Mid century chair makeover...another WOW!

A guy I met at one of my old flea market haunts had some furniture and knick knacks he was clearing out of a storage building so I went to check out what he had.

He had a few pieces of furniture I was willing to make a deal on. Most immediately went into my booths after a good cleaning.

But one chair...my oh my. Mine. Had to keep it! (Again, to see the "before and after" just scroll to the bottom...you know who you are...just go!)

This chair is ALMOST as good as my coffee table score (here). Not quite, but it is still a "wow" piece!

I have a hard-fast rule for my home...if I bring something in, I have to take something out. Cats, furniture, appliances...makes no difference! I don't NEED anything else, so if I want something, I have to give up something. It is my personal rule that keeps me from becoming a full blown hoarder!

So I decided the new one would be my new office chair...and this one had to go...

I love my old office chair...I love the wood and the color and the style. But I love the mid century style more and I knew with a little bit of time, a lot of elbow grease, and a little DIY magic, it would be beautiful!

It does have a few little "issues" in the cane back. It is difficult to find 50-60 year old cane chairs that are in perfect condition. I found two here, but that is rare. For now I have decided to just leave it be! The breaks are very minor and hardly noticeable. And this chair will get minimal use since it is in my office. I watched a tutorial on replacing caning and I have no doubt I could do it. But whenever I can I try not to do anything too terribly invasive. There will come a day when I may have to replace the caning, but not now.

So I was so pumped and could hardly wait to start on it! Usually major projects like this will sit for at least a few weeks (if not months)...this one only had to wait a day or two. Besides, I immediately took my old office chair up to Midtown and I will need a chair at my desk when bookwork day rolls around on the first. God forbid I pull in one of the others I have sitting around...lol!

I think this chair is walnut...a lot of mid century pieces are but they also used a lot of teak and rosewood. I am not sure but the grain looks like walnut.... but honestly I don't care. The style is amazing and as with most mid-century pieces, it is as structurally sound as the day it was built! Always amazes me!

The first thing I did was remove the seat. Four little screws, no biggy. Then I stripped it with the Formby's varnish remover. I will tell you that was a chore!!! This chair had some serious finish on it. But after 4-5 hours of scrubbing with the Formby's varnish remover and pad, I finally got it all off! I gave it a mineral spirit wash, a light sanding, tack cloth and four coats of tung oil and the wood is beautiful as new!

Now I am going to try to show off the wood detail...

It is really hard to appreciate the difference in photographs...but trust me, it is HUGE! These pieces are so worth the time and effort to strip and refinish. And while it is indeed a bit of a process, it is a relatively easy DIY project. Why people are afraid of refinishing furniture is beyond me!

It was obvious that a stain was originally added to the finish coat. I like the color of the wood with just an oil finish applied so I rarely add stain. You can apply mineral spirits to the piece after all the old stain and varnish is removed to get an idea of the color if you just apply a clear finish.

Now on to the seat cushion. It came to me with a tan vinyl seat cover. When I stripped that off, I found white Naugahyde. I have no doubt that would have been the original upholstery. Naugahyde was all the rage during the 50s and 60s and if you google "mid century furniture" images you will see a lot of it on original pieces.

My old desk chair had the same fabric as this wingback chair. I love this fabric even though I am not a huge "floral" fan. It is bold and funky but not too out there with the color scheme.

I'm thinking the white Naugahyde might be the route to go!

I really want to take my time to find the perfect upholstery...I need something to "speak to me." Sometimes that takes time!

Right now I am just admiring the beauty of the wood...

I would like to take a minute to comment on the "tones" of my decor. As you can see from the final finish on this chair, as well as the other wood pieces I have refinished, I tend to be very partial to "warm" tones. Rust, cream/yellow, orange, brown...warm. Even my hardwood flooring is "warm." I can get away with it in this house because there is so much natural light!

I was craving blues and whites and "bright" but I was very hesitant to add "cool" tones to my decor...blues, mint greens and whites. But you know what...it works. I have so much "warm" wood tones throughout my house that the cool tones really "pop." I have even transitioned my trim color over the years...from a white with a "cream" base to one that is more "true white." I love it.

Truthfully, I like the warm with the cool...too much "cool" and, in my opinion, your space can feel washed out...too much warm and it can become a tad dreary.

Don't hesitate to mix it up...do what you love. You will never regret it!

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Making frame shelves...

One thing I always buy at auctions and garage sales when I find them is frames...frames for photographs, framed pictures, framed paintings. Don't care what is IN the frame...I just want the frame. I usually remove the backing and glass and either chalk paint and distress or spray paint them.

A few weeks ago I went to an auction and bought TONS of frames...all types and sizes. Several were the perfect size for "frame shelves."

I have never made and sold these so I only made a few to see how well they do.

