Happy Anniversary Baby

Today is DH and my twentieth wedding anniversary. Boy-that makes a body feel old. He is an amazing man, my rock and best friend. It hasn't all been a bed of roses, well maybe it has, roses with some thorns in there too. When we got married we vowed to always work it out, to always keep talking, and to not take ourselves too seriously. It worked and continues to work.

We aren't getting gifts for each other--we aren't big gift people and we went on a cruise to Mexico in March to celebrate. But I did decide at the last minute to make him a book of our love story. I am no great scrapbooker, so go easy on me. I just kept it simple. Here are a few pictures--check out that 80's poof (dress and hair).




I thank God every day for my husband and the love he shows me.

From Deck Chair to Sofa Table/Wine Bar

So, I have had these deck chairs for about five years.

I bought them at a garage sale and painted the black canvas fabric in these stripes. They have been good little chairs, but the back supports weren't supportin' anymore, you almost flipped out of the chair. I had them folded up, ready to donate to thrift, when I came to my senses and realized I was going to give away something I might buy. I took the canvas out and thought for awhile. Think...think...think... (I had a smackerel of honey while I was thinking!). I then I saw a table with some cool criss-cross storage. Out came various pieces of wood--trim bed parts (that's parts, not bed pans!), fence boards, etc. I slapped some paint on them, did lots of chop saw work, put the nail gun to the test and came up with this sofa table and or wine bar.
I had also forgotten to show you these stools I painted similar to the black table. I did four of them--a friend had given them to me.
We went camping this weekend. We hadn't camped in about five or six years--I guess since my daughter had been born. So loaded with a new tent and new air mattresses, we took off. We had a great time and it was refreshing to "unplug" and decompress for a few days. Here is the creek (we say crick around here!) that was a few hundred yards from our campsite. My daughter, who often listens to a nature sounds CD, said it was great to have one playing all night long.
This is us, a motley, dirty crew.
We hiked to this falls--it was beautiful and this picture only shows the lower part. We also hiked around to the top of it and very carefully peered over the edge--it was rather amazing and in my son's words-freaky too! Towards the end of our hike my daughter got whiny and said she didn't want to go any further. I told her to stay positive and keep a good attitude. That is when she announced that she was positive she couldn't go any further! Her dad got her to laughing though, and she made it the rest of the way. All in all, it was a fantastic time, great to see God's wonders, but oh how I enjoyed my shower when we got home!

Enjoy your Monday tomorrow!

Finished Cedar Chest, Plus a Quickie

Here is the finished cedar chest with the old hardware (see previous post for the before pictures). It is nothing spectacular, but I am happy enough with the finished product. Hey for a $5 investment, you can't go too wrong. I am not sure what I am going to price it at--somewhere in the $200 range--give or take a few dollars. Pricing is an odd thing, isn't it? I go with my gut feeling a lot. I seem to like five numbers like $225 or two numbers like $52.

I picked up this great little ironing board for $1 at a garage sale. I was instantly drawn to its fabulous color. I found a few old images that I sprayed some heavy coats of poly on and then used spray adhesive to fix them to the board. I made up the magnets to use it as a message board. I left the wire and stand on the back so someone could plug something into it if need be--the wiring looks good and it still lays flat against the wall.

I have more to show you tomorrow so tune in! Ta-ta for now!

Long Time,No Post

Hey, I am still here, still working away. I didn't do much last week, there was no Farmer's Market because of the fair. I have always been a term paper the night before kind of a girl. In other words--I work well under pressure and didn't feel any last week, so, why work or plan ahead Ü. Hubby had the computer tied up most of the week--he was finishing his online classes that he is taking to get his administration endorsement. He hopes to get the athletic director job this next year. When the computer was available--I wasn't.

I did do a few projects around the house. I painted my entry way half wall chocolate brown. It was so dirty from kids kicking their shoes off that I decided it needed to be a darker, more dirt like color. I also touched up all of my white trim work. Wow, what an amazing difference that makes!
I also put up these wall words that my sister had bought for me. They are in my dining room wall. They are from a company called Upwords Living. They were relatively easy to put up. I enjoy them more than I thought I would. I think we will all get this particular verse memorized!


