What "Empty" Means

When I enter Winnie & Tulula's and find my booth like this..... Empty. I breathe deep. That quick rush of "somebody liked it!" goes away.......the reality hits that I need to start painting like yesterday to refill. But the ultimate Joy comes from knowing that each sale has helped pay the way for me to fly to Uganda (leaving in 14 days!!!) for two weeks to visit Amazima Ministries, 60 Feet Ministries, Canaan's Home and several other places I probably am not yet prepared to see....My heart is weighing heavy.

Amazing Katie from Amazima

To say I am unprepared is an understatement. Oh....I've got the traveling shoes. The adaptor (gotta blog, right?!). The passport. I'm physically ready, but mentally? Not nearly.

I just wanted you to know, that your support (whether through purchases, donations, prayers, etc.) has helped in ways you'll never know. It gave me confidence to keep on painting......the kids in Uganda may not care about "distressed fabulosity" but they DO care about fresh water, education, and immediate needs. It is in this way, I found I can use that painting hand God gave me to help.

You've also helped "Goin' with the Flo" sponsor a child for a year through Amazima Ministries. We just did that tonight!! One less child going unfed & uneducated for a year......

A sincere thank you.
Eucharisto.

And Finally...Amigo #3!

Like anything, the last one proved to be the hardest. Her pulls apparently wanted to stay in their place....it took me nearly an hour just to clean & take off all the hardware! At first, I thought I would go classic white with this one. But then - nah! I'm bored with white. I'm ready for some color (Provence Blue) and some major distress!

Here She Is!

Lots of Distress

Someone asked in the last post what I used to change the hardware color. All of these pieces had great hardware to begin with....the brassy gold just needed to go. I used these two products - Rust-oleum spraypaint in Oil rubbed bronze and finished with a spray poly.

Whew! All three pieces - done! Ready to go to W&T's today. This has been creatively fun.....these buffets are the exact pieces I love to work on: authentically old, great lines, and well made. Here's the trash pile of 3 days work ......lovely.

I'm not keeping Amigo #3. The Antibes Green buffet sold before I could even take it to the store, so this one has to take her place. : ( One day.....

Amigo #2

I've been on the chalk paint bandwagon for so long, that I've almost forgotten how fun it is just to work with the old stuff. Amigo #2 begged for a Wisteria inspired finish. So......stained top & a light grey whitewash bottom, followed by two coats of wax. Here she is!

Ahhhh....Much Better!

I Love the Contrast
The Stained Top .... Simple & Beautiful

Legs....Of Course!

I must confess. I think I'm keeping Amigo #3 for myself....but this one is for sale!

Amigo #1

I hope everyone's 4th has been family, friends, and fun....fireworks, too. I spent the better part of last night finishing Amigo #1 so that I could be "paint free" on the 4th. This baby has three coats of clear wax & one dark wax finish. She's as smooth & soft as a baby's bottom.
Antibes Green Strikes Again!
I have to say, a friend and I had a small discussion on the "sell-ability" of this green. It'll take a very specific (ie. funky!) person to put a pop of this color in a room.....the only other Antibes Green piece I've done is the one I gave to my sister....and she's pretty funky! : )

I loved the original hardware....definite keeper!


These legs are beauty....



She's for sale at W&T's starting Wednesday.
Happy 4th ya'll - I'm off to see some fireworks!

The Three Amigos

Sometimes all you gotta do it ask.

I was junkin' yesterday....scouring, scouring, scouring...trying to find something worthy of painting that could help fill my very empty booth at Winnie's. It was my first stop of the day, so I wasn't expecting much. The prices were pretty high at this place, so I was walking out the door when I spotted these.....a trio of beautiful, antique buffets/dressers.

No tags. Dare I take the few minutes to try & find the salesman, who would then take two years to find the price? And if everything else was pretty pricey....why bother, right?

I bothered. I asked. He, of course, had to call to find out prices.
I heard him repeat numbers. Surely not.....
Surely yes.
I stole these suckers...I mean, purchased them.....and wrote the check so quick you woulda thought my name was Doc Holiday.

I can't wait to get my paintbrush on these bad boys. My goal? Have them all finished this week.

Poop & My Heart

Yes. I did title my post that. To be honest, that's the first thing that came to mind when I sat down to write this blog.....so title it became.

I have to be honest, ya'll. I've been feeling a little guilty. Call it "mom guilt" (don't we all get that?), but I can't believe this blog has left me with feelings of guilt. It has. A little bit. I'm a pretty transparent person & I need this blog to be transparent, as well. (After all, what good is writing if it isn't a little therapeutic?)

My guilt is this: This blog has first & foremost been about my family. Grace, Sophie, pics of us doing 'us' stuff....but now....since my new 'hobby-job'....it's been transformed into something new. The webface of "Goin' with the Flo" refurbishing. I love, love posting about my redo's....craigslist finds....or amazing buys (like the three, yes THREE antique buffets I stole, I mean, scored today ....more on those bad boys later!), but I have to be honest with any of the new followers.......this blog is not just about furniture. It's about my family. If you want to "un" follow, you have my blessings! But I've got to leave room for posts about my days like this.....

Potty Training 101.
(She's gonna kill me one day)

It's not going well.

So that's my heart, ya'll. I just wanted to warn any of the 20+ new followers lately that this blog is not all about the passionate pursuit of furniture refurbishing.
It sometimes is about poop. Or rather, in today's case, the lack of poop (in appropriate places).

Winner(s) Time!

River Folks....

Jody! Comment # 20!!
(results from Random. org)

Jody - so glad you won! Use the contact me button and email me your address....I'll promptly ship it........and........

I guess coming back from a week long of time well-spent with my family and finding all these wonderful comments, even more new followers, and my hub's craftiwork on the vintage door table being SOLD!!!.....well, I'm just on Cloud 9.

So what about this winners (plural) thing?
Avis - your comment on how you would use the card file was heartwarming. Love letters? ......My heart doth joy! So many commented that they would gladly give their winning to you.....so Avis....you are winner #2. Use the contact me button & email your address.....I'll promtly ship you one as well. Let those lovely letters find a home there.....and God Bless your marriage.

Wonderful. Gratitude. Eucharisto.......
River pics coming soon & now..... I must paint.