I love rocks and collect them wherever I go! I usually display the large ones in the garden, in a potted plant, or someplace like that. I use a nice small covered clear glass dish (like a covered candy dish?) with some beach sand in it and keep my small rocks and shells on the sand. :) I keep medium-sized rocks, like river rocks, in baskets that I make. And when I have a nice piece of sea-glass I weave it into a necklace! :)

A good exterior paint will hold up fairly well. Depending upon the wood your chairs are made of will also determine how they weather. Marine paint and poly would work even better. Make sure your connections are glued well, or let the poly fill in when painting, if not loose. Outdoor furniture always needs maintenance, even sold as patio furniture. I can't keep up with it, especially without a porch or patio cover.

I painted my first rock as a young child and loved it. I bought a Lin Wellford book called "How to Paint Flowers on Rocks" about ten years ago and it re-inspired me to start painting on rocks again - I haven't stopped since because it's so much fun! Lin Wellford is the master rock painting artist, and you can't go wrong if you get any of her "How to Paint..." books. I have written a webpage about my rock painting and the different methods I use, such as stenciling, to transfer flower designs onto the rocks I paint. In addition, Lin Wellford's books are available to purchase through this page if you're interested in learning how to paint rocks using her methods. Have fun with your painting, but be careful, painting on rocks is addicting! Here is a link that might be useful: Hand-Painting Flowers & Fairies on Garden Rocks

Sand any loose finish smooth. I'd use spray primer and spray enamel for ease of application----Rustoleum or Krylon. You can use a brush and latex paint over primer. Almost any finish you use will get dings/scratches/etc. Leaving the paint will be the easiest finish to fix.