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?!

Bible School and the Big Picture

Last week our chuch had our annual Vacation Bible School.  There were a lot of kids and adults who came out each night.  I helped to teach the 6-8 grade girls.  Thankfully I just had to do the craft part and someone else was in charge of the Bible Hour.  We got into some interesing discussions with the girls.  They were very open about sharing their heart.  I really cannot relate to the stuff they are struggling with.  I was so blessed to grow up in a Christian home and go to a private Christian school.  Sure there was stuff that went on when I was growing up, but nothing compared to what these girls are facing. I really had no idea that things are so bad "out there".  You hear of things on the news and in magazines and papers but it's real.  In our back yard.

At the beginning of the week, I wasn't sure what to expect.  It really was out of my comfort zone for me.  I am used to working with "little kids", like first graders, and now I was faced with teenagers!  I was scared that I would not have a heart for them or so I prayed that God would give me a heart for them and he did just that.  It broke my heart to hear their stories of rape, pressure for sex, sexting, abuse, feeling ugly...and many other things.  I pray that God would keep showing up in their lives in little ways.  Hopefully something they learned will stick with them for life.

So anyway, I was asked to come up with a craft.  Someone suggested I do something with chalkboard paint.  We painted frames and did the glass part in chalkboard paint.  Then they decorated the outside part.

The best part was that I got all of the frames for FREE!  I work at an auction and anything that does not sell, is free for the taking to employees.  So I was on the lookout for frames.  Others who worked there kept a look out for them for me too!

Love the buttons on this one!

You never know who you will touch today.  Sometimes I wonder how many oppurtunites slip us by because we are so focused on ourselves and our struggles.  There's a whole other world out there with people who are hurting.  Bible School week was smack dab in the middle of the crazy week I was having.  It was like God was telling me that my little problems like the A.C. not working, lost checks, missing cell phones etc. are nothing compared to the things these girls have to work through. 

We so don't see the Big Picture... 

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!

Mirror's Tale

A few weeks ago, my sister and her family moved from the house they had always lived in, into a brand new old house. As she was packing, my sister found all kinds of things that she didn't want anymore. My first stop when I went to her house during the whole packing process was to find the thrift store box. Most times there were reasons the things were in that box, but one day I found this...

This dear mirror had been from the day when navy/burgandy/forest green were all the rage. They were THE colors to have in bedrooms, livingrooms, weddings, graduations and who knows what else. It was the colors we had in our graduation when I graduated in 1994. We were definitely "in"! It was also the day when brass, and lace were a staple in every women's decor. They still may be found in some homes, but my sister did not want to carry things like this over to her new house. Well, I immediately seen potential in this dear mirror and snatched it right up. Took it home and sprayed it with primer.Then I painted the edges white and sanded it to give it a distressed look. I loved the way the burgandy peeked though in some places.Sadly, this mirror is no longer a resident of my home. After it's former owner seen the remarkable changes, she decided she MUST have it back. Call it a housewarming gift or whatever you want too! In her defense I guess I did mention my plans for it and scolded her (as any big sister would do) for giving such a great piece away,and told her I would prove it and she could have it back when I was finished with it! A valuable lesson was learned that day...never disclose secrets for potential. Just take it and declare how ugly it is and how she is so wise in getting rid of it! And never, ever promise to give it back!