Latest Projects

I have been busy the last month or so finally finishing up some projects that I had sitting around!  I bought this set of night stands at the auction for a dollar.

One was missing a shelf and one had a string for a handle and the other had no handle.

The tops were moldy and gross!

So I got out my trusty sander and cleaning bucket and got to work.  Then, there they sat.  Month after month waiting on me to finish what I started.  Soon they made the journey to the basment from the shop.  I think my poor patient hubby was hoping they would soon disappear!  All of a sudden one day I got the urge and went to work.  After a coat of primer (2 on the tops), I painted them and then distressed them.  We went to Home Depot where we finally found handles that would work.  Love the finished look!

One sits in my kids room, the other was sold to a friend.

This window/mirror/shelf was going to get tossed to the junk pile at the auction until I rescued it.  Nice of me right?!  It was a blueish color.  I took the mirror panes out before I remembered to get a picture of it!

After a few coats of paint, it has the look that I love.  Alas, if I were to keep all of my treasures, my house would be overflowing.  I sold it at the yard sale for $10.00!

Then there's this table.  I had never done a project quite this size, so it sat alongside the nightstands!  This table also cost me only one buckaroo!

It was in bad shape.  The top was awful and it was missing a piece along the back.

Every now and then I would chip away at the top but never really got anywhere.  Finally Brad took pity on me and stripped it for me.  He also made it a lot more sturdy and made a nice custom piece to go along the back.  See how he even made it curvy to compliment the bottom of the drawer?!  He sure is handy!  I loved that we could keep the original drawer pulls on it.  I sold this one at my yard sale and it went off to a good home!

Along with these pieces, I also did another end table, and a few other pieces.  All were either free or a dollar at the auction.  Now that these are all gone, it's time to restock and get back to work.  I love doing this.  It's almost therapeutic for me and the money I make from it is a blessing too!

Trash to Treasure

I love Tuesdays. 

Ever since I started working at Farmersville auction, I've been collecting all kinds of treasures.  You see, anything that doesn't sell, we as workers get the option of taking it for free.  Me, I am a sucker when it comes to free stuff.  I spot poor lost items and they seem to call my name. 

So a few weeks ago, these old desk ends ended up on the "no bid" pile.  Poor dejected things.  I wonder what their history is?  Right away I thought that they would make a good planter stand.

Too bad I don't have a picture of them before we did anything but they really didn't look any different.  I didn't really do anything to them other than get my hubby to make a seat, back and top of old wood.  He also fastened it on pieces of wood to keep it sturdy.  See, I wouldn't have thought of that!

Hubbys are so handy!  I like to try and do most of my redo things on my own but sometimes it just needs manly help!

My  hubby has the brains to know how to put together the things I see in my head!  Guess that's what marriage is all about...working together!

It turned out just likethe picture in my head.  All except the long flowy plants.  Next year I will get plants before they are all picked out.  I envision plants trailing off of it, down the sides.  At least these plants I picked up were buy one, get one free!  Not a bad look for $2.25!

Who says trash can't become treasure!

It's Tuesday and I'm off to the auction again!  Wonder what will be calling my name today?!

Table Re-do

Like I said before I am in love with the weekly auction down the road. As of a few weeks ago I am now an employee there so my furniture finds are not as plentiful as they were. The stuff that I like to buy is outside and I work inside. It's probably a good thing though. My hubby was getting a little worried that he would no longer have any room in "his" garage!

One of the things sitting in there for me to work on was this adorable table. I had bought it at the auction for....1 whole dollar! I love seeing potential in pieces that otherwise get thrown out, and rarely spend more than a dollar or 2! It sat in the garage for a while till I found the time to redo it. I just painted right over it with leftover paint from our house. It's called Divine white. I like it because it's not a "glaring" white. After 2 coats, I sanded it off. Loved seeing the brown come through. Then I sealed it with a basic spray sealer.I was so tickled with how it turned out. I had planned on selling it cuz there's no room in the inn here in our house. I posted it on facebook and left for the beach and never really got back to anyone, so it's still sitting here! Now I'm thinking I may keep it after all!These 2 ladies took up residence in our garage now. Got the pair for a dollar. Already have them sanded down and first coat of paint on. Stay tuned to see the final results. No promises on how soon that will be!

Old Becomes New!

Yesterday the most random thing happened to me! I was feeling all springy and decided to go and buy some pansies to brighten things up around here. Pansies are one of the first flowers you can plant in the spring and they survive the sometimes coldish weather when winter wants to hang on. Anyway, on the way to the greenhouse I noticed all kinds of cars and trucks at the Farmersville auction. They have a sale there every Tuesday, but I totally forgot about it. I turned in on a whim and ended up spending the rest of the day there! Gone were thoughts of pansies and what I should be doing at home (housecleaning). Instead I was surrounded by bargains! Granted, some of the stuff didn't look like it was worth much, but I knew that with a little TLC and some creative ideas, old things could take on a whole new purpose! Sooooo, I stood outside, followed the little golfcart around, and bid on many things and got a few things. Things are a little tight for us right now so I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I spent about $11.oo and got lots of goodies. Here is one of them.

This whole bundle of old red fenceposts were sold along with a tattered planter for $5.00. The plant stand probably should be thrown away, but I thought of something I could do with it so for now it stays. OK, I keep getting sidetracked! Back to the boards. Since I have such a crafty hubby I thought I'd buy them and see if he could make me a frame with them. I have an old picture of my mom that I blew up to a 16x20 size and have been looking for a frame. "Rufus Hoover" wanted me to spend $40.00 for one but I decided no! I took my bundle of fenceposts home and when my hubby came home from work, I showed him my finds and asked him if he would make me a frame with the boards. Of course he agreed. Meanwhile I thought that a fence would be a neat thing to add to our flower beds or have to deco with. My hubby cut the back boards for me and then turned me loose with a staple gun!

Here's the fence

And then this afternoon, I finally got my pansies. For now the "fence" is on our little porch but may be moved into flower beds this summer!

I didn't get pictures during the process because we were to busy hard at work! I think this frame is far better than any "Rufus Hoover" could make. Definitely cheaper!

Needless to say, I'll be going back to the auction and seeing what else I can find! Oh, and wait till you see what I come up with for my other bargains of the day!!!