Okay......Give me your honest opinion!

Remember when I told you about the furniture I bought at a tag sale that was so dirty, moldy, and disgusting that I could NOT believe I went ahead and BOUGHT IT?? Well, this chair is one of the pieces.....

 

 No, this is NOT the 'BEFORE' photo -  I couldn't bring myself to take pictures of how bad it REALLY was - this is after I painted it, but BEFORE I did anything else to it! Got the picture?

Why did I paint it a bright yellow, you ask? Well......I guess I thought it needed cheering up!

This chair is really old - look at those porcelain casters! The detail of the legs, and the intricate carving on the chair back are a work of art! And, being yellow makes it look HAPPY! Now I had to decide what kind of covering to put on it. Hm-m-m. Should I go with a colorful fabric or tone it down with something more neutral.

 



After giving it a lot of thought (well, not so much - I KNEW what I wanted - just not so sure how it would turn out!) I decided to use a really bright fabric covering. I came across this bold and colorful seed sack at 'Junk Bonanza' and knew immediately it would be PERFECT!! What do YOU think?

The original springs were replaced with a piece of wood that I cut to fit and I made some support blocks to secure it in place. On top of that, a 2" thick foam was cut to size and wrapped with 1" thick batting to make a very comfortable chair for sitting.

 

 

The chair back needed some support, as well, so I cut a 1/2" thick piece of plywood to fill the opening and covered it with 1" foam and 1" batting before tacking on the fabric. The back side was a little trickier, and I ended up having to stitch some additional fabric together to make it work. Frayed holes in the fabric only add to the uniqueness FUNKINESS! Right?

So.....this project is not yet complete! I still have the dilemma about what to do for the trim! I can't leave it like it is with the staples showing - tacky, don't you agree?

What about a ruffle? I used up all the fabric scraps and came up with this........too fu fu? Maybe vintage looking upholstery tacks - you know, the ones that have the hammered tops. They'd have to be large enough to cover up the stapes, but they just might work! Or a cord trim would look nice - matching or coordinating color. It's a toss-up! I JUST CAN'T DECIDE!!!!!

 

I think I might just leave the chair where I can see it, walk by it, think about it, and eventually the right answer will JUMP OUT AT ME!! I'll keep you posted.....................

 

Meanwhile................

BE HAPPY! 

(there's nothing sweeter than the sound of a baby's laughter)

 

XXOO

You're in for a special treat!



 

Post Road Vintage Homebound Magazine (click to open)

 

Over the years of browsing through hundreds of blogs, there are a few that have become my favorite places to visit. Post Road Vintage was one of the first ones to create an e-magazine that is so well done, I wanted to share it with you. It's full of beautiful photos, decorating ideas, gorgeous gardens, and mouth-watering recipes. Heather is a truly remarkable and amazing young woman with all her creative talents and extremely busy life raising her family and caring for her home. Take a few moments to read her blog, get to know her, sit back and relax while you enjoy the magazine.......

 it's a special treat!

XXOO

REALLY??

I've got a lot whole pile of completed projects. But that doesn't stop me from starting another one - or five!!

I spied this desk chair on the curb when I was out garage sale-ing about a month ago.

It was in really good condition and only needed a good cleaning. You KNOW I couldn't

just leave it as it was, didn't you! I HAD TO PAINT IT!!

 

I decided to go with a more toned down version of previous desk chairs I've done.

 

It's more 'girly' colors! I kinda like how the colors compliment each other.

 

The chair is surprisingly comfortable to sit in!

 

A little tricky to embellish the legs! But I didn't want to leave them bare - it just wouldn't look right!

 

This little table is very old and I thought it was missing a drawer, but it turns out it's actually made to have an open shelf there. A unique piece. I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

 

I've been collecting old yardsticks from several of the 'junk' events that I've gone to. There are so many neat and unusual ways to use them - other than measuring something!!

 I saw this idea of making a coat rack with the yardsticks.

 

And I thought, this will be a great way to use some of the odd

   items in my "what the heck am I going to do with these" drawer!