I picked 3 sturdy frames. Since I am going to chalk paint and distress the frames, I wanted a little "detailing." I had both pine and MDF 1x4 material on hand...made no difference since I was going to paint it!

I basically built a box for the shelving. I wanted the box to sit on the meatiest part of the frame so when I glue and nail them together it is sturdy. The first thing I did was measure for the box...make sure you account for the 3/4" thickness of the 1x4 (remember, it is not REALLY 1" thick!)

I cut three horizontal pieces...top, bottom and middle shelf...and two vertical pieces for the sides of the box. I placed my horizontal pieces between my two side pieces. You can see in this picture what I mean...of course this is after it is built and painted and I have already put the glue on it...getting ahead of myself a bit, but at least you can see how it is constructed. (This is the MDF shelf)

One thing I want to address when working with real wood on ANY project...whether you are building shelves or installing a deck...CUP DOWN!

What does that mean? If you look at the cut end of any piece of would, you should be able to see the grain pattern...think tree rings because that is what they are. They may be big or small, but you should be able to see the "curve" of the grain. When nailing a piece of wood to another piece of would, you want to make sure that the curve, or the "cup," is down. Wood naturally wants to "cup" (bend) as it ages and dries out and if the cup is facing up, it is likely to pull away from your glue and staples.

After measuring and cutting the 5 pieces for each frame, I glued (super important!) and nailed them together, caulked, puttied the nail holes and then primed. After the primer dried, I sanded the box and painted it BEFORE attaching it to the frame.

A reminder. ALWAYS glue your joints before nailing them. Remember, the glue is what REALLY holds it all together!

I use wood filler to fill the nail holes and latex painter's caulk for the joints. DO NOT use a caulk with silicone in it to caulk anything you are going to paint. Paint will NOT stick to silicone! Just run a small line of caulk in each joint and then run your finger (the one with the broken fingernail) along the joint to smooth the caulk out. Keep a wet rag handy!

After the paint has dried, run glue along the outside edge of your box, lay the frame on the box, and then use small trim nails or a trim nailer to nail the frame to the box. (Okay, I will admit I initially ran the glue on the wrong side of the box...this is the back side...I figured it out, wiped the glue off and then flipped it over! You want the painted edge of the middle shelf to show through the frame!)

Keep in mind these are small shelves. I do not intend to put anything heavy on them...so I didn't feel the need to put bracing under the middle shelf. I think the glue and nails will be enough. If I was building a big bookshelf, I would put bracing under the shelf to provide more support!

After my frame and box were constructed, I chalk painted the frames, distressed them a tad, and then hit the entire piece with a spray clear poly to seal it all! Then I added hangers on the back.

The small white shelf is painted with spray paint...I did not distress it. It is a cheaper plastic frame so I didn't think it would look good distressed. But it shows that you can take the cheapest, simplest frame and turn it into a functional shelf!

I have a "frame collage" of simple white frames on my guest bath wall....

I have never been a huge fan of this wall but I was thinking I might take 2-3 of the frames and make frame shelves out of them just to give the entire feature a "three dimension" affect.

We'll see...today I am working on a AWESOME mid century chair for my office. I am soooo super excited about this chair and I just can't wait to get it stripped, oiled and recovered! And of course, share! It is a tad too cold to paint but if I come in and run my hands under hot water every thirty minutes or so, I can get some stripping done! Stupid hands.

Anywho...there is a simple little project that can make a HUGE statement. Before you toss that old picture frame, think about giving it a simple little "repurpose."

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IT'S OFFICIALLY SPRING! Start collecting your planters!

It's official! IT IS SPRING!!!!!

Warm weather is on it's way. It will be here before we know it!

Since I have been doing this blog thing for over a year now, I will be revisiting a few posts from the past. Especially my "gardening" posts.

It is entirely to early to plant flowers in the ground! But it is not too early to start planning. As I mentioned in my post here, I plant little in the ground except for perennials. Most of my annuals planting are in containers. (Perennials are plants that come back every year...annuals have to be replanted every year!)

When most think "container" or pot planting, they think along the lines of traditional flower pots. Not so...you can plant ornamentals (flowers, ferns, even hostas, etc) in just about any type of container, as long as you can get decent drainage (tiny holes in the bottom).

So NOW is the time to start hunting for containers at thrift stores and flea markets....old crocks, tin buckets, old grill bases, etc. And don't forget our old friend, spray paint. You may think the pot or container is an ugly color...no biggy, just hit it with a little spray paint.

I acquired some old pots from a neighbor...kind of ugly and worn. I sprayed them with some bright spray paint I had on hand and they are perfect. After a few years of water and weather, they have begun to chip again...but you know what, I kind of like the look!

