I did it! I went to Becoming and spoke!!!! This may not be a big deal to most normal people, but to me its like climbing Mt. Everest, completing an Ironman, or becoming president. I got up on that stage three different times for an hour each and talked about my passion. Public speaking is not my thing. I have been freaking out about this most of the summer! I wanted to be part of such a great conference and I wanted to share my passion with the amazing women that would be attending, but honestly I just didn’t know how I was going to get up on that stage and do it! Every time I thought about my sessions I broke out in a sweat and had a hard time breathing. But when I got up on that stage Saturday morning, a peace came over me like I can’t explain. God was with me. I am soooooooooooooo happy and proud of myself for taking a risk and trying something sooooooooo outside my comfort zone. I met so many amazing women and had the absolute best time. Thank you Jen and Jenny for the opportunity to be a part of Becoming, and thank you Nester for putting up with my freaked out self all weekend! Now I am going to sleep for two weeks straight!
I promised to post the How to Paint a Piece of Furniture handout, and here it is. Please email me at buttonbirddesigns@gmail.com with pictures of your trash to treasure project!!!
How to Paint a Piece of Furniture
Find
Craigslist, thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, auction and estate sales,
friends and family.
Prepare
· Fill in holes with wood puddy. Let dry, then sand using fine grit sand paper. Repeat.
· Electric Sander or Sand paper: Knock off shiny finish, and rough up so paint will stick. Sand down scratches, dents, chipped veneer, and knock off old flaky peeling paint.
· Kilz Spray primer: Use on a smooth finish if you don’t want to sand. Also use if you are going to paint a piece white, it will cut down on the number of coats. Good to use if piece is not solid wood. Spray piece and let dry. Lightly sand with fine sandpaper
Paint
· Purdy Cub XL is a great brush that lasts a long time.
· Paint: Behr paint, interior satin, premium plus ultra (Home Depot) or chalk paint.
· Dip brush halfway in and then wipe on backside of edge to get rid of excess paint.
· Long strokes, 2-3 THINNNNN coats of paint, drying for 3-4 hours in between.
· Lightly sand in between each coat of paint.
· Store paint brush in a plastic baggie in refrigerator in between coats of paint.
· Clean brush with warm water and BBQ brush.
Distress
· Always distress before you glaze.
· Tear off piece of sand paper or use electric sander for really distressed pieces.
· Sand areas that you want to look distressed.
Glaze
Readymade glaze, mixed glaze, or stains
· Mutes the brightness, adds dimension, and gives paint an aged look.
· Behr Premium plus Faux Glaze: Three parts to one part color of your choice.
· Apply with damp brush or damp clean cotton rag. Leave on for a few minutes, then wipe off. The longer you leave on the darker the glaze will be.
Protect
· Minwax Polyurethane Wipe-On Satin (darker pieces, and pieces with lots of wear): Clean rag, rub on poly like furniture polish. 2-3 thin even coats depending on the surface. Wait 2-3 hours for each coat to dry.
· Minwax Paste Finishing Wax: With a lint free cloth, rub on furniture, 10 minutes later buff.
Chalk Paint
If you are going to use chalk paint, forget everything I just told you!!!!!
1. You do not have to sand. The paint sticks to any surface regardless of the finish.
2. You do not have to prime.
3. Chalk paint takes less coats and dries faster.
4. Chalk paint is more expensive but saves you a ton of time and money on other supplies.
5. Chalk paint distresses easily and beautifully. Sands off in a powder instead of peeling off.
Supplies
Drop Cloth
Safety glasses
Wood Filler
Puddy knife
Electric Sander
Fine and medium sand paper
Kilz spray primer
Purdy XL paint brush
Behr Paint: Interior Satin, premium plus ultra line
Chalk Paint
Glaze: Behr Premium plus Faux Glaze
Minwax Polyurethane wipe-on satin
Minwax Paste finishing Wax
Happy Painting!!
My name is Angela Statzer and I love to incorporate just about anything into my artwork. Ranging from recycled materials, vintage items, wood, jewelry, other people’s junk, buttons and fabric, my style is fun and diverse. You can find me smiling at any yard sale, thrift store or flea market. I am a momma to two amazing kids and wife to one hot husband. 
i love this story!
Angela, I loved your workshops at Becoming! You were so sweet and approachable and so very, very talented. I've located Annie Sloan paint not far from my house and will be going there in the next week or so. Furniture beware! Thank you, thank you, thank you for going outside your comfort zone. You really blessed my life! God bless you and yours!
My friend and I couldn't wait to get home and paint something. I walked into my house and told my husband he needed to move his stuff out of the garage I was taking it over. Thank you again for sharing you talent. Your blog is now on the top of my favorite list.
