Two Tables Are Better Than One!

 

 

 

Some things that I acquire sit in my basement for years.  This is a picture of a table that looks just like the one I had for 7 years and did nothing with.  I forgot to snap a picture of the one I had, it didn't look quite this good but I got it for free.  The people we sold our house to on land contract left it behind when they moved out. They were a rough bunch and had let the kids walk and jump on the table and it needless to say fell all apart.  I always try to make something good to come out of bad circumstances, we got the house back and a broken table. Woo Hoo.

 

Because I had only so much room in my booth at the shop I decided two tables would be better than one.  Since I had to repair and paint it I knew I could

 

 

 

I like half tables they make nice focal points in a hallway or breezeway.

Mega Drawer turned Table

When you walk to a yard sale be sure you can carry home your purchases.  With this in mind I was able to buy this giant size drawer and carry it back to where I was staying.  It came out of the local old  hardware in downtown Tustin which excited me even more since my parents bought their house from the owner of the hardware some thirty years ago.  It had history not just a pretty face but a pretty past as well it doesn't get any better than that.  I scooped it up for a mere 5.00 and made my way home with my treasure one happy girl. I thought of all the wonderful things I could do with this fabulous drawer and decided above all else I would not tamper with the green paint on the front , it is showing up a little brighter than it really is but assuredly it is a delightful green. 

I love the old drawer pulls they are metal and have a sweet design on them. I added the legs to the sides using a set of old oak legs I bought at an antique shop years ago. Once again the hoarder principle works despite what the scoffers say that you will only think of a use for it after you get rid of it. Not so, I have proven them wrong time and time again and case in point another project finished due to the fact I had just the right accessories.

 I painted the top and stenciled with a saying I found on Pinterest that I have been meaning to use since I first saw it.  I thought it was perfect for this piece because what I do love about my home is who I share it with because first they love me and second they accept me for who I am a little insanity never hurt anyone.

Big Old Coffee Box

Ha! I finally remembered to take a before picture! Yeah!  This very large simple handmade box was one I found on a free pile after an auction.  It is very bulky but not heavy at all so it would be a great piece on a porch or in a mudroom to collect stuff.

 I painted it white and trimmed it in black.  I then sat down and drew out the what I wanted for design work.  I wanted the box to look as if it were a shipping box and thought coffee sacks are so popular right now that that would be a great theme.

 I love Americana so I decided instead of foreign coffee I would make mine American made.....I know it may be a stretch but I don't care Folk Art is not a strict mistress and that is why I love her.

The back I left plain because it probably will be against a wall and not seen.  The rail on the back works as a handy grip if you pick up just a little there are 2 wheels in the front and the box will roll. Bonus!

                           I stenciled the same design on either side of the box for more eye candy.

It took me some time before I was able to work on this project, I was waiting for just the right inspiration.  All in all I think it was worth the wait.

Got the Scoop

I bought this set of scoops for 2.99 at a thrift store.  They were stained and dated looking so I gave them a make over.  I painted them black sanded the edges and then stenciled numbers on them.

I like their new look. Number art is very popular right now and I think these will fit in with a primitive or a shabby decor.

Old Barn Box

I quite often have the opportunity to pick up primitives very cheap at the market where I have my booth.  They have auctions every Friday night and I go Saturday morning and have the exclusive privilege of buying the left-overs.  I found this old barn box out in their yard one bright Saturday morning and knew that it needed a lot of work but I just couldn't resist it.  I paid my 5.00 and loaded in the car. (Only after I swept the chicken nest out of the bottom). 

 This is the bottom.....see the holes I had my work cut out for me!

 I ended up replacing the board on top because it was so bad but I used re-claimed lumber to do it.

 I mended the major holes with sheet metal and screws.  I worked on that for at least an hour. Most people would have given up and built a new box, not me I just kept going........

 I had this table that I used to make the legs.  I turned it over and unscrewed the top portion and then bolted the box on to the table for the legs.

 Here is the finished product.  I forgot to take a picture of it at home so sorry about the tag hanging from the front of it, it sold already, yeah old barn box you will be loved for years to come!

 I screwed the license plates to the top because I always wanted to make something using them.

I painted the sides, front, and back in this design.  I don't know what the new owner is going to do with this old box but I hope they give it as much love as I have!

