Vintage Sewing Table "Chippy Restyle" with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

Soft Coral Rose Knob, $7.95

An unexpected but complementary knob completes the picture.

Vintage timber sewing cabinet—before its transformation

I'm blessed with remarkable clients  and friends. I truly am.
They will stand roadside for an hour with a piece of furniture while I rush to get there. 
If they can't reach me, they will often haul beauties home until I can pick them up.
Such is the story with this lovely lady:

Left for trash and rescued by a friend

Once the  outside was complete, the inside received a wonderful mish-mash 
of leftovers that included Apron Strings, French Enamel and 
whatever else was lying around the studio.
Those of you who know me, know that "Leftovers Painting" is one of my favourite things.

Look at this wonderful patina surprise that now awaits when opening the top...

How to create the chippy look with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint

Finally!!! MMSMP Linen to the rescue...

The various transformations along the way

But as much as this post is about the blessing that is friends--
 and the transformative properties of Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint— 
it's also about the art of upcycling (and a bit about changing your mind.)

I could not be happier about where this piece started and where it finished.
And the wonder to me is...somebody left it out as trash!

Once I got her into the studio, I knew the ideal finish would be 
Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint over the 
 varnished timber, with the hopes of going chippy. 
So I started with Kitchen Scale and left the legs and drawer as-is for contrast.

Starting with Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Kitchen Scale

A good start, right? 
Of course it didn't chip. I'm officially the Anti-Chip Queen!
I was going to help it along with sandpaper as I loved the two-tone. 
And with a bit of MMS Furniture Wax this could have been finished quite nicely.
But I wasn't feeling it. I wanted something a little brighter. 
Something fresher.
And this is where the real adventure began!

I painted the timber with Shutter Gray for contrast...
then Typewriter...then ultimately Linen...

Sealing MMSMilkPaint brings out the beautiful colour and gives the paint life!

I literally gasped when I saw her. 
Look at those lines!
Quality, solid timber and tapered legs that go on forever. 
Divine.

Next up? MMS Milk Paint in Typewriter...still not right! Too much contrast for the look I wanted.

Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Kitchen Scale and Shutter Gray

Giving the inside the once-over with MMSMP Kitchen Scale

Even though I believe every one of these options and transformation 
was beautiful in their own right, the lesson is to trust your instincts.
Whether they say leave it be....or change it up. 
You will end up with something that is unique, individual and also
 the true nature of the piece you are working on.
Be unafraid to change your mind. 

By the way, after trying Typewriter I let her sit for a week. 
That is often the case for me...walk away and it will eventually become clear.
I felt every transformation was a beautiful one, just not the "right" one.
Once I let her rest, I knew what to do.

I added a splash of leftover Luckett's Green to the Kitchen Scale and painted a light second coat. 
Then, I painted the legs and drawer with Linen. 
A bit of sandpaper and Painter's Tape helped the chippy along.

I really like how the blue of Kitchen Scale was tempered with the addition of Luckett's  Green.
I also love how the tiniest hint of Typewriter peeks through the Linen legs.

The chippy finish gave me the perfect amount of warm timber 
testifying to its history. 

A light sanding smoothed the surface before finishing with 
Miss Mustard Seed's Tough Coat Sealer...which is just heaven in a bottle 
giving the slightest sheen and tough-as-boots protection.

The end result...is it wrong to have favourites?

It's all here...for the love...
Sada