Antique childs bench-desk

While my best friend Liz was here from Texas we hit a few favorite consignment shops.  One of our fave in Southern Pines, NC is - a bit of couture.  It is located down the road from the Moore County Habitat Homestore..but those people are rude - another story.

Anyway she always finds handbags that she "must" have- the woman has a fetish for those.

I always look at the furniture in the back room.

I managed to get this antique child's bench/desk for a great price.  It originally was pea green.  Why?  I am not sure.

But Liz said she'd sand it while I was working on the fence out front.

Now I didn't tell her whether I was painting it or staining it so when I came back and she had sanded it to perfection.  Down to the original wood I was amazed. I am not that patient in the sanding department but she said she loves to sand.  I need her here full time - she could be the resident sander and best friend. 

You can't see a speck of pea green anywhere.  I think I am going to either:

1. paint a light cream then put a brown alphabet across the desk back - distress and glaze

or

2. put a brown alphabet on it distress the letters a bit then stain a light color.

What do you think?  Which option would you like if you were buying it?