Demilune Tables

Kari and Kijsa are having a trash to treasure party. My whole blog is pretty much trash to treasure, so look around if you are new here, but thought I'd share these recent redos. Go check out all of the other trash to treasure links at their blog.

I picked up 2 of these demilune tables at a garage sale for $7/pair. I could tell they were old because they had a tag on the bottom from the Northwest Chair Company out of Tacoma. I have found many chairs in this area with the same tag--they were in operation in the 1930's. I saw that the tables had been glued on the underside of the top, where the legs attached to the table, but they felt sturdy. Sorry--I forgot before pictures. As I started to sand them, both tables fell apart. After some gluing and screwing and clamping, they were as good as new (or as good as old). I painted them with my favorite swirl design and added stain over the top after sanding some of the paint off. They would be great on either side of a couch or as bedside tables.

Goodbye Cabinet

I have had this cabinet (well the bottom half) for 12 years. You can read about how I acquired it here. I tired of it--it was a little too country for me I guess, plus I didn't ever have a great place for it in this house. Friends that own a thrift store wanted a cabinet to display things in, so off it went on consignment, after a makeover. The original top half I am using as a divider. This top was from another cabinet I had, whose bottom needs lots of work (the cabinet's bottom, not mine--well on second thought, both of ours Ü).

The top was this barn red (I had started painted the inside cream and then remembered to take a picture).


I painted some barn red over my brown cabinet so that when I sanded it, the same colors would show through. I then painted it black, cream on the inside, and added beadboard to the back of the top cabinet. I liked how the cream shoewed through when I sanded, it matches the hardware well. I was tempted to stick it back in my house after painting it black, but I was strong and said goodbye!

Sunday Verses

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

--Ephesians 3:17-19

As we get to know God better, spend more time with him, trust him more, we learn more about his amazing love for us. Realizing how much God loves us, gives us strength--strength to get through seemingly impossible situations, strength to do the right thing, strength to love those around us who are not so lovable.

I read this verse with fresh eyes this week. I realized how hard it is for us to truly get how much God loves us. But as I spend more time with Him, I am able to get a better grasp of his infinite love and power that is available to me, and that is an incredible realization. I am not afraid to tell you, I want as much as I can get. I want my roots to grow down deep into his love so that when the storms come, I will not be shaken. I want to experience Christ's love for me completely, so I will keep on keeping on, seeking and trusting our Father.

Stool Re-Dool

Sweet Jen at Sanctuary Arts is having a trash to treasure/ make-over party on the 25th of each month. Here is my contribution for this month. I got this great old stool at a garage sale--$2. It was okay, but I knew it could be better.

I cleaned it up, pulled off the top vinyl stuff, and sanded it a little. I cut a piece of linen-like fabric (it is really a rough type of muslin I buy at Wally World) into a circle, and ironed under the edges. I then printed a bird silhouette from a clip-art program and held it up to a window and traced it onto the fabric. I painted it with black arcylic paint and used upholstery tacks to put it on the top of the stool. I put a thin piece of batting under it and voila, a quick and easy make-over!

Go check out all of the other great links on Jen's site!

$3, Corkboard, and a 1/2 Yard of Fabric

Look what I made with a $3 frame from Hobby Lobby (it was 90% off--I think it must have had a mirror in it. I traced the oval onto a piece of bulletin board (I always buy these at 1/2 price sales at the thrift stores). I used a craft knife to cut it out--you need to go over it a few times. I covered the board, stapled the fabric to the back with a regular stapler, popped it back into the frame, and put the back on again. This is a 10-15 minute project. I also hot glued buttons onto tacks. People are always looking for ways to be better organized so bulletin boards sell quickly. Be on the lookout for cheap frames and used bulletin boards!

Sunday Verses

 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret
when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. -Psalm 37:7

Have you been waiting for something for awhile? Wondering if God remembers that you asked Him? Patience is not my strong point and sometimes answers seem to come so slowly--years sometimes crawl by as I wait for an answer. This verse reminds me that God has it all under control--that He knows what is happening and He has not forgotten me or my prayer. So I will be still and wait, wait for Him. His timing is perfect!

Garagarama-Lama-Ding-Dong

Today was the annual garagarma at our fairgrounds. A chance for all of us with the garage sale bug to get some indoor sales in. Usually I take a hauling from there. But this year the pickings were sparse. Here are a few items I did get:

2 star checker boards and the box with a 1938 copyright.

A few little things--receipt holders, a great map, and the little calendar was not bent in the corner until I did that to it :( Oh well-it was only a quarter.

This is a horrible photo, but I also got this canning jar holder, barkcloth clothespin bag, and 2 potato mashers.

