My Favorite Things

 A local The Sound of Music production gave some of my family and furniture a chance to shine!  This antique, French bed was bought for my daughter's room, then she immediately decided that she liked bunk beds and moved in with her big brother.  It was another piece that I had always planned to paint white, but I was searching for inspiration. 

Here is the bed before painting.  I love the upholstery and nail trim.

Painting over antique and carved wood takes guts for me to do, but once I get started I never regret it.  

 It freshens a tired piece up and shows off details that were hiding in the dark wood.

Even the nail heads show off more now!

 Painting around velvet takes some guts too.

 However, I couldn't be happier with the results!

my little star

I also painted these two night stands for the play set.  They needed a coat of fresh white and some gold leaf to add interest.  I ended up painting the entire back side of these pieces shiny gold.  They were used with the backs facing out in the scenes with the nuns at the abbey, and with the white facing out in the bedroom scene.

This was such a great project to be part of; it is definitely on the list of my favorite things!

Many thanks to Walt Jedsiniak Photography for capturing some fantastic memories for all of us!

Star Sofa!

I bought this sofa off craigslist a few years ago.  It was always my intention to paint the wood white, but I moved it into my house and left it alone... for three years.  Sometimes, we all need a little extra inspiration to finish projects.  I found that inspiration when my daughter became a cast member in our local high school production of The Sound Of Music.  

The parents were given a list of ways to help out and volunteer.  I love to be helpful, but I don't have a lot of experience with theater production, so I wasn't sure how I fit in.  I went home and started noticing that I had quite a few Louis XIV, XV,and XVI pieces of furniture stashed around my Aubergine Cottage.  I had always planned to paint them, but most were never started.  With the wood painted white, it would look so appropriate in an Austrian villa set! I nervously asked if supplying the furniture could be my job, to which the director said, "ABSOLUTELY!"  Apparently, people don't fight over that job???

Boom! Inspiration to finish the pieces was back!

sofa before

  I loved the result!  After the production, I was just as excited to move it all back into my house, like it was all new (to me) furniture. 

Sofa After- with my little Klara "Gretl"

 The production was wonderful, beautiful and successful. We have some big treasures in our little town: a truly gifted and caring staff, and incredible kids! My daughter was the youngest cast member and I'll admit I was nervous about a 6 year old spending so much time with 40 teenagers!  However, they were amazing, helpful, watchful and responsible. The cast became like family and Klara cried (and I cried) when it was all over.  

Unpainted

Unpainted

On the set!

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do!!!

Many thanks to Walt Jedziniak Photography 

for sharing these great shots of the kids 

(and the furniture!!!)