My Sentimental Chalk Paint® Project

Mom and Dad have been in Heaven for so many years. Dad, 22. Mom, 12. Picture my father, son of French Canadian immigrants, left-brained textile engineer and hearty jokester. And my mother, the lovely daughter of a Texas Ranger, a true proper belle who taught me all things crafty on dreary snowy days. They fell in love during WW2 when Dad was stationed in Texas, and settled down in Massachusetts near our very French-Canadian-Catholic grandparents.

We lived a very cozy, sweet, traditional, middle-class life. Dad at work, Mom keeping the home fires burning. They were so different, yet so alike. They taught me, the eldest child and grandchild, that I could do anything in life. It would be up to me to make it happen.

In second grade I declared myself an artist.

I am confident my folks believed it was an eight-year-old girl stage.

My artful life commitment stuck very firmly and well, here I am! Many decades, lots, eons, years later. They never knew Annie Sloan and her addictive paint and persona. But they would love that I love it.

After we sold the family home in Greensboro, North Carolina, I passed up the much-prized solid cherry-wood treasures. Cherry. Is. Not. My. Style. Period. Then, my little sister showed up at my home on the way to Goodwill with the demilune chest that stood sentry in the homestead foyer for years. I did not want it. She said she wasn’t lugging the heavy thing back to her car. So I’ve had it for twelve years. Staring at me. I does not blend with our teak platform bed, let me tell you!

Picture me on my knees here….

I have a confession to Mom and Dad in Heaven…I painted it with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan. (Cringe. EEEkkkk. Have I been struck down?) Now, it sits nicely nestled in our bedroom in front of the faux textured fireplace. Flanking it all are two of my daughter Jenny’s wonderfully frenetic paintings from college.

Our bedroom walls are close to Country Grey Chalk Paint®, so I used Old White for the top and drawerfronts. Then added a touch of Old Ochre to the drawer edge detail. I am not fond of Asian-style bright brass hardware, so it just got painted over.

I used the Craqueleur set over the Old White top, plus some Dark and Clear Soft Wax to accentuate the pretty cracks.

Next, I happened to find five of these chairs by the side of the road. I cleaned up two (originally cherry, ugh) and painted them in Olive Chalk Paint® in a smooth finish, with Clear Soft Wax. The seats I recovered with a coordinating square pattern.

Of course, I had to add some favorite raku pottery pieces. If you’ve been following me, you’ll know I’m crazy about it!

I’m really happy with the look that’s evolving. I silver-leafed a focal section over the bed years ago and I still love it every day. Thinking that’s a topic for another post.

For all of you rescue kitty lovers who commented on Sunshine’s photo last week, you’ll be glad to know that little (but BIG) brother Bruce Lee approves, though the whole process was so tedious and many naps were required.

Now, I think I’m feeling approval flutters of angel wings from the Mater and the Pater up above. Dad is playing a round of golf and cracking a few bad “father jokes” in his plaid pants and paisley shirt and remembering when I made greeting cards for 7 cents. And Mom, she’s smiling most beautifully, forgiving me for the day I defied them, and signed up as painting art major in college. And rejoicing when I landed a job as an illustrator (paying and fulltime!) before graduation.

They’ve always been there for me. They still are.

I miss you Ray and Dorothy. Every day.

Dad with his eyes closed, a trait I inherited! Mom smiling proudly and prettily. Me, with my crew cut hairdo and doe eyes.