tada!!!

while we were redoing the kitchen last winter we had decided to get a new table and chairs.  I sold the 40's drop leaf that was warped and beginning to loose it's veneer.  We bought a set at the Restore planning to paint it.  AH hated it from the start, yes he was there when we bought it.  We discussed what we both wanted and after much talk decided a long farm house table with turned legs that would sit at least 8 was the best compromise.  I started looking on line and in local stores.  I did find exactly what we wanted until I checked the price tag.  Just under $3000 for the set.  No way was that happening in our house.  Neither one of us are status conscious needing fancy expensive things to make us happy.  We turned to the solution that we reach so often, we would make it ourselves.  I found a guy on E-bay that did turned legs and we bought the rest of the wood at a big box store, total cost for materials $200, that included the stain and finish.  Throughout the summer I kept my eyes open for chairs that would work.  Lucky timing at a half price Goodwill sale yielded 4 chairs, a stop at a grocery store parking lot fund raiser found the last 4.  They were all solid and well made but needed refinished.  That was the only disagreement we had with the whole project. AH is one of the "if it's wood it must stay that way" kind of people.  I think anything but the most valuable antiques are fair game for paint. With a wood floor and some large natural wood antique pieces we did not need any more wood tones in the room.  With a coat of satin spray paint and new seat covers on the padded chairs they look great. Total cost for the chairs including 4 cans of paint $61.  total new dining set cost $261 and about 20 hours of labor.  It was finally finished yesterday and took it's place in our home where it will stay for years to come.  thanks to my wonderful, talented husband for spending the time making just exactly what we wanted.

AH put the top and legs together in the house.  If it needs to go out it will need to be taken apart.

Kerig jig and pocet screws for a strong solid table

We deliberatly made the top preworn to match the rest of the room

wicker plant stand

This wicker plant stand started out in a a natural color, but is was blah and uninspiring.  I started dry brushing on layers of paint.  When the first layer of white was dry a added soft blue and aqua together.   To dry brush pour a little puddle of paint on a paper plate.  Dip just the tips of your brush into the paint and brush most of it off on paper towels or news paper.  Brush on your surface and let dry.A couple of pieces need glued then this beauty will be off the the consignment store.  Cost $3.00 for the stand the rest was paint I had on hand.  I could see this in a bath room for towels or extra toiletries.  I could also see this couch or chair side to hold magazines or needle work.

instant table update

I found this aquarium stand at a rummage sale.  It was covered in spider web, rust s and dirt, but it was only $1.  A quick clean up, a new coat of rust preventing paint and a 12X24 tile glued on with epoxy was all it needed. It's a cute table for outside or for giving your room a touch of industrial chic.  Total cost about $5.  It's already at the resale shop.

junking finds

I've hit a lot of sales this last week.  These are just a few of my favorite finds.  I really need to find some place to store my goodies before I work on them.  Do you think I could talk AH in to buying another building???

console table, perfect $15

bench in perfect condition $10

shelves free

Windsor rocker $5

Carved mirror $5

carving detail

one of a pair of little shelves $3

All the crazy ladies

Mid September is usually beautiful in central Illinois.  There are many fairs and celebrations going on as well as city wide yard sales.  What's a girl to do when they all come together on the same weekend of a huge family party as well as unexpected torrential rains.  We'd already bought the tickets to the Hob Nob market, the party was under control and a little rain is not going to stop us from  finding great junk!  My running  started at 6:45 when I left to pick up my friend Kathy and take off for St Joe an hour north for the rummage sales.  We did find several brave folks who opened their sales despite the rain and chill.  We got back home about 12 and took off for the market an hour south of home.  We made a quick stop to pick up friends Kathy and Brenda.  By the time we got to Effingham it was raining so hard I could barely see the road to drive.  We did pull off and park for a while but we were determined not to let rain slow us down so we took off for the show at the local winery.  It did finally stop raining but it was a muddy, chilly mess.  The show had great vendors and the booths were full of all kinds of beautiful things.  None of us bought too much but we did fill the back of my van.  A yummy dinner at a steak house them home.  By that time my kids had arrived for the birthday party the next day.  Six dozen cup cakes needed to be frosted and two dozen sausage rolls made for breakfast and I finally could quit for the day.  Four and a half hours later I was up again ready to get the party started, but only after I made a quick trip with two of my grand daughter to another sale a few miles from home.  I found several bargains I'll share later.  It was a long and tiring weekend and I wouldn't have missed a minute of it.

