Ivy & Co.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Refurbished Antique Dresser

We've been trying to buy a house for almost a year now. That's another story.

While on a walk-thru of a potential home, we took a look in the garage, and it was full of all sorts of vintage goodness. It looked like the owners were continuing to have garage sales until the home sold. My eyes went straight to this dresser. I spotted it and told the listing agent I wanted it. It had a $30 price tag on it, but I didn't take it home with me. A few days later (which happened to be a few days before Christmas) my husband went to see the house, and somehow, someone convinced him to bring this home to me. I was so excited! We didn't end up putting an offer in on the house, but I'm stoked on this find in the process!!

Everyone kept asking me for a "before" photo. I had to do some sleuthing and finally zoomed in and found this in the background of another shot. It's just good old solid wood, and looks hand-made with its simple design. It came with glass knobs, and I just replaced the screws that went down the middle because they were rusty and disintegrating.

I knew immediately that I wanted to paint it black, but not solid black. It needed character and depth. I thought Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in "typewriter" would be best. I dry brushed a little bit of "shiloh" (off-white) onto the entire thing first, then did the black over it.

I love the character of the markings on the raw wood.

refurbished antique dresser black crystal knobs

The wood was really rustic and rough, so the depth of the wood and paint colors came out really neat.

It's topped with Miss Mustard Seed Hemp Oil for furniture, and her Furniture Wax. It was my first time using the hemp oil, and at first I didn't like it when I used a cloth to apply it. I later used a brush to apply it on another piece and it looked a lot better.

refurbished antique dresser black with crystal knobs

I painted the sides of the drawers in shiloh, because I felt like it needed a slightly finished look on the sides. I left the insides bare wood.

refurbished antique dresser crystal knobs black

Ivy & I ended up doing a mini photo shoot in front of the dresser with a bunch of stuff from my Etsy shop. Here she is modeling the Sea Shell Head Band, available in my Etsy shop.

arrow bunting on refurbished antique dresser black

Here's the Arrow Bunting:

refurbished antique dresser with bunting crystal knobs black

Here's the Farmhouse Scallop Bunting:

After going back and forth for a few days, I finally convinced Kit to let me keep it in exchange for selling my Vintage Vanity. It's actually for his clothes... so I don't know what the fuss was all about. I take that back. I know what the fuss is all about. I have furniture everywhere. I need to sell it! If you're local, check out my furniture and buy it!

refurbished antique dresser with vintage doily bunting

A good friend of mine is moving to San Francisco and I made this doily bunting as a going away present. I strung it out on the dresser, and the pics came out so neat.

refurbished antique dresser black with vintage doily bunting

Here's some song lyrics from the Broadway Musical "Wicked" that I think are so fitting:

because i knew you i have been changed for good wicked doilies

Aloha, Rebecca

Shop Review: Recarte Holt & Roe

There's a new shop in town: Recarte Holt & Roe just took over the corner spot on Main and Market Streets in thriving Old Wailuku town. It's like nothing I've seen here on Maui- they specialize in writing and art tools, as well as offering art classes to the community.

Walking in, you feel like you've stepped back in time a bit, as you see easels, pens, ink and more.

There are a few rooms to mosey around, with new things to look at in every corner.

Specialty ink, pencils and standard rulers.

Paintbrushes galore, composition books and even your basic crayons.

And great deals!

Easels, scissors, more pencils and a pencil sharpener.

Pick up a canvas for just $4.00

Don't forget the acrylic paint.

Pens are 50 cents each, or 30 cents an ounce!

Perfect so you can write in your $10 journal.

Of course, Ivy wanted to pose with their oversize pencil. They have tons of cute products at the checkout station.

They have a great reason for opening this store:

"In a world full of social media and electronic messaging, it's become more and more important to become creative to stand out amongst the crowd. Nothing says that better than to take a moment and handwrite a note to someone to let them know how special that they are to you. At Recarte Holt & Roe, we cater to your every need when it comes to fine writing... we founded Recarte Holt & Roe after the knowledge handed down to us by our Grandfathers and Mothers... a carefully crafted card of thanks or letter of recognition goes alot farther today than it did in decades past."

(quote taken from their website)

Recarte Holt & Roe

1999 Main Street, Suite 1A

Wailuku, HI 96793

Tel: (808) 419-6602

Fax: (808) 495-0158

http://www.rhrpenshop.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhrpenshop

Twitter: https://twitter.com/holtstevan

Hours:

Mon-Fri: 10:00am-5:30pm

Sat: 10:00am-4:00pm

Sun: 10:00am-2:00pm

Art Classes (mainly for kids) held Tuesday through Saturday.

Go check them out! The staff is incredibly nice and helpful and you're bound to find something special.

Aloha, Rebecca

NOTE: This is not a sponsored or requested post. I believe in supporting local businesses and helping to spread the word so that they can become successful in our community.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Instagram Friday 4

Here's my faves to follow on Instagram this week on the #Friday4:

Check 'em out!

Aloha,

Rebecca

Monday, January 6, 2014

How To Cut Open A Pomegranate

I feel like pomegranates are fairly new on the scene (as in, the last 5 years). To prove this fact, I had to ask my friend, Jenna, how to eat one (ie: "do you eat the husk? is there a husk?"). She gave me really good step by step instructions, but then I forgot them, so I had to do a little research on my own. So, if you're like me and are (were) clueless about this fascinating super-fruit, here's your lesson:

Choose a fruit that's on the heavier side.

Color actually doesn't matter, but seriously, who doesn't want a nice ruby red pomegranate?

Step 1:

You will need a bowl full of cool water, a cutting board and a sharp knife.

I also threw on an apron because I heard the juice is pretty red and would stain my clothes!

Step 2:

Cut off the top 1/2 inch or so.

(See the juice?!)

how to cut open a pomegranate step by step

Step 3:

Cut 5-6 evenly spaced shallow slits in the the peel.

Step 4:

Place the pomegranate in water and gently unpeel it while separating the seeds from the rest of the fruit.

Step 5:

Remove the large chunks of peel, and anything else that is not a seed. Some of the pith will float to the top, but some won't. Either way, you don't want to eat it, so get it out of there with your fingers or a spoon.