New life for an old ottoman....

Old and nasty...but of course I neglected to take decent pictures BEFORE I tore it apart!  But trust me...this thing came out of an apartment...and it was naaaaasty.  And kind of old fashion and "froo-froo."  It had a skirt...who has an ottoman with a skirt?  (Oh yeah...I do...in my room...probably ought to fix that!) 

Regardless, it is one of the many projects piled in my garage.  And I have intentionally ignored it for one reason...it requires sewing...and you know how much I HATE to sew!  But as I have said before, it is a necessary evil if you are going to tackle upholstery DIY projects.  And truth be told, we had one of those spring storms blow through.  It rained all day Wednesday and was colder than crud yesterday...and I can't strip and paint inside.  So the ottoman was really the only project I could do entirely in the house since I had already painted the legs!

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Originally the fabric was a yellow "formal" stripe...not terribly unattractive but seriously, it had a skirt and it was so nasty there was NO way it was coming clean.  But again, good bones and structurally very sound.  All I did was strip off the old fabric, paint the legs, add a little batting to the sides and recover!  Good as new, and without the skirt it has a more "modern flare."   

I find little trinkets like this in my apartments all the time...but even if you paid a few dollars for one at a thrift store, it is worth the time and effort to repurpose!  Great way to add easy to store seating in a room or for a game room for the kids to waller on while they watch Barney (tells you how old my youngest is...Blues Clues and Barney!) 

The trick to reupholstering any piece of furniture...pay close attention and take lots of pictures while "destructuring."  Keep all the old pieces and use them as patterns for the new fabric! Ottomans are a relatively simple projects if it is your first attempt at recovering a piece of furniture.  The structure is usually pretty simple, there aren't TOO many staples to pull and they don't take a lot of fabric (this one took 2 yards). 

So find a really cheap ottoman and give it a shot...what's the worst that can happen...it can sit in your garage for a month or two...welcome to my world! 

5 Common Mistakes Made When Painting Furniture....

I grew up with a father who scoffed at painting furniture....wood is beautiful...a piece of walnut or mahogany or oak is a work of art...it should be finished in a way that shows that beauty!  And he is right in some respects.  Even wood veneers can have a breathtaking display of wood grain...and it is something that should be displayed like a fine piece of art.​

But I am slowly warming to the idea that there is a time and place for painting furniture.  I am currently working on a really nifty sewing cabinet.  It is mahogany and while the top is well worth the time and effort to strip and refinish, the base, not so much.  So as with a few pieces I have stumbled across, I am going to strip and refinish the wood top and paint the base. ​

There was a time when I would have turned a blind eye to painted furniture...regardless of the quality.  But now I look a little closer...and what I am seeing are some pretty sloppy paint jobs...ones that do more harm than good and actually HURT the piece rather than enhance. ​

I stumbled across a website last night that outlines "5 Common Mistakes Made When Painting Furniture" at paintedfurnitureideas.com​.  It is a great little website and from what I have read so far it is a great source for information on repurposing furniture.   This particular post is really important because it reiterates a few things I have stressed and is SUPER important to know!

If you are going to invest the time and money in painting a piece of furniture do it right so you can have a piece you are proud of.  If you are tempted to buy a piece that has already been "repurposed" it is important to know what to look for!  Let's be honest...some of these really cool looking "thrift store finds" have had a coat of paint slapped on it and chances are you are going to ding it up just getting it in your car!  If you paint a piece of furniture the RIGHT way (here) it really should last a lifetime!

YOU CAN DO IT!  Just make sure you are doing it the right way!!!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

So clever and original...NOT!  But it is a mirror, and I did put it on the wall...although I can honestly say I am not sure I really like where I put it.  I desperately need some sort of "wall arrangement" by my front door...but I'm not "feeling" this.  ​

I really liked the "textures" in the frame.  A little Kilz and a little paint...cute as a bug! Not to shabby for $15.00

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I will say this "blog" thing is getting a bit out of control.  I am so determined to show you EVERYTHING I have done or am doing, and how easy it is to transform anything into something, that I keep bringing home "projects."  My garage is an insane mess right now.  I have old window frames, two side tables, a dresser, a chair, an ottoman and now a sewing cabinet....all sitting in there waiting to be done. (Oh, and the fabric came in for my walnut chair!!)  And I start one project and move to another...the dresser has been Kilzed, one little table stripped, the ottoman declothed, the sewing cabinet (my newest project) partially refinished...it's total madness!  AND I need to start doing a little gardening!

Breath.....in through the nose, out through the mouth!  AND STOP GOING TO FLEA MARKETS AND THRIFT STORES!  Me not you...you need to be finding little treasures!  I need to restore the treasures I already have!​

There is a mosquito on my window...it is April.  What the heck..... ​

Before and After dresser....

