Carver Junk Company — workshop

We've been having so much fun at our Milk Paint Project workshops recently, we haven't had time to think about scheduling an advanced workshop. Now that we've trained hundreds of you in the last 12 months on the basics of Milk Paint, we thought we should get some Advanced, Bring-Your-Own-Piece Workshops on the calendar! Some Q&A on the Advanced Workshops:

1. Can I sign up for the Advanced Workshop if I haven't taken a Basic workshop?
   • We require a Basic workshop before taking the Advanced workshop, so that everyone receives the best of the instructors' time during the Advanced workshop. You learn how to mix & apply paint in the Basics workshop, so that we can focus on advanced techniques and larger pieces during the Advanced workshop!
2. What sort of piece can I bring to the Advanced Workshop to paint?
   • You should bring a small piece of furniture, that can be carried in one arm. Have a larger piece of furniture you want to paint? Bring a drawer and a door, or a picture frame you can paint in the same style. The piece you bring in should be sturdy, solid, and ready to paint.
   • Workshop time is limited to 4 hours, which is plenty of time to paint and top coat a small piece. Anything larger, and we can't guarantee you'll have time to finish it during the workshop. We'd really hate to kick you out with an unfinished piece! If you have questions, send us a photo of the piece you'd like to bring: info@carverjunkcompany.com.
3. I'm bringing my own furniture, what do you provide?
   • A small group setting, and tons of hands-on instruction.
   • All of the painting supplies you'll need to complete your project.
   • Light snacks and refreshments, and a really fun 4 hours.
   • Ongoing support for any questions you have after you leave the workshop.

UPDATE: Giveaway has ended, and winner was chosen by random.org. Congrats to Sara T. on winning a free Milk Paint Basics Workshop registration! ************* We keep posting on Facebook about milk paint. You want to know what it's all about, and if it really involves milk. We offer workshops for just such Q&A, as well as hands-on time to play with and learn about the paint. The outcome? You, with confidence, going home and painting furniture. Don't blame us if Grandma gets mad at you for painting her antique dresser.... Click below to enter for a free Milk Paint Basics workshop. We hold workshops at least once monthly, and the winner will receive a voucher for one (1) spot in any regularly scheduled Milk Paint Basics workshop at Carver Junk Company, good until March 31st, 2015! We won't keep you hanging about that milk question. The answer is YES! Milk Paint actually has milk in it! Check out our Milk Paint FAQs page for more info.

Sunday afternoon's Paint Your Own Piece milk paint workshop was a blast! We turned the store into a workshop space for the afternoon, so we could hang out, shop, chat, and check out already-finished furniture while coats of paint were drying. Here are a few of the awesome before & afters: [caption id="attachment_185" align="aligncenter" width="665"] This beauty was previously used as a small table in a bathroom, and her top had seen better days (including those before someone took a pen to her). She first got a stain of curio on top and around the edges, then was topped with a custom mix of French Enamel and Grain Sack Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint! Lightly distressed, she's ready for a new home in an upcoming bedroom remodel![/caption]   [caption id="attachment_184" align="aligncenter" width="665"] We love the vision Gaylene had with this piece - heavy distressing, while leaving the edge detail original (with a nice hemp oil polish, of course). Kitchen Scale is one of our favorite colors, and it complements the original wood finish of this table beautifully! {It does look a bit blue in this photo - but has a touch more turquoise in real life ;) }[/caption] Our Paint Your Own Piece workshops build on the skills learned in the Basics workshop, and you get to see your vision through from beginning to end, on your own piece. More details on upcoming workshops can be found on our Events & Workshops page!

We have too many couches {sofa, settees, upholstered furniture in general}. But I am addicted. I have the hardest time passing up amazing antique and vintage upholstered furniture, when I can see so much potential in the gorgeous lines of these old pieces. I've scooped up all the ones in perfect condition that fit my {our} price range, and we use them for vintage wedding, event, and photography rentals. It's a great way to satisfy my addiction, without ending up with a furniture-hoarding situation in our already-too-small house. Then I saw these gals {there are two of them - matching}. Their lines are perfect, their size is perfect, their fabric is far from perfect. But they were only $75 each! How was I going to justify this? I've never upholstered anything more difficult than a bench! [caption id="attachment_140" align="aligncenter" width="665"] The cushions aren't pictured here - trust me, even if this fabric looks ok in the photo, it's stinky and dirty.[/caption] Fate stepped in. I swear. A fellow SW Metro crafty-person on Facebook was looking for a space to hold some upholstery classes, and I had a space and some things to upholster. Surely a trade was in order, and lucky for me, she loved the idea too. So I bought two loveseats, and they sat in the garage for 2 months until I could find the time to meet with Lauren, and soak up some of her magic skills. We started our lesson {Part 1 of 3} this weekend. About 3 hours worth of time pulling staples, trying not to mangle the fabric as we deconstructed, some coffee cake and a few backaches later, she was down to bare bones. Well, she still needs some of her staples removed, but we'll get there. I'll take the next 2-3 weeks {an hour or two here and there} to finish removing staples, purchasing fabrics & supplies, and getting everything back into the workshop so Lauren and I can cover cutting our patterns, installing foam backing, and stapling on the back pieces in early April. [caption id="attachment_141" align="aligncenter" width="665"] The bottom was in good shape, after we pulled off the worn, dirty fabric hiding the springs. Lucky, because I hadn't really checked for the quality of the springs when I purchased these![/caption] [caption id="attachment_143" align="aligncenter" width="665"] We started by pulling the cording, fabric, and batting off the back side. It was sewn into three panels that spanned the whole back.[/caption]

This gal should be ready for the May or June sale in Carver, all reupholstered, repainted, and ready for a new home. Here are some inspiration photos from Pinterest {who am I kidding - we have a whole board for sofas - here}: