** MY WINTER HOBBY**

Meadowland it is amazing in America she is so well known, yet she hails for Oxford UK, we are so slow here, she has written loads of books too.....

Wow! Certainly am interested Angela! What a fantastic product. Would be a great solution to a tired kitchen. I might do mine as well actually. I've always loved a cream kitchen, but most of the paint finishes available are not very durable. I'll wait until I see yours first...don't forget to take pics! Thanks so much for sharing this!

Dd , well, all looks amazing . What results !
Added to faves for future reference .
Your OH hadn't better stand still too long !

I bought some Annie Sloan tester pots a few months ago, to paint a dressing table stool. it certainly does the business. Years ago I had an old oak cupboard which I wanted to paint white, there was no Annie Sloan then, but there was ESP, Every Surface Primer which worked, but gave off horrendous fumes. Some years later I wanted wood again so painted it to look like wood! Your makeovers are fantastic and look very professional, I'm a bit more slapdash which I prefer to call shabby chic:-) I must try painting furniture fabric, I bet it takes some courage:-)

I love the black and red effect on the chair, Dotty, and what an amazing achievement for your first attempt! You'll be getting us all going now . . . I shall Google this lady and her extraordinary paint - thanks for sharing :)

Wow, that all looks amazing. What wax did you use? I love your mirror, such a lovely shape. I have just decided to revamp my kitchen by changing all the doors, drawer fronts, etc. Now I am wondering..... :)

That's just incredible, you are so talented! I love the chair and the morror too, but its all great.

This looks great. I have been sanding, filling and painting walls this week. I much prefer your endeavours.

HB your very welcome, a little goes a long way, it is not cheap but the end result is very pleasing......
Linda I used to do lots of furniture restoring, but because it was such a laborious job I would get bored half way through and then not finish the project.....
Stera you cannot go wrong, the paint is just so easy to work with thanks for your kind comments
Gee the wax is from the same range of Annie Sloan products, there are two, a white, which I have been using and a dark wax to use over the white which is for heavily carved pieces, to get definition, it goes a very long way, I bought a sample to begin with, but have invested in a large tin for the kitchen.....
Sheila pleased you liked the red chair, my OH was a little dubious to begin with, but now he loves it, he is rather worried I might paint him if I run out of projects.....
BA I detest the smell of paint stripper, so this was the obvious choice, I am in the middle of an old china cabinet at the moment, and a laundry basket......
Driad funny you should say that........
Karen there is a great deal of wood in our kitchen and lots of detail, as it is limed oak, but it is 14 years old and could do with a face lift, will keep you posted......she has written several books and there is lots of information about her products online should you want to see for yourself.....

What amazing results! I hope I can find these paints here - I have so many things that could use a sprucing up.

Lauram you should be able, the America women love her! lots of stuff on YouTube........

Fantastic Dotty but I am still trying to get my head round painting and waxing the fabric! Must have a go before gardening time begins :o)

Which one of the books did you buy Dotty?

Just discovered that a fairly local shop stocks these products and have told my daughter I fancy a trip that way :) I read it up online and was intrigued that the paints can be used outside too - I think some of my shabby pots may get a make over before the summer.

I was thinking the same Gee and there is a shop very close to me :o)

Very nice hobby, I do it sometimes, too. It is very mirror, actually I liked that bronze green colour on it.

You have worked wonders with your new paints and have given so many things in your home a brand new look. A very worthwhile hobby for the winter time.

Your mirror is lovely both before and after!

Annella the library got me a book called Colour recipes for painted furniture, it has a lot of new stuff in, which does not appeal to me very much, I would go for an older book, not her first ones more in the middle, look on Amazon you can usually look inside the book before you purchase....
Gee that is useful, I can see you getting hooked lol
Katarina I am going to paint the glass cabinet in a mix of dark green and graphite......

Thanks Wildrose the beauty of this paint is if after a couple of years you want to change it, you just paint over the old colour wax and all!! no sanding down or paint stripper!!

