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A Pretty Girl gets a Surprise - Μια όμορφη κοπέλα παίρνει μια έκπληξη

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 I recently finished my fireplace makeover and it turned out much better than I expected.  But as you may know, one  project brings about another.  Case in point that ugly frame next to my bee-you-tee-full fireplace. But this is a story about a  girl…and a surprise.

Πρόσφατα τελείωσα την  ανακαίνιση του τζακιού μου και αποδείχθηκε πολύ καλύτερο απ ‘ότι περίμενα. Αλλά, όπως ίσως γνωρίζετε, ένα έργο φέρνει άλλο. Παραδείγματος  χάριν  η άσχημη κορνίζα δίπλα στο ομορφότατο μου τζάκι.  Αλλά αυτή είναι μια ιστορία για ένα κορίτσι … και μια έκπληξη

before photo of new fireplace and old frame, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
This is a needlepoint project of a pretty girl out in nature that I had made when I was a teen. We are going way back here.  I had framed it and given it to my mother for her birthday. After she passed, my father gave it to me and I kept it in its original state… that is until now. 

Ειναι ένα κέντημα ενός κοριτσιού  στη φύση που είχα κάνει όταν ήμουν έφηβη.  Επιστρέφουμε  πολλά χρόνια πίσω. Το είχα δωρήσει στη μητέρα μου για τα γενέθλιά της. Μετά τον χαμό της, ο πατέρας μου το έδωσε σε μένα και διατηρείται στην αρχική του κατάσταση … μέχρι τώρα.

Before picture of frame, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
Okay, okay, so it is not ugly;  it just didn’t look right next to that bright and fresh fireplace.  It was time for a makeover. I took out my trusty chalk paint and painted 3 coats. I love this product and have not been compensated  it in any way for sharing it with you.  

Εντάξει, εντάξει, δεν είναι  και άσχημο.  Απλά δεν φαίνεται καλό δίπλα σε αυτό το φωτεινό και φρέσκο τζάκι. Ήταν καιρός για αλλαγή. Έβγαλα τη έμπιστη βαφή κιμωλίας μου και έβαψα 3 στρώσεις. Λατρεύω αυτό το προϊόν και δεν έχω αποζημιωθεί με οποιοδήποτε τρόπο για να το μοιραστώ μαζί σας.

Chalk paint A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
I use this as a sort of primer, to cover up the underneath and also to act as a foundation for what will go on top. 

Το χρησιμοποιώ αυτό ως ένα είδος αστάρι, για να καλύψει  και επίσης να λειτουργήσει ως θεμέλιο για το τι θα πάει από πανω.

3  coats of chalk paint, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
White is nice but it was boring.  I wanted depth (are you noticing a trend here?)  I had found out about a glazing technique from Larissa of Prodigal Pieces and thought this would be the right time to give it a try. I mixed some paints together, tan and a metallic champagne and then added water. 

Το λευκό είναι ωραίο, αλλά ήταν βαρετό. Ήθελα βάθος (παρατηρήσατε μια τάση εδώ;) Είχα ανακαλύψει για μια τεχνική από τη Λάρισα του Prodigal Pieces και αυτή ηταν η κατάλληλη στιγμή για να τη δοκιμάσω.  Ανακάτεψα κάποια χρώματα μαζί, χακί και ένα μεταλλικό σαμπάνια και νερό.

Mixing the glaze, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
The next step was to  brush it on;   it doesn’t have to be neat …

Το επόμενο βήμα ήταν να το βάλω με την βούρτσα, δεν χρειαζετε να ειναι τέλειο…

Brushing on the glaze  A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
And then after about 30 seconds wipe it off or smear it all over.  This  process was done another 2 times to add depth to the whiteness of the frame.

Και στη συνέχεια, μετά από περίπου 30 δευτερόλεπτα σκουπίστε ή αλείψετε το. Αυτή η διαδικασία έγινε ακόμα 2 φορές για να προσθέσει βάθος στη λευκότητα της κορνίζας.

wiping glaze, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
I also added a darker tan to the crevices… 

Επίσης πρόσθεσα  ένα πιο σκούρο καφέ στις ρωγμές…

Adding contours, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
And to the carvings.  I then distressed it using sand paper. 

Και για να τα ανάγλυφα. Στη συνέχεια το έτριψα με γυαλόχαρτο.

adding depth to the carvings, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
And to seal it all in I used a  little wax. 

Και για να το σφραγίσω χρησιμοποίησα λίγο κερί.

 Creme wax, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
I turned it over and pulled off the tattered paper intending to replace it and much to my surprise I found this.  It was a  mud dauber wasp nest.  Yuk!! Lucky for me they were long gone.   And I had it  in my dining room all these years and I didn’t even know.  Come to think of it, I think I saw some of these out in the balcony…hum  I’m a woman on a mission. 

Το γύρισα από πίσω και τράβηξα το κουρελιασμένο χαρτί θέλοντας να το αντικαταστήσω  και προς μεγάλη μου έκπληξη βρήκα αυτό. Ήταν μια φωλιά  σφήκας  από λάσπη. Ευτυχώς για μένα είχαν  φύγει πριν καιρό. Το είχα στην τραπεζαρία μου όλα αυτά τα χρόνια και δεν το γνώριζα καν. Τώρα που το σκεφτομαι, νομίζω ότι είδα κι άλλα έξω στο μπαλκόνι.   

