A Story About Transformation, Studio Magic, and Letting Creations Evolve

There are certain pieces that arrive in our lives and quietly become part of our story. Not because they’re valuable in the way the world measures value, but because they carry a whisper of possibility … a feeling that they could be something more.

About eight years ago, I found a little tie wardrobe at a secondhand shop. She was humble, simple, and easy to overlook, but something about her shape, her bones, and her little door caught my eye. I didn’t know then how many lives she would live under my roof … how many times she would become exactly what I needed, before it was time for her to transform again.

When I first brought her home, the glass in the front door was the very first thing to go. I removed it and replaced it with a thin sheet of metal screen … tiny perforated holes that let air circulate but still kept her mysteries inside. I brushed the screen in a warm bronze so it felt aged, as though it had always belonged. You couldn’t see what was inside, but you could smell the soap curing on the shelves, and that was exactly the charm I wanted.

This was during my soap-making season … when my studio smelled like lavender buds, honey, eucalyptus, and oatmeal. She became my soap cupboard, the keeper of fragrance and simplicity.

Around that same time, my father and brother helped me build a nine-foot farm table I had designed myself. She was painted a soft light green aged with glaze, like something from an old European cottage. I loved that look so much that I carried it over to the cabinet, adding a stenciled flourish to tie the pieces together. She didn’t have legs originally, so I found some that felt just right and added them, giving her height, presence, and a little confidence.

For years she served her purpose beautifully.

Then seasons shifted. I stopped making soap. The studio changed. And she moved quietly into storage … dusty, patient, waiting for her next chapter.

Fast Forward a Few Years

When I traveled to Madison, Indiana for a workshop, I wandered into River West Antiques … a place that feels like a wonderland for creatives and treasure hunters alike. My friend Sandy has a booth there, and if you ever visit, promise me you’ll go. Her space radiates that signature blend of spirituality and cowgirl humor she’s known for.

Sandy carries Debi Beard’s DIY Paint … my favorite clay-and-chalk paint in the world. It’s velvety, creamy, wildly pigmented, eco-friendly, and made from only nine simple ingredients. Zero VOCs, no harsh odors … safe enough to use in a closed room without worrying about my pets.

The first time I worked with clay-based paint, I had a learning curve. It behaves differently … softer, more organic, more alive. But once I learned how to work with it?

I started painting everything.

Sandy’s booth was full of temptation … stamps, transfers, clay molds, and an entire wall of decoupage papers.

And then I saw it … again.

A decoupage paper called Moon Beam Rhapsody by Whimsikel Designs. A moody, enchanted image of a woman dancing in the moonlight. I had actually purchased it twice … both times from Sandy’s booth. The first one I bought earlier in the year and completely forgot about. (Anyone else ever done that? You fall in love with something, tuck it away, and later rediscover it like it’s brand new?)

So when I saw it the second time, I didn’t hesitate.
Clearly she was meant for this piece … she found her way to me twice.

She became the undeniable anchor and soul of the entire design.

Beginning the Transformation

When I brought the cabinet out of storage, she was covered in dust and memories. Underneath was her original Sherwin Williams latex finish … the same shade I used on my farm table years ago. Thankfully, clay paint adheres beautifully over latex with very little prep. All she needed was a good wash and she was ready for her new life.

I laid Moon Beam Rhapsody on the door panel and everything fell into place. The color palette of the design spoke immediately.

Bohemian Blue
was the obvious base … deep, moody, rich. The grounding tone for the entire piece.

Then came the layers:

Farm Fresh – a minty soft green
Black Velvet – the shadow tone
Queen Bee – a golden yellow
Cherry Picked – a deep wine-brown
Hey Sailor – a muted royal blue
Faded Burlap – warm, soft neutral
Cake Batter – the perfect creamy highlight

Each color was chosen directly from the decoupage design’s palette.

The secret to using this paint?
Water.

A lightly misted brush.
A misted palette.
Keeping everything just wet enough to dance together on the surface.

Painting her was like working in watercolor … fluid, emotional, intuitive.

I stretched the project over a couple of days, even though I wanted to finish it in one burst of inspiration. But patience paid off. Letting each layer rest created a depth, softness, and old-world charm I wouldn’t have achieved otherwise.

The Decoupage & The Gold Leaf

Truthfully, I had a few mishaps applying the decoupage design. Furniture decoupage is not my daily medium. But the imperfections became part of her charm. I wouldn’t change a thing.

The gold leaf was a late addition … inspired by this month’s challenge inside The Creative Connection. I already had a stash of gold leaf from another project, and once I opened the sheets … the obsession began!

Gold leaf is addictive.
There, I said it.

I showed restraint (mostly), but adding those fleeting touches of gold to the moon, the woman’s gown, and the edges of the cabinet felt like painting with light.

The final step was brushing on dark wax … buttery, rich, grounding … sealing everything with a soft, vintage glow. It was the last touch she needed.

Old world.
Soulful.
Mysterious.
Completely transformed.

Closing Thoughts

This little secondhand tie wardrobe has lived many lives since I brought her home … soap cupboard, studio accent, forgotten treasure, and now, she has stepped into her newest season:

She now houses my containers of beads and jewelry components.

It’s the perfect next chapter.
A cabinet that has always held the tools of whatever creative season I’m in … fragrance, supplies, inspiration … now holds the tiny treasures that become my tassels, charms, bracelets, and one-of-a-kind adornments.

She reminds me that beauty evolves.
Purpose evolves.
And sometimes the things we set aside are simply waiting for us to return with new eyes and a new vision.

I hope you enjoy seeing her steps and her finished transformation as much as I loved creating her.

Thought to Carry

“Sometimes the things we set aside are simply resting until we’re ready to see their magic again.”

A gentle reminder that nothing is wasted … not seasons, not ideas, not pieces of furniture, not parts of ourselves.

“What you seek is seeking you.” — Rumi

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” — Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV)

The Many Lives of a Secondhand Cabinet