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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Rustic Revival






Is it wrong to be so attached to a hunk of deteriorating wood that you just can't bring yourself to part with it?
Honestly...look at this thing.



Crumbling, broken, chippy blue paint all but gone.





  
Some time way back in my other life, I fell in love with this thing. I (surprisingly) can't remember where I got it, but it was likely in the throw away pile at a farm and ranch sale. It had alot more blue paint on it back then. 

 

I can just see my ex-husband rolling his eyes : ) 


At my previous home it was a planter box in my backyard filled  with pots of overflowing flowers from Spring through Fall, and pine branches in the Winter. I screwed two logs to the bottom to create a stand. After several years the bottom of the box deteriorated from moisture. 



It's been in the basement in our current home for over two years now, because I didn't want to toss it and I didn't know what I wanted to do with it. Even after all these years I'm still smitten with it's rustic charm. Sigh.


A couple of weeks ago I decided to take it apart and see what I could salvage. Have I already mentioned how much I love the chippy blue paint?





Surely I could come up with some sort of a new life for some of the pieces, right?




For the two chunky end pieces I thought I'd try using them as some sort of display boards for now.


I like the look of the iron bird and cloche with the chippy blue surface. It has a certain shabby, farmhouse appeal, don't you think?




I smoothed down the flaking paint very carefully with some fine sandpaper, then put several coats of Mod Podge on all sides (the only sealer-type stuff I have right now). 


Anyone else a sucker for a worn out chunk of wood? 
 





  
Who knows what they'll become later, but for right now I'm happy with them just the way they are.


What about the other long pieces?



The one on the left is pretty rotted, but will I toss it? Nope. I'll come up with some way to use it outside until it turns to dust. : )
The one on the right? I think it's going to become my next mantel shelf! I'll show you as soon as I get it figured out. 


I like the idea of Spring decorating being about giving new life to something that's on it's last leg! I know many of you are onto that same theme- upcycling, re-purposing, re-inventing items for your homes this Spring.
With tomorrow being the first day of March, there will be no stopping the mental charge ahead toward the coming season.

But on this last afternoon in February I'm reminded that as much as we try to hope and wish our way out of our current season, the fact remains it is still Winter! 
Time goes so very quickly, my friends! I don't want to regret not paying attention to the current season...the current day. By spending every minute mentally projected "out there" into a day that hasn't come yet, we rob ourselves of the ability to just be right where we are at the moment. To really be present with our loved ones, enjoying the simple pleasure of being together.  It can be a struggle, I know! 



This afternoon it is cold and gray and looking like it's about to snow. It's not Spring, it's Winter! The kids and I are going to enjoy a simple supper and snuggle in on the couch together to watch some episodes of Andy Griffith {classic t.v. shows are one of our greatest loves for family entertainment!}
Tomorrow will have it's own challenges and concerns, but tonight we're cozy and warm and together. And that's more than enough. 
Farewell February 2013!

Jeanette


Sharing over at:

Be Inspired Friday at Common Ground 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
SNS at Funky Junk Interiors  
 
 













Friday, February 22, 2013

DIY Cloche





Maybe I haven't named my blog correctly? Maybe I should have named it "Cheap-O Decorating Ideas" or "Decorating With Trash?"


I'm kidding, of course, but it seems like I've done alot of these "zero budget decorating" posts lately! I truly hope that I'm am putting the emphasis on being creative, thinking outside the box, and using what you already have in a new way- not on CHEAP.

I like to think I have expensive taste. I just can't help the fact that I have no money to go along with my taste right now! : )
Somebody? Anybody?

I really desire to help those of you who can't afford to shop for whatever you want to get inspired to create something with what you have (or thrifted finds!) and to show those of you who can afford to shop how fun it can be to create one-of-a-kind pieces for your home!

On to my cheap frugal and CREATIVE cloche! 

 



I first showed you this piece when I was working on my
faux fireplace mantel in November. I had thought of putting this together with one of my handmade cake stands to sell at The Penny and the Pearl but can you believe I cracked it?? Ugh. 


Last month I did a post titled Whatever is Lovely, where I used this as a centerpiece on my table. The post was about filling up my table space (and my mind!) with pretty things in an attempt to keep us from dropping our chaos there all the time. I am SO happy to report that nearly a month later there is still no junk on the table-yay!




I made a little addition to the piece for Spring, so I thought this was the perfect time to show you how I put it all together to get you thinking about what YOU might want to create!





This is what I started with. A dome from a light fixture that I picked up at the thrift store for about $2.00.
I thought it looked really sweet with just the cotton fabric scrap I added to the top.



But recently, as I was cleaning up some of my crafting mayhem, I came across this piece that I picked up on that same trip to the thrift store months ago. Not the metal flower, I still don't know what I'm doing with that yet....


An old ceiling light fixture I paid .25c for because there was something about the shape and the lacy looking part that said "possibilities".







Yeah, not so cute here, but potential, right?




