Friends and a dainty little secretary desk!

I feel very fortunate and blessed to have so many good friends - you know, the kind that will always be there for you through thick and thin, the ones you can spill your heart out to, and best of all, the ones you get together with lots of laughter and have a great time whether it's rockin' at a concert or just hangin' out!

This looks like a FUN BUNCH of friends!

 

I've got friends that know how much I love a 'junky find' and they'll contact me to let me know where it's at! Recently, I was informed about an antique secretary leftover from an estate sale - and it had to be picked up that day! So, away I went to claim it before it was gone!



 

Here it is BEFORE:

It's got pretty good 'bones' - and it has the original key!

(although the lock doesn't work!)

It just needs some TLC! 

(Ha! Like that ever happens!)

 

 I think there used to be a decorative back piece on top.

Wonder what happened to it??



 



Inside cubby hole compartment for holding letters
and things is missing - hmmm...

 

And, the drop front desk part was damaged and
 held in place with stripped-out screw holes!

 

THAT could be a REAL PROBLEM!!
(remember those TLC words?)

 

 

Well, I created a new top piece for it....

 

Not knowing what the original top piece looked like,
 I went with a simple design
 (due to my level of construction knowledge!).

The wood finish was in pretty bad shape,

but I wanted to retain some of the
original appeal to this piece.

Due to the new wood top being
a different type of wood

I decided to paint the top and sides

a soft robin's-egg blue

to compliment the walnut color of the wood.

 

Of course it needed a little 'bling' to dress it up!
So I added wallpaper to enhance the interior backing!
This print has a lightly distressed floral design

that gives it the vintage look I was looking for!

 

 

Here's how it turned out!

The stripped-out screw holes for the
desk top did  pose a problem
cause me to pull my hair out!

 I'm still trying to find the right process

to correct that before I put it up for sale.

 

I think it would be the perfect
 accent piece to any décor!

You might even want to start
 writing letters, again!

 





XOXO

I brake for curbside finds!!

Usually, I have no plan when I find a project piece of furniture. I tend to create an image in my cluttered mind of how I want whatever I'm working on to look as I'm working on it! Sometimes I've got to re-think the process, walk away from it and work on something else until I figure out a solution! Here's an example:

How it all began:

This spring I was driving around on the town's annual 'Trash Days', (where residents can put out stuff they no longer want), just to see if there was anything of interest! I spotted a pile with a wicker chair down one of the side streets and decided to head up and check it out. The chair was in pretty good condition, so I stopped to pick it up and noticed this very tall cabinet laying on its side, partially covered by other items! It looked antique, and (at first glance) in fairly good condition! So, you know I had to think of  a way to load it up in my truck!!

 

I have to add to the story that I was on my way to work and not dressed for digging through trash piles, nor 'schlepping' big pieces of furniture around!

 

Anyhoo...as it turned out, the homeowner had recognized me and came out of her house to see what I was doing! BUSTED!! After a good laugh, her husband came out and helped load it up! Plus, an added bonus...there were glass inset doors that went with the cabinet that they hadn't put out yet!! SCORE!!

 

The work begins:

I debated about painting the cabinet. The interior had been painted a glossy black, which is always difficult to cover over. The exterior had been painted at one time and painstakingly removed, but white paint still showed in the wood grain.

 

So I sanded the black interior and re-painted the entire piece Antique White!

 

After applying one coat of paint, I realized there were hardware issues - of course, there's ALWAYS some issues!! That had to be repaired before going any further!

The doors were on swivel hinges - antique swivel hinges! The bottom metal posts were still intact, but the top was missing the hardware, except for the metal plate embedded into the narrow wood frame! Easy-Peasy removal, right! NOT!! Those screws are so locked tight, I tried every method I knew, and even looked up on Google! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

I had to 'walk away' to re-think this situation!

 

So I started working on another project where I was going to apply a wallpaper backing and decided that I might as well do the tall cabinet as long as I had all the materials out and then I'd only have to clean up once!

 

 

I LOVE this print - the lightly distressed pattern makes it look old!

(the other project wallpaper is similar, but a different color - you'll see in a future post!)

I got the wallpapers as remnants at a local carpet/flooring store!

 

I'll get back to this work-in-progress in a couple of days.

I envision this cabinet to have that 'Farmhouse-look' when it's done!

Perfect for the décor trend that's very popular right now!

 

Until next time...enjoy the rest of these summer days!



XOXO

Living up to the 'Junksister' name!

Over the years, I've repurposed, refurbished, repaired, and redone hundreds of items! I still can't drive by any forlorn item cast to the curbside, and I still get a thrill of the hunt for treasures in out-of-the-way places! It's just in my DNA makeup!! I can thank my mom for that - she loved to peruse all the thrift shops for unique and unusual items to fix up and paint to furnish our home.

Living here on Colorado's Western Slope, has it's challenges finding the amount of antique and vintage project pieces that are in such abundance in the Midwest. But, I've managed to find enough to work my magic on and turn them from sad to happy and beautiful again!

The first couple of years I participated as a vendor at a few occasional sales where some of my creations found new homes...

This fabulous farmhouse-style cupboard had sat out in a horse barn for years!

Caked with barnyard mud that smelled really bad!

