A Bookshelf Saved by Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint "Leftovers!"

I was driving past an op shop & saw this guy, dusty & dirty, 
leaning against the outside wall....

This photo is after a good scrub down —he was covered in spider webs & thick, greasy dust

Not one to pass by a freebie or a bargain, 
I cut across four lanes of traffic (Ok, it was only one, but the adrenaline rush 
was about the same) & screeched into the carpark. 

Once inside  I kept my eyes closed most the time
so as not to end up with a car full of chairs, dressers, 
& other projects in need of a new home. 

I found the shopkeeper and asked about it.
Once he figured out what sad shelves I was talking about he said 
the magic words: "You can have it for $15."
 Solid timber, decent construction, a bit of quirk....SOLD, sir!

I knew before I saved this beauty that Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint
would provide the loving restyle. 
What I didn't know is that it was a fickle little beast with 
all sorts of twists & turns & misinformation that would 
lead me on the ultimate upcycle roller coaster ride.

At first, I was certain he whispered that he wanted an edge.
That he wanted industrial with a rugged black wash using 
Miss Mustard Seed in Typewriter.
So that's where we began.

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Typewriter

Milk Paint in Typewriter with Hemp Oil finish

I Hemp Oiled him thinking we were finished....
but he had other plans. 

 A few days later I walked into the workshop an 
 he said to me Mustard Seed Yellow.....ummm.....OK......

Mustard Seed Yellow over Hemp Oil resist

It was incredibly thirsty & neglected timber so I added 
a bit more Hemp Oil to act as a resist before adding the yellow.

Then he asked for legs....your wish is my command.

The next day I helped him go a little chippy with a scraper.
  But he still wasn't happy & now he wasn't speaking either.
So we quite simply parted ways....for a very long time. 
He sat quietly in my studio in a corner
 occasionally looking my way in all his bumblebee glory. 
But still not saying anything.
Equally stubborn, I decided not to force the issue...or beg!

A couple months later I was cleaning & from the corner he whispered:
"...hey...see all those Milk Paint 'leftovers? Lemme have 'em.'" 

Oh yes, there they were in various cups, jars, etc... 
glorious shades of Kitchen Scale, Eulalie's Sky, Linen... 
Curious...I mixed them all together like when you're making 
a "clean out the refrigerator" soup.
(I'm not the only one who does that, right?)

A gorgeous jar of leftover Milk Paint

A little kamikaze mixing and I washed it 
over the Mustard Seed Yellow, over the Typewriter, 
over the Hemp Oil, over the timber & for the first time 
since he got in the car to come home with me, he was happy! 
And so was I. 

I love the varied patina with all the layers peeking through. 
Diverse shades and patterns, textured & perfectly aged.

Pretty patina finish with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

Next up, lining the back with gorgeous 
personality-filled papers and Mod Podge.

I laid him down flat & arranged the paper in random patterns.
Next I cut the paper to size and brushed the timber & the paper
with Mod Podge in matte finish.

Craft paper in coordinating colours and patterns

I finished up with a coat of Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Wax.
 We are now the very best of friends...inspeparable even. 
I pretty much love him. And I like to think the feeling is mutual.

It's all here...for the love...
Sada
sada@forthelovecreations.com.au