Fake What You Can't Find! Aging Corbels

At TLC Vintage Collection in Des Moines, we love old, flaking painted things. There's that expression "fake it til you make it," so we did just that -- made a fake! Real aged chippy corbels are harder and harder to find -- especially in volume like our fortunate purchase below a couple years ago. And, certainly you rarely find them at a cost you like!  But as stock of those had run out, I leapt at the chance to buy some new ones made of composite material at the Habitat Re-Store.

                                                           Authentic Old Corbels

                                      New Composite Corbel Aged With Various Products

TLC Vintage Collection has everything needed to age a piece of decor or furniture at its location at 7519 Hickman Rd in Des Moines. So I took one of these corbels back into our open workshop where you can see us transform pieces six days a week, and set to work (ahem, I mean fun! Because it is!)

After knocking the dust and grime off the corbel, I pulled out a Fissure product made by Wood Icing, a company based in St Louis MO, owned by my good friend Rose Wilde. This product dries clear and will crackle water based paint applied over it. I put the fissure on with an old chip brush, but the brush does clean up with soap and water. To make cracks that don't run up and down, I pounced my brush on it while the fissure is still wet to give a more mosaic pattern of crackle, rather than running in lengths.

Next I pulled out one of my favorite stencils by Wood Icing, aspen leaves. I wanted a raised trailing vine look on the highest points of the corbel. So I laid out the stencil, taped it in place and used Wood Icing's Textura Paste applied thinly through the stencil. I moved the stencil around to get that trailing vine look. You lift off the stencil as soon as you have the paste on smooth and thin.

This is how the vines looked after drying, with rough raised edges. Normally on a piece of furniture or decor, I would then sand  off these rough bits with about 150 grit sandpaper. But I want this corbel to look rough -- like it had stood the test of time, so I let it remain rough til later.

Now I am ready to paint and enjoy the cracks that will develop. I chose Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® -- my go-to choice for most paint projects! Old White has the aged color that this piece cried for. I put the paint on thickly with one of Annie's great brushes. I made to cover the entire area as I went so I wouldn't need to touch up because the fissure will start activating almost immediately and I didn't want to disturb it.

Whoa! Now that is what I am looking for. Cracks that  look like a piece has been in the hot and cold of Iowa summers and winters for years!

Next I used Annie Sloans subtle Versailles, a light green and used an artist brush to paint the leaves and stems. I didn't need to be overly careful about where the paint went because our next step after it dried would be to sand it off so the leaves looked worn.

I took some 100 grit sand paper to take off the ridges of the Wood Icing raised relief and to distress the paint.

Next I used another brand we carry -- Artisan Enhancement's Scumble. Scumble is another name for glaze. Because my paint is porous, a colored glaze will sink in and not give me time to manipulate its look, so I put on what is called a "slip coat" of clear glaze first. I just use any old brush for this but once again, it washes up with hot soapy water. After the slip coat is dry, I added a little Annie Sloan Coco to a small amount of glaze and applied it with a sea sponge, which let me pull off some of the color here and there and leave it darker in some areas. It helps show of the crackle too! (Sorry, but I forgot to take a picture of this!)

Once the scumble is dry, I was done and we have a piece that looks like it has weathered on an old rural farmhouse porch!

I am hoping to find more of these corbels because I only found six together and think it would make an awesome workshop for my customers! Of course, these will be tagged that we "aged" them right at TLC Vintage Collection!

TLC Vintage Newsletter: June 2016

What’s New at TLC Vintage?

New Annie Sloan products have rolled out recently. Have you tried them? You will love them. Here’s a rundown!

Black and White Soft Waxes

Yep! In the regular 500 ml can size or 120 ml in either color! You will love them. Check my blog for photos of the hottest one! Black wax over Paris Grey has caused a run on these two products and pieces that we have done! We recommend applying Clear Soft Wax before applying any of the colored waxes.

MixMat 

What the heck is a MixMat? It is a large silicone sheet with doodling by Annie Sloan on one side and information about color mixing on the reverse. Mix your colors when testing out new color combos right on the map! Clean it easily with soap, water and a sponge! This is a great add-on item that is a great help if you have leftover bits of paint and want to create a new color or if you are trying to match a color already in your curtains, sofa or whatever!

Sanding Pads

These should be back in stock late this week or early next! A packet includes three pads of different sanding grits. Perfect for distressing and can be used wet or dry! They wash up easily in your sink or in your washing machine.  Since they are flexible – like a thin sponge – they are ideal for distressing in corners or on spindles. Our first batch sold out within a week…..so we will put in a large order this time! LOL – you just don’t know in this business what will be the next hot product!

