Here is the statue of the Virgin Mary in our garage...waiting for a new look. I painted her a few years ago and the weather has really taken it's toll on it. As you can see...it is peeling badly. 
We brought her into the garage for the winter and planned to refinish it. It was so cold out there...and I never got to it this winter. Now I am beginning to refurbish her. I am using a stripper that you use for furniture and it is working nicely. I worked for several hours yesterday and will continue today.
This is what the statue looks like this morning. Later today, I'm going to start in and try to get all the paint off. It has been fun to do...and I was dreading it..because I have stripped furniture in the past and that seems harder.
So, now, I have to decide what I will plant by her. In the past she was on a low pedestal by the River Birch tree. I have always had a large planter of shade plants...begonias, coleus, or impatiens next to her and the tree is encircled by mini hostas..a clematis vine is in the background. I'm due for a change here. I want less care so....Now I have removed the planter and relocated it. I want to move some hostas from the woods and plant them here. The statue will be in sort of a green hosta garden. The purple clematis will still be there and some lilies that bloom in the spring also. We have lights across the front of the house and one will be focused on the statue. I am changing the way she is painted...you will see it all when this project is completed.
We brought her into the garage for the winter and planned to refinish it. It was so cold out there...and I never got to it this winter. Now I am beginning to refurbish her. I am using a stripper that you use for furniture and it is working nicely. I worked for several hours yesterday and will continue today.
This is what the statue looks like this morning. Later today, I'm going to start in and try to get all the paint off. It has been fun to do...and I was dreading it..because I have stripped furniture in the past and that seems harder.
So, now, I have to decide what I will plant by her. In the past she was on a low pedestal by the River Birch tree. I have always had a large planter of shade plants...begonias, coleus, or impatiens next to her and the tree is encircled by mini hostas..a clematis vine is in the background. I'm due for a change here. I want less care so....Now I have removed the planter and relocated it. I want to move some hostas from the woods and plant them here. The statue will be in sort of a green hosta garden. The purple clematis will still be there and some lilies that bloom in the spring also. We have lights across the front of the house and one will be focused on the statue. I am changing the way she is painted...you will see it all when this project is completed.Balisha
PS:
If you want to see a springtime treat, something.. all you ladies will love. Mona has just posted the most beautiful pictures.
