Before we get to chatting about the Frenchic workshop, I just wanted to share more pics of my gorgeous boy. Yesterday I sewed a waistcoat and bowtie for Dylan to wear for WW2 Evacuation Day at school.
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As he’d gone to school for World Book Day as “Pugs of the Frozen North” in a pug onesie, I felt I had to pull the stops out a bit for this!
![](https://i0.wp.com/purlandseam.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1328-scaled.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
He was thrilled with both outfits.
Today, however, was a day all for me!
I’ve got a number of pieces of vintage furniture that need some TLC, but I’ve been putting it off for forever. So when I discovered a local shop that stocks Frenchic chalk paints and runs reasonably priced workshops, I signed up.
I was so very happy when I arrived at Chic Interiors Wigan, walked through the door and spotted this beauty.
![](https://i1.wp.com/purlandseam.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1346-scaled.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
I figured it boded well for the day. And I wasn’t wrong.
Myself and three other lovely ladies had brought small pieces from home to work on. I’d brought this….
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It’s a super piece. Really solid and a very useful size. But….that colour! Grim. And it’s so battered and worn.
As my other wood furniture pieces at home are white, I decided to go with the Lazy Range in Whitey White. The Lazy Range is splendid. You don’t need to wax the piece when you’ve finished!
Win!
I gave the piece a light sand to key the surface and also smooth out the top where the current varnish was lifting.
Now….I hate sanding anything. I ALWAYS use an electric hand sander and cannot remember the last time I sanded anything by hand. My heart sank when Amanda handed out small pieces of sandpaper. But it took minutes and wasn’t remotely arduous. I was very pleasantly surprised.
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Then the fun started.
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That’s one coat of paint! The Frenchic goes on so quickly and easily. With a cup of coffee it’s a very therapeutic way to spend an hour.
Whilst we waited for the paint to dry we practiced a couple of different paint effects. I really loved the ombre finish.
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Back to the table. Three coats of paint later and I had a beautiful, white table. A quick blast with the hairdryer speeded up drying time no end!
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But…the other ladies were adding stencils to their pieces.
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It seemed like a good idea!
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One bee stencil and some silver metallic paint later, I ended up with this….
![](https://i1.wp.com/purlandseam.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1360-scaled.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
I could not be more thrilled.
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There are some imperfections, but I’m embracing them.
I also know what to do on the next piece to make it even lovelier. I just need to get the bathroom fittings currently lurking in the garage installed in their rightful place. Then I’ll have lots of space in which to play with paint!
![](https://i0.wp.com/purlandseam.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1368-scaled.jpg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
I can’t wait.
In the meantime I’ve booked on a second workshop next week to learn the techniques used on that magnificent sideboard at the top of this post.
This is going to be fun!
Fantastic results. I love your finished table. Looking forward to seeing what you do on the next workshop 😀
I’m really looking forward to Saturday. And to cracking on with other pieces!
Love the evacuation outfit – even though it’s probably a lot smarter than most of the kids actually wore at the time.
Your white table looks gorgeous and the bee stencil finishes it off a treat. I like the slightly distressed look on the piece you showed in your first photo but then my house lends itself to distressed furniture 🤣 rather than the lovely neat look you’ve achieved.
We decided that he was from a posh area of Liverpool…hence the smart clothes!
You could always go for the distressed painted look. A kind of halfway house! 😉