Wow, that´s something! I like your idea of this colour combination. Please, upload it once you finish it.
By the way, in this blog I likes also that small charming table with lamp - how do you call in English those small tables at the bedside?

Very interesting, and well done - great results !
I may try to get some of these paints because I have some things that are in desperate need of a makeover :o)

Good work DD, very attractive makeovers.

Katarina, surprisingly they are just called bedside tables - can't fault it really can you?

A very interesting Blog Angela I love your results they look so professional something definitely worth knowing , Now what will I be doing next winter ?

Lovely results DD. Well done for your artistic achievements.

I saw one of those designer makeover competitions recently where one of the designers painted and waxed an old armchair until it looked like leather. I couldn't find out what paint she used, could have been this I suppose. My children have been asking what I want for my upcoming birthday and at last, instead of saying (unhelpfully, but truthfully) there's nothing I want, I'm going to ask for Annie Sloans Painted Garden book which is rather expensive, but not too bad between two of them. Now look what you've done:-))

BA I saw the same program, and spent ages looking for information re the paint she used, because we have a similar chair that would lend itself perfectly to being painted, I have to admit the chair looked fabulous when she finished it, didn't it? I found loads of info online mostly American ladies who kept on about Annie Sloan paints, and how to go about painting upholstery, that's why I went for something small to test the water, looking forward to doing the chair now, problem is not sure what colour?
Our youngest daughter is buying me one of her books for my Mother's Day gift, make sure it is the right one, she has written several!! sorry for getting you interested in another expensive hobby.......still, it keeps us off the streets lol:O

Lindak thank you, finished my laundry bin today!!
Amy a great winter hobby, indoors too!! thanks for your kind comments, as soon as I have finished indoors, I shall start on the garden furniture!!
Hywel and Klahanie many thanks,it is great fun!!
Katharina I have started on the cabinet, will need to buy some more paint though, I am using testers at the moment!!

Katarina, the "bedside table" is called in Canada "night table"
Now I will be looking into this paint too when back home.
I am sure there are lots of things that need to be refreshed around the house. Thanks DD for this blog.

Your welcome Klahanie...... keep us posted.

Most interesing blog. Especially as this paint can be used on garden pots, and planters.

I have a concrete staircase. Painted the sides and risers with Turquoise gloss paint, very nice, with stuck on carpet treads.
Now its getting chipped.
I was dreading having to redo it because of the smell of the paint in the confined space.
This seems an ideal solution, especially as it dries quickly.
Will have a look in Wicks.
Thank you DD.

Oh my, you clever girl! I love the end results and shall be showing this blog to my d-in-law as she wants to change the look of a large wood dresser. Thanks for the info. :o)

Have come back to put it on favourites .... :o)

Snap Amy . . . this blog is definitely worth keeping.

Thanks so much Angela: I'm now looking forward to 'doing' some garden pots!

Shirley perfect for a wood dresser, so pleased you liked the blog....
Dianebulley sorry you will not be able to buy this in Wicks only specialist shops sell it, and eBay.....small tester pots!!
I am going to paint a few garden pots, and some metal furniture....
I have just finished the china cabinet will pop a pic on....

I think I saw Wicks mentioned on a website for it.
Will rummage around anyway to find an outlet.

Please let me know if you do, because I have never seen it sold there......

I'm late reading this D D and am wondering if it will paint over a wardrobe fitment which is mahogany Its too dark for the bedroom here at the new place , but looked just right in Willow Cottage. Where can you buy the tester pots and paint ? Do I have to get it online ?
The work you've done is brilliant .

Rose I have just painted over an old mahogany cabinet, if uncertain a coat of shellac on first will help to cover the paint....if you look at her website you can find your local supplier, if not eBay for tester paints or Annie Sloan products suppliers there are quite a few of them.....have a go, it is great fun.....

Thanks DD ...I will, but not sure if I've the confidence to do it !

Try it on a smaller piece of furniture first!!

Good idea, or even plant pots as suggested by DianeBulley.