Vintage Charm Necklaces

A new batch arrived last week. Inexpensive gift or just a little present for yourself!

Peep Notes

 Buy local! We do. We have added a local designer’s hand made greeting cards to our current selections. These are adorable and you are bound to find one that suits that spouse, friend or family member. We are asking her to design some special ones just for us! Each card is individually made and no two alike!

Heads Up!

We will be open and having a workshop for our starter class on Saturday July 2! However, we will be closed Sunday July 3 as usual and will also be closed to observe Monday July 4 Independence Day! So if you have visitors in town who want to visit the shop – be sure to come in and see us on the 2^nd! Better yet, you and a visitor or friend or family member book two or more places for the July 2 workshop and each get 15 pct off the cost of the workshop. And remember on your workshop day, you enjoy our lowest prices on all paint products. We also offer 15 pct off stencils, décor and furniture as well on class day for those taking our workshop.

Tips of the Month

Clever Ideas I’ve Learned from My Stockist Colleagues, Paint Friends or TLC Experience!

Keep your Brush ready for action! Save your cottage cheese or yoghurt containers and lids (or similar items). When you have to take a break from painting, cut a hole the size of the handle of your brush stem in the lid. Put a small amount – maybe an inch of paint in the container. Push the brush handle through from the bottom side of the lid, then snap it onto the container with the brush tips in the paint. This will keep your brush damp and ready to use when you are done running the kids to lessons or heading out to the grocery store!

Keep your wax or paint brushes in top form! Ever have a brush that a few hairs (or more) get bent out of shape? We do. To fix this, clean your brush well. While still damp, take some paper towel and fold it to about a 2 inch width, wrap it around your brush firmly and secure with a ring of painter’s tape. Hang it to dry and voila! Straight bristles!

Keeping your paint can sealed! No one likes to have leftover paint ruined because it dries out. Best way to keep it fresh is: 1) Never contaminate the paint with water, including bacteria on your brush and 2) Keep the rim of your can clean so the lid fits as tightly as they day your bought it. Use vet syringes to remove paint from can and place in a disposable or washable bowl and paint from there. Now your lid will fit tightly into place – give it a couple taps with a hammer!

Workshop Schedule

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® 101 Plus!

Seven popular paint techniques plus clear and dark wax methods! $85 in advance.  Saturdays Noon to 3 pm. Everything provided plus refreshments.

 Jun 4 (4 spaces available. Call today!)     Jul 2      Aug 6

Sep 10     Oct 1       Nov 5        Dec 3

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® 102 Extra!

Stencil, crackle and decoupage projects! Leave with three items you can use or gift! $85 in advance. Saturdays Noon to 3 pm. Everything provided plus refreshments.

 Jul 23             Oct 15

Chalk Paint® Kitchen Cabinets & Built-Ins! How to renew dated cabinets at a fraction of the cost without replacing them! We help you create your own prototype and style. $85 in advance. Saturdays Noon to 3-4 pm. Everything provided plus refreshments

 Jul 16        Oct 8

Paint Your Own Piece!

Back by popular demand, bring a pre-approved furniture or décor piece that can easily be carried by you. We will help you carry out your ideas! $85 in advance includes paint/wax, brushes used in the workshop. Saturdays Noon to 3 pm

 Jun 11        Sep 17

Wood Icing

Ice wood like you would ice a cake. Texture paste to add dimension to any surface! No one else is offering this product or class in Iowa. Two projects to take home. $85 in advance. Saturdays Noon to 3-4 pm.

 Aug 20            Oct 22

Artisan Enhancements Special Effects!

Make magic happen with special products that will razzle/dazzle. Two to 3 projects to take home. $85 in advance, Satudays Noon to 3-4 pm

 Jun 25            Sep 24

Rust & Patina
Choose a five letter word in advance for us to order the supplies. FAITH is popular. Or initial of family members. Learn five different techniques for iron, bronze and copper finishes. If you want letters other than FAITH,  you must book 2 weeks in advance so we can acquire materials. $85 in advance. Saturdays Noon to 3 pm
Jun 18       Oct 29

Introduction to Milk Paint
A variety of applications for the use of Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. Wax distress, layering, staining and more! $85 in advance Saturdays Noon to 3 pm.
Aug 27

Girls Night Out! Wine, Cheese, Paint Therapy!

