Headboard Chalkboard

I have made headboard chalkboards before, but I have never had such a fabulous and perfect headboard for it.  This one (and the footboard) came with a perfect place for chalkboard paint.

I shabbied up the headboard,

and left the footboard in it's natural state.

I added some off the hook hooks.  I picked these up at the Prairie Sisters show.  A lady there had rescued 2 grain trucks FULL of these hooks that her husband's uncle had collected for years from Europe mostly.  He had outbuildings full of them, thousands and thousands of them and the trucks were on their way to the dump when she intervened.  I am telling you, it was hook heaven.

These were some of the mismatched beauties.

And will I be using them in my flower garden that badly needs weeding? No, they just stopped here briefly on their way to junk fest!

 

 Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors!

Under $100 Linky Party

I am busy getting ready for our 4th annual Junk Fest that is this Saturday so on to some fun links from last week.

Beautiful bed from Freddy and Petunia

Restyled Junk's sweet suitcases

Desk drawer tray from Leone Designs

Follow Your Heart Woodworking's union Jack box

Feeding My Temple's salsa recipe is divine

Fun redneck picnic basket from Recipes We Love

Citrus salt scrub from Small Home Love

Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

Under $100 Linky Guidelines:

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!

2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.

3. Please include a brief description in link up.

4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.

5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.

6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate.

Simple Shelf Upcycle

I bought a simple, poorly made wood shelf at a garage sale.  I am sure the son who built this for his mama meant well, but it was assembled with a nail gun and brad nails certainly are not going to hold books on a shelf. 

 After I secured the shelves with screws, I painted it white and then grey over that. I left the back beadboard piece white (I removed it to paint the bookshelf--so much easier), distressed it all and used stain over the paint. 

Simple redo to a now, very functional piece.

 Oh, and that oh so 80's bride? Yep that is me 24 years ago!

Come back tonight for my Under $100 Linky Party!

Tray Chic

 Inspired by some fun fabric I picked up at Hobby Lobby, I made this picture frame tray.

 Orange paint and some cabinet handles were added.

I used cork on the back.

 Breakfast in bed? Yes please!

Sunday Verses

Letting Go, The One Scary Thing

Donna at Funky Junk Interiors has challenged us to move past our fears and to do or make a start on one thing that scares us.  I think she was referring to those scary home projects or business ideas that frighten us, that we put off because they seem too challenging.  And while I have plenty of those to get past--picking a color to paint my front door, sorting through and getting rid of basement clutter (it is terrifying down there!), I wanted to share the hardest thing I have ever done, the thing that puts all of those other "scary things" in perspective: letting go. 

Today would have been my son Mason's 12th birthday.  Mason was born with a severe and rare heart defect.  We knew at 20 weeks of pregnancy that his heart had not developed normally and that he would be a high risk pregnancy and birth.  We knew his chances of surviving to birth and beyond were slim, but we had hope.  We believe in miracles and we are positive thinkers, always believing for the best outcome.  But, we didn't get that miracle.  Mason did survive pregnancy and was born breathing on his own--his 5 minute apgar score was 9.  But, his heart defect was even worse than they had predicted and surgery was not going to save him.  We had small glimmers of hope, his coloring was good, he didn't gasp for air, even though he had very small lungs because his big heart took up most of his chest cavity.  

After a few days, his condition worsened, he no longer was breathing on his own, he needed to be intubated.  Surgeons across the nation said surgery was impossible, Mason wouldn't survive it.  One doctor asked us if we were prolonging life or prolonging death.  This was when we knew we needed to let go--let go of the hope we had, let go of our son.  We signed a DNR and chose to take our son off of life support.  This is a decision no parent should ever have to make, but with God's grace and love, we were able to.  After six precious days, I held my son as he died.  It was hard and I wanted to die too, but knew I couldn't.  I had to go on and I did, minute by minute and day by day.

This week I had to let go again, of my eldest, 19 year old baby.  He flew across the country to see a long distance girlfriend.  My eldest graduated from high school a year ago, and this past year has not been an easy one.  He has made some bad choices, has struggled to know what he wants and to define who he is.  And I have been holding on tightly--holding on to my dreams for him, holding on to the little boy.  But, as I drove away from the airport, I was filled with a sense of peace.  I feel like I have finally let go, believe he will be okay, will figure it.  He is an amazing young man and I know he will find his path, not mine, but his, as it should be.  

So, my scary thing is maybe not what Donna was thinking of when she posted this challenge, but letting go, doing the hardest thing a mom could ever do makes all of the other things easy.  It makes facing a challenge in decor or business doable because I know with God I can do anything, even the impossible.  Find more stories of facing the scary in our lives at Funky Junk Interiors.

From Picnic Table to Bench

My neighbor was thrilled to get a free, large picnic table--the type that would be in a park.  But he didn't like the weathered wood that was on it so guess who snatched up the fabulous 2x10's?   Yep, I grabbed those babies quickly before he burned them or before they met some other untimely wood death.  One was split badly, but from the other five boards I made three benches. 

These are the simplest of construction.  I cut two 17 inch pieces for the legs.

 To each leg I added a board or brace 4 inches up from the bottom.

I then screw the leg pieces on through the top of the bench.

Two 2x4's attached to the leg braces make the bench sturdy and add a great shelf for shoes (I used free 2x4's from pallets).  Paint, sanding, and stain finished each bench--I painted one red, one white, and one blue.

You don't get to see the red and white one, they are in place waiting for next Saturday's Junk Fest, but I still have the turquoise bench to show you.  Try this simple bench, these are quick and easy!

Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors and at Inspired by Charm!

Under $100 Linky Party

Wow, summer has started with a busy bang!  Basketball camp and sleepovers, work at The Antique Barn and building and painting for our 4th annual Junk Fest, driving eldest kid to Billings so he can catch a flight and trying to clean and organize the house, and lions, and tigers and bears--oh my!  My daughter made a list of things she wanted to do this summer and so did Jerusalem at My Little Life.  It is such a good idea to do this, before summer escapes us.  Some items on my summer bucket list include:

*  Taking an area hike that takes you past 11 waterfalls--not a short hike

*  Redoing/fixing a corner of my backyard

*  Picnic along the river

*  Early morning shell hunting along the Oregon Coast

*  Painting my front door

*  Taking a nap on a blanket in the backyard

*  Making ice cream

There are more items on my list--some simple, some harder and more work.  My hope is that by the end of the summer there are only check marks on my list.  What is on your list?  Perhaps completing one of these ideas from our linky party?!

Fun potting table ideas from The Northern Cottage.

Fabulous table from Lake Girl Paints.

Fun handstamped cover from Frou Frugal

Bright summer mantle from Lolly Jane.

Delicious banana and raspberry bread from There Was a Crooked House.

Beachy frame from Tattered and Inked.

Lovely chair form 551 East Furniture Design.

Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

Under $100 Linky Guidelines:

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!

2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.

3. Please include a brief description in link up.

4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.

5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.

6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate.

Bringing The 80's Back?

I made another window/salvaged art piece to match my pallet bench.

And I have to ask myself, "Am I trying to bring the eighties back?"  Teal? Peach? Grey? It is my wedding all over again.

I wanted a more subdued color option for those who may not be into my favorite bright red, turquoise, green color scheme.  Watch out--big hair and peg legged jeans may be next.

Find more ideas at Inspired by Charm.

Sunday Verses