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. 

Red White and Blue

I always make an arrangement for the waiting room at my work and usually try to make is seasonal. I love using things from my stash to make unique decorations.  I had this old crate and a set of 2 wheels that was enough to get me going. Next I found the red legs that really used to hold a shelf, I only got the braces to the shelf but I knew they were useful so it was all good and here I was able to prove my theory correct.  I just had to cut a little piece to make a bar handle and I nailed that on. I think it is cute enough to be on the cover of Country Sampler!

 Here is an old box I painted and stenciled on the word "needfuls" and a wood wagon I bought for 2 bucks and painted patriotic. I am in my fourth of July mode now, patriotic never goes out of style as far as I am concerned!

I went to a yard sale a couple of weeks ago and found this great vintage Coleman cooler. I thought it was really cool and would be great to put my groceries in this summer until I get home from the store. It gets so hot in my car now that my AC is out!!!!!

I primed and painted it and gave it 2 coats of top coatI really like it, the best part is that it is vintage! I left the little Coleman tag on the top just for fun.

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.

Make Do or Do Without

I was repairing an old farm chair the other day. It had a big crack in the middle of the seat.  As I was working on it I accidentally broke off one of the legs. I could see that this piece was never going to be strong enough to sit in and use as a regular chair even if I glued it up.  So I set it aside and started to work on my next project.  Then it hit me.............I had this old metal milk crate that no one seemed to want and it was just sitting there waiting for some love and I had this rickety broken chair needing legs.It was so obvious at that point my hands were shaking with delight.   I strapped the chair onto the milk crate and there you have it! I am totally in love with the out come, the unconventional is aways my favorite!

I really don't intend for someone to sit in this chair but it would be wonderful with flowers or an accent in the crate area.

Painted and Primitive

 These are two old slates that I bought and painted.  I had about 30 of these roofing slates and finally got down to my last two that you see here.

This is a piece I bought and painted up like the sign I did last week. I love patriocti prim.

Just a round table that I painted .

Just a little stithery I did and popped it into a "Warren Kinble" frame.

 I did a stool like this one last winter and it was a big hit so I decided to do another one.  This stool was originally stained a dark brown and not very appealing.  I painted it off white and stained to look aged.

Love Much