Category Archives: Keys to the Attic Store

Mother’s Day is in a Week!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! I hope that everyone is out and about on the beautiful Sunday, enjoying the weather and putting back a few for this holiday.

Just wanna give everyone a reminder that Mother’s Day is next weekend, so if you are in need of a wonderful gift, come on into the store and pick up one of our delicious Americana candles (it’s okay … you can drink first). We have the following flavors in stock, though some of the scents are running low:

Rhubarb
Lemon Grass
Sweet Herb
Lemon Custard
Mulled Tangarine
Homestead

www.KeystotheAttic.com

Upholstery Class Update – 04/30/2013

I’m a little late with my upholstery class update … forgive me … I have been busy selling furniture and paint and candles, but the real reason is that I didn’t know how to upload pictures from my super duper cell phone (that has 1001 different functions and I don’t know how to use any of them – but that’s a story for another day) that I think I pay way too much money for.

Anyway, I finally broke down and called T-Mobile and made a customer service rep walk me through this process like I’m in 2nd grade. (Note: I’ve had T-Mobile for, like, forever and I can honestly never complain about their customer service.) And, now, I can proudly say that I know how to get pictures off of my phone. Yeah!!!

Moving on to my upholstery class … The frame has been stripped of everything, but last time I left you we had to replace two of the springs (these are called Serpentine Springs – the long springs that go across the seat) because they were weak.

My naked chair with new serpentine springs.

After putting the new springs in, we gave them some extra security and Umphh by doing some spring ties. FYI: spring ties take quite a bit of muscle. This is a picture mid-way through the stringing process:

I did a total of 4 string ties, but here are 2 of them … you start in the middle and work your way out.

The next step was to line the seat and back with burlap before we move on the stuffing. At the end of last Tuesday’s class, I took my chair back to the store because I want to paint it white and distress it. Easier to do at the store than bring the paint to the class. I painted the parts of the chair that would end up being exposed, but I did not distress or put a finish on the paint. I’m going to to do that once the reupholstery is done, so I can better judge where I want to distress.

So, this coming Tuesday, I will take the chair back and move on to the next steps.

I did pick out my fabric for the chair (and you’ll be able to see why I painted the chair white). Typically, I do not tend to lean toward the blue colors, but I really thought that this was pretty (and it was on sale).

My fabric choice against the chair.

Close up of my fabric.

Before I take off, I want to share with you a beautiful piece done by one of my classmates. She was able to finish her chair early, which is great because she gets to start on a new project for the rest of the class (yes, I’m jealous). Here is Theresa and our awesome instructor, John, with her chair (sorry for the quality – or lack, thereof – of this pic … I am horrible with my phone camera … I will get better pics later):

Natalie (classmate) and our instructor, John, with Natalie’s gorgeous chair.

Thank you, again, Portside Arts Center, for holding these classes … we LOVE them!

What’s New – 5/1/2013

Check out what’s new in the store at our Facebook site:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.507703772623593.1073741834.313885188672120&type=1

For questions or pricing, please contact us at: [email protected]

Mirror Using CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White

This was just an old wood mirror – that a billion people have had over a dresser at one time or another.

I slapped on two coats of CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White. Distressed. Applied clear wax. Buffed. DONE!

I’d love to make the directions more complicated … but that’s all there is with CeCe Caldwell’s Paints & Finishes.

CeCe Caldwell's Vintage White ~ Keys to the Attic

Old Mirror redone using CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White and clear wax ~ Keys to the Attic

Upcycled Indoor/Outdoor End Table ~ Just Like Pottery Barn!

Note: Where the edges of brown look like they have smudged white paint on them – they don’t. Again, it’s because of my very sad photography skills.

OK … so, don’t kill me … but it looks like I forgot to take a “before” picture of this table. I could have sworn that I took a picture of it months ago when I first brought it into the store … so maybe the secret cyber picture thief took it. Either way, if I come across it I will post again with a before/after shot.

Moving on, this is table that I picked up at a yard sale last year and I immediately envisioned it fixed up and sitting in my yard, or on a porch or deck. The table is wood, but the wood was dried out and looked really sad and tired. I knew, if possible, I wanted the top of the table to have a natural wood look with the sides and legs painted white and distressed for that shabby chic/cottage style look.

First, I rubbed (using an old t-shirt) the top and underside of the table with hemp oil. It took about 2 coats to revive it because the table was really dehydrated, so it slurped it right up. It made the top look happy and perky!

