Wednesday, April 30, 2014

End Table Make-Over DIY Project

If you are like me DIY projects are a way of life.  Even if a person does have $$ money coming out of their ears there's just something about the feeling of accomplishment that makes one keep do things themselves.  Not to mention it will always be unique. No one will be able to go down to the store and buy the same thing. Why? Because it's totally your own, stamped with your branding iron all over it. :-)
 
I am pumped! I've gotten to go to 2 yard sales already this season. Really itchin for more but the weather has not been conducive to such activity. Just like this week is one big rain, I'm wondering if I've been transplanted to the rainforest somehow.
 
At any rate! I found 2 of these dark brown/moldy tables at a yard sale that were at a price I knew was worth trying my hand at a furniture make-over.  Something I had not yet done but was dying to try. Not to mention, half scared cause I was afraid of botching it good and proper. Now if you are one of those people who likes/prefers the above look then I probably did botch it. LOL
 
These are strong/sturdy end tables so working with them was a breeze for a 1st timer.  The first thing I did with these gems was clean them real good with bleach water.  Then one at a time I sanded and blah blah blah.  You know the steps. You don't need me explaining it :-)
 
Obviously, you can tell from this picture that this was #1. I got the look by painting it white, sanding it in the areas that I wanted the worn look, and then stained it with English Chestnut (my favorite). The combo of white and English Chestnut will always produce the perfect vintage look.
 
While strolling through Home Depot I noticed they had several "OOPS" cans sitting on the paint station counter for a good price. Wouldn't you know they had an Aqua shade. I was thrilled!! I love this color and it is a popular. Talk about a good day!  The camera does not do this beauty justice.
 
An up-close of some of the worn areas.
 
I love how it turned out! I'm in the process of working with a local store that sells home décor to purchase my DIY projects. I'm hoping that the owner likes these enough to buy them. I'm pretty sure she will after walking through her barn and seeing her style :-) We are kindred spirits.
 
Have a great day and hope I've given you something to think about if you come across an old piece of outdated furniture. I've proven its quite simple to give them new life.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Linking at:

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Springing Up!

A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost
OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orcahrd white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
To which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends he will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
Hyacinths are among my Spring favorites. Their smell is intoxicatingly good. Mr. Z was redoing one of the flower beds so I cut these and brought them inside to enjoy. A stroll through our dining room is a wonderful experience right now.
 
If you come to our back door (which is the most used door) you will be greeted with a bunch of these happy faces. Hardy flowers that have really helped to feel like Spring is here.
 
A stroll through our pines finds these Spring classics. Definitely a bright spot among the evergreens and Ivy.
 
Nice days have had us outside as much as possible doing some major clean-up. Oodles of sticks and pine cones to be picked up. Grass that had not been mowed in who knows how many years has been cut down.  The fire pit area (where chairs sit) has been cleaned up and already put to good use in roasting marsh mellows and just being cozy after a long day.
 
One of the things we have discovered on our property is several black berry bushes. If you look close enough you can see they are getting their new leaves. This patch is right off the side of our back patio.  We won't have to go far to get fresh berries for our morning cereal :-) Can't wait!!
 
I've been dreaming for a long time now to have my own little ground space to plant a "cottage garden". It's a style Mr. Z. does not think he is fond of so I picked the area behind the garage where no one will really see it and he won't have to be too embarrassed :-) LOL I tell all that to say that this sweet smelling honeysuckle is right around the corner from my garden. In fact some of it's branches spill into my space. But I don't mind. I love it smells!!
 
I am enjoying Spring very much this year. Mr. Z. has already re-done a couple of the flower beds and is in the middle of more. They were over-run with Ivy and ugly red lava rocks. We like the look of mulch not to mention probably a lot easier on the plant's root system. Lots of work to do but we are taking it a little at a time and enjoying the process.
 
Keep checking back cause I plan to blog some before and after pictures :-)
 
Happy Spring!!
 
 
Linking with:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...