Rocking Horse Restoration

As I have mentioned in earlier posts I come from a long line of... savers, packrats, hoarders?  I am not sure what the accepted vernacular is but either way we have stuff, lots of stuff.  My dad has saved several of my childhood toys, keepsakes, and school projects.  This pony was given to me by my grandpa when I was about 2 and because my dad held onto it my kids will now be able to enjoy it (the little girls anyway).  I stripped the poor pony of the very little bit of hair that was remaining in his mane and sanded him down to raw wood.  He had been ridden many miles when I was young so I also tightened any loose screws and repaired a damaged corner where our dog had used him as a teething toy. 

I used Chalky and CO chalk paint powder with some blue paint that I had in the garage left over from painting our guest bedroom.   This was my first experience using chalk paint and I loved it!  It covered so easily and dried quickly.  

That's daughter #2 helping with daughter #4 in the background.

I use a Jacobean colored sealing wax from Chalky and CO to seal the paint after I painted and distressed the project giving it an antiqued look.  Then I used a dark gel stain on the handles and rocking feet. 

The next step was to use some yarn and a staple gun to give this little guy a new mane and tail. 

I gathered my supplies and began the process.  I looped the yarn around my hand 8-10 times and then cut the loops on one end.  I stapled the yarn to the horse midway up the length of the strips and repeated the process until he had a full beautiful mane.   To do the tail I looped the yarn around a piece of wood about 10" long about 20 times and cut the loops on one end just as I had done with the mane.  I secured it to the horses booty with a staple.

I am so happy with the way he turned out and I am so excited to see my little girls playing with him and enjoying a toy that his been in our family for 30+ years and will hopefully be around for many years to come.