Then I painted (two thin coats) the legs and sides using CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White. Once the second coat dried I did some light distressing. As I usually do, I started with all of the edges. Once the edges were done, I decided that I liked the look as it was, so I left the distressing at that.

For a finish I used two different products. I used CeCe Caldwell’s Satin Finish on the top and underside – simply because I wanted those areas to cure a little faster since, more than likely, the top of the table will be heavily used. Then, I used CeCe Caldwell’s Clear Wax on the all of the area that was painted white. What ended up happening (which I really, really liked) is that the top had a little bit more of sheen to it, while the white parts of the table had a very muted sheen.

So, this my indoor/outdoor end table. Come on in to the store and check it out!

Americana Vintage Candles Have Arrived!

Americana Vintage Candles at Keys to the Attic

Keys to the Attic is now carrying Americana Vintage all natural candles. The three flavors that we have are: Homestead, Lemon Custard and Mulled Tangerine.

Are you ready for pure heaven? These candles are the very best around…and I have tried them all! They are made with only the purest of oils (not artificial.) They burn evenly, smell insanely delicious and make wonderful presents.

These handmade candles are created in the USA by an artist named Sandra and her husband. Her husband pours them and then the base is hand dipped 7 times by Sandra and her son. The candles are then rolled in natural spices and scents.

These candles burn for 155 hours and make fantastic gifts (or, if you’re like me … a gift for myself). I used to be a devoted Yankee candle fan, but I think these are my new favorite!

Come on into the store and take a whiff – I always have one burning 🙂

Americana Vintage Candles at Keys to the Attic

“Before & After” Stool Using CeCe Caldwell’s Paints ~ Color Sedona Red

Here are some “Before & After” pics of a stool that I painted yesterday using CeCe Caldwell’s Paints & Finishes. The color that I used is called Sedona Red. This was so simple, but I’ll explain what I did.

First, I couldn’t even tell you where I got this stool. It’s been in my basement, for like, forever.

Yes, the stool is ugly, but I always knew that it had potential! Now, you would think that I would tell you to clean the stool because, as I always say over and over, “you don’t know where it’s been or what it’s been used for” (get your minds out of the gutter!). In this case, the stool was already had several layers of paint on it – the top layer being a really ugly brown.

So, I literally just wiped it down with a paper towel – not even a damp one … just a dry paper towel. Sometimes I’m just impatient … not always a good quality, but I’m working on it.

Then, I just slapped on the paint. Seriously. I didn’t sand or prime or anything. I used one coat on the legs and two coats on the top. I waited for the first coat to dry before applying the second coat.

After both coats dried, I used a wet (but very, very well wrung out) piece of a t-shirt and rubbed where I wanted the distressed effect.

After this dried, I applied clear wax (really rubbing it in) and let it sit for about a half hour. Then, I took a dry, old (but clean) dishrag and rubbed, rubbed, rubbed until the wax took on a nice subtle shine.

This is the finished product.

Rainy Day Painting – Zen Time

So, while everybody on the planet (ok, so I’m exaggerating a little) is getting snow, here in Philly we are getting rain – again. It’s bad enough that I can’t control the weather, but in the past few days I can’t control my hair, either … rain = frizz.

So, while I’m here at the store – which has been pleasantly picking up through word of mouth – I’ve decided to paint. So, I’ll share what I’m up to.

I forgot to take a “before” picture of this shelf that I just finished, but here are the “after” pictures. I used CeCe Caldwell’s Chalk and Clay paint – the color is Smokey Mountain Gray. I simply slapped it on (literally) and let it dry – which took no time at all. I then distressed it using a damp cloth and let that dry. I lightly coated it with a water-downed layer of CeCe Caldwell’s Satin Finish and let that dry. Finally, I applied CeCe Caldwell’s Clear Wax (which I LOVE so much) and buffed it with a dry rag.

This whole process took me about 2 hours – INCLUDING drying time between all the steps! Sooo easy!! Here it is (and please remember that I am seriously shitty photographer, but I’m working on that):

Since, it’s so dreary here, I’m getting ready to work on a small stool that I got from who knows where …. knowing me, I probably “trash-picked” it. Either way, it’s gonna go from Ugly to Lovely in 2 hours. I’ll be sure to share the “After” … 🙂

Keys to the Attic is Open!

new items! Yay!

Keys to the Attic, LLC

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