They turned out fantastic. Time for a lick of paint to freshen them up - that is where I come in :)

Before

The client wanted a nice modern clean look with a bit of texture to the finish - Chalk Paint is the obvious choice for this type of finish. Handpainted using Antique White chalk paint by Annie Sloan for the chairs, table legs and surround, finished off with a high gloss varnish for the table top. This dining set has been completely transformed and re-loved to be enjoyed for many more years to come. Take a look at the after shots below.

After

The Makery will be at this years Dublin Christmas Flea market from 9th-11th Dec in Point Village. Pop by and say hello and pick up some unique and handmade gifts for Christmas. There is a fantastic selection of Ireland's finest Makers, Artists, Designers and Entrepreneurs all under one roof - support local and support Irish creatives this year.  Check out The Makery's listing here. 

Full steam ahead with making in preparation for the weekend. Being a one woman show means lots of making to ensure enough stock for thee weekend. I love the buzz that comes with the build up to a big market, however long and sleepless the nights are beforehand! Being a Maker, this is what it is all about and what keeps spirits up at 4am while waiting for glue or paint to dry! Markets are a great chance to meet all my lovely customers, and get some feedback on new designs and crafts. Anyway, back to it, they aren't going to make themselves! See you there. 

Tis the season....for craft fairs! 72 frames, one boot! Lots of making going on in preparation. Delighted to announce The Makery will be at this years Dublin Christmas Flea from 9th-11th Dec in Point Village North Wall! Pop on down and say hello, and support local traders and crafter's.

I'll have some great upcycled and unique Christmas gifts available. I can also take orders before then for collection at the market. Pm for more details. It's going shaping up to be a great market, all indoors too in case the weather isn't great. 

Busy few weeks ahead! Game on  

I had done a similar chair before in a Superhero theme, turned out great and sold very early on at the first market it went to! So I had to do one for the girls, or the boys too if they like butterflies, hey we're inclusive here! :)

Decoupage is a process of layering a pva/water mix and usually napkins to stick the image to the furniture/bottle/plant pot - pretty much anything! That is why I love it, its a simple way to give something a new lease of life - and for the price of a napkin, can't get much cheaper than that! Now I have simplified the process, and it actually takes some time, patience and practice of course to get the best results.

This is the perfect statement, study, occasional or dressing table chair. Very unique, sure to make a statement. Priced at €70 and available for collection - local delivery may be possible for a small fee. Please get in touch for more details.

Finally finished! Before & after....

This has been a true labour of love, I've been redecorating and upcycling my bathroom over the last few weeks. It's taken waaayyyy longer than I would have liked, but a day job, evening job (The Makery!) and life has slowed me down. When we moved in it was an awful shade of green everywhere, and I mean everywhere! It has been transformed into a much calmer space now in comparison and for grand total of about €100 (including buying a new upcycled mirror made from the base of a barrel ) it just shows you can completely change a room on a shoestring.

Mr Makery did and epic job of sanding back the black painted flooring. This was then given a driftwood effect finish using the below technique:

DIY Driftwood Effect Floor:

1. Mix 2 parts cream chalk paint to 1 part water & 1 part grey chalk paint (I used Annie Sloan Paloma which gave a mauve tone to the grey) and painted it on like a wash. 
2. Leave it 24 hours.
3. Sand down lightly to bring out the grain in the pine, not too heavily.
4. Using a mix of 1 cup white spirits & 2 teaspoons of Rustoleum Multi Purpose in Slate Grey - but you can use any oil based paint. Paint on with a foam brush or even a sponge - dip it into the mixture and rub lightly across the floors with the grain.

The oil paint sticks to the grain and brings out the pattern. I was so amazed at how well it turned out!!! Be warned the white spirits smell is overpowering and gloves are needed but smell goes after 24hrs. I then sealed it all a couple of coats matt varnish for durability. A lot of work but cost very little.

The shelving unit is a ladder I had already which I painted in a soft cream chalk paint, I then used the same driftwood effect as the floor on some plain pine shelves I picked up for next to nothing with colour pops inside to help lift and add a bit of life to the space. All the bit and pieces have been collected along the way from family and flea markets and help to give it that homely feel. Delighted with how it turned out. Now to tackle the rest of the house! :)

Bathroom Before

Sanded Floor:

Floor Before &  After:

Bathroom After:

It's been a while since I've posted, life has gotten in the way! Usually when my facebook & website pages are quiet, it means I've gotten a commissioned item that I'm working on.

I was asked to paint this beautiful monks bench, which has now gone off to its new home. As you can see from the before picture, it was originally pine in colour.

The client wanted a buttercream colour so I chose Annie Sloan Cream. Annie Sloan paints give a beautiful finish and can be used with a variety of different techniques. The client also asked for a vintage French themed stencil and so I chose the one I thought would suit the piece the best. I chose Annie Sloan Paloma, which is a lovely rich grey with slight purple tones. These colours are fab together. All finished in a clear wax for durability. This was the first time I have applied the wax using Annie's Sloan's wax brush and all I can say is that I wish I had bought one sooner! The application process using one is so much easier than using lint free cloths, makes for quicker working times  - which is always a plus in my book! Although a bit pricey, worth every penny.

As with all of my commissions, I try to add an element of surprise to for the client that enhances each piece. I love to use surprise colour pops and did so by painting the inside of the bench and the edges of the sides with Paloma also. The client was delighted with the the result and I've been told has received lots of compliments about it.

The bench has been completely transformed and been given a new lease of life, really happy with how it turned out. If you have something you'd like me to upcycle for you, please get in touch for more details and a quote.

Before


After