Courtney's "Something Blue" Bridal Shower

Ok, so I haven't posted anything in months. Mostly because I haven't painted anything in months. Mostly because school is hard.... REALLY REALLY hard. But also because I am lucky enough to be Maid of Honor for my very best friend since we were 9-year-old-N'Sync-obsessed-twerps with Lisa Frank binders and Limited Too sweatsuits. She's marrying her high school sweetheart and their wedding is going to be absolutely positively GORGEOUS. 

A few weekends ago, I threw her a Bridal Shower at the Bay Area Museum in Clear Lake, Texas. Please note, when I say "I threw" I mean that I was a slave driver to my sweet mom and sister for a couple weeks. I couldn't have done it without all of their help and patience! Here are some pictures that our high school friend Sarah Miller Photography captured. Take a look...

All my  LoveLeigh vendors and Sources: 

Photography: Sarah Miller Photography
Venue: Bay Area Museum

"Something Blue" Printables (invitations, bunting and water bottles): Prettiest Print Shop

Framed Signage: MarryGrams

Blue Velvet Chair: Bee Lavish Rentals

Mad Lib/Advice Printables: Paper Street Press
Macarons: La Patisserie
Bundt Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Behind this ruffled curtain (which I stole off of my shower..) there is a very strange, wax figure of a man in an Oriental kimono. Needless to say, we needed a backdrop... 

This pretty little pink beauty has a matching chest of drawers & hutch combo, headboard, desk and nightstand that will be the perfect set for a little girls' room with just a little more TLC and a fresh coat of paint. Hoping to get that all painted and ready to go this month!

Nothing Bundt never disappoints. I could've easily eaten the whole thing. 

To cover up the museum's display on the stage, I used 3M hooks and dowel rods for temporary curtain hardware and regular king flat sheets as affordable draping.

She's gorgeous even with that goofy look on her face..

God bless everyone, and happy Fall!

Ravanne Leigh

Breakfast Nook Makeover

Well I swore I'd never go a whole month without posting again.... and then I went a whole TWO MONTHS without writing a single stinkin' word! I'll blame the fact I got a new job. Annnd the fact that I was in a Corporate Finance class this semester that basically made me want to just lie in bed in the fetal position and cry. Ok, so that's a tad bit dramatic, but it was definitely awful! 

Now that classes are over, I've got some free time back to do the things I love! I've been to some great concerts, worked out every day (HA!), finally binge-watched Nashville on Hulu  until I was all caught up, and most importantly I've got a little painting done! 

A few months ago, a woman messaged me on Facebook because she was on the lookout for a small breakfast table and chairs. I wasn't much help with her search, but man did she find some good pieces!

Here's what her table and chairs looked like when she bought them: 

The day I picked the pieces up from her, she showed me some fabric swatches she'd pulled for her kitchen revamp! She bought some great, traditional floral fabric but had paired it with some really interested geometric patterns. I definitely envy her pattern mixing abilities, because I am TERRIBLE at it! I can't wait to see it all put together!

Once I was finished with the table and chairs, it came out looking just adorable and springy and I can't wait to drop it off on Friday!

Excuse the cow playing peek-a-boo in the back. I don't know where to hang that pretty little lady!

I just LOVE this fabric!

I hope she's as pleased with it as I am when I take it to her tomorrow!!

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. As my old volleyball coach used to say... "No sex, drugs or rock & roll!" 

God Bless!

-Ravanne Leigh

Playing around with gray

After I finished the dining room table on Saturday, I sat my bootie down on the couch to scroll through Pinterest, drink some champagne and watch Walk the Line. Buttttt that only lasted about 20 minutes. I have so many unfinished projects in my garage, so I decided to tackle another one. 

The last time my mom visited she picked up a curvy little coffee table for $20 at Goodwill. I've found a few tables like this now; I love them because no matter how you paint them the leggy shape always helps maintain a level of sophistication. 

This funky gold-dipped one is in our living room now: 

And this one I sold to my sweet friend Caitlyn for her new apartment:

I also have one at the foot of my bed, that I REALLY wanna try and tuft. I'm thinking something like this: 

See it on Pinterest

I already bought the peg board and I have the fabric... but let's see when I actually get to that. :/

Anyyywhooo... here's what the most recent coffee table project looked like when my mom found it: 

$20? Holla!

My favorite blog is Dear Lille- she uses lots of whites, grays and natural wood palettes so I decided to play around with a gray color. I chose a Behr color called "Silver Bullet". My preference for Coors Light may or may not have led me to choose that color... ok, it did. 

I sanded the table, and then cleaned it with TSP before applying two coats of the paint + primer. Then I lightly distressed it with low grit sandpaper and steel wool. 

Even with the distressing, it didn't looke quite "aged enough". The gray paint was still too stark in contrast with the wood. So, I used Annie Sloan dark wax on it to darken it a little. 

I don't have a fancy wax brush, so I usually just cut up an old t-shirt to use as lint free rags. Sorry, Pat...

Working with wax is a little more complicated than working with glaze, just because you have less time for color correction. I apply a generous amount of wax in a circular motion using a strip of my t shirt, but I work in very small sections and only leave it on for roughly 30 seconds. 

This is what it should look like before you wipe it off: 

Looks kinda gross, I know. But your fingers will end up looking even more gross. 

Told ya!

After the wax has set for 30 seconds, wipe it off with a clean strip of your t shirt (or cheesecloth) in a linear direction. If you leave it on a light color paint longer than 30 seconds, it can make your piece just look dingy and dirty rather than aged. There's more wiggle room with darker colors, though. 

After the wax was applied to the whole table, it came out like this: 

I think the gray makes it look a little beachy. But it could be that I'm just ready for summer :)

Until next time, God Bless!