junking finds

free table before

after

book case just needed a quick coat of paint

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.

foot stools and tables

I've picked up some small foot stools and tables recently and instead of painting the wood I just cleaned them up and gave them new fabric covers.  I used painters tarps and stencils for the top piece and for the table I just taped off lines on the same fabric and stenciled the paint between the tape.  They really are cute and should sell quickly.

kitchen addition

Before I start a big Happy Birthday to my friend and loyal reader, Nina, it's time for a birthday trip girl!
A friend gave me this great red cabinet.  I knew it was a special and unique piece and I had to keep it for myself.  So far the weather has not cooperated with spraying it out side but as soon as it does this baby will have a new coat of white paint and will be sitting in my kitchen between my two windows.

The weather finally cooperated enough to get this piece painted it took 4 coats of primer and paint to cover the red.  AH is going to make a drop down desk top soon but for now it looks great sitting in my newly painted  kitchen.  I wanted to show off the color but it just wouldn't show up well in any of the pictures I shot.  It's hard to describe, in some light it looks, aqua, sometimes it looks blue, other times it seems green and on a dreary day it looks grey.  It is a very pale green/blue that seems to blend with anything.  Here's the after.

I think this side of the kitchen is done

TADA!  of course I don't have it full yet, maybe tomorrow.  It will hold more china and act as my desk.

wedding time

Last weekend our pastors daughter got married and had the reception in our community building.  Her Mom had collected hundreds of vintage plates,linens, cameras, lanterns and books to use on the tables.  Each place setting was different and the big room which is very rustic looked beautiful.  No family weddings in our immediate future but I'm always up for ideas.

new chair two ways

We have owned an oak glider that was at least 20 years old when we got it for decades.  It was starting to make grunting and groaning sounds and the cushions were in a sad state.  It would have cost way more to fix it up than I was willing to spend on a 35+ year old chair.  So off it went to the Habitat Restore after I found this little beauty at the same place.  For $60 it is the perfect replacement.  It is very comfy and the colors go with my other furniture. For summer I have thrown a soft aqua bed spread over it to blend in with all the creams and aqua I'm using this time of year.  I will make a quick throw cover for the ottoman but for now a small throw works.  If I'm tired of it in a few years I won't feel bad about changing it out.  The kitties think it's theirs and it is almost never is empty.

chair redo

This sewing rocker has been sitting in my attic for so long I forgot it was there.  A quick coat of chalk paint, some easy reupholstering and it's done.  I made the fabric by taping lines on painters cloth then stenciling between the lines.  Instant grain sack look.  I haven't decided if I'm keeping this or selling it.  It does look very cute in my living room.

kitchen update mid week

I know showing pictures of a bedroom under the title kitchen update seems crazy but not so much in my world.  This guest room is right off the kitchen.  You get to the main bathroom, office and my sewing room from here.  During the remodel this room has been stuffed with boxes, cabinets and appliances.  For most of the last 5 months there has been only a path to each door.  The bed was piled 4+ feet high with every thing that needed to go in the kitchen, tossed or taken to the Restore.  Well this week it finally got cleaned out and put back together.  It was 21/2 looooong hard days of cleaning, doing windows and washing all the bedding. Now it is fresh and clean and ready for company.  That company better be my twins and families.  They haven't been able to visit since Christmas so they better come see their Mama!!!!

  I removed a large cabinet from here to open the room a little.  Hats hung on the wall for easy decor and grabbing one to go outside.

Since the cats think this is their bed I keep the blue cover pulled up to keep the white bedding clean.

Little desk and a box with the grand kids toys  My talented Mom made the quilt.

