MMSMP = Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint ààà Love It!
Over the years I've painted, stripped and refinished my share of furniture, so I am not new to the process. But until a few months ago I honestly thought milk paint was an old fashioned finish you might sometimes find on old wood and antiques. Then I arrived at THAT moment a few months ago when a simple search for paint became a seriously major Ah-Ha! moment. I found Miss Mustard Seed's Blog http://missmustardseed.com/, and her milk paint, and I was hooked on both.
I have a real problem when starting something new - fear of failing. So for the past several weeks I've done a magnificent job of procrastination; just watch one more tutorial, look for one more post on color … on waxes … on brushes … on you name it I needed to research it, until yesterday.
I purchased this old blanket chest at a junk shop years ago for my son, Nick, for his first apartment. We both loved it, so made a pack that whenever one of us didn’t have a use for it the other had first dibs and, for now, it is happily living with my Hero and me.
I have a real problem when starting something new - fear of failing. So for the past several weeks I've done a magnificent job of procrastination; just watch one more tutorial, look for one more post on color … on waxes … on brushes … on you name it I needed to research it, until yesterday.
I purchased this old blanket chest at a junk shop years ago for my son, Nick, for his first apartment. We both loved it, so made a pack that whenever one of us didn’t have a use for it the other had first dibs and, for now, it is happily living with my Hero and me.
I thought it would make a good test project, and I thought our dark little blanket chest just might look beautiful in Tricycle red.
Think I was right? Nick?
The color in person is actually a bit darker, a little more bright cranberry. Or maybe closer to the color of an old fashioned tricycle....
The color in person is actually a bit darker, a little more bright cranberry. Or maybe closer to the color of an old fashioned tricycle....
The paint didn't chip or flake as much as I anticipated because I didn't do anything to prepare the surface except dust. Maybe if I'd left the dust....
The whole surface of the chest is completely flat, so sanding with 220 grit sandpaper did bring out the wood grain, and I liked the timeworn character that the sanding gave it.
The whole surface of the chest is completely flat, so sanding with 220 grit sandpaper did bring out the wood grain, and I liked the timeworn character that the sanding gave it.
When the chest was dark brown the corner joints didn't show up. Now they are a beautiful detail.
I tried to make it look as though the finish had worn naturally, but obviously need more practice. In hindsight, when sanding I think it would be good to step back more often, or even walk away for a few minutes, to get a fresh perspective. At least until I develop a better eye for it.
I tried to make it look as though the finish had worn naturally, but obviously need more practice. In hindsight, when sanding I think it would be good to step back more often, or even walk away for a few minutes, to get a fresh perspective. At least until I develop a better eye for it.
Which brings me to another of my known problems - once I finally build up the courage to start a project I tend to get wrapped up in it and just steamroll right on through. Not always a good thing.
Courage and patience, courage and patience, courage an......
Working with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint was great. All that prepping procrastination did pay off in that I had a better sense of what to expect, and it was interesting to see and work with the process first hand.
Courage and patience, courage and patience, courage an......
Working with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint was great. All that prepping procrastination did pay off in that I had a better sense of what to expect, and it was interesting to see and work with the process first hand.
Having no idea how much paint it would take I mixed 1 tablespoon each, water and milk paint powder to get a gauge, and it was enough to cover almost half of the back panel. All together I think it only took 5 or 6 tablespoons of powder to cover the entire 46x23x23 chest with one coat. That really surprised me; I thought it would take much more. Dry time was less than a half hour – amazing. A light sanding smoothed the finish down beautifully. Keep in mind that the finish at this point is still rather dull and chalky looking in an old worn but pretty way.
I decided to use the furniture wax for a hand rubbed finish; 2 coats on the sides and 3 on the top to give it a little more protection, plus it gives the piece a lovely soft sheen. The wax has the texture of soft butter and goes on just that smoothly. On this day I found it took about 10 minutes to dry enough to buff between each application and each coat made the color deeper and richer. I am glad that I used a dark paint color for my first attempt because it made it very easy to see the differences each step made along the way.
P.S. Did you notice the red thumbprint on the front of the container? Well, I completely forgot about reading that when milk paint is sanded it makes a very fine almost invisible power – THAT GETS INTO EVERYTHING. Just so you know (winking!).
P.S. Did you notice the red thumbprint on the front of the container? Well, I completely forgot about reading that when milk paint is sanded it makes a very fine almost invisible power – THAT GETS INTO EVERYTHING. Just so you know (winking!).
So that was my first attempt at working with Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint, and I do really love it. The paint is simple and quick to use and I can't wait to develop some skills with different finishes.
For now, Jasper is glad to be back his favorite spot, and we think he looks even more dashing set atop a Tricycle red chest.
Now, what else can I paint........
HUGS!
Cindy
For now, Jasper is glad to be back his favorite spot, and we think he looks even more dashing set atop a Tricycle red chest.
Now, what else can I paint........
HUGS!
Cindy
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