First up, congrats to Mary from Glass Horse Studio. I drew her name to win my patina paint giveaway!
I don’t know how many of you check out my ‘available for local sale’ page on a regular basis, but if you do, you may have noticed that my furniture is not exactly flying off the shelf these days.
I’m not sure what the hang up is. Earlier this year I thought maybe it was just the cold weather, but I can’t blame it on that anymore.
Then I thought, maybe white just isn’t ‘in’ anymore. Several of my pieces are white including this stenciled dresser …
Or maybe the problem is that ‘farmhouse style’ is on the way out.
I’ve sold so many of these washstands, they are perfect as nightstands or side tables. I can’t imagine why this one isn’t going.
Desks are always a bit of a tough sell, most people simply don’t use desks in their homes anymore, so not being able to sell the desk isn’t a complete surprise.
Black has always been a quick seller for me, so I went with simple black on this next one. No transfers, no stencils …
And I still have it. What’s up with that?
This pretty shade of blue green has always been one of my personal favorites, but maybe it’s no longer so popular?
Or maybe it’s the french writing that’s holding this one back?
I have all of these pieces advertised on Craigslist and on Facebook Marketplace and I’m not getting even a nibble. On any of them!
And that brings me to the bench.
This bench goes all the way back to December 2020 when Ken created it out of an old 3/4 bed frame. I had painted it in DB’s Sawmill Gravy and added re.design with prima’s Cosmic Roses transfer.
I had it listed for about 9 months, and then in October 2021 Ken and I decided to revamp it a bit to see if we could get it to sell.
Ken cut down the posts at the front of the bench because he’d thought they looked weird from the start. Then I repainted it in Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth and added that french transfer to the back. If you’ve been following me that long, you may remember that I wasn’t happy about the repetitiveness of the transfer (cakes and pastries, cakes and pastries, cakes and pastries). I didn’t even notice it until I already had it half applied.
Anyway, another 7 months have gone by and I still have the bench.
So I decided to give it one more try.
I consulted with Ken and we decided to remove the circular do-dad from the bottom of the bench. It kind of draws the eye and looks a little … well … kind of nipple-y really. It popped off fairly easily, then I sanded that area a bit and touched up the paint.
Next up I sanded off the transfer and re-coated that area with more Drop Cloth. Then I applied I.O.D.’s Gregory’s Catalogue paint inlay.
Go big or go home, right?
This paint inlay isn’t playing around. It’s big and it’s in your face. And I love it.
I actually purchased this particular paint inlay to create a sign for myself, something that would hang on my carriage house … or maybe on my front window box. I still plan to pursue that project, but for now, the inlay was kind of perfect for this bench.
Several of you have commented that the paint inlay process seems putzy or complicated, but I have to say that applying this one to the bench was easier than applying a transfer of the same size would have been. Or at least it took far less arm strength (all of that rubbing with transfers!) and less time (not including dry time, but less actual working time).
As long as you pay attention and follow the directions (see my tutorial here), these are quite easy to apply.
Before I let you go, we just have to talk about that gorgeous purple petunia for a minute.
That is the Proven Winners Supertunia Mini Vista® Indigo. The color on this thing is so gorgeous. It’s probably going to entirely take over that pot and consume the topiary behind it, but I don’t care. It makes me smile every time I see it. I just had to share that with you guys. I’ve seen lots of photos of this plant online and they seldom do justice to the actual color of it.
So the question remains, will this bench finally sell?
That remains to be seen, but I’m cautiously optimistic. I think it turned out pretty fabulous and I really wish I had a spot for it myself.
If any of you locals are interested, be sure to check my ‘available for local sale‘ page for the details on this bench as well as the other pieces that are still in my inventory.
As always, thank you to Dixie Belle Paint Co for the paint and clear coat used on this piece.
q is for quandie 
All the pieces are beautiful. And the bench is to die do. Probably there are a few things at play that affect sales…high cost of living and a trend away from this look. I see more modern farmhouse and unpainted pieces in decorating styles online. As well, some people have to make hard choices on what they purchase – the cost of putting gas in the car and food on the table become priorities.
