Sunday, March 30, 2014

So, life is all about new lessons, huh?

So running screaming into the night isn't an option? There have been soooo many times ....... How 'bout I just crawl under a sofa pillow like I did when a bat got into the house. Did I ever tell that story? It's a lesson in cowardice. And a lesson in sofa pillows not being effective when hiding from bats.

But I digress.

I learned a new furniture lesson or two. The first was: Don't assume you can easily figure out how to do something you have had no experience with. Second: Go over a client's piece of furniture before taking it home. Be like the guys at the car rental: walk around and check off all the dings and places where the veneer is looking for a chance to escape.

I'm sure a lot of people are doing a big eye-roll right now. "It took her THIS long to figure that out?" Yes it did.

So what am I blathering on about, anyway?

Well, someone took a table like this:



 And did this to it (the folded fabric is mine):


My job was to remove the tile and paint the table. No problem. Off I went, home with the gossip table.

I googled mosaic removal.

" ......Thinset concrete attaches mosaic tiles to concrete, concrete boards or other backing material, and grout seals the gaps between the tiles. Removing mosaics involves breaking the bonds between the tiles, and between the tile and the backing material. Mosaic removal requires a significant amount of time and effort and is not a task that should be underestimated."
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-mosaic-99285.html

".......When you pry up glass tile that has been glued down, sharp pieces can break off and go flying across the room. (I try to keep my leather work glove over the tile to prevent this possibility.) You should wear safety glasses with side shields. You may even want to wear the plastic safety shield masks that are made for working with power tools. You also want to make sure anyone else around your work area has proper eye protection.
http://blog.mosaicartsupply.com

(There was another website that warned tile removal pretty much always broke the furniture but I can't find the page now.)

Then, WHEW, my client mentioned saving the mosaic. Oh thank God.

Now, I'm not a mid-century modern kinda girl so the table didn't speak to me right away. Then I thought, just go with the age of the table, so I did a mock-up of a faux zinc finish. I was thinking 50's space age.


Nope. Didn't fly.

Next, I sent her these festive mock-ups:




Nope. not white. My client sent me a beautiful fabric for the seat and I worked from that.

Then the surprise: tile removal was back on. She had warmed up to my idea of tile removal right about when I was feeling relief from NOT having to remove it.

Thinking cap, thinking cap......

I have had a lot of success sculpting new parts onto furniture with wood filler so I thought, oh what the heck. I used joint compound and a super strong sealer to cover the tile, both on the table top and the chair back.

Now, some color choices.....


Warm


Warmer


Warmest
Amost there. I wasn't happy with the distressing so I had another go at it.


Better. And done.

And now, on to the next challenge!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Little green tables

I have this:


Because I fell in love with this:


When we were at Ikea a couple weeks ago I saw this nightstand and it took my breath away. Was there anything that cute EVER? Sadly, I couldn't think of anywhere in the house I could put it.


A few days ago I stopped in at one of my favorite little antique stores and saw this little guy and again my breath caught. Was there anything that cute EVER?


All that 1920's patina and huge cracks? The chunks that are starting to fall off? Could it be more endearing? So I brought it home.

I made a spot for it - it's tiny so it wasn't a huge effort.

Then we had a barn sale. (Mr. Bad has a story about that.
You should ask him.)


We had fun and chatted to a lot of nice people and I was talking with a young man who noticed a typewriter stand back in my not-for-sale stuff. He asked me what it was. I told him it was a typewriter stand and he looked completely blank. I said typewriters probably aren't made anymore and he continued to look completely blank.

Which reminded me of an ebay listing I saw in which a typewriter stand was being sold as an industrial table. At the time I thought, 'Oh, please. Who's going to fall for that?' But now I get it.

And that got me to thinking about that Ikea nightstand again. So now I have this:


And that's where the story ends ... for the moment......... I'm thinking I need the top part of a school locker, right? If I could fit one into the typewriter cart I'd be a happy camper. I so doubt that will happen.

Maybe I'll just buy this:


What am I thinking? I'm not buying anything there is no room for. (snicker)
I'll just use my typewrite stand sans locker since I'll never find one much less weld it in.



UPDATE


I had an idea! How 'bout a spankin' new gym locker basket?


And my typewriter stand?


If I ever get to it, I think I'll like my version better.


Something to do in my copious spare time.



Tuesday, March 11, 2014

A long day, but I got to go to Ikea!

It was a busy week last week. I was getting ready to go to Portland to see about qualifying for a clinical trial and trying to get a couple pieces of furniture done for the booth (lest anyone think I'm slacking!) I also had a barn sale and was able to let go of a lot of industrial stuff and more furniture.

And I built a deck by myself with one arm tied behind my back. No I didn't. That's next week.

I wanted to get these little tables done because I love farm tables and I also love the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint color Eulalie's Sky. Plus my booth is kinda sparse right now.

