Little "Rudy"!!!! For Sale

 Chalk Paint & Plaster Paint... which to use... that is the question...

 

well, for THIS girl, chalk paint is the way to go!!  the body of "rudy" is ASCP "coco".  The chalk paint is EASY to use.  Literally so easy, our 12 and 13 year olds paint furniture with us!!  "rudy's" drawers are a "homemade" plaster paint.  it's OK... but here's what i dislike:

 

1.  the clean up... it DOES NOT clean up easily like chalk paint.  if you let it dry on your brush, THROW IT AWAY!!  and it definitely stays on your skin longer or scrub harder!!

2.  the chunks at the bottom.  ugh.  that was so frustrating.  i've only used the plaster paint once, so i don't know if theres a way to avoid this, but if not, its a HUGE TURN OFF for me.

3.  odor.  i personally don't have issues with paint odor, but i know some people do.  if you are one of those folks, the homemade plaster paint isn't for you.  chalk paint has virtually NO SMELL.

 4. i think i had to use 3 or 4 coats of the plaster paint.  so, even though i "saved" money on the purchase price, i used way more paint than if i'd used chalk paint.  so... i really didn't save money and i made more work for myself!

 

**  i should also say... i purchased the plaster paint, but i do plan to make my own at home as well... just to say i've tried it.

 

on a side note... i am SOOOO mad at myself for NOT taking "before" pics of "rudy"!!!  he was a hot mess!!!  mike had to sand, and fill, and drill, and repair... but it was worth it!!  look how handsome he is!!!

 

 

"rudy"

for sale!!!!

 

 

"Rudy" will make quite a statement in your home!!  He's small, but his colors pack a big punch!!  Rudy has been painted Annie Sloan Chalk Paint "Coco" on his body and his drawers are a plaster paint in "Barn Red".  He has been heavily distressed and clear waxed for protection and durability. 

36" H, 30" W, 19" D

 

$75



"Harold" is FOR SALE!!!!!

"harold"... named by sireana and painted by laurie... was hand picked by jim... i suppose i should have mentioned jim in the bio blog!!  soooo sorry dad!!  yes, jim is my dad!!  and our little home business has given my dad the PERFECT excuse... i mean REASON to go to every garage sale he sees!!!  jim has picked several of our pieces including Frenchie!!  we're hoping Harold is just as popular as she was!

Harold



 

"Harold"
He is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint "Napoleonic Blue" very lightly distressed and clear waxed for protection and durability. All brand new hardware.He's super tall and skinny!! Perfect for a small bedroom, hallway, extra storage in a bathroom, or any tight space!
48" H, 18" W, 17" D
$75

 

All About the Gonser's

i'm definitely doing this blog especially for all our new "likes" on our ReInVintaged Design page.  i like when business pages i "like" post about REAL things!!  i like to know they are human too.  and for the most part, we are a super typical American family.  i thought i'd do a super brief bio on each of us so people can get to know us!!  :)

Mike (michael to me!!)  by day he's the super organized "Major Accounts Project Manager" and "Mold Shop Manager" at a local plastic thermoforming company!  he loves college football... especially his beloved notre dame!!  he enjoys cooking... and does the majority of it for our family!  thankfully mike IS super organized and carpenter-ly (NOT a word!!) inclined!!  if you hang around mike too long, eventually your sides WILL hurt from laughing so hard because mike IS a jokester!!

i had to use a pic of BOTH of us, because a SERIOUS pic of mike alone, does not exist!!  always joking!!

 

Laurie ... by day i'm the marginally disorganized and SUPER FRIENDLY office administrator for a local CPA firm.  that is TOTALLY what i dreamed of being "when i grew up"!!  i love all things pink and glittery!  i LOVE dogs!!  i think i'd probably have 27 if mike didn't keep me under control!!  2... i'm allowed 2!!  i love going to all our kids "events" and i AM the mommy in the stands SCREAMING!  i can't help it!!  i'm pretty creative and i love the feeling of looking at my finished project knowing I DID THAT!  i have the perfect high strung personality to compliment mike's, which is completely laid back!!  together we make a great team!

