Wednesday, May 10, 2017

What I'm Working On Wed: Flocks And Spots



"We of the Household" had a discussion the other day on where collecting ends and hoarding begins. Have you an answer for that?
We could not come to an agreement in general, but both thought (possibly) my chicken flock had reached past the collecting phase...possibly. 
It seems many of my chickens often have a sort of disgruntled look on their face like the one above. 

The one below is the largest one of the hoard flock. It always stands guard way up on the kitchen's glass cabinet...
This is my favorite chicken. I bought her at a shopping area called The Strand on a trip to Galveston, probably around spring of 2002, just as a storm was flooding the area and all the shops were closing up fast. She has a somewhat sassy attitude.
Here she is at Christmas time in the front room. She loves to sit on the coffee table and look at the Christmas lights.
The two in the photo below sit way up on top of the highest cabinets in the kitchen keeping watch on the cooking, which doesn't actually happen very often around here...
Here's a close up of the one on the left in the basket...
A couple more chickens are keeping the kitchen pig company on the movable cabinet, in the middle of the kitchen, while I'm thinking about where to put them. 
We're in flux right now due to switching out some of the furniture, moving some around, and adding in some new.
Now this particular chicken has probably been with me the longest and has been carried around with me for 15 years, from the Northwest to the South and all points in between. 
I don't know why I carried it that long because I really do not love this chicken.
With the "downsizing game" I play now, based on Marie Kondo's book, if I hold it and it does not bring me joy...it's suppose to go out the door! 
So I held the spotted chicken, and I thought... 


"Maybe I just really don't like those spots!"

And right there and then I did what any good hoarder collector would do...I got out the paint and got rid of the offending spots.




I painted a first coat of a color called Kembel in Amy Howard's One-Step Paint. 
This paint was the closest to brown that I had in my chalk paint stash, and my goal now is to complete projects with what I have on hand.
Please Note: I'm no expert, but I do use all types of chalk paint, including homemade. I have found different brands work better with different projects. 

First of all, I'd say use up whatever you have on hand! Second, I've found One-Step paint works well on both metal and pottery if I have it on hand. 
But then, most other chalk paints work well on those items too.

Just so we're clear, my opinion is based on my experience with the paint. I do not receive any compensation for my opinionsand I pay for all the paint I use.
Covering up the spots is as far as I've gotten with the chicken this week. I'm planning to add some dark wax to make it look aged, but I'm looking for inspiration on how to finish it up. 
If you have any ideas for the chicken's makeover, please let me know in a comment. Your thoughts and ideas are always appreciated.



Thanks for dropping by!


Joining The Party Here:
Cooking And Crafting With JJ
Vintage Charm Party At My Thrift Store Addiction
Home And Garden Thursday




17 comments:

  1. Love all your chickens and rooster. I really like the spots gone. I think if you kinda antique him it will give him depth. I like him much better. You can play around with him and see what you like best. Maybe all white and dry brush in the cracks of his feathers.

    Good luck and happy painting.

    Wishing you a wonderful Mothers Day.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  2. Love your collection of chicken/roosters. The spot needs to be gone...but agree adding some depth with a stain would help and add definition.

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  3. I like the expression of your sassy chicken. I agree about keeping your transformed rooster gray, with a bit of aging. Looks like a fun project!

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  4. For a moment I thought the spotty chicken was out of the door, so I smiled when he had a reprieve and the spots painted over, brilliant.

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  5. You are just the funniest gal.. don't like the spots... get the paint brush out. I love it.

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  6. You're just too cute, Sugar, and I loved reading your post on your chicken collection. Your transformation of your least favorite one, looks so pretty. I love your copycat mantle, too!

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  7. HaHaHa! You made my day. It's not the chicken you didn't love, it was the spots!
    I will have to ponder your question of 'where collecting ends and hoarding begins.... ;)

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  8. Big improvement on the spots. If you like something it's not hoarding, no matter how many you have.

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    1. Oh Janet! I'm going to use that line on Wild Bill. "If I like something, it's not hoarding...no matter how many I have!" I'll let you know if that changes his mind.

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  9. This is so funny! I love all your chickens! A friend has given me two roosters, and I don't like either of them...I don't think you would like them either. That makes it hard to get rid of them...she stops by occasionally. These are tacky looking roosters. :) Yours look expensive.

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  10. It's a fine line, indeed. I like your chickens...always have. Husbands hoard their own kind of things. My husband definitely does.

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  11. I love your chickens - was waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the Tidying up book - didn't expect the paint as a solution - gave me a good laugh :) Looking at your photos has given me some ideas for doing something with the top of my cupboards.

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  12. Good question! : )
    I've heard a collection starts with three items of the same thing.

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  13. I love the color now and think it will be perfect, aged with dark wax! Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm! Pinned!

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  14. Hello Sugar,
    I love the way you painted your chicken with the paint. Thanks for joining and sharing at our Monday Cooking and Crafting with J & J. We hope to see you again. Enjoy the week.
    Julie xo

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  15. Hello Sugar! This is Jeannie from GetMeToTheCountry.Blogspot.com. I just had to come and visit. Later this evening I will be reading backwards on your blog!

    I do have an answer as to the difference between hoarding and collecting. If you have to feed it, it is a "hoard". Since you do not need to feed your ceramic chickens, it is not hoarding.
    I like making up my own rules.

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  16. You've chosen the perfect color! A great transformation.
    Amalia
    xo

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