Bingo!

I certainly love finding ordinary things that are discarded and giving them a second chance to make someone happy.  I found this table in my basement and knew it had been down there for about 5 years or more. Time to give it a chance to move to the first floor level and let someone else claim it for their own.  Sometimes I like a piece so much that I don't want to paint it and let it go, yes I know my basement looks like an episode you would see on the TV show Hoarders but oh well I haven't seen their van pull into my driveway yet.

This table was made in rough shape and the top was warped so badly that I couldnt' use it.  So I hunted thru my stash (see it is functional) and found a door panel that I thought would be a great re-placement for the damaged table top.  After I affixed it with glue and finish nails I primed the whole piece in flat black and then proceeded to work out the top design.

I love vintage ephemera and the bingo card has always brought sweet memories of my childhood when you played some form of bingo at every bridal or baby shower your mother dragged you to.  (I was a tomboy and despised dresses and patent leather so they were no place for me).  I used several vintage bingo cards as my inspiration and used paint pens to make all the lines of the card and stencils for the numbers and words.  (I hope one day to have one of those new fangled cutting machines still trying to figure them out and which one would be the one for me).  Over all I loved the outcome it was beyond my expectations so that made me very happy.  I went to take it to the market where I have a booth and didn't even get it out of my car and it was sold. Now that is a good day on the planet!

Call Me!

I noticed today that I haven't posted anything any 2 years, 2 years! And the thing is that I really wanted to so why didn't I? Who knows so today I eagerly posted some of my projects and linked them to some blog parties that I have admired for a long time. I am so excited to finally get into the swing of things again and share the things that I love to make with kindred spirits.

I really love the words "I was getting rid of this and thought of you!" I got a message on Face book from and acquaintance that she had a sewing machine cabinet that had seen better days and I could have it for FREE (angels singing in the backround). Anyone that knows me knows the more tattered the piece the better I like it and free is good. No worries about will it diminish the collectible value.

I remember once I bought an old treadle sewing machine cabinet. It was beyond repair or collectible value. I gave it a nice primitive finish and painted a nice landscape on the top the kind that would make Warren Kimble proud (at least I like to think so). I delivered the piece to the store I consign at and a person I know (one that you hope your don't run into very often) happened to be there. She looked at me and said with disgust "I can't believe that someone painted this and ruined the value." I am not the type to stand idly by and replied "I am sorry you don't like what I have done with this cabinet but rest assured that there was little value before I rescued it. The woman said "oh, I didn't know it was yours, but really you shouldn't have altered it." What she didn't realize was the poor thing had sat out in a damp barn for years and the top was all pealed and marred. Oh well it sold shortly after and I had the last laugh all the way to the bank.

Back to the present, I glady accepted the sewing cabinet and planned what I wanted to do with it. I had found another piece at a tag sale and decided the 2 must meet and become friends. I go to the sales where most people just see junk and but I see stuff with raw potential. I learned that if you see it buy it you will need it later I promise. I never met a piece of junk that I didn't like, if nothing else it can double as a door stop or kindling wood.

I really like the motif of early telephones, it got my husband and I talking about the good old days of party lines and being a one phone family. Our kids wouldn't believe us if we told them that a phone was a stationary item was not kept in your pocket back in the day. The little black chair additon goes back to my addiction to small chairs. At the time I thought it was a compatible size for the table but discovered later on that it was a bit too short. Oh well I was happy with the paint job and thought it wasn't worth the worry.

The drawer on the phone desk that used to hold sewing goods now is for chalk and an eraser.

Phone books tuck nicely on the bottom shelf. I painted the back board of the top with chalkboard paint so you could record your messages and reminders. The lid on the slanted part lifts to a compartment that will hold notebooks and pens so this a very versatile piece that was once a labeled a cast off. I love the fact that the younger generation has seen the merit in re-purposing and there are blogs all over the net with their work. I have been a member of the upcycle movement since I was a kid so even it isn't a new concept to me it is comforting to know that others share my passion.

Come sit a spell.

As you know I love a good flea market. The last one I went to I came across a pair of small chairs. Child size chairs are always a "must buy" for me and I nearly sprained my wrist trying to get to my wallet to secure the deal. This was just the beginning fate was soon to deliver a table to compliment my little darlings. A few weeks later at a tag sale there minding its own business and basking in the sun was the perfect match for my fabulous chairs. I circled the table several times summing up whether it was the "chosen one" or not. I knew that I had found the right one when the seller accepted my offer and tucked them neatly into my vehicle.

Now the fun part of planning the colors and design for my project. I sat and drew up plans but nothing seemed to work. As I gazed out the window at the passing clouds in the beautiful sky and dreamed of roadside treasures it hit me. Robin's egg blue and white would be just the ticket. I have seen so many project as of late depicting subway art and knew it would be just perfect to grace the top of the table. I used a dark brown glaze to give the set an aged and well loved look and decided my work is done here! I just love it when you find the components for a project in fases then you know that destiny had a hand in it and it is a match made in heaven.

Take a Number Please!

Oh how I love summer, the flea markets, the garage sales, the freebies on the side of the road....it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it! Many people spend countless hours in the office of a therapist trying to find peace and contentment. I say give me a bargain and all is well in my corner of the world. I know I seem simple, but I grew up when you made-do, re-used, or did without so this is my true comfort zone.

On one of my therapy sessions I came across this cupboard that was in need of a do-over. Do overs are my expertise and so I knew we would hit it off right away. First I gave it a coat of satin black and sanded the edges. It looked alright but only okay and I usually don't settle for just okay. I thought what about a nice shade of taupe with black numbers that would do, yes that is the look I am going for. So out came the brushes and paint. It was a new day for my 80's cupboard it could fit into about any decor shabby, prim, or retro.