Even if you don't have a lot of space for flower gardening, plan on one or two "statement" pieces for your patio or porch.

This is my all time favorite...

This pot is made up of one Kimberly fern, 3-4 impatiens and a few caladium bulbs. A beautiful display costing less than $15! And if you have smaller pots you can always cut the fern into 2-3 sections at the root and make several pots.

Here I discuss creating an inexpensive and easy "base" in containers and window boxes for planting. Rocks from the yard and cheap soil topped with potting soil! Potting plants doesn't have to be expensive. And truthfully, they are easier to maintain in the heat of the summer...less watering and NO weeding!

Even if you have existing flower beds that you have planted in the past (like I do) you can scatter a few pots here and there in your beds...plant those with colorful annuals! The affect is the same and the work is minimal! Your knees and back will thank you!

Window boxes are awesome...this is one I put in my bedroom windows last year. It was really beautiful...for about a month. It just dried out to quickly and the plants didn't thrive. This year I am thinking about filling it with small potted plants.

Live and learn....

A few things I have learned over the years...

1) ALWAYS repot plants your buy. Those plants where started many months ago in a greenhouse and chances are the roots are a bit crowded...so repot it. If you can't put it in a larger pot, at least break away some of the root system and repot it with some good potting soil. And whether you are planting in the ground or in a container, add a slow release fertilizer. I like Osmocote.

2) Plant in containers. Obviously that is my thing now because of the "age factor." But even if you are young and spry, find a few unusual containers and fill them with a mix of flowers...it really does make a statement! And if you honestly don't have a green thumb but want a little "pop" on your porch or front flower bed, try the fern and flowers in a container...beautiful and super easy to maintain!

3) DO NOT ignore your regional "freeze date." And if you are really smart, add a few weeks to it...in other words, be patient. Two reasons...one, you risk loosing or seriously damaging everything you have planted if you get a late freeze...two, home improvement stores and even a few nurseries will have "damaged" plants from late freezes. SUPER cheap way to get some flowers...especially perennials which can be expensive! Trust me...a little time and they will be good as new.

4) Ask questions of someone who KNOWS about plants. Not the kid standing there watering them! Sun? Shade? How much water? When will it bloom? These are all things you really need to know. Most plants come with little informational tags...read them!!!

5) Mulch. I have so many flower beds that I buy in bulk...like by the trailer load. I learned the hard way to use only natural hardwood or cedar. I loved the colored mulches but I read it has a negative affect on the quality of the soil and the growth of the plants. May or may not be true but I did start having trouble with my annuals after I began using it...so I don't use it!

Gardening is trial and error. Not every planting with thrive...not every flower bed will turn out the way you want it to! I have lived here for 14 years...I still can't figure out what to do with my front flower bed!

Gardening is a great way to get out and enjoy a beautiful day. And like any DIY project, it is "trial and error." Best advice I can give is JUST DO IT! You may find you like it!

Your yard should be an extension of your home!

I'm so excited for spring this year...but our "freeze date" is mid-April and I know better than to get in a hurry. It is bad enough that I have a bazillion hostas that inevitably have to be covered at least once or twice because of a late spring freeze.

Be patient...but plan ahead! You just have to "think outside the pot." (HA! Get it...outside the pot...I amuse myself!)

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Spring? Hello? Are you there?

I just can't let myself get too excited yet. I always do this...get all fired up after a few days of beautiful weather...only to get hit with another round of snow!

But I was going back through some old posts and I stumbled across a reminder of things to come...that very soon spring really will be here to stay and before you know it I will be watering every day and grumbling about the heat!

I am so grateful for the four seasons...but winter is officially over this week so I'm ready to start digging in the flower beds!

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Bloglovin'.....lovin' !

I'm kind of newish to the whole "blog" thing. While doing a little research I discovered I am again only a few years behind with my newest discovery. So if you are like me, new to the blog thing or short on time or just old and forgetful (not me, a friend) my newest discovery is perfect for you! Granted, I am probably the LAST person on earth to know about this, but just in case there are others living under rocks somewhere out there....

I am like many...looking for inspiration for anything from DIY projects to a new recipe for dinner! I am always amazed at how much information is out there on the internet and how many women share all their wonderful ideas and endless knowledge! Back in "the old days" we would have to sit and watch every morning and afternoon show or endless hours of HDTV just to get a smidge of the information that is at our fingertips now!

Pinterest is easy, but like most, I have a few favorite blogs I like to follow...and that list seems to be growing every day. When I only had 2-3 blogs I liked to look at it was easy to just pop in and look around. But as my list of favorites grew, I found myself forgetting to check out certain blogs...and inevitably I would miss something really awesome.

Then I discovered bloglovin.com. I hate to "toot" a website for fear it will put horrible bugs on your computer...or collect your personal information and feed it to the CIA. But so far, so good. I haven't seen any annoying pop-ups or unsolicited emails as a result of signing up!