Brenda wasn't waiting around in the rain for picture taking but Kathy though a tote bag made a pretty good umbrella

I was singing in the rain but I'm too short to share my umbrella with Kathy.

major score

While visiting my parents in the big city last weekend, Mom and I happened on a half price sale at Goodwill.  As we walked back to the furniture area two workers were carrying these fabulous oak chairs out to display.  I took one look and asked them to deliver them to the front door with sold on them.  Total cost $12.  They will look great with my new farm house table I'm planning.  At the same store was this heavy 10 drawer dresser for $25. It may just stay as a dresser with new paint or it would make a wonderful buffet.  I had to call AH to come and get this one, Mom's car was already full.  I also picked up a three tier plant stand for $5.  I'm always ready to do the happy dance when I find such great values.

new seat cover and maybe paint and these will fit into my new kitchen

quick paint job and this will be off to the resale shop

AH got this on the dolly and moved into the sun room before I could get a good picture..  Still can figure out how to rotate photos in this program

more projects

While the weather is being cooperative I've been trying to get several things primed, painted and ready for sale.  Here are just a couple of my latest projects still in the works.

at $2 I just couldn't pass this little table up.  I glued a 24" table  round to the top, scraped off the big globs of glue then painted every thing cream.  

Even with tarnished brass and covered with filth I knew at $15 this brass and glass table was a stael.  Sure enough when I looked it up on ebay it was for sale for $699.  I know painting the frame will lower the value but it made it look so much better.  A purist could easily remove the paint if they wanted.

table redo

I picked up this dated lamp table at a thrift store for $4.  My first though was to cut off the top and make it an end table but decided against it.  Primer, two  coast of grey paint and a cute dragon fly decoupaged to the top made it look so much better.  I even panted the lamp shade to tie in with the color.

table how to

I picked up this table at a church rummage give away.  Several of the churches in the area will collect items you no longer want and set them up as a service to the community.  Of course most of the things are clothes since it's back to school time.  This large coffee table was one of only three pieces of furniture being offered, I also picked up a small end table.  I took my goodies home cleaned them up and added a coat of Kilz primer.  This stuff will block out just about anything so you can paint over it.  Two coats of gloss black spray paint, finished the bottom.  For the top I used a base coat of white then scumble painted with off white, grey, and cream.  This technique has no right or wrong way to do it and looks great when finished.  First I pour 2-3T of each of the colors on a foam plate.  Starting with the darkest color and using a very beat up chip brush I pounced the color randomly over the table.  Working quickly so the paint was still wet I did the next two colors.  You want the colors to blend together and overlap, and for some of the background to show through.  If you think the color is too strong or light you just put more color over it.  Keep adding paint until it looks right to you.  DO NOT OVER THINK THIS!!!!! This table is 3X4 feet and took less than 20 minutes. Don't try to make a pattern or have exactly the same paints every where.  Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours then spray with clear acrylic spray at least 3 coats for a table top that will get wet occasionally. This beauty is already at the resale store.
NOTE:  don't use a fancy expensive brush for this technique you will ruin it.  A 2" chip brush is under a dollar  and the more used and abused it is the better it works.

perfectly fine but kind of boring before

updated after

close up of top paint

epic fail

I recently raided my sons basement for furniture to flip.  We had a little rain the morning we were coming home and the furniture got wet.  Unfortunately this little desk I thought would just need a quick coat of paint was made mostly of MDF.  That stuff doesn't like rain one tiny bit.  It looked ok when I got it home except the top was bubbled. I'm glad I didn't pay any money for it.  When I started trying to pull off the top to replace it the whole thing just fell apart in my hands.  All that's left are the legs which are wood and the drawer that didn't get wet.  Time for plan B.  This pile will never be a desk again but I will keep the legs and drawer.  Lessons learned: never listen to your husband when he says it's not going to rain and always carry cheap tarps or plastic with you on junking missions.

junkin finds

A couple of weeks ago we had  our city wide garage sale.  We have them twice a year and people come from miles around.  With such a small town if you have a sale on your own, unless it's huge you will get far fewer customers.  I don't like having them but I do love to go.  I've gotten many great treasures over the years and I'm always amazed at what people will get rid of for such a small amount of money.

Concrete pedestals and pot along with some great wire baskets and wonderful cupcakes for a donation to our church youth camp.  I am always so proud of how hard these kids work during the year so they can go to camp.

brass bird house along with a smaller one $5 for both

brass tray table donation to a church $20

two prim chairs for .25 each  I'll add screen and moss and plant flowers in them

concrete urns $30 a lot of cash for me but they are antiques and will last for many years

I didn't know what this was but it looked like a house for $1 and I thought I'd put a fern in it.  It is a golf ball holder

charming foot stool with storage $5

tables

I've aquired several tables that I've been working on lately.  While many are still in the base coat stage some are almost ready for delivery to Home Again where I sell my work.  Little tables always sell well for me so I like to keep plenty in the works.

I think I will add a small stencil in the center.  It's hard to tell but the base of this is white and the top is cream with metallic gold stenciling.  All it needs is a coat of dark wax.

