Many years ago, during my time as MD at The Cross Stitch Guild, I commissioned some thread drawers to be hand crafted for our members. The shallow drawer design was inspired by a vintage version designed for selling a particular brand of threads in needlework shops. In the first instance this was very successful, although the little chest of drawers was quite costly both in production and postage.
Sadly, the company making them for me became very slapdash and I ceased trading with them. I had one set of drawers left, which I painted quickly and rather badly, and they have lived a quiet life tucked away on the guest room window ledge. After my recent success with the kitchen sideboard, I was fired up to have another go and I am very pleased with the finished effect.
I rubbed the surface down with sandpaper and then painted the complete thing in a rich red flat paint which was then covered with three coats of Farrow & Ball ‘String’ in an eggshell finish. Once really dry, I have sanded the drawers down again, working on the edges and knobs to replicate a spot of vintage wear and tear.
I must admit to making a complete pig’s ear when I lined the drawers the first time. I think I knew before I finished that they were not good enough. Anyway, my second attempt was so much more successful. I created a version of my Catherine Archer Sampler on a sheet of A3 paper, but this time printed the motifs and the background colour so that the whole thing had that vintage look to match the exterior. So much more satisfying.
Flat red undercoat 
First of three coats of ‘String’ 
Sandpaper out, ready to distress 
Second, more successful, go at lining the drawers with some of my sampler patterns