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All I did was go to their website, search my favorite blogs, and "follow." I even get a daily email that shows me all the newest posts on the blogs I am following! When I log into bloglovin.com I can immediately see "My Feed" which is a summary and link to all the newest posts for the blogs I am following. If I find a new blog I absolutely love, I can add it to my feed and then I don't forget to check it out in the future (I kind of do that a lot!)

You can use the drop down menu labeled "Popular" and see a list of blogs featuring your favorite subject. Then just click on the blogs you want to follow. Or type the blog you want to follow into the search function and it will find it for you...it doesn't have to be a blog that has "signed up" for this site...if it is out there, this site will find it and you can follow it!

Simple.

As I said, SO FAR I haven't gotten a bunch of crud cluttering my computer or email from using this site. I find it soooo annoying to order something on the internet only to get slammed with a bazillion emails as a result. Since I switched to an Apple laptop, I don't have the annoying popups, but email is another thing. I can't remember what I ordered or signed up for the other day, but within minutes my email started getting hit with "crap."

So far, that is not the case with Bloglovin and it really does make it simple to keep track of all my favorite bloggers! I still sign up to get email alerts from a few of my favorite (it's super simple to subscribe to my site...just enter your email address and click "subscribe"...every post delivered to your door step!)...but bloglovin let's you keep up with as many as you like without getting a hundred different emails from a hundred different sites! One email...as many blogs as you would like to keep an eye on!

Simple!

"Follow" me on bloglovin.com and never miss an awesome DIY project, before and after, tutorial or recipe!

BTW, not that I would mind, but I did not get paid to toot this website...I just think it is a neat deal!

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Spring projects...oh wait...is that snow??!!!

I could feel it....the sun warming the ground and the vibrations of my little perennials just quivering with anticipation. I could see it...the first little buds on the ornamental trees and the daffodils all standing at attention trumpeting the coming season. Such a beautiful pop of color in all the post-winter gloom...

I trimmed a few trees, cut all the lirope, started cleaning out the pond and raked flower beds....all in a short sleeve tshirt and flip-flops!

And then it got cold and nasty again. AND SNOWED! All day...

SERIOUSLY?!

Spring is such a fickle season!

Saturday the weather was AWESOME!! I got a little yard work done and I started reorganizing my disaster of a garage after getting my drop down table finished. I honestly didn't mean to post about it Saturday. Obviously I hit the wrong button and the post went live. But I was pretty much finished with it...and it really is a super neat project I wanted to share!

Anywho, I cut the daffodils that have already bloomed and brought them in....

They were a little cold and droopy but a little warm water and they perked right up!

Fortunately I have a lot more in my yard just waiting to bloom. So this week when it warms back up into the 60s, there will be more.

Got to love this Arkansas weather!

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Building a fold down table...

I really want a heated shop. A place where I can spread out and do "my thing" without having to worry about making room for my truck when it snows.

For now I am stuck with the garage. Most of my work stuff is "organized" on the shelves I have built over the years in the garage.

This picture is a tad deceptive....

Truth be told, this corner of the garage is never this "clean." I had already moved 2 tables, about 10 cut up sheets of plywood, a few garden tools and even the trash can out of this little corner before I took the picture.

But with all that stuff "gone" (okay, so it was piled in the yard!) I decided it was the perfect spot to install a drop down work table.

For several years I have used a folding plastic table as a work bench. But every time I wanted to work I had to drag it from behind the crud I had piled in front of it and throw my back out just trying to set it up...and then there was the whole issue of taking it down and wrangling it back into place behind the piles of plywood!

I do have a garden shed. It is perfect for storing garden tools and spare trim and plywood...things I don't NEED in the garage. Truthfully, I just get lazy and don't haul the stuff back there when I am finished because...well, I get tired. So it piles up.

Anywho, I saw this drop down table in a magazine...or on Pinterest...or somewhere. I thought it was neat and I knew this little corner of my garage, next to the shelves with all my tools and supplies (which WILL be organized...someday), would be the perfect spot.

It just so happens I had a few table legs from an old folding table. Do not ask me where I got them or why I have them. NO idea. I just know they have been hanging on the wall of my storage shed for as long as I can remember waiting for me to do something with them.

I found this nasty little shelving unit in an apartment.

Just a simple little thing someone nailed together...no finish...pretty nasty and dirty. Straight ammonia and kilz...then a little black paint...perfect for the shelving for my drop down table. I did add two brace boards...one on the top and one on the bottom so I could mount it to the wall.

I made a table from a piece of 3/4" birch plywood, banded with 1x2 poplar and then attached one of the folding table legs to the underside. (I spray painted the leg black before I installed it!)

