Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint | French Linen

Hello all!

This dresser went to a new home months ago, but I wanted to  share a bit more about it, well, because chatting about painting furniture is fun! This was my second large piece painted with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint (MMSMP) .  It was a custom piece for a lovely momma who wanted a chippy paint finished dresser for a new nursery! She had seen my first piece finished with milk paint and wanted the same look, but in a creamy, not-too-white color.  If you're unfamiliar with milk paint, the scoop is that it has been around for years, comes in powder form, and has the characteristic to 'chip' off giving you that amazing old flaking off paint look, that time and old paint give.  The benefit is you can achieve the look without waiting 50 years, seal the paint is it isn't flaking off onto your carpet, and milk paint doesn't contain any harmful lead like older painted pieces might.

The before shot.

I agree, pretty amazing!  But the finish was in bad shape and honestly, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on it to paint it!

(On a total side note, how many posts have I mentioned the wall color is more blue that the photos show?  And that I wish to paint those walls?  Well, these projects just keep popping up and the walls seem to stay the same color.  Someday!)

This part I was less excited about.  However, the varnish on the top was a complete mess with some intact, some worn off, and some stained.  So off it came and was then re-stained and sealed.

Back to the fun part;  the paint!  Like I mentioned and maybe you have read, milk paint has to be mixed.  This is the color "Kitchen Scale" by Miss Mustard Seed that I used for a dresser previously.  Take a peek at it HERE, I still just enjoy it so! One of the tricks I found with milk paint is patience, and stirring - a lot.  When I'm ready to paint I want to open the can & go!  With milk paint I have to plan ahead.  First, you want to mix approximately how much you think you will use.  It stays good in the fridge for up to a week mixed.  I also found that mixing the paint and then letting it sit (up to an hour) to absorb the water gave me much fewer clumps in the paint.  And lots of stirring.  Before, and while painting.  

Another pointer: You have to let it do it's thing!

 Sometimes it adheres to your surface, and sometimes even while painting with it, you'll notice it isn't going to stick.  And I don't think you can necessarily predict just where that will happen.

Now, this was a piece I knew the client wanted a chippy, heavily time-worn look to it.  There is a bonding agent available to mix with the paint so it is more predictable to adhere to the surface.  I chose to let loose of my need for control with both of these pieces with milk paint and didn't add the bonding agent.

The chipping on the legs and detail was enough to convince me!

At times with the second coat, the first coat would be chipping off.  Other areas, the paint flaked off easily with some pressure and rubbing with my fingertips.  Some areas I did lightly distress to remove more paint and let the wood show thru.  For me, this is my favorite part!

Although the flakiness of the paint is lovely, waxing this piece to protect the look took some patience.  I imagine using the bonding agent would make the waxing process a bit easier, but again, I knew the chippier the better!  So I gingerly applied the first coat of wax and then applied a second coat for a good seal.

So excited this dresser gets to grow up with an adorable new little girl!

-Jen