Put together a group and spend 3 hours in the studio painting! Organize your group. Book it for $360 minimum for your group up to 8 people. Upcharges depending on materials. You bring the wine, we provide the cheese and paint!

Cancellation and No-show Policy: We maintain the right to refund your money or arrange for a different date if we do not have the 3-4 people  to make a class viable. If you are ill or weather prevents travel, you may reschedule to another date within six months. If your plans change, we need a two-week notice before the class date if you want to be rescheduled. Under two week,s there is no refund but if your spot is filled we will allow you to reschedule, otherwise your fee is forfeited.  Check website for schedule changes. www.tlcvintagecollection.com

Fabulous DIY Do-Over with Wood Icing!

Seems not so long ago that I tucked myself behind a big desk five days a week and worked with insurance clients. Lucky for me that soon after I retired, I discovered that I had a hidden ability and penchant for do it yourself projects. Now it is a passion to take something painfully dated.....

to something absolutely fab!

Now working with different products has become a passion I can explore daily! Lucky me....but you can do it as well. This 1950-60s china hutch was a Salvation Army thrift store find. Solid, well built with interior lighting! My first approach was to use a wash effect on the exterior and music, crackle and gold gilding on the interior.

But not all first ideas work out over time. And while customers loved this Pure White with a Coco wash, no one was buying. But I couldn't part with the interior which was old sheet music wallpapered to the interior, then crackled and washed with gilding wax.

But after a couple years, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to show off a couple products. First, Wood Icing to create raised features on the exterior. Wood Icing is a brand that creates texture paste and glazes. The paste is excellent for repairs, such as filling in holes when you want to move hardware, missing veneer and cracks. We have even rebuilt corners of furniture that were chewed off by pets! It dries with a hard yet sandable texture making it perfect for sculpting, stenciling and more! So we pushed it through some selected stencils, sanded smooth then painted the entire china cabinet with Coco.

Then we used Pewter Metallic Foil by Artisan Enhancements to brighten up the old grill over the glass and the Wood Icing embelishments.

I love the final, formal effect of this piece. And all these products are easy to use and allow easy clean up! Just check out some of our workshops at www.tlcvintagecollection.com for upcoming classes and topics that may pique your interest! If I can DO this, so can you!

My Beautiful Haeger Pottery Piece

I remember the day I spotted her early on in my new junking career. She was sitting on a driveway in a north section of the city. I asked the woman what she knew about the grease and dust covered piece. The lady merely shrugged and said, "He left it behind and I'm getting rid of all his stuff." There was a piece of masking tape on her head:  $3. I had three dollars; it wasn't hard for her to go home with me.

There was something about the lines of this piece I couldn't get over. Being a youth of the '60s and '70s, all I could hear playing in my head was "Age of Aquarius." I still think of that song every time I look at her, happily displayed on my mantel though she doesn't really match the style of my room.

She was quite sticky with grime as she was an unglazed piece of ceramic and very porous. Lovingly I cleaned her with a soft toothbrush and baking soda. The grime came off leaving a soft bisque color. On the bottom was a silver Haeger pottery tag, marked 1985 copyright 6039. I google that information and came up pretty short. Plus she really didn't date from the era of the song -- a bit later.

My search came up with little except one untraceable photo of the same form in a standard pink Haeger glaze. But it was a dead-end. Today when I google the information, the first three Google entries lead me to this photo of mine that is on one of my Pinterest boards. But then I found an Ebay entry of  "Art Deco Lady's Head" that sold for $89.99 in 2014. Then another called a "Flying Woman's Head" sold earlier this year for $79.99 in a soft white glaze.

I've owned many smaller pieces of Haeger over the past five years that I've been in the vintage market. None has moved me as much as this piece. I've sold many vases in the soft white glaze: shapes of urns, shells, and animals. But this is the only unglazed piece that I have come across.

Early on, I discovered that the grooves and waves of her hair look amazing after the sun goes down. She sits on my mantle with the two can lights in the ceiling pouring soft light onto her. Her mystic quality entrances me whenever I enter the room at night.

After 145 years, Haeger Pottery in East Dundee, Illinois will close its doors next month. Citing an ungoing recession and a market deluged with inexpensive Asian ceramics, the family owned company will be no more. It has existed longer than my family farm in Iowa and the town I come from. I will think of this every time I turn over a piece of pottery and find the Haeger name. And now, each one of those will find its way to my store or my home. And my Aquarius lady will stay with me.

Funny how you can fall in love with a brand just from a $3 garage sale purchase.