I attached the painted shelf to the wall using 2 1/2" screws into the wall studs and then attached the table to the shelf with three hinges.The shelves make a perfect place to store stuff I only use when I am working at my table! I can store dowel rods, the level and framing square on the top!

I even attached one of my metal yard sticks to the edge so I would have an quick way to measure things. I did this to my chop saw table too...love! You can see my chop saw table next to this table...it is actually an old grill cart that has had a top added to it. Makes it super easy to roll it in and out of the garage so I don't get saw dust all in the garage when I use it!

I also remembered that I had a cutting mat hiding in the back of my closet...I dug it out and attached it to the table as well. Now I have a place to measure and cut stuff without scarring up my table (yeah, that will last!)

When I want to "close" the table, I fold it up and secure it with the little hook. (As you can see from the holes in the wood, I tried another type of fastener first...obviously it didn't work...trial and error)

I stained the table with a wood stain/poly sealer I had on hand. I think it is suppose to be a dark walnut stain, but birch and poplar don't stain very well so it was kind of light. No biggy...I just wanted something to seal the raw wood.

I used pipe brackets to mount the table leg to the underside of the table...worked out perfectly!

While I was organizing, I decided to make hanging "racks" for my clamps. As I have mentioned before, clamps are a necessity when you are repairing furniture. When I had 2-3 of each size, the little screws and nails in the side of the shelving were just fine. But over the years I have acquired so many that it really was a hazard to pull one down...I have been whacked in the head on more than one occasion by falling clamps...ouch!

I used a 1" flat paddle drill bit to drill a 1/2" deep hole into the 1 x 6" trim that runs along the wall. Then I attached an L bracket on the outside edge of the shelf. I cut a 1" oak dowel rod 3/8" longer than the width between the L bracket and wall trim so that the dowel rod could slip into the hole...then I used a 1 1/2" screw to secure the dowel rod to the L bracket. Basically I made a little "clamp rod" to hang my clamps on! Now they don't fall on my head when I take one down...yippee!

This little table is super easy to put up and down...takes no effort at all. The shelving provides space to store things I don't need handy when it is closed.

This same design could be used to make a sewing, gift wrapping or craft table inside the house if you are limited on space and don't want a table spread out all the time! You could design the shelving as deep as you want and with as many shelves and "cubbies" as you might need for your supplies. The possibilities are endless!

My next big chore is to run an electrical outlet to the wall in the shelving...sounds like a perfect project for my SIL Joel ;)

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Shutter shelving...

If you are cruising my website, chances are you are a fan of Pinterest. After all, isn't that what we are all looking for...inspiration!? Ideas? Ways to take the unwanted and undesirable and turn it into something useful and beautiful?

So today I want to share with you two totally different shelf ideas, both made from "stuff" that would otherwise have been tossed. One I made and one Moira (Mitchell's girlfriend) made!

I happened upon a single set of shutter style bifold doors (louver doors) at the auction this past week. They were poorly painted but in good shape (one busted slat...no biggy). Not something anyone really wants in their home anymore. Before I ever bid, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them!

Shelves.

(Yes, I know they are upside down in this picture!)

I am always in need of shelving in my flea booths...but I want "interesting" and "different." It is one of the reasons I repurposed this old grandfather clock! I usually take old shelving, give it a nice makeover, and then price it high enough that someone will have to REALLY love it to make me move everything I have displayed. Sadly, they usually do and I end selling the one item in the booth I really don't care if I sell.

But it can all be replaced! So when I spied the bifold shutter door I knew it was exactly what I needed to replace some shelving that has sold in the last few months!

Since I didn't want to plaster/chalk paint them and "distress" them I decided to prime them. Lowe's was out of Kilz, so I stepped outside my comfort zone and gave a new primer a shot...Zinsser Bullseye. Not bad...dries quickly and sands nicely. Jury is still out on how well it holds up...guess I am getting ready to find out!

After priming and sanding, I had to cut and install the shelves. Since this was a bifold door and already hinged, corner shelving was the easiest. All I had to do was install some bracing, triangle shaped shelves and install...always sound sooooo much easier than it is!

I used big stir sticks from Lowe's for the bracing. I thought it looked more along the line of the louvers in the door! I could have purchased 1/4" or 1/2" flat molding, but the sticks were free and they are about 1/4" thick and 1 1/2" wide. All I had to do was prime them and cut them to fit.

I used 1x12 bullnose MDF shelving for the shelves. The bullnose has a nice rounded front edge and MDF paints up nicely. I usually use it for closet shelving.

The width of each door on the bifold was 14" wide...so I cut triangles with TWO 13 1/2" sides...don't ask me what the 3rd side measures...I was one of those that just knew I would never use that geometry stuff! (You ought to see me try to figure out circle stuff!) I also know that corners are generally 90 degree angles (if you had a decent framer)...so the two 13 1/2" sides would be at a 90 degree angle.