Yesterday Brian and I took off and went trout fishing for the day!  OH MY!  I am sore and sunburned...and I loved every minute of it!  Sometimes you just have to say to heck with the yard work and go have a little fun! Awesome day with my best friend!​

But Saturday was a busy day.  My neighbors came over to show off their new grandson and I found a perfect home for a precious little dresser I have been working on!  Just so happens they NEED a dresser and I NEED to find it a good home.  Done!​

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As you can see, it was missing a drawer so I added a shelf...perfect spot for little storage baskets.  I painted the "box" white, the drawers a pretty green and stained the top with my favorite java gel stain.  I originally put little crystal knobs on the drawers, certain it would go to a little girl, but when I found out it was going into a boy's room I changed the knobs to brush nickle...just thought it was more appropriate for a little boy!  And I am going to throw in a cute little cork board I made up and featured earlier!  ​

The great thing about these little dressers is the fact that as the little boys grows, the drawers will be easy to paint to match any decor!  ​

Another "trash to treasure"...a piece of furniture destined for the dumpster but given new life and new home with just a little time and attention!  ​

Couponing and kindness...

Last year I started "couponing."  Not the "clip it out of the newspaper and go to the grocery store" kinda of thing...no, the all out, get multiple papers every Sunday, fire up 4 computers, clip till your hand hurts, hours organizing big stuffed binders, buying coupons on Ebay kinda couponing. The kind that makes the other shoppers in the checkout line want to hit you in the face.​

And yes, I had one of those "stockpiles" that required additional shelving and storage.  ​

But as I mentioned, to my credit, I did not "hoard" all this stuff.  My family and neighbors would come to my house to shop and the biggest majority of it was donated to the elementary schools.  Before Christmas last year the kids and I went to Kaitlyn's 1st grade class and her kids "shopped" and made gift bags stuffed with all kinds of goodies for their families.  ​

As much as I enjoyed the challenge of getting shampoo and razors for free and the thrill of donating, I have just enough OCD in me to NOT be able to tolerate the storage nightmare hoarding creates.  I couldn't build enough shelving in my garage and the boxes stacked in my laundry room and closets filled with shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. was driving me nuts.  ​

That and I am staying busy with other things....this is what happens to "old moms" who spent the majority of their parenting years going non-stop.  We find it impossible to stop running full tilt 18 hours a day and throw ourselves into madness with other projects!​

Last year it was couponing....this year projecting and organizing...who knows what I will get into next year.​

But I don't think one important factor will change...my desire to "give".  I have always enjoyed building, decorating and remodeling for my friends and family. I gave away most of the coupon stuff and now I am giving most of my "project" stuff to people who need them...I just love sharing whatever it is I am obsessing about at that moment.​

When I started this post, I wanted to share with you how you can still save money without all the big binders and piles of coupon inserts.  And you can...the best advice I can give is start out by following two websites...   totallytarget.com and wildforwags.com. Just follow them and they will tell you exactly what you need to do to save money!​ And use your Sunday insert coupons when you grocery shop...every penny helps!

But as I type this post, I realize it is about more than just couponing.   It is about the need we all have to GIVE and SHARE.  Watch a baby learning to feed itself...they always want to "give" a piece of their mushy cookie to whomever is feeding them.  Our preschools want to share their artwork and of course there is the never-ending "sharing" of their every thought, action and observation. ​ And in our final days, even if our minds and bodies are feeble, we still yearn to "share."

And regardless of how many hours we work or how little money we have, there is always some small "thing" we can give...even if it is just a tiny bit of our time or talent.​

I believe the key to happiness is your attitude because I believe your attitude is the one thing you have complete control over and is the reflection of your true spirit.  Expressing a spirit of kindness, generosity, care, love with our attitude and by our actions is a choice...one you make every day...even when you don't FEEL like being kind or generous or loving...you choose to be INSPITE of....​

So give a little bit of yourself.  Buy a few little school supply items and donate it to your child's school.  Go spend your lunch break reading to your child's class so their teacher can have a quiet lunch.  Help your elderly neighbor in their yard for a few hours on the weekend. ​ Make a choice...every day...to give and share...expecting nothing in return!

I can promise you this....the day will come when YOU will need something.  Your deeds and efforts may appear to go "unrewarded" or "unnoticed" now, but someday...I promise the seeds of kindness and generosity you have sown will be harvested....​

"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."— John Bunyon

Berry wonderful!!!!!

My precious friend, Brian Berry, has designed a new site banner and logo for me!  He is TOTALLY awesome and has done a beautiful job!!! ​

Thank you Brian for all your hard work on this!  It looks WONDERFUL!  At least from my computer....

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If you every need graphic design work, email him at brian@anvilcustomgraphics.com ! ​

He does AWESOME work...his T-shirt designs are the BOMB!​  (My daughter told me that "the bomb" is good!  I'm trusting her on that!)

Noodle boots....

I love Pinterest...but it wears me out!  Always such neat "projects"​...and I want to DO IT ALL!  

But there are a few nifty little tidbits here and there that are not difficult and require very little effort. One suggestion I saw was putting pool noodles in boots!  Seriously nifty idea and since I am on my master-bedroom-closet-remodel-kick, this is the perfect time to do this kind of thing!​

Just so happens I stopped by a garage sale this morning and picked up a pool noodle for TWENTY FIVE CENTS!  They aren't a huge expense, but that was a pretty good bargain.  One noodle will do two pairs of boots!​

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Just cut the noodle with a pair of scissors and stuff the pieces into your boots!​

I'm not a big shoe shopper but I do pay good money for my boots...and storing them properly will add years to their life!​

Not a big life changer, but a neat little "tip."