Look at this cedar chest I found at a garage sale for $5! It looks like a three drawer chest of drawers, but the top opens and the bottom drawer is also cedar. It is made by the Roos company who made cedar chests from 1916-1951. It has a stamp on the inside lid, and also a paper on the bottom drawer indicating the chest number. I haven't been able to find the same one online. The finish was in horrible shape--I think it may have been left outside or something. But, the cedar inside is in very good condition, it just needs a good cleaning.



I am painting it black (my current favorite to make anything look good!). I would like to find new harware, but am having a difficult time finding the same size. I would use plates and knobs, but I am not finding the plates either. I will probably put the origial hardware back on, get it out to my antique booth, and then keep looking for something else. I will show you pictures tomorrow--it had to make a quick trip into the garage because a sudden storm came up.

Here is a little table I painted. I thought I took a before picture, but couldn't find it. It was your basic pine endtable, with lots of scratches. I haven't decided on a knob yet for this--I will probably use an old glass one. Excuse the lovely cardboard background. I took this one quick before the hail hit.Have a peaceful day and tune in tomorrow for more pictures (see if I say that--then I will post Ü).

This and That

My internet has been down all day until now and I am off soon to jewelry party (don't really want to go, but said I would!). Thought I'd show you a few other things I sold at Farmer's Market. I did sell the bench and the lady who bought it told me should would have paid much more (I sold it for $225 and had about $20 into it. I post prices because I am always curious--sorry if it is rude to do so). I was just glad to not have to pack it back up--it was heavy.

Here are a few bulletin boards I did. The frame on the black and tan board cost me only 25 cents. I have another one of these frames too. I did paint it black. The red one uses a vintage tablecloth. This is a great way to use up those holey vintage linens you might have.


Here is another window with handmade paper behind it. I painted the red on the frame, without sanding it or priming it. Then I was using the hose to wash the window, after I had painted the red. Some of the red came off. I liked the way it distressed it and was much easier than sanding (I hate sanding!!). And here is a window with old reader pictures on it.





I have shown lots of chalkboards, but thought I'd show one more because it shows the candle wax paint technique well.



This ginormous bird house did not turn out like I wanted at all. When I was figuring out my dimensions for the roof, I forgot to add the trim wood that I put all on the outside. The shutter roof ended up not having an over hang like I wanted. Oh well, live and learn. I call it a bird/doghouse (birdhouse for a condor maybe!). It is great for potato or onion storage (never store the two together--onions make your potatoes sprout!), or newspapers or blankets.





Happy Day!

Finished!

Yea--the wind finally calmed down enough this afternoon so I could stain and poly the bench. I didn't want a bunch of cotton from the trees stuck in it (my allergies have not enjoyed the wind!). I am pleased with the results and wish there was room in my entry for this. I am taking it to the farmer's market tomorrow and if it doesn't sell there, it is out to the antique booth with it. The pictures aren't great--my lens was filthy.

I have other things to show you, but it is late and I have to leave at 7 AM for the market so you will have to be patient and wait until Sunday evening or Monday Ü. I am off for a girl one-night get-away tomorrow evening. Have a fun weekend. PS--it is supposed to be 39 degrees tonight, BRRR!

Waiting on the Wind

The bench is almost done, but it has been so windy today I didn't want to put the final finish on it. I will show you all pictures tomorrow. I did decide to put storage in it and it was fairly easy.

In the meantime here are a few things similar to other projects I have done. I love building these salvage shelves. They are quick and piecing the salvage together is so much fun. I did this one in different colors from the last one.
Here is a little stool I did. The girl's dress was red but the decoupage medium pulled the color out. Many times I spray things with clear finish first so the color doesn't bleed. I didn't think this would. I still like it--the pictures are from a 1937 reader. I know--it is sad to tear it up--but the pictures get so much more use this way. I used the candle method on the paint to get the chippy look.