The top of this is leather that was stained and ugly, I decoupaged the top with pieces of brown paper bags and glue.  One more coat of sealer and it is good to go.

The bottom of this is a charming group of  cherubs.  The top is cheap looking marbled MDF and looks really nasty.  I will paint a wood round to look like marble to replace what is ugly and chipped.

Yep that tag says $8 and I got 20% off so it is worth a try to make this look new and beautiful.

week end fun

No kitchen update this week.  We spent the weekend in the big city visiting with kids and grand kids, the very best kind of fun.  Saturday we had the opportunity to visit the St Louis Vintage Market Days.  It was a chilly morning but the rain held off.  The white tents extended out at least a half mile on both sides of the main walk way.  Every kind of vintage wares you could hope for were beautifully displayed.  They really discourage you from taking pictures but I did make several sketches for new products after I got back to the car. Yes the prices were high but I went most to check out ideas and see what's new in the vintage world.  I've thought and talked about throwing a  vintage show in this area for several years now.  If I want to do it this is the time, now I just have to find the cash to develop it.  I only bought one treasure this beautiful aluminum basket.  It would look great with flowers, I could pile it with  new mail or I might use it for  napkins for our next dinner party.  I've never seen one like this so for me at $12 it was a real score.

weekend fun

Now that the weather is getting nicer it's time for some outdoor fun.  A small town close to home has the Red Barn Market every April.  There are dealers inside the barn and out ready to sell the latest crafts and antiques.  It's always a nice mix and a fun morning to hang out with friends.  My friend Kathy bought a great glider and I picked up some small garden baskets and planters.  I never spend much money here but I always find a bargain or two or in this case five.

The building is an actual barn and the stalls are used for each booth.

Where there are shoppers there must be food.  

treasures

Sometimes people just want to get rid of things and I'm really glad when they think of me as a junk collector.  Last week my friend Kathy was helping her coworker Larry clean out his theater class prop room.  You would not believe all the treasures she brought.  One day she showed up with her tiny car stuffed to the roof with bags of linens, pillows and household decor.  Most of that went straight into my van and was delivered to the Habitat Restore.  They were thrilled  to get it, stock is very low.  She also brought several pieces of furniture for me to redo and sell.  This is just one of the goodies that appeared.  This cabinet, desk, secretary is one of the most unusual pieces I've ever seen.  Painted white and antiqued it may need to live here.  i have enough projects to last all summer.

kitchen update

I should only need to do these updates for a couple more weeks.  We are getting very close to being done.  all the basics are finished.  The only big projects that are not done are the over the table light, trim around the top of the cabinets,slide out can cabinet, a few slide out baskets and a mini pull out in the corner to hold cookie sheets.  This week AH got the pot rack up along with with the pendant lights.  The pot rack is an old metal wheel that belonged to my Mom.  It had been hanging out in my stash(aka junk pile) for years.  No Mom you can not have it back.  This thing is heavy and required plenty of extra support in the attic so we don't worry about us it falling.  It's so sturdy I think any of the grand kids could swing on it.  AH wanted to make it spin around but I didn't think that was such a good idea.  The pendant lights are from Lowes, I really like the clean lines.  All I need are a few hooks and I can hang up all the pans.  They seem to stay in a jumbled mess in the cabinets.

Instant center piece

Brightening up a dull spot and bringing in a touch of spring is not difficult, time consuming  or expensive.  Just two silk flowering stems in a re-purposed wine bottle do the trick.  Just be sure to bend most of your branches so they look more natural.  You would need to look very close to see these were not the real thing.  This week I'll cut some red bud, forsythia and peach branches and bring them in to force.

cute table

I found this little table at the Habitat Restore for $8.00.  It was in great shape and I grabbed it up, nothing lasts very long there.  I think I will put in a bottom to make a hidden storage area and paint it white or cream.  It will make a cute side table.

junkin finds

Rummage sale season hasn't started yet so i need to get my junkin fix at thrift stores.  There is a lot of junk in these kind of stores so you really have to look deep to find great bargains, especially if you plan to resell some of the finds.  Here was my haul last week.

pretty crystal ugly brass this is an easy fix with a little paint $8 for 2

lead crystal vase 11" high 7" across $3

I had been watch this set of sliver plate for months.  It was priced way too high  to begin with but I waited and it finally came down to $24 for the set.  Missing 1 knife and the salad forks but I probably will make it into jewelry so I don't care.

Two huge 24-26" high galvanized flower buckets on the clearance rack at Menards originally marked $36 each I got the pair for $16.  Imagine them upside down with a tray or pizza pan attached.  They would make some pretty funky out door tables

Always check the clearance rack in stores, you never know what bargains you'll find.