Kate's Darling Blue Table and A Little ASCP Wax Q&A

My sweet friend Kate brought me this darling little table on Saturday.  She had fond memories of it in her parent's house when she was little.  However, they were no longer using it and it was sitting in storage collecting dust.  With their permission, Kate claimed the table for her bedroom makeover!  She wanted it painted a color that would compliment the teal blue in her bedroom curtains.  I went to work mixing Annie Sloan's Aubusson Blue and Antibes Green and came up with this color.  The table was finished with several coats of clear wax.

I told Kate that I thought the table was quite old...maybe from the 1930s.  She was curious and asked her dad if he had any information on the history of it.  He told her that he had purchased it from the landlord of a Boarding House where he lived in the 1960's and that he remembered that he had considered it to be vintage at that time!  Kate said that she told her father that his table was going to have a whole new life!  I wonder what he will think of it's new look?

I sure wish my parents had vintage furniture just lying around in storage!  It was a pleasure to work on this piece and I hope that Kate loves it in it's new finish with her bedroom decor!

I had just a little bit of the teal blue left over in my jar from painting Kate's table and decided to add some Old White to it.  The result was this pretty aqua color which I dry brushed on the picnic basket.  It reminds me of those iconic little Tiffany boxes....so very different from the blue of Kate's table.  In fact, it's not at all what I was expecting, but it's lovely!   

I love the amazing range of colors you can achieve by mixing Annie Sloan's paints.  It seems that I am always pleasantly surprised when I start mixing.  Isn't this a fun color for Spring? 

I wanted to talk a little bit today about waxing painted furniture because I've had some really good questions lately here on my blog, email, Facebook and even Pinterest!  I don't claim to be an expert in this area.  I have only been using Annie Sloan's products for a little over 2 months, but I have learned a lot during this time and am happy to share any advice that I can with those of you who are just getting started!

Q:  What is the purpose of applying the wax to ASCP painted surfaces?

A:   The wax seals and protects the painted surface.  It also gives the piece you've painted a luxurious, quality look and feel (in my opinion!)

Q:  What tools do you use for applying the wax?

A:  I have a set of waxing brushes from The Purple Pear that I use to brush the wax on, I then wipe it off with a clean, white cotton cloth.  And here's a little tip...  I first started using my husband's old white cotton t-shirts, cut into squares.  When I ran out, I tried an old grey t-shirt but it left a great deal of grey lint in my wax!  I recently came across a "bag 'o rags" at the Goodwill!  In this bag was 1 dozen white cotton shirts in a variety of styles and sizes.  The bag retailed for $5 but was it was half off the day I was there, so I bought 12 shirts for $2.50!  I bought one bag, but looking back I wish I would have bought them all!  I went straight home and dumped them into the washing machine, washed in hot water with extra detergent, dried and deposited them onto my clean kitchen island (not on the floor where they could collect dust and pet hair!)  There I cut them into squares that I then stuffed into gallon ziplock bags to store until I needed them.  There is nothing worse than wiping dust and lint into your freshly painted and waxed furniture!  Incidentally, I was told recently that Annie Sloan cuts up old bed sheets to use when she does her waxing!

Q:  How do you clean your waxing brushes?

A:  I have heard of a few different methods for cleaning waxing brushes.  One idea that floated around pinterest was to soak your brushes in hot vinegar.  I tried this.  It worked for paint brushes, but not so well for a brush with wax in it's bristles.  I also read a response from a pinner who said that the vinegar made her brushes fall apart!  Most recently, Phyllis at the Purple Pear taught me to use warm water and Dawn dish soap!  This works brilliantly...and it's so simple!

I hope these little tips and tricks will be helpful to at least a few of you!  Let me know if there are other questions you have!  I know I am going to come back next week after my Annie Sloan Workshop with loads of good information to share!  I am so very excited! 

I hope you are having a wonderful week!  Thank you so much for your sweet visit!

Best Wishes and Blessings,

Amanda 

Linking up to these fun blog parties!

Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Potpourri Friday at 2805
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Furniture Feature Friday with Miss Mustard Seed