 

 

 

Old drawer hardware, fun hooks, vintage coat hooks, and old outdoor water faucet knobs gathering dust now have a new purpose!

 

 

This is a shorter version - I ran out of yardsticks!  

My favorite thing is this vintage glass drawer pull. Adds a touch of **sparkle**!

 

A drawer front left over from another project became something useful. A short statement and to the point! You can never have enough signs!

 

 

 

Old luggage stand that I plan to turn into a map covered work of art! It'll be

part of my "travel" series of furniture!

 

OMGee! Laying on the curb - so I TOOK IT! Like new headboard made of solid wood!

Some people don't know the value of a beautiful piece they just toss it out............

thank you, though!

 

 

 

 

Until next time............

 

XXOO



FALL CLOTHES

You know what I like about Fall? Well, besides the gorgeous colorful leaves, the fresh crisp air, faint aromas of wood-burning fireplaces, and all that ........but, what I REALLY like is the fact that I get to wear SWEATERS!!

 

.......and BOOTS!! 

Yeah, I LOVE my leggings and jeans paired with boots and a cozy warm sweater! Now that the season has changed to some down-right colder temperatures, it's time to switch out the wardrobe.

I'm partial to this look! It's SO ME!! (or who I IMAGINE myself to be!)

 I hate the cold, so anything warm and cozy...and, yes, I would so LOVE to look like this!! A girl can dream - right! Ah.....heavy sigh!!

 

 Anyhoo...........after going through my fall wardrobe,

I'm thinking it's time to do some serious SHOPPING! 

I'll take one of each....please!!

 

How about you? Does your wardrobe need a fashion update?

 

You have my permission to SHOP TILL YOU DROP!!

 

 

XXOO

Sometimes it takes A LOT of elbow grease and imagination!

 

Let me tell you a story about this next piece. I was at a tag sale recently in a house that had never been changed in any way since, at least, the 1950's! And I mean that in a not so nice way! In the  basement there was furniture that at some point years ago had obviously been standing in or flooded by water. Yes, I should have run screaming MILDEW and MOLD! Or most importantly, put on a mask and rubber gloves! But, I didn't. I saw these two chairs that had once been very beautiful and valuable and a 5-drawer dresser that had great possibilities! I went back later when everything was half-priced and told myself if they were still there, I'd get them! Well, I needn't have worried - NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would want those moldy, broken-down pieces! After I loaded everything up, I couldn't wait to get home to scrub down in a hot shower! YUCH!

 

The first piece I worked on and finished was the dresser. I didn't take 'before' photos - take my word for it, it was BAD! The bottom quarter of the wood was rotted from water damage and the drawer was in pieces. After numerous scrubbings with bleach water, and thoroughly dried out, I started tearing it apart!  I cut the dresser down and rebuilt it to a 4-drawer height.

 

I salvaged the bottom front piece and re-attached it to the newly constructed bottom to maintain the design. The 4th drawer had to be rebuilt with new wood. The original back was cut to size and painted with 'Kilz' inside and out before putting it back on.

 

The new sage green paint on the dresser instantly gave it a FRESH look. It was enhanced with leaf stencils and a couple of birds in a faded taupe color. I had seen the saying - "in dreams she could fly" - and thought it was an ideal addition for a bit of whimsy!  

 

 

 Ceramic drawer knobs in an antiqued sage color were found at a garage sale and add a touch of class! I love it when everything all comes together!! Just like it was planned - ah, ha, ha, ha!

 

 

Hard to believe that this formerly broken down, 5-drawer, mold-covered dresser could be re-stored into a pretty and useful piece of furniture! It's waiting to be swooped up and taken into a loving home. Can't you just picture it in YOUR home??

 

I clicked my red sequined heels................it didn't work!

 

 

What happened to the chairs? Well, after I stripped off the GROSS fabric, peeled off old stuffing - one chair had straw filler - and removed rusted springs, they got a multi-wash-down with bleach and a few days in the sun to dry out.