It cleaned up nicely and got a fresh, new look!

I shoulda kept this one!!

Before

After

Even a once ugly old brown wood cabinet

can be made beautiful - dress it up

with some white paint and chicken wire!

It's new owner loves it!

I've got a big love for old dressers with mirrors!

This sweet petite little one went to a pretty little pre-teen girl!

This was a very large old window that I painted pink

and added the perfect nostalgic little rhyme.

Found a loving home!

  

I actually had to re-paint this old vanity a different color before it got sold!

I walked along the river to cut and gather armloads of

red-twig willow branches to make these wreaths! They were a big hit!

Guess I'll have to go cut some more in the fall!



Old wood window panes are very popular, even if

they're missing some glass! I'll have to make a trip back to the Midwest

to find more of these old barn window treasures!



I hope you enjoyed seeing just a few of my past creations - (you can see more on 'older posts'!) I have some NEW projects in the works right now that I think you'll really like! Stop by again, for more info on an upcoming SALE!

Until next time, take care, and be happy!


XOXO

THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES SINCE MY LAST POST A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT SOME THINGS REMAIN THE SAME!

I haven't updated my blog page for... WOW, almost 4 years!! But, I haven't quit doing what I love the most.....re-creating junky finds! I started this blog while I was living in the Midwest a few years ago to document my projects.  (you can read about it in my previous posts!) 

Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Always draws me back!

A lot has happened since I've moved back! I've settled into condo living, which I thought would be temporary until I could find an "affordable" home to purchase! The operative word being 'affordable'!!

So far homeownership has been out of reach for me, but I'm still on the look out! I'm decidedly NOT a condo person - although I do have the luxury of a 2-car garage and have wonderful views from my place!

Beautiful mountain vistas after a rain shower.

 

Views and privacy behind my top floor unit

 

 





I've continued with my 'junky' projects and since I've "re-retired" (and only have ONE part-time job now!), I decided it was time to go forward with my 'forever dream' of creating my own business doing occasional sales! Starting with re-activating my old blog as a kind of an introduction to my newest creations! 

So, hang on! And get ready to be JUNKIFIED!!

XXOO

HOLIDAY WISHES for a JOLLY MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPIEST of NEW YEAR'S!

May the Magic of Christmas be yours

throughout the holiday season

and always!

 



 

 

 

XXOO

WISHING YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Watch out what you say or wish for......

 

it will do this........

 

Yeah? Who asked for THIS??

And the bitter cold to go along with it??
 

 

Yes, it's inevitable that winter weather will come our way

but, it could at least have waited until

AFTER THANKSGIVING!!
 

When I was a little kid,

I used to love to be out in the snow...
make snow angels and snow forts!
 

 

Now I'm a fair-weather girl!

I really should be living in an

area that's warm all year round!

Perhaps I'm showing my old age !

 

)))))))))))))))))))*(((((((((((((((((((

 

In case you've been out of the country or otherwise out of touch for a while......

 

The Little Prairie Girl has moved!

Out of the biggo barn near Holland

to the chic downtown shops of Cedar Falls!
 

 

                              Photo credit: Little Prairie Girl

 

https://www.facebook.com/LittlePrairieGirl/

 

The shop is an eclectic mix of antiques, repurposed vintage,

unusual finds, and a fabulous array of clothing that is sure to please!

 

                             Photo credit: Little Prairie Girl
 

                             Photo credit: Little Prairie Girl

 

                             Photo credit: Little Prairie Girl
 

I have the honor of having a few of my

repurposed furniture items 

displayed in amongst the vast array of fabulous finds!

 

Here's a preview.....

 

This is a pair of antique shutters,

one has louvers and the other is double panels,

made into a hanging display shelf.

I painted the slats different colors

to make them look like salvaged wood pieces.
SOLD
 

 

 

An orphaned cabinet door turned into

a chalk board for leaving messages or clever sayings!
SOLD
 

I reluctantly took this antique buffet with it's matching mirror top

- yes, I removed the protective covering! - 

I love this piece and if it doesn't sell

I just may have to reclaim it!
 

Who doesn't need more seating options

when the whole family shows up

for Thanksgiving??

Burlap covered bar stools are the perfect pair!

 

A funky '60's room divider shelf unit

with a built-in planter!

How cool is that!
 

Vintage cedar chest, a curbside find,

is now a beautiful painted lady.

The perfect hope chest - do young single girls use these any more??

 

 

Aren't these funny! They make you laugh-out-loud!

Okay, I'm the only weird one?

I mean, at some time, some one WON THE PRIZE!

They got a TROPHY to prove it!

I'm giving them another chance

 at life on the fireplace mantel!

Painted all white - Group a few together!

 

 

I'm so pleased to have the opportunity to be at

Little Prairie Girl.

Natalie has the knack to work her magic

and place items in the perfect spot

and accessorize with eye-catching vignettes.

It makes you want to buy!!

If you haven't been there yet,

WHATTA YA WAITING FOR!!

 

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))*((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( 

 

How many of you, or your kids, or grandkids,

have made one of these??

 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

GATHER TOGETHER

GIVE THANKS WITH A

GRATEFUL HEART.

 

 

XXOO