Who doesn't love Sunflowers??

I have been wanting to do a sunflower stained design for such a long time, but never had the piece that seemed right for it. I came across this oak Queen Anne accent table and I thought the oak would be a good opportunity. Being that oak has the yellow hue, I thought I would be able to work with that and try to make a sunflower come to life.

I stripped and sanded the finish off of the top. The legs were already dismantled from the table for me to be able to haul it home, so I sanded the finish off of the legs and used General Finishes Java Gel stain on the legs and the apron of the table.

I was then ready to tackle the detailed image of a sunflower.

I also decided to try out a new product.

At first, I was really excited about this new product, General Finishes Ebony Dye. But, the more I worked with it, I decided to go back to my "go-to" stain to finish the design.

Once the design was "finished" with the basic design, I went back in and darkened key areas with the GF Ebony dye. And much MORE shadowing was done to create more dimension.

I attached the legs and applied multiple layers of Varathane to seal the image onto the wood and to give the table protection.

I am so pleased with the way it turned out. Every time I finish a piece, it becomes my new favorite!

And just that quickly, she was sold! The new owner is starting a new chapter in her life with her wedding in just a few weeks! I know she will love it as much as I do! I do believe another sunflower will be in the near future to be added to my portfolio! I really loved the way this one turned out!!

More to come after our big show Sept 10 - 11 at the Wild Winds Art Festival in Warren county. If you are looking for something to do that weekend, take a road trip up and say hi!

Hope to see you there!

~Michelle