Grief painting

I spent the whole weekend wondering if I was still pregnant, or if this next minute would be the one where I'd start bleeding.  It was hell.  I hated not knowing and I found myself slowly going just a little bit crazy.  So when Drew stepped in and said "Hey, I'll watch the baby.  Why don't you finish your table," I was so grateful to have somewhere else to focus my energy.

A couple of months ago, I went to a consignment sale with a friend of mine.  I'd always wanted to go to one, but one thing or another always got in the way.  But this time, the stars aligned and we went to the JBF sale at the Reading Expo, which is a giant convention center.

I had a list of clothes I wanted to find but when we went in, I ended up making a beeline for the furniture.  I didn't know consignment sales had furniture, and I just knew the good stuff would get snatched up quick.  That's how I ended up coming home with this guy.

It was a little loud and scary but for $20, he was coming home with me.

Especially when West Elm's version, which isn't even available anymore,

was costing more than 100 bucks just for the table!

A little spray paint ought to quiet you down nicely.

I was paranoid about the designs showing through on the chairs, so I went crazy with the sandpaper and primer.  I must have put five coats of primer on the chair seats and backs.  I didn't put any on the legs because I ran out of steam.

Outside, ready for paint.

It took two full cans of Rustoleum's Gloss White, plus a little from a third can.

I brought them in to dry overnight and then I sanded them with a finishing block, so it wasn't so rough feeling.  I wonder if all spray paint is like that, or if it's just Rustoleum, but the chairs and table legs felt like sandpaper.  So much for glossy white, but it was nothing a little sanding couldn't handle.

Then I painted a chalkboard top for the table and that took forever.  That was like five or six coats too, but I'm really pleased with how it came out.  I even free-handed a little monogram on the back for Sofia - that's what I got at Michael's before I got stuck in their bathroom.

So, what do you think?

Behold, the power of white spray paint.

Sofia thought it was pretty cool too.

She's learning her colors and if you ask her, she'll tell you 

her favorite color is green.

So of course, we had to go green with the monogram.

"That's an S for Sofia!"

I like to imagine she's saying "Not bad, Mom!"

Getting a closer look.

I also got this rocking chair at the consignment sale - five bucks!

He's just waiting for his coat of yellow spray paint.

Thus ended our photoshoot, because someone thinks that being a daredevil is fun.

before

after

Not too bad, right?

It was so helpful to have something to do to pass the time, and I'm really happy with how her little table came out.  I still have lots to do before her room is done *coughcurtainscough* but crossing a project off the list feels good.

What about you?  Have you ever been to one of those consignment sales?  Did you score any good stuff?  I got Sofia's Christmas dress for five bucks!

*I go to the doctor in a couple of hours and I wrote this to distract myself while the baby sleeps.  It only sorta worked.