Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint hits Australia

ok... sorry to be misleading ... one little box of it has arrived in Lilyfield!

I have been watching the post box for a while, waiting for this little parcel to arrive....

When Mike and Laurie from Red Posie Vintage in the US, contacted me recently asking me if I'd like to be the first Australian blogger to try Miss Mustard Seed's new range of Milk Paint, I jumped at the chance.  I am totally inspired by Marian (aka Miss Mustard Seed) and have followed her blog and furniture painting for years now.  Laurie and Mike asked which colour I wanted to try and I thought I'd try something a bit bold (and not my usual white) and asked for Tricycle Red.

Let me tell you this paint and this colour does not disappoint.

I finally got a break from my crazy contract work schedule this past weekend and on Sunday afternoon I cracked open the beautiful packaging and started painting this lovely cabinet I bought especially to show case this paint.

I sanded back to top and the sides but didn't sand anywhere else or use any primer.  The paint adheres beautifully to where I sanded - Milk paint actually soaks into raw wood for a great true deep colour. Where I didn't sand the paint has adhered pretty well with just a little chipping and flaking which I think is perfect.  I didn't have to do any distressing - just gently wipe where the flakes were before I top coated with wax.  

The paint has a rustic chalky finish until you top coat it with wax. As soon as you do this the colour deepens and the surface begins to shine. I topcoated in clear wax first then antiqued the details with a dark wax. You can see the finish in the photo below. It looks flaky but to touch it is perfectly smooth and a very durable finish.

I took the original brass hardware off to paint. I have left it unpainted and love how the brass looks against the deep red. Very fitting.  These little handles twist and unlock the cabinet. They are a very sweet shape also.  I love it when I don't have to replace the hardware on a piece. Always a bonus.

This cabinet is a low hall or side table. I will be selling it eventually. 

Please let me know if you are interested.

If you want to get your hands on some Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint click through to RedPosie's Etsy Store. Laurie and Mike have the cheapest prices in the US for this paint at $18.49 AUD for the box that mixes up a quart, and shipping to Australia is $15 with only $2 for an additional item.  For this cabinet I used 1/2 a cup of paint mixed with 3/4 of a cup of water. I would say I have just over half left so that's pretty cheap of milk paint even with shipping. 

My hint for using milk paint which I don't think Miss Mustard Seed mentions is to not go over your paint brush marks until the paint is fully dry. This is what will cause unmanageable flaking. I purposefully did this on a few small areas areas where I wanted it to flake but made sure I didn't do it in other areas. Milk paint dries very quickly and will basically tighten and shrink and this is what will cause the flakiness.

I wasn't too sure about using this paint to be honest. I don't particularly like over chipped / distressed pieces and I like it when pieces looks naturally distressed. I have to say I am so pleased with how this turned out - actually I'm surprised and delighted. I found the paint quick and easy to use and I just love the finish.  I haven't been paid for this review although I was sent the paint for free by Red Posie but you know that I pretty much tell it how it is and if you are keen for a new experience with paint then order some. I will be ordering more myself.

While I've used the Australian made Porters Milk Paint before I used it in white and I think it's a different thing to paint furniture in white to a bold colour in red so I can't really compare the two experiences. Painting furniture in white just requires so much more work and often many coats so it was a lot more work. I also sanded a huge amount with the Porters Paint and ended up with the most amazing glass like finish. Check it out here the two beside tables I painted.

Here is the before photo below. I knew as soon as I saw this that I had to have it to paint. It was pretty dinged up but what a beauty it is.

So who's keen to try it? or have you already?

How happy am I to be painting furniture again!!

Fiona xx

Red Posie

PS I took these photos in a variety of lighting conditions hence the colour variations.

Sharing at The Shabby Creek Cottage , DIY by Design , Primitive&Proper , Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage

Redoux Interiors Party , Furniture Friday at Decorating Insanity , Not Just a Housewife, Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday , the Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday DIY Project Parade  Homemaker on A Dime Funky Junk Tuesdays Treasures Perfectly imperfect