 

 

Lexi... alexis to some... but Lex to me... by day, lex is 7th grader!  and by the afternoon, she's a volleyball player!!  i'd tell you what position, but i think i may not have been paying attention when she told me!!  um... front row ball hitter????  lexi loves dogs, texting, and long walks on the beach... ok, well, maybe not the beach part!  lex can often be found hanging out with friends, volunteering at our church or babysitting her little sister and niece!  lex is an excellent student and great friend!

 

 

there's a chance i'll be in trouble for using this "first day of 7th grade picture"... she doesn't look TOO happy!  :)  love you lex!

 

Brady... by day, brady is ALSO a 7th grader.  some how or another tho, i understand in their tiny school... they manage to completely avoid each other all day!?!?  brady is a super student and terrific athlete!  brady's sport schedule keeps us hoppin' year round!!  Baseball, Football, and Wrestling!!  and when he's not participating in a sport, he does a weight lifting program at a trainer.  whew... just talking about it makes me tired!!  brady can often be found hanging out with friends, playing PS3, or reading... yes, he reads!!! 

 



figured i'd stick him with the "back to school" pic too!! 

 

Brittin... by day, britt is a 2nd grader!  oh, where did the time go!  brittin is our "baby"... turning 8 next month!!  by night, brittin is my SHADOW!!  no really, she is!!  attached at my hip is that one!  but i love it!!  while brittin hasn't quite yet begun painting furniture, she did paint up a mean rock!!  britt is special to us for many reasons, but just to note, in her short life, brittin has overcome a stroke at birth, has had 6 brain surgery's and deals with cerebral palsey on a daily basis.  to us, brittin is a real champ!!  brittin can often be found reading her favorite books, making bead necklaces, or playing nail salon with her big sis lex!!

 

  what the heck, they ALL get the "back to school" pic!

 



Sireana...  by day, sireana is the busy mommy to a 2 year old daughter, azria... a sophomore at Bethel College... a veteran from the Navy... and an active Navy Reservist!  whew!  that makes me tired too!!  sireana enjoys coffee, poetry, and short walks in the woods... ok, that last part was a joke!  sireana really does enjoy helping people and is a fantastic daughter!!  Sireana hasn't chosen her first piece to ReVive yet, but she's looking for something with sexy legs!! 

sireana and her beautiful daughter azria!! 

 

that's pretty much it... mike and i do have two other beautiful daughters, jordan and sabreana... but they don't live with us or paint furniture... yet!!  ;)

 

have a BLESSED day!!!

laurie

 



 



ReInVintaged Designs

ReInVintaged Designs

~ReClaim~ReVive~ReHome~

what an exciting time in our lives!!!  while i have a minute, i figured i'd take a second to sort of... update everyone on what the gonser's have been up to!

i don't even know where to start really... the furniture thing has just snowballed!  in a good way!!  we have a work shop full of pieces ready to be ReVived!!!  i say "work shop" but what i really mean is the garage that neither mike or i can currently park in!!  thank goodness we have a four car garage! 

one reason i was really interested in ReViving furniture is I'M CHEAP!!  but... i want our home to be BEAUTIFUL!!  and i want everyone else's homes to be BEAUTIFUL as well!!  AND AFFORDABLE!!  i also believe in saving great pieces from the past!!  why go out and buy a cheaply built "put together" piece when you can spend the same money on a "ReInVintaged" piece!!  Not only will you get better quality, but it will LOOK BETTER too!! 

having this little business has been GREAT for our family!!  we are all involved and play a specific role:

Laurie (thats me!)  i do the shopping/picking, manage our on-line marketing, paint and design my projects!

Mike (my husband) handles all the money stuff, does estimates on custom paint projects, builds custom furniture, and paints and creates all his own projects!

Sireana (our oldest at home) shops and picks with me.  she's currently learning to do mosaics!!

Lexi (our 13 year old) paints and designs all her own projects!!

Brady (our 12 year old) does all our reupholstering ... yeah, i know that sounds crazy, but it's true!!  his grandpa taught him, and he's amazing at it!!  brady also preps projects and paints/designs his own.

Jim (my dad) love shopping/picking for us!!  he's also brady's upholstery mentor!

we've always been a close family, but working together has been a real blessing!!  our children are learning the benefits of hard work and what it means to work for a goal!!!

we have a business page on Facebook, so if you haven't already, please take a second to "like" us! 

www.facebook/ReInVintagedDesigns
 

 we will continue to find treasures on our own to ReVive... but if you have a piece already that needs a little face lift, we do that too!!  mike is also doing some custom furniture.  if you liked the farm table we have, he's definitely doing those!