We will hope this is a temporary lull in sales .
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Fingers crossed!
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All your stuff is amazing and if I wasn’t so far away in SC I’d be a constant customer! I would most definitely buy that bench and the washstand. I think it’s just a “local” thing – alot of people all over the place would buy from you if they were there! Don’t get discouraged – it probably is alot to do with the economy right now. I can’t really imagine the farmhouse look ever going out of style – it won’t for me anyway! Just love it.
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Me too!
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I think many of us who follow your blog posts would LOVE to purchase items that you have for sale, but we’re just too dang far away! (Florida for me!)
Also, you might be inspiring folks in your area to tackle their own projects!
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Thanks so much Kimberley! If only shipping furniture wasn’t so cost prohibitive 😉
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I would buy the white stenciled dresser and the black dresser in a New York minute! But I’m in GA. The bench is lovely and would look amazing outside on a porch or patio or in a garden, but white is a tough sell for something that stays outside. It would be a never ending job to keep it clean and crisp looking.
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Yep, Georgia is a bit far for a road trip 😉
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Good morning,love the bench revamp and fingers crossed. I paint,refinish,repurpose and revitalize furniture in my area too noticing it has also been slow as of late. I think the cost of living has a lot of people marketing different choices right now.Thanks for continuing to inspire!
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It’s good to hear that I’m not alone. Hopefully sales will pick up eventually 🙂
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Linda, your work is superb and your taste is totally on target. If I had to guess I’d say the economy is at play, here. And people who do have disposable income are spending it on travel from what I see. So, hang in there, it will all sell – I think in the fall everyone will be decorating again. Perhaps if you take the ads down, possibly take a couple of different staged photos and repost, you’ll see views and interest? Or think about a booth at an antique mall where there is daily traffic?
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Well, now that you mention it, I guess I’m a good example of that since I’ve been spending lots on travel lately and not much on anything else. Well … except plants! I’m spending a little on plants too 😉
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All three versions of the bench are absolutely stunning. The newest design is definitely my favorite. I wish I was local so that I could scoop it up.
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Thanks Christine!
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I love version #2 the best, but I love Victorian and Eastlake! Furniture is not selling for me right now either. In January, stuff flew out the door. Fingers crossed it will again soon – but with the price of gas!!! who know! Congrats to Mary on her win!
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Those gas prices are a killer. It cost me $50 to fill up my little VW bug the other day. Yikes!
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Lovely work as always . . . I believe it is the current economy. All your pieces are one-of-a-kind, and they will find their special home!
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Thank you so much!
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I think this is the best look. The two little sticky-ups on the first version made me think, “Wow, that would hurt if you got hung up on that.” The second version I just wasn’t over the top on but removing the nipple thing on the third I think is a lot better. Now, it’s all clean lines, and a great inlay.
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I agree, I like this look the best as well. Hopefully it will find a good home 🙂
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Please don’t be down hearted Miss Quandie! These “unsolds” are sooooo tiny compared to all of your solds! Wow, I hope that your beautiful white farmhouse style isn’t waning; that would be a huge bummer. If, by chance, it is, then you could still do the Drop Cloth or Black with a small date or bee transfer in black or gold some where near the top or middle…….it could be like your “signature” on a piece? Maybe the two small stools could go to Reclaiming Beautiful? I’m totally surprised that the “back alley” black chest hasn’t sold……..it is gorgeous…….
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I know, go figure right? I did take those two benches in to the shop last week, so we’ll see if they sell quickly or not. Fingers crossed!
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wish i still lived in your neck of the woods so to speak. i’d happily buy them all! but alas i moved from northern iowa to the central coast of california. i still decorate according to your style and your pieces give me a warm cozy feel.
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Lucky you! I bet it is beautiful there 🙂
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