Labours of love

It was back in early June when we'd decided that the garden patio set needed a coat of paint. With it being cream in colour it had weathered quite a bit,(not surprising after all the dreadful wind and rain it's had to succumb to!

We bought a tin of this paint....

...and I began to tackle the job. Mick said that he would do the painting, but I was adamant that I wanted to do it. By the end of the first coat I was wondering to myself why I had been so eager. I must say, it felt like I was painting the Forth bridge. "Why didn't we buy spray paint?" I asked myself. But to be honest, I'm not that keen on spray paints, and I'd certainly make a mess with that, so that answered my question. So in between all the thunder, hail, wind and rain we've had over the last couple of weeks, the set had two coats of the creamy paint.

...Stands back, admires work.... then I thought to myself " Now it looks a bit flat!" It looked too bright, ( well, isn't that what I wanted?) yes but... it looks too bright. By this time Mick was beginning to think I'd gone barmy. " I thought that's how we wanted it" he said. Well, yes, but. Then I had an idea, but if it didn't work (and it looked a mess) it would mean that I'd have to repaint the set all over again. Do I..don't I? Yes, do it!!! Right, off to my collection of paints I go and find this little pot of magic....

.....it's colour is Antique gold. In my brush box I found an old children's paint brush. Yes, I've had it since our children were small, (I don't discard anything if I think it will be useful) I wasn't going to use any of my nice newer brushes for this job! It didn't take much paint, I only used about a quarter of the small pot for the whole job. Beginning with the table I dry brushed the gold paint over the cream. I didn't want to cover the cream just add it along edges and also to the floral work at the base of the table and back of the chairs....

.......

When I first began putting the gold paint on it looked very dull....

....had I made a mistake in trying this?

...carry on until it's all done.. wait for it to completely dry....

...then make the decision, yes, that's what I'd do.

Well, it's turned out wonderfully. The pictures don't really show how "gilded" the set looks. In fact I was so pleased we now have a "gilded" cage too...

All that's needed now is to cut the plexi glass circle to fit on top of the table. I do use a table cloth which has matching seat pads which I made a while ago. But to ring the changes we shall use the clear top and I shall make another set of cushion pads, ( fabric from my enormous stash which I've collected over the years) I have some gorgeous Oriental fabric with gold running through it, I may just use that! Then all we need is some warm sunny and dry days so we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labour...please!!!