 

i'm sure i'm leaving a bunch out... so ask questions!

 

Here's some of our work:

 as a SET "pretty little thing" & "jordan" $80

this is "jordan" before & after

"jordan" $50

"louie" $325

this is "louie" before & after

"charlie" $85

"rudy" $75"

 

"harold" $75

 

 

 

"pretty little thing" $40

"priscilla" SOLD!!!

"frenchie" SOLD!!

"francis" SOLD!!!

"olivia"  SOLD!!

"uncle sam"  BEING AUCTIONED

"big daddy chair"  um... sold to my husband!!

 

"betty Red White & Blue" TOO BE AUCTIONED!!

"july"  TO BE AUCTIONED!!!

"gonser custom farm table"

THIS IS A CUSTOM ORDER ITEM!!!



Pretty Little Thing!!!

"pretty little thing"

 

is FOR SALE!!!

 

 

 

We call her "Pretty Little Thing"!!!
She has a black wrought iron base and a HOT PINK crate style top that opens for a little extra storage! Lightly Distressed and Waxed for durability!
24" H, 12" D, 19" W

$40

Priscilla is FOR SALE!!!

 

 

"Priscilla"

$40

 

 

 

"Priscilla" by Lexi Gonser is FOR SALE!!!!
41" L, 23" W, 15" T Priscilla's base is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint "Old White" and her top is a custom shade of ASCP "Florence" with a wash over to add a fun depth! very lightly distressed for the shabby chic look!!
$40

 

God has NO limits!!!

i don't know what my deal is... but some days i just get totally down on myself.  this morning was one of those times. 

i was thinking about my furniture project... i started this for a couple of reasons:
1.  it's a GREAT outlet for my creative side.
2.  who doesn't want to make alittle extra money?!?!  and for the next year, the money we make reselling furniture is going toward our Mission Trip to Mexico.

i'm not the most patient person in the world, so i guess i was disappointed because i have three pieces done and NONE SOLD!  so i sat at work, beating myself up.  i kept thinking "i'm trying to make things BETTER for our family, but all i'm doing is DRAINING us!!"  mike is so good about supporting me and "ideas" and the thought of letting him down was crushing to me!! 

while doing one of my facebook "scroll throughs" i read something:

"When you take the limits off of God, you will see God amaze you with His goodness."  Joel Osteen

man i needed that!!!!  so i took a few minutes to apologize to God and get my head right.  and i started my brainstorming again for the furniture plan.  it wasn't even an hour, and i got TWO calls about two different pieces we have for sale!! 

i'm happy (and sad) to say Olivia now has a new home!!  she will be living at a lake cottage in Rome City IN!!  and, her new mom may come back for brady's coffee table/bench!! 

so... when you're feeling discouraged.... remember, God has a plan for you!!  And He has NO limits!!! 

"Betty red White & blue" and "July"

well, i've finished the final two chairs for the Conrad Silent Auction!

i'm pretty happy with "July".  She's very simple.  i can't believe how i get so excited about a piece that i forget to take the BEFORE shot!  sireana and i found July at a backwoods (no joke) garage sale in michigan.  my intention was for it to be Azria's chair.  but then once i got this idea for the auction... well, lets just say Kita better make this up to azzy!!

 i painted her with "old barn red"... added alittle dark wax... and then a final clear waxing for protection and durability.

 

 

then there's "Betty red White & blue"... i know this sounds harsh, but MAN, AM I SICK OF THAT CHAIR!!!  it's very frustrating when you're working on a piece and it's just... NOT WORKING!  i think once i line all three chairs up together, Betty will make more sense... but for right now, i'm just thrilled to get her OUT OF OUR HOUSE!  i do plan on bidding on her at the auction... watch... i'll end up with her again! 

 

"old barn red", "napoleonic blue" and "old white"

dark waxed



 

 

i do want to thank everyone who offered their candid opinion on this chair when i asked for it on Facebook.  i appreciate the constructive criticism and tried to implement some of the suggestions. 



ALL THREE CHAIRS WILL BE IN THE SILENT AUCTION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH AT FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ELKHART!!!!  if you need more information, please comment below!!!