 



This chair had been upholstered with a tufted back in a blue frieze fabric. Years of neglect and water damage had taken it's toll. The chair is now painted an antique white. Then I cut a new seat to replace where the springs were and cut 2" foam for the new cushion and back. It's still a work-in-progress! 

 

What fabulous curvy legs! The detailing is so beautiful. It's such a shame that this chair was so neglected and would've gone to the landfill if I hadn't come along to the rescue!

 

I can't wait to get it completed - it's going to be quite a transformation!

 

 

The smaller chair is a true antique. It looks very similar to the Eastlake style. It was in such bad condition that I decided to paint it up with a FUN, BRIGHT color. I found a very colorful seed sack to use as the seat and back covering. It's going to be SO FUNKY COOL!

 

Great detailing! And look.......porcelain rollers on the front legs! Very ANTIQUE!

 

STAY TUNED FOR THE END RESULTS!!

 

 

Enjoy the bounties of Fall!

 

I WANT THIS TRUCK!

 

 

 

 

XXOO

 

 

COLORADO DREAMIN'

I don't think I showed you all the fun interesting times I had when I was out in CO this summer! I had a chance for a quick trip, so I drove out there to see my daughter and her husband, but also to work on my little vintage trailer! Did I say "WORK"? I mean, DOWN AND DIRTY GRUNGEY GUT JOB!! It was NASTY! Of course, it was SUPER HOT those days, too! WHOO-EE!

Here's the BEFORE.........very western-girly! YIKES!!! OUT IT GOES!

 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? This stuff was molded into place!! TEAR IT OUT!!

 

RIP THOSE CABINETS OUT!! POOF! GONE!

 

 

Bench seats on both sides...............

 

G O N E!!

 

Flooring ripped out, paneling partially removed, cabinet doors taken out and heavy-duty stripping involved! Sanded and LOOKIN' GOOD!  Brain-stormed with Richard planning the re-do strategy!

That's his expertise! Poor guy! I must've changed my mind a KA-ZILLION times! Vinyl flooring or tiles? Bead board walls? - YES! Old tin ceiling tiles - come on! "What are you thinking?" NO? OKAY!! But, the chandelier STAYS!

 

Then I had to leave to get back here! Hopefully my ideas were LOUD AND CLEAR! I noticed he didn't write any of them down! ah, ha, ha, ha! He's a great son-in-law!! He'll make it beautiful - I have no doubt! Next time I get out there to CO, I'll be making the finishing touches. I CAN HARDLY WAIT! It'll be like having the playhouse I always wanted as a little girl!

 

Before I left CO, my daughter, Vicky, (that's her on the right) and I went to Palisade (another FAVORITE PLACE!) and picked up some peaches! Nothing better than Colorado peaches right out of the orchard!!

 

We stopped at the distillery in town and had a few samples of various vodkas - who knew they made so many different flavors?? It was interesting to hear about the whole process. I'm not much for drinking it straight - I'll take mine with some tonic and a twist of lime, please!

 

While we were imbibing, there was a torrential thunderstorm going on outside. When it was over, we headed down I-70 toward Glenwood Springs and got a few miles down the road when we noticed vehicles at a standstill ahead of us. A COMPLETE STOP! The heavy rains had washed over all lanes in BOTH directions. We weren't going any where!! After an hour of sitting in the middle of nowhere, we decided to turn around and go back - others had done it earlier, but we kept thinking certainly the road crews would get the road open soon! HA! Anyhoo.........we did get turned around. BIG PROBLEM! Mud slide on interstate the OTHER direction!  Good news was we were within a few miles of a turnoff that goes up over the pass into Cedaredge that eventually gets you over to Glenwood - ONLY 150 MILES OUT OF THE WAY!  Keeping our fingers crossed that no other roads were washed out - we finally made it to Vicky's place late that night. MAN, THOSE WERE SOME EXPENSIVE PEACHES!!

 

I always have good stories to share every time I go to CO! I love it!

 

 



 

 



Cruisin' down the highway singin' along to my favorite songs!

 

 

BeYOUtiful!
XOXO