D-R-E-A-M

I had this wonderful old window frame with raggedy screen and decided this would be the week to doll it up.  I made the dream banner out of a grocery bag, some stencils, and paint.  Then I hot glued them to a piece of twine.  Lucky me the 2 knob were already there, probably used for taking the screen out of the window at the end of the season.  For you young ones there was a day when the window screens were taken out at the end of summer and re-installed in the spring. Can you imagine?  They had to be painted every so often and then stored.  This little cutie has seen a lot of use and I am furthering her life by making her into art. I attached the vintage wire basket with some metal strap and screws and put screw eyes in each side to hold wire so I could hang the old pictures from it.  I love this piece and don't want to sell it but I do this for income so good bye little wonderful window you will be in my dreams for ever! LOL too much? naw

End of the Month Projects

Saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it would be fun to make. I found a spoon holder painted it white. Then I sanded the edges to make it look worn and pasted a post card on the top.  The post card came from my clip are file. I happen to have some old hankies to finish it off.

This is just a little crock I picked up and then modge podged a pretty label to.

On the left you can se this great looking wooden owl I bought for a buck. It was very dated looking with the pinecones and funny looking base. I painted the owl a metalic silver and then with a wash of black.  I mounted him onto an old bunson burner I picked up at a flea maket. I figured he would be really cool at Halloween he is so ready to keep watch over a fall brew!

This sign is a door panel and a carved fish that I had. I added some netting to set it off. I think it would be super in a man cave!

Trust Bench

This has been a super busy week. I had training for all new computer programs at the Township where I work. Yesterday my head was swimming and I was ever so grateful to be able to treasure hunt today.  I hit one really great sale and got some really cool things that I will post later on.  Today I am posting the other half of the bench from last week

This is what I started out with a very long bench that was all tattered and torn.  I decided to remove the end cap from the half that I worked on this week so the I could keep the piece uniform.  I then had to cut the bench down just a bit more to make it the size I wanted.  I had purchased 2 tables so I could use one with each half so I was pretty well set on how I was going to assemble my bench.

This is the bench from last week just so you can see how different they turned out.

 This bench began from some very humble beginnings, my favorite kind of project.  I attached the bench top to the table with some carriage bolts and then painted the whole piece in a gray blue.  After that dried I added the flag to the upper portion of the bench.

Next I added the word phrase using a stencil that I had.

I really like this saying and really do believe that hard work and trust in God is the key to a happy life.

I took the bench into the shop today and put it in my booth. I won't be at all disappointed if it doesn't sell, I will just bring it back and put it on my porch!!!!!!!!!! Fingers crossed, I give it 2 weeks and it is mine! LOL

Painted Stuff

 I love old drawers that came from old sewing machine cabinets.  I bought a ton of them several years ago and these are the last of them.  They were cut apart from the original cabinet and I just gave them a top and some paint.

 This is a nice old table I bought for 2 bucks and painted blue. I decided to leave the folding chairs as they were because they had some great lettering on them.  I painted the basket antique white and filled it with dried hydrangeas.

 This is another one of my garden chairs. I bought four of them this is number three, one left to go.  I just decorate them with whatever I grab out of my stash boxes.  I love the blue twig heart planter I attached to the top. 

Church Bench Make-over

I went the shop to deliver some things to my booth one fine Saturday and the owner of the shop told me that he wanted to get rid of this old church bench he had sitting out in front of his shop.  It hadn't sold in 2 years and the finish was shot and he was just sick of it.  He said Catherine, you might as well take it home and give it a make-over. I know I heard my husband groan but I told him that it was just fate that he was with me and that he had the truck.  He still wasn't convinced so I laid on the how I do all the laundry, cooking, cleaning,and work 2 jobs and I had him. I don't like to resort to those tactics but it was necessary, this was a free church bench for goodness sake!

The bench was in pretty rough shape and the veneer was peeling, one of the end pieces was missing, and the legs where broken too.  So I begged my dear sweet loving husband to cut the bench in half and then I would take over from there. He offered to make some end pieces for it but I didn't want to press my luck I might need him in the future and his truck and I felt I could take if from here.

I went to the thrift store one day and found 2 well built tables that I thought would be great to bolt my half bench to.  They were 4.99 less 10% (Senior discount...oh yeah, if I am old at least I can save some money so I can become an old lady hoarder).  Once again I was with my husband who still thought I was out of my mind I am sure, he hasn't committed me yet so I guess he figures there is still hope for me!

After some paint, glue, screws and a few miscellaneous parts I now have a little bench that is so solid I can hardly lift it.  I have the other half a bench to finish and I probably will give that one a different look.