Milk Paint from Beets?

It was a dark and stormy night...

so I couldn't blog last night.

I tried, but it wouldn't go away,

so I broke my "blogging for 31 days straight" goal.

Boo-hoo,

I guess I'll have to post a painting transformation today with the recipe

to make amends.

Is that making amends?

 

So, I picked up this old trunk at a yard sale

and decided to try out some milk paint I got from a local supplier.

(My friend told me about milk paint about a dozen years ago,

but I never tried it because I was into buying the cheapest paint possible at the time

("Oops paint"),

but I've changed my opinion about paints in the last few years

1. because my hands look like they are pruney, dry, twisted old wood when I use house paints all the time so I wanted to try something a bit more "natural"  (milk paint you can dump outside; totally safe for the environment)

2. I love the "old" colors and look of milk paints.

3. It is supposed to stick to multiple types of surfaces, and my wrist likes for me not to sand so much.

 I could write a blog post about the woman I met who sells this paint; what a true artisan she is.  Perhaps someday I'll do that.

But for today:

I measured out three heaping Tbs. of the paint,

3 Tbs. of water,

and 1 Tbs. of the bonding agent

(no yogurt was added: I just used the container).

I mixed well and let sit for 20 minutes

(that is one thing I like better about AS Chalk Paint: 

open the can and paint...no waiting.

But I always have to find the things I have forgotten,

have dishes to do,

have hungry kids

and destroying puppy;

so 20 minutes goes off on the timer before I even notice.) 

And here is what it looks like

(more or less powder can be used for a thicker/thinner paint).

 I used the whole amount on the trunk.

 This is what it looked like freshly painted

(on the bottom half)

and drying

(on the top half).

 I liked the color of this so much,

I decided not to paint anything decorative on it,

just sanded it on the edges

and waxed it when it was done.

 

The color underneath shows through,

I think if I had done 2 coats it would have covered it,

but I liked the old color showing through.

Looks so cheerful, it makes a person want to go eat some vegetables...

like the last of the summer's cherry tomatoes with a touch of basil...

a dash of vinegar and olive oil

with a speck of salt (if desired).

Or it's nice to have some pickled cucumbers...

Stevia is a welcome substitute for sugar,

as is honey.

These cucumbers are a simple alternative when you have truckloads of cucumbers coming in

during the summer.

Pickled beets are a refreshing, healthy change, too.

 Yes, I realize basil tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, and pickled beets really don't have anything in common with milk paint,

but

well, I had to find a way to squeeze both into the same post

without going to the extreme of creating paint from cucumbers

or beet powder.

Well, now, there's a thought...

Paint made from beet powder...

hmmm.....

No, Farmer, I am just teasing.

You can have your beets and eat them, too.

This would be a fun place to store my sewing supplies,

but I'll likely sell it at the Christmas craft show.

Linking up to:

Missmustardseed.com

Funkyjunkinteriors.net
Homespunhappenings
 Betweennapsontheporch
Theprairiehomestead.com
Notjustahousewife.net
Adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com
Abowlfulloflemons.net

 This is part of my 31 days of blogging through October.

Pickled Beets Mw Cucumbers