Shutter Shelf

 

Take one old set of shutters and some corner shelf boards and you can make one really cool corner unit.

 I was sure to paint the one shutter that had a solid panel with chalk paint.  It is the perfect size to set on top of dresser or kitchen counter top.

Primitive Ladder Shelf

I had three primitive ladders that were setting around and thought what to do with them?  I wanted to make a shelf but I was limited by my lack of wood for the shelves.  I found three wall shelves and decided that they would be perfect to use leaving only the top shelf to provide for.  I had a wire basket that I found at an estate sale last summer and sure enough it fit perfectly. I just had to spray paint it black because it was an ugly white.  I had a nice decorative piece I tacked to the top to add some flair and there you have it.  It is a nice skinny tall shelf that could hold books, collectibles, or whatever your heart desires.  So in the process I used up some pieces that have been collecting dust and created a useful shelf.

Doll Dresser Make Over

 I bought this little dresser that was once used for doll clothing at a flea market last summer.  I used it for storing sewing supplies.  But alas it is time to down size and so I knew it was time to give it a Cat make-over and get it ready to sell.

 I painted it white and then distressed it with a dark brown glze and top coat.  I found a design on The Graphics Fairy and trace it onto the the top. I hand painted this because my experience with Citra Solv hasn't been so good. I thought by the time I try to transfer it and mess up ten times I might as well hand paint it on. It only too me about 20 minutes to paint it and stencil the numbers. I am going to do some more designs that I paint until I find another transfer method that works for me!

Patriotic Pieces

 This trunk was given to me for free.  It was covered in really old fabric. I think I must have pulled out a hundred tacks or more to strip it down so I could paint it.  It has already sold so I guess it was worth it.  I put some wheels on the bottom so it could be rolled to its new destination.  Red, white, and blue I love you!

This piece was a real find for me it was also free.  It had a porcelain top on it and was missing the two doors.  I replace the top because it just didn't look right, this was the bottom of a small Hoosier cabinet and I made it into a usable piece by adding the doors and a top that was originally an old table with broken legs.  I am sorry that there aren't any before pictures. I get so excited when I am working I forget to bring my camera and then before you know it the piece is finished. I will try harder but I have to say the next few posts won't have any "befores" either because I have the attention span of a Goldfish (20 seconds).  Anyways hope you enjoy looking and feel free to pin anything you see on my blog. 

Here are two pillows I made out of ticking. 

Garden Table

I went to the Re Store in Greenville the other day and found a really nice door for 5.00- most of the things there are out of my price range but this door was just right.  It was probably once part of a bi-fold closet door in some one's bedroom.  I love making garden tables I have made several and the best thing is you start with a discarded door and just keep adding things.  Right off the bat I knew that I would use two other doors and a drawer making my masterpiece.  I put them all together and started painting away very pleased with the progress and yet it still needed something.  All I had to do was look up....hmmm heard that before and it is always the truth.  When in doubt look up! Well this was no exception for hanging on the wall was a chair shelf I had made some time ago.  I love taking old chairs that don't have all their legs and chop them up some more and make them into shelves. You can buy reproduction ones at the fancy decorating stores but nothing beats a vintage farm chair hanging on the wall piled high with delightful treasures. 

This particular chair shelf had been waiting for just the right time to make its debut.  I needed something to complete this project and I knew that this was just what I was looking for. You know how they say Necessity is the Mother of Invention, she is my BFF we are inseparable.  As you can see the chair was a perfect fit.  I did add another drawer on a shelf on the bottom half, you can never have too many places to stash wonderful things.

This is the chair shelf I have hanging in my house.  I thought I would post this picture so you could see another chair shelf I made.

Gift Box Remake

Every year at Christmas time people give gifts that come in wooden boxes.  Sometimes they are filled with fancy teas or coffees.  I found a discarded wooden gift box for 2.99 at GW one day with a drawer and everything! I painted it off white and grunged it up with some dark brown glaze. 

I added some graphics that I found on The Graphics Fairy.  I used Citra Solv to transfer them onto the drawer.  I think the blue knob sets off the whole piece nicely.   Christmas is 9 months away and I can't wait that long for more boxes so I guess in the mean while I will watch at garage sales for some more cast aways that held holiday treasure!

Small Step-back Cabinet

As usual I kept very busy this week painting new things for the booth I rent at the Peddler's Market in Greenville.  Last week a couple came from Saginaw and bought every piece of furniture I had in the store. It was wonderful to think that I made money that day but more thrilling was the fact that someone really gets what I do.  It was a great day but I really had to kick it into high gear to get some things done to fill up my space at the store. 

I began with plans for several pieces and this is the first one that I started on.  I bought a really cool cabinet with 3 drawers.  It appears to have 9 drawers but really only has 3.  It had a lot of charm and I knew that it would be really great painted but still needed something more to interesting.  I had a supply of small tables and decided to attach the cabinet to one of them giving it the appearance of a small step back. 

I applied a coat of bonding primer to the entire piece and then painted it with a gloss black.  After the cabinet dried I stenciled the numbers on to each of the 9 faux drawers to give it an apothecary look.   It is a nice light weight piece that would be great to store anything.  What a great start to the week and there is more to come!

Thinking Pink

 I have have only painted one project in pink a little stool with lace so I thought it was time to try pink again.  I had this child size cupboard sitting in my basement. It was probably made by a Grandpa for his little angel. It was a stained very dark so I had to really work it to transform it to pink.

The insets in the doors are textured plastic and I knew they would pick up a glaze really nice so I set to work. I used some Zinner stain cover first and then applied 2 coats of paint on top of that. I mix my own paint so I went for a demure pink maybe next time I would add a little more white to lighten it not sure.  After I got the cupboard painted I washed it with a dark glaze to antique it. 

I can just picture this cutie full of dishes and tea cups.