I was at Becoming and thought you did a fantastic job! Having a public speaking phobia myself, my heart went out to you, but you did AWESOME! Couldn't even tell
Thank you for sharing your heart and passion. You are beautiful! (And I think I saw you at my church!!)
You were awesome! So inspiring and your energy is infectous. I couldn't wait to get home and be crafty.
I was in your first session, and I was silently cheering you on the whole way through. I thought you did a FANTASTIC job!!! Your excitement and passion came through and you shared your knowledge perfectly. You're adorable, inside and out.
I'm proud of you for taking a risk. It definitely paid off. I'm inspired. (I'm not a public speaker, at all. But in 2 weeks, I'm going to start teaching a new adult SS class at church. I pray I feel the same peace when I take my leap, as well.)
THANKS for offering great sessions at a wonderful conference.
You did a great job and it was a pleasure to meet you this weekend.
SO GLAD to hear it went well…and sad to have had to miss your debut!!! Congrats, friend, and go get some rest…love you! xoxo -s
What an AWESOME day for you! Congratulations!!! I'm inspired and I wasn't even there
.
I really enjoyed your Trash to Treasure workshop. You did great! I'd never know you had a fear of public speaking. You were talking about something you obviously loved and it showed. GREAT JOB! I was inspired to get to work.
yea! So proud of you!!
WAY TO GO ANGELA!! So proud of you! The Lord is definitely using you and working in your life at the same time!Love to you friend!
I was there and saw two of your sessions and enjoyed them both…especially the trash to treasure one. It was so inspiring to see some of the things you've created and I can't wait to do some crafty things with my daughters now. They are looking forward to it also.
Wow–good for you for going outside the comfort zone! Congrats!! I bet you were great!
You are amazing and we were so glad to have you join us! I hope you are up for trying it again next year??
I loved your sessions, Angela! Alicia and I sat on the front row all morning so we could get a good view. And I'm very glad that we did! I hate speaking in public, too, and I am so impressed with your example – both in tackling such a strong phobia, and in designing such creative pieces. Can't wait to see you again next year!
My sister and I attended one of your sessions this weekend. I would ever have known you had a fear of speaking in public. You did a great job! Hope the chalk paint doesn't sell out before I get mine!
I really enjoyed your session! I have a stool in my foyer that I've been hoping to paint for over a year so you gave me the inspiration and instruction I need to get it done. Actually, your session was the one I looked forward to the most.
I am so happy for you, and really hope to attend this if you all try again next year.
You know, I would love to read some of what you all talked about. I would have bought a DVD copy of the sessions. It's something for you all to consider for next year.
Again, congratulations!
Your love for your art shone through in your presentation – really enjoyable. And it has inspired me. As soon as I can get my hands on some paint this week I've got some painting to do!
YAY!!!! That's all I can say, since I am still working on being able to formulate sentences again. YOu were a blessing and we were honored to have you!!!
You inspired me to start a blog! Thanks so much! I am excited to keep posting in it!
I loved your sessions! You did a great job presenting and explaining and sharing your passion – Thank you, thank you!!!
Angela,
I really enjoyed your sessions at Becoming! I think you're a pro at public speaking, you didn't look nervous at all. I love how passionate you are about your creations, it made me want to continue developing my creativity! Hope to see you again, maybe next year!
Debbie
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm sure that your blessing has blessed many people at the convention!
Your work is beautiful and creative and inspirational. Thank you for doing what you're passionate about and for taking the time and energy it takes to share it with us!
Question – when you remove glaze, do you move in straight lines, rather than rub it in a circular motion? I'm thinking especially about the large flat surfaces, like the top of a dresser where there is no detail work.
You did a great job! Loved your sessions, your outfits (great finds), your work and your laugh (can you bottle that?). Now I am ready to tackle the house full of projects that need to be worked on, once it gets a little cooler.
Hi Ashley
I remove it in staight lines on large surfaces, but I think you can so both. You could get a piece of wood and play with the glaze to see what works best for you!
lots of love
Angela
And you did an AMAZING job! You have the most infectious smile and laugh. I'm so glad we were able to go. And so glad that you found the courage to speak and share your ideas. Your work is inspiring and you are truly gifted.
Hey Angela! I just wanted you to know that I completed my first furniture redo on a chair bought at a local thrift shop. I used chalk paint too!! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
You did great Angela:) Fun to hear you share your passion. I found a great piece of wood in my neighbor's garbage the other day and I can't wait to turn it into something beautiful!
You were awesome! I signed up for the convention just to learn how to re-finish furniture from you! Within 30 minutes of leaving the class, I committed to a large tv entertainment center in great condition on an online yard sale site. Picked it up this week and now have to decide what color of chalk paint I'm going to use on it for my boy's playroom.
Thanks so much for the shout out!!!
xoxox
Angela