Monday, February 24, 2014

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!

 

Let's see.....I missed Thanksgiving....I missed Christmas.....New Year's slipped right on by......and most recently, Valentine's Day! Well, I didn't REALLY miss those holidays.....I just wasn't HERE! Writing about all the fascinating things that I'm doing in my ever-changing, exciting life!! BAA, HAA, HA! I'm sure you all wondered where the heck I was.........RIGHT?? Not to worry.....I think I've got my MOJO back - in spite of the frigid, arctic, cold wave that keeps coming around to remind us, it's been a lo-o-o-o-ng WINTER already!
 

 
Too cold, I mean waaaaay below 0 windchill cold, to do this....
try to catch snow flakes on your tongue!
 
Did you ever do this?
 
....or this!!
 
Snow Angels - there's no age limit!!
 
It was too cold to even get enthused about working on any new projects, although, I did manage to half-heartedly complete a few new things! I WAS IN A FUNK! I need something to PERK ME UP!  I may have to find a new pass-time - another avenue to pursue - a new adventure to SPARK MY INTEREST!
 
The last couple of days have been a lot warmer temperature-wise, but we've had a ton of snow! Okay! YOU CAN TURN OFF THE SNOW MACHINE ANY DAY NOW! Excuse me while I go out to shovel the white stuff, AGAIN!
 
Whew! That was a workout! I'm back inside to continue my ramblings! So, where was I..... oh, yeah... I was going to tell you about some stuff I've been working on!
 

 
Late last summer, I went to a  tag sale and picked up a couple of chairs in really poor condition - remember me telling you how disgusting they were? It took a lot of scrubbing, disinfecting, sanding, and repairing! 
 
 
The smaller one was a Victorian style. This is how it looked after I gave it a coat of fresh paint.
 
 
Then I gave it a "funkified" look....
I got the clover seed sacks at the 'Junk Bonanza' event - I love the colors together!
 
 
The other chair was a larger, upholstered piece with nice ornate, shapely legs. I got this far with it, and then it sat in the garage for a while!
 
 
I had an image in my mind how I wanted it to look, so I cut a new seat (after removing the old rusty springs - what a job that was!). Wasn't quite sure how to go about putting new fabric on the back, so I quit working on it until I finally gave in and just did it!!
 
 
I couldn't figure out exactly how to do it, so I improvised and left the 'wing' sides open - plus I was running out of fabric! I kinda like how it turned out! And...it's comfortable to boot!
 
This unique little side table at the thrift store, calling my name!
 
It looks like it might have been hand-made with pine wood and could have been used as a night stand.
 
There are 2 drawers and an open space on the bottom to store your book or journal.
 
Oh! This turned out so good! I've seen the chevron pattern lately and decided this piece would be perfect for it! Originally, the drawers didn't have any hardware on them, but these antique brass pulls really make a statement!
 
 
I used Annie Sloan French Linen Chalk Paint for the base and Antique White for the chevron design.
 
 
It looks fabulous all the way around! What a darling table to be sitting next to your bedside!
 
 
I had one more market cart left and I wanted to make it a little more 'cottage-y' looking by using a linen-like heavy weight muslin trimmed with lace and eyelet ruffles.
 
I created an additional sling-style pouch to hold small items, water bottles, or your wallet. It has ties to attach it to the handle or to the inside of the cart. Pretty handy to have when you go to the Farmer's Market - which can't come anytime too soon!!
 
 
The lining of the pouch is a French inspired dish towel from Ikea! Boy! I sure wish we had one of those mega-stores close by! Well, probably a good thing there isn't one!!
 
This luggage rack is another thing I got done.
 
 BEFORE:
 
 
AFTER:
 
A couple of coats of Antique White paint and new upholstery webbing for the supports gave it the update it needed. I gave it a little quick sanding for a lightly distressed look.
 
 
Great! Now it will look perfect holding a stack of vintage luggage!
 
 
I made up a few pillows to use up some of my odds & ends fabric.
 
 This one is made out of a women's decorative t-shirt. I used the sleeve fabric and fancy lace to make a wide ruffle, used some feather binding for accent and finished it off with a suede fringe.
 
I used up my vintage canvas fabric on some other pillows that I didn't get photos of. So that pretty much depleted my scrap fabric and most of my trim. I reorganized my tote bins, got them down to three, closed up the sewing machine, and put  the ironing board away! I'm done - for now!
 
I just picked up the new FLEA MARKET STYLE magazine! There's a whole bunch of great ideas and reminders of upcoming flea markets and junky sales!!  I can feel the excitement rising within!!
 
AND.....you all know how much I LO-O-OVE those little vintage canned ham trailers.....well LOOKY HERE:
 
What fun to have one of these little cuties!
 
That's all for now!
Stay warm my friends......
 

 
XXOO