Keeping it fresh with paint....

Today I got to wipe another thing off the dry erase board..."paint trim"

One way to keep your house fresh is to keep the paint fresh! You don't have to paint an entire room just to freshen up the room.  Sometimes it is just a matter of doing a little touchup on the walls and trim.​

First thing I would suggest is to give the walls, doors and trim a good scrubbing...but if that doesn't work, touchup the paint!​

But here is the problem.  Most people don't keep their leftover paint or they store it in the garage or storage building.  And that is a mistake!​

When you paint a room you should always keep the leftover paint stored somewhere in the house.  Storing paint in the garage is a mistake because the heat and cold affects the paint and basically renders it worthless! ​

If the cans are a mess after you have painted, get an empty quart or gallon can from the paint or hardware store and put the leftover paint in it,  label the can so you know which room it goes to, then store it in the back of a closet or in a climate controlled room!​

When ​the walls or trim need a little touch up, just shake and stir your paint and you are good to go!  Paint will last for YEARS if it is stored properly...and keeping leftover paint can save you a ton of money and time in the future if your walls just need a little touchup!

Here you can see how "chipped" my base trim is in the living room...it's been a few years since I painted the trim.​

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​Always give your trim a good cleaning and then mask off your flooring.  Even carpet can be easily masked....just take the tape and push down on the nap of the carpet and "stuff" it under the trim!

Rule of thumb...if it is a hard, unpainted surface like wood or tile, I use the cheaper masking tape.  For painted walls or trim, I use the blue painters tape...a little more expensive, but worth it!  I always use a good quality brush specifically for the type of paint I am using.  As I have mentioned, I always use oil base paint on my trim...so I use a natural bristle brush specifically for oil base paints.  And I ALWAYS make sure I clean and store my brushes properly....mineral spirits for oil and soap and water for latex. 

Make sure you pull your tape BEFORE the paint dries...once the paint starts to dry on the tape, you risk "peeling" the paint off your painted surface.​

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​As you can see from the first picture, sometimes the trim can get pretty dinged up.  If the trim is showing bare wood, I would suggest taking a sponge brush and dabbing the bare spots with a primer (Kilz works great) before painting.  Same with the walls...if your kids have taken markers to them or there are bad scuff marks that won't clean off, just touch it up with Kilz before you paint! 

For the walls, I use a 4" sponge roller and "spot" roll the walls that need touchup!  Easy to clean up and takes no time!​

Touching up your walls, trim and doors can instantly freshen up an entire room!  And if you are selling your house, it is a MUST!  ​

Master closet makeover....

​I'm almost too tired to type...this was a chore but the reward is being able to swipe "master closet" off the dry erase board on the fridge!!!

That and soooo much more storage in my closet.  ​

When both the boys left for college, I basically gutted their rooms.  I decorated with all their "stuff" and organized everything they left in their closets, but the entire room was made-over...new paint, flooring, bedding, window dressings!  Everything.​  And I even had a tad bit of space to store some of MY stuff!

And then they moved home.  And they brought more stuff!​

Anyone who thinks they are going to gain more storage or a hobby or craft room when their kid goes off to college is delusional.  Trust me...first, they leave all their "stuff" and second, they WILL come home!  And that is fine...the rule:  no kids, no spouse, no animals.  As long as they follow THE rule, they still have a room!  ​

So my closet has to stay pretty organized because it is storage central.  I built a large pantry where I keep all my office/business stuff and our personal "coupon stash."  Yes, I am one of those coupon people...but to my credit I only keep what I know my family  will use in the near future.  The rest is donated to the elementary schools!  Last year I donated over $7000 worth of products!  ​

I had a few issues with the closet...first, the flooring.  After 13 years, it was pretty nasty.  And I pretty much hate carpet!  So that had to go.  Second, I have 9' ceilings but all the shelving was standard.  So I basically had a TON of wasted space and plenty of room to add another self all the way around the closet.  I had too much "long" hanging space and not enough "double" hanging space.  Honestly, if I would move all my coats to the coat closet, I probably wouldn't need any long hanging space!  I seriously do not own a dress any more.​  

So here is the before and after...and then I will add some "in between" pictures in the tutorial.....​

Before....​

It wasn't THAT bad...I'm pretty good at cleaning out closets every so often.  My GOAL was to only put back about 1/2 of what I took out.  But honestly, I clean out my closets and donate about twice a year...so there wasn't that much pack-ratted away!  I just needed more shelving and it was due for a good makeover....​

After....​

So I have new laminate flooring, 25 l.f. of new shelving, paint,  more hanging space and new lighting.  And a backache, headache and feetache...and I still have a bit of a mess in my office.  But in the long run, I think it is ALL worth it!

I have posted a tutorial here... it will fill you in on exactly what I did!​