I picked up this lodgepole pine rocker at a friend's movong sale for $15. I cleaned up the fabric on it and took it out to my booth. My guess is that it will sell right away--western things tend to do that here in Montana!

On another note--I just realized it was my blogiversary on Thurday. One year--yea for me! Blogging has been such a positive thing for me. I've made some great blogging friends, it led me to having a project in Country Home magazine, and it has spurred me to create when I didn't want to so I could show you something new. Not to mention it has helped me to find so many of your wonderful blogs. Thanks for all of your kind comments and support this past year--and please keep checking in Ü.

Child's Play

I painted up this unfinished kid's table and chairs from Michaels. I used chalkboard paint on the tabletop and made wooden boxes for the backs of the chairs to hold books. There is also chalkboard paint on the back of the wooden boxes so a child's name could be written on each chair.

Sewing Machine Desk

This writing desk was made from a sewing machine base and a piece of plywood. I had fun painting this patchwork design, although it took many hours. I decoupaged some old photos and things on it as well. The boxes sitting on top are old wooden canisters with ball feet added and painted up. These always sell quickly. And you can also see a potato masher vase sitting on it. I sell at least one a week at Farmer's Market in the summer.

Typewriter Table

Here is a little table I made from a typewriter case. I attached it to a camping stool, added boards on the bottom of the stool to stabilize it, painted, decoupaged, and stained the typewriter case.

Sunday Verses

But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
--Isaiah 43:1-3a

Anything in your life making you feel as though you are passing through the waters, drowning? Walking through fire? God is with you, you are not alone. Let me repeat that, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Lean into God, He is with you, holding you up, making you stronger, perfecting you if you allow Him to. Grab hold of His hand today, He is reaching it out towards you.

Tea For Three

Remember the saucers project I did awhile back? The other day I think I found at least two of the teacups that went with the saucers, plus a great orange one. I found them at the same thrift store, but more than a month later. I painted up a little cutting board and epoxied them on there. This little organizer would be wonderful for tea, jewelry, office supplies, coin sorting, and let's not forget chocolates!


I also wanted to show a little of how I get some of my inspiration. I love to sit down with a magazine and force myself to find at least 5 ideas. These may be color combinations or designs, or anything really. When I see something, it may make me think of something else. I jot down ideas in a sketch book. Here are some recent things that inspired me from the current issue of Country Living magazine.


And here are some of the sketches I made. Being looking for future projects created with these inspiring ideas.

Sunday Verses

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."
John 8:12

Is there some area of your life that you leave in darkness, too embarrassed, ashamed, stressed about it to bring it into the light? Give it to Jesus--He knows it is there anyways and He is waiting patiently for you to give it to Him. He is the light of life. He will take that thing that you want to keep hidden and heal it if you allow Him to. Walk in His light this week--it is such a better place to be.

A Project And A Half

Here is the mystery project I was working on, another island. Last summer I had made a wine bar/sofa table similar to this kitchen island. I used an old chair that sat on my deck for about 5 years.

I had it in a pile to junk because the top pieces broke, but then saw the mission style sides and thought, "I can make a table from this!" I used a wood top from a coffee table on this one, and some scrap boards for the shelves. It still needs a coat of poly and I am going to add locking wheels to the bottom, but haven't made it into town to get them.

The bonus project is only half done. I thought it was all the way finished, until I took a picture of it and saw that I needed a few more coats of spray paint. So here it is before black spray paint--a catchall for office supplies, chocolate, jewelry, etc. Do you see some of the thrift store finds I showed a few weeks ago. I am off to see a play.


PS--I changed my blog look (again), but don't get too used to it. This was totally a blue background on my laptop??? Not sure if this is me or not.

Here!

I am still here. I know I promised pictures of a project. I was hit with something that has slowed me way down. I was dizzy for a few days and I think I was bit by a tsetse fly--I was so stinkin' tired. Each day this week I came home from teaching preschool and fell into a deep sleep on the couch, barely waking to go get my daughter from preschool. I am feeling better today, playing catch-up around the house, but I will show pictures of the project and the bonus project tomorrow.

There was a huge explosion in our downtown today--a gas leak. You can read about it here: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=9952373&nav=menu227_2 One person is unaccounted for, which is sad but really is amazing that it is just one. It happened at 8:00 a.m. which I am sure helped. They can't get to the gas to shut it off so it is still burning as I type--a controlled burn to "eat up" the gas.

Sunday Verses

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you
that I have set before you life and death,
blesses and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19

Choices--life is a series of choices. We use this word with our kids a lot. We tell them they have the power to choose. We do too. Our life is all about choices, when will I get up, what will I wear, will I spend time with God today, what will I eat, how will my attitude be? God has set all choices before us, some are good, some are bad. How will your choices change you this week?