Sunday Verses

Drifting Away: How to Create A Driftwood Mirror

I love driftwood.  Its bleached by the sun color, soft, rounded edges, unique shapes.

Until recently I thought I had to live by the ocean to collect driftwood.

Have I mentioned I pay good money to be this blonde?

I realized there is a plethora of driftwood in Montana without a single beach in sight.  We have rivers, and lakes, and streams...and thus driftwood.

On a recent camping trip to a nearby lake I collected a few bags full. I wasn't sure what I was going to make with it until I unearthed a round mirror under a bed.  Yes, I had a mirror stashed under a bed--a very secure place I am certain.

I winged my way through figuring out how to make this and even remembered to take some process pictures so I can share with you.  There are a few things I would do differently, and I will share that too.

I wanted the mirror on a larger circle of wood and decided to use a particle board table top. You know the kind with the screw on legs?  They were quite the rage in the late 80's and early 90's and you can still find them for a dollar or two at garage sales and thrift stores. Remove the metal leg brackets.

At this point I SHOULD HAVE painted the wood circle a grey color on both sides and along the edge.  

 I used a 2 part epoxy to glue the mirror to the wood circle.

I then started placing the driftwood around the mirror.  I used the bigger pieces first. Remember if you have curved pieces, you want them to curve upward from the mirror so it will lay flat against the wall.

I hot glued these in place for a temporary hold.

I finished placing the larger pieces.

I then filled in with the smaller pieces of driftwood, layering these on top and in between the larger ones.  Next time I collect driftwood I will collect a lot more small pieces and a bigger variety of pieces.

At this point the mirror is not easy to move around.  I had to carry it like a waitress carrying a tray and then carefully hold it vertically to get through the doors (I glued inside and then took it to the garage).  I used a nail gun (okay, a brad nailer, but I call it a nail gun) to secure the wood pieces.  I used fairly long nails-- I knew some of them were going through the back, but I wanted them secure.

I then turned the mirror over and hammered the nails poking through down.  Place the mirror upside down on a towel covered paint can or other similar elevated, protected surface.  The curved pieces do not allow the mirror to lie flat when turned over.  I painted the edge and back.

As you can see the back was pretty ugly still so I glued a piece of felt to it.  I screwed in 2 wood screws and used a heavy duty wire on the back.

Nailing the driftwood down really helps to make them secure, but this mirror is still fairly fragile to transport.  It will be going to my booth space and staying there until it sells--no travelling to shows with me, I think...

it does look very happy on my wall.

Shutter Ideas on Hometalk

Who knew you could do so many things with shutters?  Check out these fun ideas I clipped together on Hometalk!

Fall Rust

Have I mentioned that I love fall?

The cooler nights, warm, sky blue days, the crisp leaves, apples, pumpkins...oh my!

Fall in Montana is especially glorious, and while it is not quite here, I can feel it and I can't wait.

And because I have the patience of a 2 year old, I decided to jump the gun a little and make a new fall front door decoration.

I had no idea what I was going to make until I spied this rusty funnel in my stash.

I knew the rust color was perfect for fall.  I painted some barn red and bright orange paint on a piece of barn wood, sanded it a little and then stained it in Puritan Pine.

I screwed the funnel to the board and added some fall floral to it.  As you can see, I did this in a very random, messy way.

I drilled large holes in the top corners and pulled and knotted a piece of burlap through it to hang it from.  Hint--put a little poster putty on the back to keep it from banging on the door.

A book cover tag, some jute, and a couple washers completed my new fall door decor.  

Harvest Blessings to you!

Sunday Verses

Turquoise Tote

I have shown some of these tool boxes/ totes before, but had to show off this one because I really liked how it turned out.

I used some reclaimed oak flooring (I think that is what it is)--putting the grooved part to the outside. 

The first thing you need to do when building this is decide what you are going to use as a handle because this will determine the size of your tote.  Mine is from a broken mirror harp.

Cut a piece of wood the same length as the handle for the bottom.  Cut two pieces for the sides the length of the bottom PLUS the width of the wood x 2.  For example, if your handle and bottom are 22" long and your wood is 3/4" thick, cut the 2 side pieces 23 1/2" long.

For the end pieces cut whatever height you want the box to be.  I usually like them fairly tall so wine bottles fit nicely in the tote.

Screw the side pieces to the end pieces and then the bottom piece will fit up inside--screw it in place.  Add the handle and paint as you like.  This one has my "accidental" finish--the color scheme I discovered by accident.  Red, bright green, and then turquoise with stain applied over the top and just stain on the inside.

Wouldn't this be welcoming in a guest room--an extra blanket, magazines, and a bottle of wine.

Sunday Verses

HOME

HOME...

Welcome home.

There's no place like home.

Home is where the heart is.

All roads lead home.

Wherever you are, that is home.

Home is a cozy and warm and happy word.

So HOME was the word I decided to build (okay, the letters are also easy to make).

These are about 18" tall and 3" wide.

They are assembled using thin pieces of wood screwed to the back.

I lay the pieces on top of one another and draw lines to figure out what cuts I needed to make.

I could have made a square O, but I like using a wreath, or a bundt pan,

These do have D rings on the back to hang them, but since they are for sale I didn't want to put a bunch of holes in the wall.  Happy HOME, always a good thing.

Sunday Verses

Rustic Elegance

Rustic Elegance?  I am not sure if that is a real thing or a defined style.  But that is what I am calling this little dining set.

It started as a pile of pallet wood and two little restaurant, red vinyl covered chairs.

The table is the rustic part.  I added a little cream and turquoise paint under the grey.

I do not know what type of wood the top is made of, but goodness, this was the heaviest and hardest pallet wood I have ever used.

The chairs are the elegant part,

Yes, their chippy grey paint is still rustic, but the fabric adds a touch of elegance.

I perfect little dining set for a hip college apartment or a covered patio or porch.

PS--Don't you adore these little turquoise dessert dishes?  They are from an antique store, I got 10 of them for $12 and are the perfect size for many different delicious foods.