I've had this farm table in the garage where it was my "work table" but actually served as a flat catch-all space. It was painted half red and half purple and I just went over it with a nice creamy white I mixed up from odds and ends. The missing drawer wasn't a problem, I just put a board over the space and did a raised stencil to give it some interest.



The raised grain on this old dear made distressing a breeze. I wish I had room for a table like this. They are so humble and adorable!


Then I got to use my new favorite yummy paint color on a small table that just seemed to need a perk-up.


The pretty sheen on this table was achieved by using white metallic wax from Ce Ce Caldwell over the clear wax.


This little table was left out to get too dry at some point in its life but the resulting damage adds some texture to the legs.

So, with furniture painted and barn sale wrapped up, we took off yesterday to OHSU in Portland to start the testing process to get me into a clinical trial. It's about a 5 hour drive from our place and I spent the time editing pics for ebay.

And how did that first meeting go?

And then we went to Ikea and out for Sushi! Ikea! I haven't been to Ikea in 15 or more years.

I flew home last night because Mr. Bad had to continue on a business trip and today I'm pooped. Even good days with good news can wear you out! Plus I was pretty anxious about the testing that was going to be done. We had no idea if my blood counts had gotten to the point where I might qualify. WHEW!

And now I'm going to finish painting a frenchy nightstand and maybe get my spray booth ready for a dresser.

work work work!

Wouldn't have it any other way!

Linking to:
my uncommon slice of suburbia
http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/ 
http://missmustardseed.com

Friday, March 7, 2014

It's NOT a do-over.

Seriously. I'm trying to stick to my guns about not doing compulsive repainting. Or buying things that are cheap but I will never take
time to paint.

I needed to take the coral cabinet another step. Plus I learned a
neat little trick.

I now have a darker cabinet with more of the trim painted Alaskan Tundra.

See?

And the bright 'before' in this photo doesn't really show the neon quality:

I painted the remaining trim and applied dark wax but for some reason the wax was going on really blotchy for me. I knew Oderless Mineral Spirits would remove wax but I just wanted to smooth it out .... So I mixed dark wax and Mineral Spirits to the consistency of dirty motor oil.


I started on the areas I hadn't put regular dark wax on yet. I used a paint brush, painted my mixture on and wiped away immediately. I went over trim as well. I repeated if necessary.

My surprise was using the green scour pads to take off extra wax the cloth left. Now, these are the CHEAP scour pads, not the name brand. I think the name brand would distress rather than collect wax.

Anyway! The cheap pad buffed the wax to perfection! And with little effort, too. My bicepts won't hate me the rest of the day. It was awesome! Such a beautiful sheen.


I used a cabinet scraper to really distress the corners. I wanted to get down to the wood with a chipped look instead of a worn look. If you haven't already, try cabinet scrapers. You can get them at
woodworking shops.

The end result is a more aged looking piece. I kinda wish I'd done more distressing but it's too late now. My coral cabinet is now for sale at Pretty in Paint, downtown Medford. Pretty in Paint is a wonderful shop with lots of inspiring pieces. I love going there. I want everything in the store!
Check it out on Facebook.

Sharing the update with:
shabby nest


Old stuff, huh? What about old ladders?

 Who doesn't subscribe to HOUZZ? If you don't you should consider doing so. Especially if you own your home. They curate the best ideas on a number of subjects and I always learn something or am inspired or amazed. I jab Mr. Bad and say 'Are you awake?' and show him something he can't possibly see because he doesn't have glasses on. I always look at HOUZZ before I get up; it's a ritual. (Jabbing Mr. Bad Rabbit is a satisfying part of that ritual.)

But I never ever expected "Old Stuff Day." Did I just miss something? Too bad it's not a paid holiday. How else can you root through boxes of junk stuff if you don't have the day off?

March 2nd, people, write it down.  Had I known I would have rushed out and bought something old. I would have been glad to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the ......... Oh. That was the day of the big flea market in Medford. I DID buy some old stuff.


For reasons unknown I was barraged with Old Ladder links during the week of Old Stuff Day. While these distressed ladders are indeed 'old stuff', I think they deserve some singular attention.

So, while I'd rather celebrate 'Crusty Old Ladder Week', I propose we have a "Repurposed Ladder Day."
Yep. 
That's what I think we need. Old doors and windows have had all the glory for far too long.

• • • • • • • •

Here are some of the links I perused the last few days. I'm very inspired! Don't tell Mr. Bad Rabbit but I'm now eye-balling an old ladder down in the barn. It's attached, going up to a loft that I don't think anyone has set foot on in 20 years. If anyone is suddenly compelled to go up there, they can use an aluminum ladder. Right?

It resembles the one below. It was getting dark when I took the pictures so they are grainy but check them out at the end of the post. That ladder is MINE, baby.






The ladder I'm going to remove from the barn:



http://www.oliveandbranch.com#sthash.BktD1RAi.dpuf
http://www.oliveandbranch.com#sthash.BktD1RAi.dpuf