The surprise behind the picture frame, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
I removed the nest by using a knife to scrape off the mud and then covered the back with wrapping paper to protect the needlepoint from accumulating dust. 

Έβγαλα τη φωλιά χρησιμοποιώντας ένα μαχαίρι και στη συνέχεια κάλυψα το πίσω με χαρτί περιτυλίγματος για να το προστατέψω από τη σκόνη.

covering the back of the frame, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
Here is my girl next to the fresh fireplace. Now doesn’t that look much better?

Εδώ είναι το κορίτσι μου δίπλα στο φρέσκο τζάκι. Τώρα δεν φαίνεται καλύτερα;

After picture, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
As can be seen from the close ups the color is no longer pure white. It is more of a cream color and it sparkles with the addition of the metallic paint.

Όπως φαίνεται από τα κοντινά πλάνα το χρώμα δεν είναι πλέον καθαρό λευκό. Είναι περισσότερο κρεμ  και λάμπει με την προσθήκη του μεταλλικού χρώματος.

Detail of frame, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
Detail of frame, upper corner A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
Detail of frame, upper right hand corner A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
The Pretty Girl, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
The picture frame, A pretty Girl gets a surprise www.theboondocksblog.com
I am so glad I was able to transform this pretty girl who got a surprise.  She fits in with the rest of the room perfectly. Of course once you start a job others will follow.  Those walls are looking awfully awful right now!!   As for my girl, she is sitting pretty and hopefully with no more surprises.  Do you ever have unexpected surprises when cleaning up or doing projects?

Είμαι τόσο χαρούμενη που  μετέτρεψα αυτό το όμορφο κορίτσι που έμεινε έκπληκτη. Εκείνη ταιριάζει με το υπόλοιπο του δωματίου τέλεια. Φυσικά μόλις αρχίσετε μια εργασία θα ακολουθήσουν και άλλες. Οι τοίχοι φαίνονται απαίσια τώρα !! Όσο για το κορίτσι μου, κάθεται μια χαρά και ελπίζω να μην έχουμε περισσότερες εκπλήξεις. Έχετε ποτέ απρόσμενες εκπλήξεις κατά τον καθαρισμό ή όταν κάνετε μια εργασία;

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Nikki Frank-Hamilton

Monday 23rd of May 2016

I wonder how long that mud dabber nest was there? That would be a crazy surprise! I really love the needlepoint, that picture had to have taken you some time, that's a whole lot of stitches, I thought it was a painting at first, it's an incredible piece! You my friend are a pro with the details, I'm not sure I ever would have thought to repaint the frame after the fireplace redo, but it just pops off the wall now. And the needlepoint stands out too. I have not tried chalk paint yet, but I am inspired by you to try it, it sure covers well, and I love that you don't have to do a lot of prep first!

Mary

Tuesday 21st of June 2016

Thank you Nikki. It has been more than a month now and I am really l oving it. It looks so nice on the wall and the finish is really growing on me. I have not seen any more wasps so that is a good thing.

Doreen@foxdenrd

Thursday 12th of May 2016

I think I would have done the same thing Mary. It looks so much nicer and brighter now. Great job :). Want to know something? For a second I thought you were going to paint over the needlepoint! Crazy right?!

Mary

Monday 16th of May 2016

Thanks Doreen, It looked awful next to my new fireplace. You'll see I'll be so unhappy that pretty soon I'll have to paint the whole room.. lol. Haha. I would never paint the needlepoint. I put so many hours into that thing, It is about a yard in height so it took a while to make it and it is a reminder of my dear mom.

Michelle Leslie

Thursday 12th of May 2016

Oh she went from pretty to beautiful. Awesome and the creamy color of the frame seems to make her stand out more. She looks lovely.

Mary

Monday 16th of May 2016

Aww thank you Michelle, My girl has been around forever so she deserved to have a makeover.

Ntina

Thursday 12th of May 2016

It looks way better and I'm happy you kept this but made it more fresh! Can't wait to see what will you do next!

Mary

Monday 16th of May 2016

I really wanted to keep my girl. I don't think I'll ever part with her for obvious reasons.

Lynn Spencer

Thursday 12th of May 2016

Good Thursday Morning Mary! I hope your day is going well. First of all, I really enjoy the titles of your posts...they are so intriguing and immediately catch my attention. Second...that needlepoint is lovely, and all the more so because of it's history.Needlepoint is one art that I have never attempted, but lucky for me my mom is a needlepointer and I have been blessed with several of her projects. She also needlepointed beautiful stocking for both of my kids that they will have forever. OK...now on to your frame...the paint and glaze made such a huge difference...really made the pretty girl pop and it looks so great on your wall, next to your fireplace. Good decision. And you are so right, it's a rare day when one project doesn't lead to another...but then...that's why we do what we do! Hugs and wishes for a beautiful day, Lynn

Mary

Monday 16th of May 2016

Lynn I was blessed to have learned needlepoint at a young age by my mom. She also taught me crocheting and lacemaking but sadly I do not remember how to do those. So you see, you have one up on me because I know you make the most beautiful crocheted work. You are right we do what we do for the love of the project and because we can't leave well enough alone (fess up!) .

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