(Side note: I asked my ubber smart 16 year old daughter that evening how I would figure the third side....she proceeded to give me a 30 minute geometry lesson. Again, I am in complete awe of one of my children. I went to bed with a headache.)

I decided to make 5 shelves...so I cut 5 identically sized triangle shelves from the MDF. I used my framing square and speed square to make my mark from front to back, measured 13 1/2" from the front and then marked another line from that point to the front of the shelf using my framing square. Then I used my skill saw to CAREFULLY cut the board. (Hopefully the pictures make it clearer than my description)

For the bracing, I cut 10 (2 for each shelf) 13 1/4" pieces out of the stir sticks...I mitered one end of each stick so they would fit in the corner.

After installing the bottom shelf, I decided it would be sturdier if I had one large shelf holding the top together. Since I wanted it to sit ON TOP of the two doors, rather than inside, I measured and cut that piece and nailed it on the top!

This shelving unit is a prime example of how important glue is...more so than nails. I glued and nailed the bracing for the shelves to the doors, and I glued the shelving onto the bracing. Since I was only using 1/4" material for the bracing, I decided not to try to nail the shelving to the bracing...just too much risk that a nail would splinter the narrow wood bracing or miss all together. I did put one little nail in the front corner of each shelf, tacking it to the door. The glue is what will hold all this together and make it sturdy once it dries. The nails just hold everything in place until the glue sets up. I use regular old Elmer's wood glue!!! But my point...if you are going to nail it, put some glue on it FIRST!

After installing all the shelving, I caulked it and then spray painted it with one of my favorite Valspar spring colors.

This is the REAL color of the paint...the top picture is not real representative of the actual color....

After the first coat of paint, I thought it looked a little "grainy" so I decided to sand it down and spray it again. But I kind of liked the "distressed" look with the white showing through. So I left it that way!

Totally awesome!

My son's girlfriend, Moira, made these bookshelves. She is a law student in LA so the fact that she is "crafty" AND found the time to do something so incredible is amazing to me.

I'm not sure what "style" you would say these are...in fondant cake lingo they would be considered "topsy-turvy." In construction terms we call it "seriously, do you not own a square?" Either way, I think they turned out totally awesome!! I love the "randomness" of the shelving! Soooo unique!

I emailed her last week to find out what type of wood she used...this was her reply...

"All of the wood used was from a warehouse in northern California...these guys have a huge supply of donated and salvaged materials from the area...they even go out to places they find out are going to be demoed to get some of the supplies. Really cool guys.

The back of the shelf is a door from a 100 year old water tower they found before it was demoed, and the rest of the wood is all old wood taken from houses in the area before they were torn down. Any paint on there was already there from however the wood was used before. None of the wood is stained but I did paint a satin finish on the entire shelf, which ended up darkening the wood just a little bit"

This girl rocks! Super smart and major crafty talent! When she first showed me the picture I asked her how she measured for the shelving...she said she just kept cutting it until it fit.

This proves my point...if you really want to accomplish something, YOU CAN DO IT! Moira has no construction "know how" as far as I know...and she managed to create this totally awesome bookshelf.

While I was in the spray paint mode, I decided to hit a few frames and lamps I bought at the auction with paint. Still have a few hundred frames to paint and a few pieces of furniture to "rehab"...in time!

LOVIN' THIS AWESOME WEATHER!!!

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Old wood cutting board makeover...

You can find them at thrift stores or garage sales for pennies...maybe even in the back of your very own cabinet.

Old wood cutting boards.

Over the years these kitchen necessities have gotten a bad rap. Probably for a good reason. They harbor bacteria so we no longer use them for the purpose they were originally designed. Instead we now use plastic boards or glass...anything that is easier to clean and sanitize while saving our counter tops.

But the wood used to make these old boards is beautiful...often oak or walnut...maybe even cherry, hickory or mahogany. So rather than toss them, or ignore them when you see them at a thrift store or garage sale, pick them up and give them a quick and simple little makeover to use as kitchen decor! With just a tiny bit of time and effort, they really can become beautiful again!

There are several great things you can do with old cutting boards. Here are just a few example. The possibilities are unlimited and I recommend doing a search on Pinterest or Google..."old wood cutting board." (Click on the photos to take you to the "source" site for these images!)

Paint or refinish and make a stand for your Ipad or cookbooks...

Holiday decor....

And one of my all time favorites...using vintage image transfers to doll them up!

At The Graphics Fairy you can get HUNDREDS of FREE awesome graphics and find tutorials on how to easily transfer them onto wood!