I hung some of the toys in tote bags hooked to the closet door. If I was really obsessive I'd make bags to coordinate with the room.   More storage in the stacked suit cases.

funky seating

My appoligies to my readers.  I had all of last weeks posts ready to go, the only thing I didn't do was schedule them and push the button.  Too much to do is the best excuse I can think of.
While at the Indianapolis airport waiting for our hotel van to come and take us to our car(long story) I came across  this seating area made from abandoned and thrifted suitcases.  This is right up my alley and I could resist sitting in them and taking a few pictures.  What a creative way to bring comfort and smiles to weary travelers.

metal tray redo

I've tried a little zentangle on a couple of chairs and these thrifted metal trays.  I used a paint pen and drew on my basic design with chalk before I started.  A little spray of clear sealer finished the job.

game table

Frame+chalkboard paint +vintage legs+cat assistant= game table. A simple formula for a great piece.  The bricks and towel are there to weigh down the top until the glue dries.  Dusty, she just wants to help.

black shelf

Last time I told you how we made the shutter shelf project.  The black weathered wood unit was made the same way except for the finish.  To make this look  I first primed all the pieces except the top with grey spray  primer.  After the two coats of primer were dry I mixed a little black paint into white until I had a shade a little darker than the primer.  I dry brushed that on all the pieces.  If you have never used the dry brush technique the name defines how to do it.  Dip your brush tips into the paint, brush most of it off onto news paper, then brush onto the wood.  After the first coat was dry I did another with black paint.  I wanted a wood grain look so I was careful to drag the brush all the way down each piece before lifting my brush.  It sounds much more difficult than it really is.  Just be patient(unlike me) and if you don't like it, paint over it.  I painted the top black.  It is much easier to paint all the pieces before you put it together.  I think it turned out great.

drawer table

I had a couple of these drawers I wanted to turn into tables.  This one could not have been easier.  I painted the drawer and the legs, sanded and waxed each piece.  I turned the drawer over and used construction adhesive to attach the legs.   I weighted that down and let it sit for 24 hours, then nailed the legs for added support.  Cute as can be.  Cost was minimal, the drawer was a leftover from another project, the legs were $2 for the set and less than $1 for paint and supplies, less than an hour to make not counting drying time.  I love junking!!

One project two ways

I had two sets of these great shutters so we turned them into little shelf units with two distinctive looks.  For the white shelves I painted the shutters, a center shelf and some 1" supports with paint and stained a larger 1X12 then used  polyurethane it for more durability.  AH used two pieces of the 1X as support for the center shelf and a longer piece to help support the top.  We just eye-balled the width we thought looked best and made the top a little deeper and wider than the base.  Wouldn't this look great in a kids room as a bed side table or in any part of a cottage or country style home for holding your pretties?  Come back Friday to see how we did the other shelf.

more projects

 I live on Main street in our little town and I do most of my painting projects in the drive.  There is a lot of traffic by our house and many people stop to see what I'm doing next.  There's been a lot of painting, cleaning and repairs going on the last few weeks as I prepare for the vintage show I'm doing in September.  Here are just a few of the projects in various stages.

some pieces just need a little glue

I'm not sure what this was originally, it had a strange wood piece nailed in the center that may have been a broken handle

Dark red and stain this will need a primer or 4+ coats of paint

tiny foot stool, paint and a new cover for the center pad

This is perfect with just a little repair.  It's a very unusual step stool

photo bombed again, this woven seat chair will need nothing but cleaned.

same wood box as above just 1 more coat of paint

After pic of stool below.  pale blue and we had to cut and paint a new top the original top started bubbling and looked awful.  Just a little sanding and antiquing to do.

Circus colors, primer and pale blue and it will be ready for more years of use.  Picture program was being a pain and would not let me load the after picture under this one, that's why it's above.  Some times I'd like to pick up the computer and throw out the window.

how to build a bench

I had found this twin head board free on the street a couple of years ago and finally got around to building a bench with it.

curb shop frame we just removed that bottom metal piece

wood seat frame from 2X4 so it's nice and sturdy

after painting the set frame and attaching it to the frame we added 2X6 painted boards for the seat.  I'll make a cushion as soon as I find the right fabric.  I had everything left from previous projects except the 2X4 so the cost was under $15.  This will go on the new patio.

rummage finds

Most of the small towns in this area have community rummage sales and this is the season.  Here are a few of my latest finds.  Great deals are out there you just have to look beyond the ugly exterior to find the treasures.

kitty garden ornament $1

stool that flips into a step stool $5

cabinet doors perfect for signs $3

metal tray with castle scene made in England $1 selling on eBay for $25

This was painted all over in heavy ugly brown paint, I think it looks much better with new colors $3