END OF THE SEASON

Well, it's just about time to bring this season to a close. I've got several projects left to work on, but I've decided to close the paint shop. It's getting to be too chilly to work in the garage, even with the heater going full blast! Kinda pointless when all the heat rises to the high ceiling and escapes through the gaps in the window and overhead door! What can I say - it's an OLD house! I'm a FAIR WEATHER kinda gal, who likes it comfy and cozy - well, at least WARM - in my workspace!

Barn Happy is having a HOLIDAY BARN SALE this coming weekend! These are a couple of things that I just completed and will add them to my space. I'd better get over there soon to FLUFF up my area!!

BEFORE 

Plain-Jane solid wood cabinet with water stained top I got at a garage sale. Ho-hum!

The wood on the back was 1" thick with four holes chiseled through- for whatever reason!

I removed the back and sanded the heck out of the top so it could be re-stained. The inside shelves were in pretty good shape and all I did  was re-stain them. Then I painted the sides black, did a little distressing, and applied a clear finishing wax to the whole cabinet. I had a couple of old hymnal holders left in my stash, painted them black and attached them to each side. To top it off, I added 4 new casters to the bottom to make it easier to move around. It would make a great serving cart or movable island in the kitchen, don't you think!

AFTER

Old hymnal holders attached to each side.

Perfect for a portable bar or kitchen island!

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The other piece I've completed is a dainty little lamp table that I found at a recent garage sale. It needed some updating and a new shade to make it shine!

GUESS WHAT? NO BEFORE PHOTO!!

Okay, so imagine a plain light oak-stained wood lamp/table combination with bright brass lamp post and '70's looking bright brass decorative trim, that looked like handles, attached to the table. Can't you just imagine it? Totally in need of an update!

 Here's the AFTER photo!

I removed the gaudy shiney brass trim, painted the entire thing white, and distressed the wood.

I used a vintage lampshade that I had. Removed the old fabric and replaced it with torn strips of a white cotton sheet to give it a bit of whimsy!

Lit up!

I like the way the light shines through the openings. It gives it a softer glow!

Don't forget about the HOLIDAY BARN SALE! November 3rd! See you there!!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXOXO

I WANNA BE A COWGIRL.....

I wanna be a Cowgirl, So you can be my Cowboy! Yeah, GIDDY-UUUP! WHOA, there lil' doggies!

I rescued this forlorn looking pony at a garage sale this summer!

BEFORE

Looks like some kid wanted a BLACK PONY! I found out that magic marker is very difficult to remove and tends to bleed through primer AND several coats of paint! But, I'm a sucker for a challenge!  I LOVE RE-DOING STUFF FOR LITTLE KIDS! Maybe it's because I've always secretly wanted all these things for myself when I was a kid!

Anyhoo......after contemplating what colors to choose, and coming up with so many cute ideas in my mind, (I couldn't use all of them!) this is how the little filly turned out:

AFTER

 

I LOVE THIS FACE! Such an expression! It just makes me smile every time I look at it!!

Don't you wish you were little, again? Even for just a few minutes! I think we ALL have an inner child within us. Let it come out and play once in a while! LAUGH AND GIGGLE LIKE A LITTLE KID! You'll feel much better!

HI, HO, SILVER! AWAY!

XOXOX

JUST FOR THE FRILL OF IT!

 BEFORE

Plain Jane wood vanity with bench. Ho-hum!

AFTER

Feminine floral print and eyelet ruffle skirt give this once Plain Jane a romantic look!



Pale pink glass drawer knobs sparkle like fine gems!

A very flirty, glamorous girly-girl addition to any young lady's bedroom decor.

 

 

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I've also been working on some smaller items to fill in my space at Barn Happy. Children's school chairs aren't big sellers, but there seems to be an abundance of them. I found these at a rummage sale, but really didn't have any definite plan for them.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

I got 4 chairs and had intended to paint them all the same, but I decided it would take too much time! Beside the fact that I really didn't have a set plan! I had already painted 2 of the chairs a while back, so I went ahead and finished them - came up with the design as I was painting! The other 2 I left like they were and I'm going to call them my experimental chairs, as I tried my hand at doing some free-hand details just for fun! They can be used as "garden art" or whatever! (I forgot to take a picture of the other 'experimental chair' with painted pumpkins on it!)

 

 

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I'm slowly but surely getting the remaining projects in my garage in various stages of completion. Gotta get on the ball, though! Want my garage cleared before it gets much colder. I've already moved my paint and paint supplies down to the basement. Between getting my perennial gardens cleaned up, raking leaves, hauling mulch and my other job, I'll probably get to those projects when the snow starts flyin'! And I don't even want to think about THAT!!

Stay Well!

XOXOX

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH 'BARN SALES'!

You'd think I'd have my fill of Barn Sales, Junk Events, Occasional Sales, or whatever else offers a chance to peruse my favorite pastime - looking for junky finds!! NOT YET! On Saturday I joined the throngs of junkoholics at an occasional Barn Sale over near Holland, IA. It's an event held monthly that I've been wanting to go to for ages! It wasn't a very nice day weather wise, though! Heavy rain earlier in the morning and high winds. Oh, well! Adverse conditions have never stopped me before! Had I known I'd be traveling over gravel roads - now that's another thing altogether! Rain + gravel roads = mud on the truck! Not a fan of either one!!

Two tone truck - red & mud!

I started out going very slow, trying to be careful so only the bottom part of my truck would get dirty. But when an on-coming vehicle whizzed by showering me with a full-blown mud bath, I figured what the hey - might as well chuck that idea and hurried on down the road! GOOD GRIEF! I was horrified at how badly the truck looked! Like I'd been 4-wheelin' on the back roads!

Anyhoo.... my anticipation of getting to the farm was somewhat dampened by the mud all over my truck, but it was soon regained full force when I saw all the displays of old farmhouse furnishings and fall decor!! Many vendors filled several outbuildings with their vast assortments of items. Colorful pumpkins, some with bumpy, peanut-like growths all over, and brilliant colored gnarly gourds covered the ground around one vendor. She had some gorgeous magenta cockscomb, too, that looked like soft velvety ruffles.

Then I finally made my way to the BARN!

It was like eye-candy everywhere I looked! Outside there was an eclectic mix of rusty, crusty metal things, vintage outdoor furniture, farm tables, old fence gates, old bikes and a bench made from an old headboard. The main level had nice displays of painted furniture pieces incorporating home decor accessories, neat old windows, pendant lights made from galvanized metal farm items, old garden gates, stacks of vintage suitcases in every nook and cranny, chippy painted shutters, and lots of big decorative picture frames waiting to become something unique and fun!

Sorry - bad cell phone photo!

Upstairs was chock full of more stuff! Several vendors had their own areas where they displayed their vast array of fabulous finds! So many things to see! These gals are so very creative and talented! Snuggled back in the corner was a cute little lunch counter that served pannini's and a scrumptious variety of cupcakes! I resisted the temptation to taste, but they looked absolutely decadent! My waistline will thank me for my utmost control!

In case you were wondering - Yes, I did buy something - another project to work on! Which you will hopefully see soon - or as soon as I figure out how to get the vision of what I want to do, to actually turn INTO what I want! You know what I mean?

I can't think of a better way to spend a damp Saturday afternoon! Do you have a favorite fun-filled pastime?

Happy Trails to You Until We Meet Again!

XOXOX