My mom gave me an old wood cutting board that had been in our family for decades and while I was out snooping through thrift stores, I picked up another old board that was pretty beat up! Both had little or no "finish" left on them and both had been used a lot...lots of "cut" marks and dings!

I used the Formby's varnish remover to strip all the old finish and clean them up, wiped them down with mineral spirits, and then applied 3-4 coats of new butcher block oil finish. Watco has a great butcher block oil finish specifically for this type of application and IF you wanted to use these cutting boards again for food preparation you could. (I personally don't recommend it!)

I sanded them with 0000 steel wool between coats and then ran a tack cloth over them. I continued to apply the oil until I got a nice even gloss finish on both! The wood grain and depth of the color on these old boards is AMAZING!!! No stain...just the butcher block oil! It completely transforms the color of the wood and really makes the grain pop!

I sanded each of the boards after stripping just a tad to remove the faintest cut marks, but honestly, I wanted the "used" look...if I wanted "new" I could go buy one. I like the "used" character!

I even picked up an old wood lazy susan at an auction months ago. The lady told me she remembered her grandmother decorating cakes on it for decades. It looked pretty old and beat up and was missing the little "ball bearings" that would have been in the channel on the base that made it turn. I just bought new little craft balls that fit in the channel, stripped it, and oiled it. Gorgeous. I put it in one of my booths and I don't think it lasted a day! Someone knew exactly what it was or at the very least knew it would make a beautiful piece to display! It made me feel good to know that I took something that appeared nasty and useless and turned it into a stunning, useful piece again with little effort!

Next time you spy one of these old boards, don't pass it up...no matter how nasty or beat up it looks! With a tiny bit of effort they really can be beautiful again! Whether you just strip it and oil it and display it as is, or put in a little more time and doll it up, you will have a awesome piece to display in your kitchen or dining room...on a picture stand or hanging on your wall...by itself or in a grouping...the possibilities are endless!

Auction Action

With spring around the corner (thank goodness!) auctions are starting to fire back up. There have been a few here and there over the winter, but nothing like what we see during the warmer months....2-3-4 every weekend...so many options to choose from every Saturday! Fun, fun.

We went to a living estate auction yesterday. In town, nice neighborhood, nice house. Honestly, not my favorite kind of auction to go to because there are usually a lot of people there and the prices are higher...yep, and yep.

But I did manage to pick up a couple of truckloads of stuff. Lots of frames, lamps, a few furniture pieces to makeover, an old piano bench, some large wood ammo boxes and a few knick-knacks!

There was a lot of nice furniture and it brought a pretty penny...mostly people buying for their personal use. Little I could sell for much more than what they paid. The furniture I did get needs LOTS of work...and that's okay.

Hopefully it will stay warm enough to get a few projects done and ready to share. Yesterday I painted a few frames and lamps. The old desk, bedside table and an old phone table will need some serious time and attention...and warm weather!

And it is ALMOST time to start prepping flower beds! My daffodils have usually popped already, but it was an unusually cold February so they are just now starting to grow. Maybe in the next week or so they will bloom. That is my green light to start trimming lirope and tilling flower beds! Can't wait!

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Nasty little chair makeover...PART I!

My INTENT was to get this chair done this week so I could feature it. The weather and a bum back kind of slowed me down. But I got it done...but I am still going to break this up into a "Two Part Series" because the work that had to be done was pretty extensive. If you just want to see the before and after, check out Part II and scroll to the bottom!

This gives me a great opportunity to stress the importance of TAKING YOUR TIME and DOING IT RIGHT!

The simplest little makeover takes time. You can't rush the process. Strip it properly, sand it properly, prime it properly, paint it properly! Otherwise you are wasting your time and money!

My newest project is very similar to a chair I did for Sis....it was one of my first "features" here. (I wish I had taken better pictures to show all the detail!) The paint part was a tad easier because it didn't have to be stripped first. But it was one of my first upholstery jobs, and the more experience you get, the easier it is. Okay, it doesn't get easier...you just know it is going to be a challenge.

One thing I have learned about upholstery...no two pieces are the same and ALL have their challenges. You learn to be creative, take your time, and use the proper tools...more on that when we get into the actual upholstery process!

I spied this pathetic little chair sitting outside an apartment...obviously it was being neglected and unloved! And then it was abandoned! So I tossed it in the back of my truck and brought it home. As with most projects, it sat and waited for inspiration (and time).

I know many tout the virtues of chalk and plaster paint. No sanding, no prep, no prime. But 1) I am old school and 2) the paint on this chair was literally crumbling off and I could scrape the white paint off with my fingernail!

I wasn't going to risk painting this chair only to have the old paint flake off! Besides, I have to have a nice smooth "template." So my best bet was to strip, sand, prime and paint.

