Do you have leather in your home?  Does it look tired, scratched, or faded?  Lost it’s luster? 

I’ve had this ottoman for probably 20 years.  I don’t do coffee tables because we put our feet on them, so the only practical answers for my home is ottomans.  

My little dog always thought this was a really good place to “file her nails” so needless to say it became quite scruffy.  

No worries, I have a secret weapon that I have used for years it is called Briwax (not a sponsored post) I love this stuff it is creamy and easy to apply and it comes with stain already in it so it’s great for touch ups and also comes in several different finishes.  This is a product that was designed for antique furniture to give you that “French Polish” look.  This is not a product you want to use on modern furniture because it could interfere with the lacquer or poly urethane finishes they use on furniture now.  I have used it on furniture that I have built and it’s worked great, not to mention my trunk, dressing table etc.  It’s also great to use on smalls like antique trays, boxes and wooden bowls, I’ve even used it on antique leather bound books and old suitcases.

So back to the ottoman; it was in desperate need of a clean up. I use 0000 steal wool when I apply wax.  A lot of people will use a brush but the steel wool works great.  

It has just enough porousness to help even out rough surfaces but not enough to scratch.  that is what this ottoman needed.  I applied it in a circular motion and allowed it to rest for about 10 minutes.  This next step is very important, you have to buff with a soft cloth to remove excess wax and punch up the patina. Particularly if you’re using it on a chair.  You don’t want to get this stuff on your clothes. 

And look at the ottoman now.  This is like instant gratification and makes a world of difference.

So while I had the wax out I decided to do a large antique tray that I picked up for $20 at an antique mall in Grand Island a couple of years ago.  This tray had a large gouge broken on the lip but the tray has beautiful inlay and brass handles and is mahogany.  I used the tray on my stove top before I gave it the refresh, and forgot to remove it when I was cooking and the heat got to the finish.  I simply sanded the gauge out a little bit just to smooth off the rough edges and applied the wax with the 0000 steel wool and it took the spot right out.

I had already worked on it a bit before I remembered to take the picture.

Amazing right.  Doesn’t even look like the same tray.  Waxing and buffing both of these pieces took me less than 30 minutes.  Easy Peasy!

The next thing I did this week was take an old worn out set of napkins and embroidered them.  Last fall I bought myself a fancy sewing machine and I’m still learning about it.  So I have been experimenting with different embroidery stitches, and throwing all kinds of projects at it.  These black napkins have seen better days.  I bought them a World Market at  least 100 years ago!  So, I figured if I screwed them up no great loss.  I embroidered a very simple boarder around the hem and then I monogrammed them and this is how they turned out.

This was a fun project I had 9 napkins and guess what happened when I got to the 9th. Yup I ran out of thread.

So close but so far away!!!  I’ll set a table for you with these napkins.

Have you ever used Briwax?  Let’s hear about it.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  

Shelley