Chalk & Milk Paint Tips & Techniques. Helpful How-to’s & DIYs

Getting a Chippy Finish with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint on a Painted Antique Chair

2/8/2017

A chair is such a great project. Whether you're a newbie furniture painter or a veteran.

If you have quite a few painterly projects under your belt, you may think there is nothing new under the sun, but once in awhile a special one comes along and when you're finished you think — Oh yeah! I'm keeping that!

That's what happened here...

Enter vintage timber chair gifted to me by my awesome neighbour Darlene (yup, she's the furniture-angel who gifted me the barrel for last week's fabulous project!)

Before: An antique chair with lovely bones

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Creating a Super Chippy Finish with MMSMP BeesWax on a Farmhouse Chalkboard Door

24/5/2017

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It was not in the plan, but when I recently turned an old door into a funky chalkboard sign I had a flood of questions about a more traditional farmhouse style chalkboard door.

And then I thiought...why not?

So I flipped it around!

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The door before . . . take 2!

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Creating a Chippy & Rustic Dresser with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint — Finding Inspiration Everywhere

5/10/2016

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Outback Australia

When asked how to come up with colour ideas my best answer is — look for inspiration everywhere you go! It may take practice, but soon you will see things in terms of colour and be overwhelmed with ideas.

On a roadtrip through the Australian Outback, some may have been bored with hour after hour of scrub, trees and desolation. I found it beautiful and inspiring. Nature always does that for me!

Stopping at a billabong along the way, the colours of this gum tree were so striking, I decided then and there to paint something in these shades when I returned to the studio.

This tree, inspired this piece!

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My Sister's Bedroom Makeover with Farmhouse White Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

12/9/2016

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When most people go on holiday, they lie on a beach, explore nature, read, relax — that kinda thing, right?

Apparently, I do bedroom makeovers!

My sister is a giver and always helping others. She wasn't well for a few years, so when I visited her recently of course a full DIY bedroom reno was in order!

By the way, my sister was going to TOSS this set and buy a new one?!

Even my nieces didn't have faith in me, but I begged them to be patient. They both eyed me suspiciously...

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Before!

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Retailer Round Up — Miss Mustard Seed Sisterhood of the Travelling Paint Pants

5/8/2016

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I do love our yaya sisterhood of paint retailers around the world.

I'm originally from Los Angeles and every so often I'm fortunate enough to make a trip back.

Although most of my time is spent catching up with family and friends, many of us share a passion for vintage, homewares and interior design, so we typically have a list of old favourite shops as well as new spots to visit together. We also try to fit in a bit of DIY which will come soon, so be sure to watch this space!

My trip began with a 5-hour drive up the California coast to spend time with friends holidaying at the beach.

I was quick to hop onto our network of retailers to see who I could find...

Seashells & Sawdust — Morro Bay, California

It was here that I met
the warm and enthusiastic shop owner Shannon
whose passion for her work is evident!
With two locations I was fortunate to catch her at
Seashells and Sawdust
in the beautiful coastal town of Morro Bay.

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A Chippy Style Finish with MMS Milk Paint in Farmhouse White

25/2/2016

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It started out like any other day in the studio...
until the delivery man showed up with this fabulousness...
the Australian release of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Farmhouse White!

Oh yeah....I did a happy dance!!!

The Australian Release of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Farmhouse White

And I had the perfect dresser.
Sitting in the Studio just waiting to be "Farm-housed!"

Originally my plan was not to paint this piece.
But when Farmhouse White turned up,
we both agreed it was time for a new look.
And those giant knobs spoke to me.

I think we did OK...

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How-to Create the Chippy-Look on Raw Timber & on Varnished Wood Furniture — Two Fun Projects!

6/9/2015

Chippy Look Number One: A Varnished Timber Table with Metal Legs

This table has good lines to start with.

It's a quality piece that has spent its life easily tucked away into a rarely used room.

Tables of this size, shape and style are incredibly useful. They serve as great entryway pieces or bedside tables, they tuck into corners as well as onto short awkward walls or between chairs.

They can be used for anything from holding lamps and books to — well how cute would this look in a laundry room or toilet?

This one just needed a lift and a lighten...and a whole lot of chippy goodness!

BEFORE: Metal and timber hall table

The Day Chippy Came to Town — A Milk Painted Buffet Transformation — in PINK!

26/6/2015

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She was already beautiful when I spotted her in the shop —
but there was more to her beauty
underneath that dark, heavy stain.

She sat on lay-by for awhile while I made room in the studio,
she is not a petite lady!
Eventually delivery day arrived.
Gorgeous but that stain was so dark it gave her weight she didn't need.

stripping-restoring-furniture-timber-buffet

BEFORE: Big gorgeous buffet under a heavy dark stain

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Tale of a Chippy Table...and a Reverse Stencil!

3/6/2015

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After a meeting in the city, I was supposed to get back to the studio
to finish up some projects asap...but was sidelined...
A favourite second-hand-haunt beckoned.
I'm searching for a specific display piece for the Shop and popped in.
Well, that's how I justified it.

Back in the corner of the store, flipped on her top was this beauty.
Marked down no less!
Yup, that's more justification...

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Some of our pieces are for sale, or we can create a custom painted beauty for you, email for details

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Layering Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint to Update a Vintage Rocking Horse — Giddy Up!

2/6/2015

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I got this little guy awhile ago.
I'd always planned to keep him in this original state,
but he took a pretty bad tumble in the studio...
and cracked his head straight off!

When I fixed him up, I made
an impromptu design decision to give him
a makeover and move him into my home.