First I had to remove the old upholstery. I'm not sure what is worse...a seriously botched attempt to "cover" the old upholstery or doing so and leaving the old upholstery intact. Which means I had to remove the 8,324 staples someone used to haphazardly attach the disgusting green fabric and the 6,352 upholstery nails (these are just estimates) used on the original disgusting fabric.

Regardless of what you are removing...good or bad...I always suggest taking TONS of pictures while you deconstruct. You THINK you will remember how something was constructed, but you may not. It is always good to have pictures to refer back to! When I took my first shot at reupholstering a chair I took hundreds of pictures as I deconstructed it...boy was I glad later when I got stuck on something and wasn't sure what to do! I just referred back to the picture of the original and I knew exactly what I needed to do!

After hours of pulling, prying and cursing, I was down to bare bones (both the chair and my hands!)

Once I got all the old upholstery off, I addressed the little "wobbles." This chair was in pretty good shape structurally but it is important to make sure all the joints are secure and tight. Glue and clamps! Don't move forward on a project like this until you make sure everything is in tip-top shape. You don't want to be glueing and clamping after you have a shiny new finish on!

Now it was time for a little strip job.

I used Citristrip jel to remove the multiple layers of paint! It actually took 2 applications. An old toothbrush on all the nocks and crannies. I used a mineral spirit wash to remove all the "goo." Then I let it all dry thoroughly.

I know stripping old finish and paint is a tedious, nasty, back-breaking process...and I have no doubt it is the reason someone came up with the idea of mixing plaster and paint. But again, my "old-school" mentality just won't let me move forward without properly stripping all the old paint off.

I don't paint over wallpaper, I don't tile over vinyl, I don't upholster over old upholstery. I just don't. Call me crazy.

Then I sanded....and sanded....and sanded! Getting all the old paint out of the grooves in the legs was not an easy task...but absolutely essential! This is exactly why I always keep old toothbrushes with my shop tools!

After sanding, I primed it with Kilz. I like Kilz for several reasons. For me, it is my personal preference after years of experience. Others swear by Zinsser. This is just one of those things you need to experiment with and do what works best for you! Regardless, I will ALWAYS recommend an oil-based primer!

Nine times out of ten I am going to prime a piece before I paint it. I am not willing to take the risk of "bleed through", I want a smooth finish and I want my paint to stick! On rare occasions I will not apply a primer if I am going to use chalk/plaster paint and plan to distress the piece. But even then I prime areas I suspect might bleed through or cause problems.

Anywho, after I got MOST of the old paint off and sprayed on the primer, I let it dry thoroughly. Then I sanded, and sanded, and sanded...again. I started with a 80-120 grit, and finished with a 220.

I like to sand. Or rather I like how the piece feels and looks after it has been primed and sanded. And in my opinion, "feeling" is the key!

Funny story...years ago I was feeling quite smug about the fact that I had not gotten all those nasty little wrinkles all my friends had around their eyes and mouths and on their neck. Until I put my readers on one day to pluck my eyebrows...and there they were.

Even though I finally broke down and got prescription glasses, I still don't trust my eyes to see all the imperfections...but I do trust my hands. As I sand, I "feel." If you can feel it, it will show through a coat of paint!!! Sanding transforms the piece and if done properly, it can mean the difference between having a piece that is beautiful and professional or one that looks like an inexperienced DIYer threw it together!

After priming and sanding, I used my compressor to blow the dust off and then tack cloth to get rid of all the little smidges of dust and debris! I know I harp on using tack cloth...I can not stress how important this step is!

My original plan was to paint the chair a "blush/salmon/coral" color and then upholstery it in black damask. I saw a chair almost identical to this one in those colors SOMEWHERE...and then I couldn't. What I could find was a lot of teal and damask...and since this is a piece that will be sold, I decided I had to go with what is obviously "in." A "pink" chair can be risky! Pretty, but risky!

So teal it is....

The trick to spray painting anything (besides the prep work) is to do 3-4 VERY light coats...let it dry for 30-45 minutes between coats. If you get a drip or run (which you shouldn't if you do LIGHT coats) let it dry OVER NIGHT and then carefully and lightly sand it with a VERY fine grit sand paper! Tack and then lightly spray it again.

After the paint dries I gave it a good coat of clear poly finish. Probably overkill considering the Valspar spray paint I use SAYS it is an "all in one." Again, I'm old school. You clear coat everything.

The key now is to WAIT. Wait and let the paint dry and cure for a few days. Upholstery can put a lot of wear and tear on a piece so you want the paint to be cured before you begin working on the upholstery.

And as you can see, this piece has some serious reconstruction to do before I can ever begin to put the fabric on! I'll make sure I take good pictures and share step-by-step instructions on how to reconstruct and reupholster this chair!

IF YOU WANT IT DONE RIGHT....TAKE YOUR TIME!