I took the two sections apart and painted this piece white. I lightly distressed it and added a crystal drawer handle I already had (there was already the hole from where it was attached to the other section) 






I glued three pearls where the holes on the sides were. 


It fits perfectly on the top opening of my cloche! 



I could glue it, but I like the idea of being able to take it off (or use it on something else!) if I choose. Do I have commitment issues? :)


Total cost of my one-of-a-kind unique cloche comes in at $2.25!
The pretty white bowl was a Christmas gift from my daughter. 


There you have it. Another of my frugal decorating secrets dragged into the light. I need to think about doing a food post soon : )

Take a look around your house (or head to the thrift store) and think about what you can create that is uniquely yours! 


Sharing over at:

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Be Inspired Friday at Common Ground
Power of Pinterest Party at Debbiedoo's and Fox Hollow Cottage 
SNS at Funky Junk Interiors  
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo 
Pin Me at Diana Rambles 
Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill 
Creative Bloggers Party at Homemaker on a Dime
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 
Pretty Things at twelveOeight  
Budget Decorating at Creative Cain Cabin
Cowgirl Up at Farmhouse Porch
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House  
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 
Welcome Home Wednesday at Vintage on a Dime 
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours 
Creative Inspirations at Embracing Change
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits at StoneGable 
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Cloche Party at A Stroll Thru Life    

  

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Don't Let It Slip On By.....

This week we lost two young people in our community, in the blink of an eye. 
I didn't want to do another blog post without acknowledging Kellie (18) and Malachi (20).



This song is a bittersweet reminder to pay attention to the time we're given. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. 
If you are a praying person, could I ask you to take a moment to lift up their family and friends? Please pray for comfort and healing as life just inches forward. 

Love to you, my friends!
    Jeanette

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Little Bitty Chair Makeover

A few years back, one of my all-time favorite stores in Glenwood Springs was preparing to close up shop. I knew I was headed for an "economic downturn", and I was determined to pick up one last treasure from Annie K. & Company while she was there, and I was able!
There was no question that I would find something, she always had something I loved. 
On this farewell shopping trip I came upon a charming chair and a darling vanity desk and vintage mirror. I don't think they were officially a "set", but they were definitely a sweet match
The desk and chair had obviously been painted several times, and the previous owner had stripped them in preparation for refinishing. 



 Little hints of previous colors still showing, I thought I could easily repaint these, but I kind of liked they way they looked as is.
  Several years in the presence of a house full of kids, and my sweet little chair was in need of a little help. The fabric was torn off the seat and a small wood trim piece needed to be reattached to the back.


  
As I've mentioned (maybe too often?) I have no budget for any serious projects right now, but when I came across a small square of this fabric for 50 cents at a shop recently, I thought I could at least replace the seat fabric on my little chair! As I'm thinking into Spring, I've been really drawn to blues and greens and for this price I couldn't go wrong.


A few days after I purchased it, I saw Miss Mustard Seed post about receiving the fabric she was going to be using on her bedroom wall, and was pleasantly surprised to see it was the same pattern! If you haven't seen the gorgeous changes she's making in her room, go check it out here and you'll see what this fabric really looks like!


This makeover was pretty simple. I used wood glue to reattach the small piece of trim that came off the back. I clamped it and let it dry while working on the seat fabric. 
I removed the old staples from under the seat, tossing the old shredded fabric. I re-used the same batting (pesky no budget thing). I wrapped it around the seat and secured it underneath with a bit of hot glue. Then just wrapped the fabric around, stapling along the edges while holding it taut. 
I didn't do the greatest job of documenting each little step, but after stapling and trimming the fabric, I needed to make a small hole in the fabric in the spots covering the screw holes. 

  
Guess what? I can't find the seat screws! I know they're around here somewhere.....



I'm so happy with the new life this fabric gives the chair! 

 



  
Someday, when finances allow, I'll probably work on the wood finishes. There's alot of old purplish color showing from previous finishes on the desk. But for now I feel pretty happy with my little bitty chair makeover.

I know I've said it before, but sometimes it's just the little things, right? 

I hope you all had a blessed Valentine's Day. See ya soon!

Jeanette

Sharing over at:
Miss Mustard Seed-Furniture Feature Friday 
French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday 
Diana Rambles-Pin Me 
Jennifer Rizzo-Fabulously Creative Friday 
Funky Junk Interiors-SNS 
Alderberry Hill-Make the Scene Monday 
Cowgirl Up! 
twelveOeight-Pretty Things 
The Dedicated House-Make It Pretty Monday 
Creative Cain Cabin-Budget Decorating 
Coastal Charm-Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 
Cozy Little House-Tweak It Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style-Wow Us Wednesdays 
From My Front Porch to Yours-Treasure Hunt Thursday
Vintage on a Dime-Welcome Home Wednesday
Embracing Change-Creative Inspirations 
StoneGable-Tutorials Tips and Tidbits 
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson-Share Your Cup Thursday 
Common Ground-Be Inspired Friday 
The Shabby Creek Cottage-Transformation Thursday 
The Charm of Home-Home Sweet Home