Happy Friday!

A Work In Progress

Between relatives being here, taking kids to swim at the lake, and to the movies, I worked on this bench today. As I was getting ready to put the seat on, a friend stopped by and asked if it was going to have storage. Storage--now why didn't I think of that! It would probably take me another hour to add a bottom and cut a 3 inch strip from the seat and use a piano hinge, What do you think--is it worth it. I plan on painting the bench black. The storage would only be 5 inches deep, but enough for mittens, etc. Give me your thoughts!

My Garden (I Wish!)

Thought I'd share a few shots of my garden. Oh wait, that's right this is my dream garden. These pictures are ones I took at Butchart Gardens in Victoria Canada. If you haven't been--you should put it on your list of places to visit. It is amazing. Go in the early evening--fewer people and the lighting is amazing. Well-time to hit the not so colorful or not so beautiful garage to work. I will keep these images in my head as I work in the sawdust and dust, dust! Happy Monday!

Fourth and Farmer's

I hope you all had a great fourth of July. We celebrated at a friend's and then came home to our little neighborhood for fireworks. I watched a few and then packed up for Farmer's Market. I must say, the older I get, the less I enjoy this holiday--too many annoying fireworks. And trust, my children are part of the culprits. I dubbed myself the fireworks scrooge! I do however thank God for my freedom and for the people who fought and continue to fight for that. I feel blessed to live in a country where I can openly worship God without fear of persecution.

Here are a few of the things I did this week. I remembered the after pictures--yea for me Ü!

I made this trunk from this little homemade tool box I bought. I added the legs and painted it up. My daughter wanted to buy it from me for $5. But I told her she already had a trunk I painted for her and she didn't need another one.

I painted this tabletop--the legs were already that color. The table top was fairly scratched so it needed paint. I put stain over the top to knock the color down a bit.

DH got these stools for me--all 3 for $2 total. One is a little shorter as you can see in the picture. But we fixed that. They were all white and scratched up. At first I painted just the tops, but then decided the white legs were too stark of a contrast and too scratched.

I slapped some layers of paint on these shutters to make a tabletop letter/picture holder.

And this shelf was inspired by Sharon S. over at HGTV message boards. I painted the trim boards and then nail gunned them to two 1 inch boards. I added the shelves and the spindles and the hooks. The hooks were the only thing I had to buy--the rest was also found curbside.

The relatives will be back tomorrow on their way back to their home (did I mention I had in-laws that came to stay with less than 24 hours notice? I don't do well with that!). The oldest leaves for Christian camp tomorrow and I have a pretty quiet week so I hope to gets lots done. Have a blessed Sunday--and thank God for the freedom to choose how you spend it!

I Think I Need Ginko

No, my husband and I did not get lost in bed while the children were away. I had a busy week of creating and then I totally forgot to take pictures and it all sold (which is a good thing!). I was so mad. I did take before pictures so I will show those and you will have to use your imaginations as I describe what I painted.

Two children are home now and the last gets home late tomorrow night. We have been trying to stay cool--floating the river, going to the pond and the splash park. It is good to have heat so i am not complaining (if I didn't have central air I might!).


So here is a bench I painted wildflowers on. The bench was only $3 at a yard sale and already came white 9ok it did need a bit of cleaning.) It looked somewhat like this, minus the picket fence in the back. I thought the picket would be too much on this long of a bench.


This little shelf could have sold five times. There was really nothing to it and DH picked it up for $1. I painted it moss green and then painted it with a swirly vine design in a cream color.

Here is my favorite item. It was an old trunk I bought at a thrift store for $2. I couldn't believe it was that cheap. I loved the inside and left it as is, but used polyacrylic on it to seal it. I also added to shelves, turned it up on it's end, and painted wildflowers on the front. They looked great against the darker background. I added a heavy duty wire on the back to hang it on the wall.

So I promise to try and remember to take after pictures this week, although I think i forgot to take before pictures! So off to take some Ginko for the old memory bank (JK) and to paint. Happy first day of July-really July already!