Some Lucky Before and Afters ...

Recent Before and Afters ... there are more, all over my house.  I just haven't photographed them all!

Hand-Me-Down-Brown

Thank you Grandma for this wonderful set of shelves!

 

Vanity Bench

  

the rest is still awaiting a lot more white paint ...

This little bench started me seriously thinking about painting furniture for other people.
This was done for a teenager who inherited her Grandmother's bedroom set.  A very beautiful, in great condition full set.  My teenage friend looked at me (with tears in her eyes) and said  "I hate it !  but, my mom is making me keep it"  I looked at her and said.  "I see the beauty in your furniture, let me help you see it too"  I threw that little ugly brown stool in my van ... and this was the end product. 

She loves the vanity bench now, still hates the rest of her furniture ... I guess I better get that family to hire me!


My girlfriend's foyer table

 This little sideboard has always been in my best girlfriends foyer.  

I asked her if she would let me try a makeover on the old girl.  She said sure "I bought it at a garage sale in California a million years ago, I have never touched it."  Perfect, into the van it went.

With some khaki paint I had in the stash, some stain, a refinished top, a coat of wipe on poly... this girl is shining and my bestie loves it :-))

  

Union Jack Hack

  

This is my personal favorite so far.

Thank you Miss Mustard Seed!!  

How much do I owe you for all of the free advice anyway ?

Curb Alert

What is sexy you ask?  Free storage I say!

While driving home on trash day, I stumbled upon what my silly neighbor put on the curb.  

Well, into the van it went.  The drawers were a little off, but, I can fix that ~ easy !  

My first commission.  From my tween daughter. 

Bright green semi gloss paint, black gloss spray paint for knobs, pink zebra wrapping paper purchased from Ebay glued on with Modge Podge...

She thinks she's a rock star.  For under $20 bucks.  Big grins of silly satisfaction - priceless.

Lounge Lizard (at least that is what I fondly call it)

Good bones, clean lines, ugly black stain on top. 

It has a destination.  Next to her hubby's red and black leopard lounge chair. 

He needs an assistant to hold a cold one, the remote, & a late night snack. 

A man's table it will be.  A funky man's table.

 Viola!  I love it, I wanna keep it ... but, it already has a home.  Darn !

Tres Comfy Chair

 Can't you see this in someone's sunroom? 

I wish I had a sunroom ~  I thought it was too cute to pass up ...

Fresher is always better :-)  Wythe Blue is the color, bright, but not too bright.  just pretty.

I love - and I have copied Miss Mustard Seed

It is my true hope and desire that imitation is the finest form of flattery.

Because I cannot take credit for this kick ass idea.  It was my favorite blogger's idea, I was just the labor.

I learned so much recreating this dresser, (and this post).

I will try to share some of my lessons ...

This was MY childhood dresser.  My mother stripped it, sanded it, stained it, and made it useful for ME
A long time ago.
 This was my great grandfathers dresser.  Sadly, it was hiding in my son's closet.  It was working, but not showing off it's true potential.

Until, Miss Mustard Seed helped me to fix that !
I have followed her blog for well over a year.  Quietly loving her projects, advice, and inspiration...
When she posted her Union Jack Dresser (the first one), I RAN into my son's room, ripped out all of his clothes, and started prepping that day.

MMS taught me to use chalk to trace out my design.  She did not share with me however that measuring out a Union Jack Flag is very tricky!   That darn flag is all about proper proportion.  I learned to use my ACMoore coupon and buy an image projector for the next flag I plan on painting - on anything!

The design is tough, but if I can do it ... you can too. 

Or, you can wise up & buy an image projector, you've been warned...

I learned that patience is a virtue, and my son is a trooper for allowing me to paint in his room for a week.

This was a many step process for me.

I really liked it here, I liked the wood showing through behind the flag.  

But, that is NOT the British Flag.

That is ... well, an incomplete British flag.

I learned to love a natural top.  I learned to use stain.  I learned to use wax. 

I learned that if I sand red into white, it makes it kinda pinky.  And, that is bad.

I learned that it takes a VERY long time, and A LOT of practice to be as good, and to make it look as easy as Miss Mustard Seed does - EVERYDAY.

I learned that I have a long way to go.  

But, this dresser rocks - and we LOVE it ! 

This was my favorite makeover of all the hand-me-down-brown furniture that I have ever done. 

 I learned a lot, and have made a cherished family heirloom all that more special.

Thank you Miss Mustard Seed.  

I am moving mountains in my home, and you have taught me how.

I will post this to your blog & linky parties ... once I LEARN how {wink}

My first (sale) little red table.

My first sale today! I wasn't sure this little vixen would find the right home ... but, she did!

So glad that someone else believes that red is a neutral {wink}.

Knowing that someone out there thinks my stuff is worth buying - helps me to want to create some more!

little red table - before it was refreshed in red

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May you always have work for your hands to do
May your pockets always hold a coin or two
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you
- Irish Blessing 

Blissfully Able

What can i do that causes no harm ?  That keeps me happy and inspired? How can I express myself while having fun, doing good, and helping others ?  How can i use my 2 hands and imagination while staying home and caring for my family and homestead ?

hmmmm.

Maybe i can recycle cast away furniture and give it a new purpose.  Maybe i can turn my hobby into something more ...  maybe i can let each piece that i find decide (with my help) what it wants to become ... maybe that sounds a little crazy - but that's how i see it ...

I'm sure not hurting anyone, & it's good wholesome fun.

Momma's got to do something while the laundry is workin'.  I am certainly not spending my days watching daytime TV.  That stuff will rot your brain!

Let's see what we can do ...