Freebies of the Day!

Today, I answered a Freecycle ad for an old mantel clock and bottles.  When I mentioned in conversation that I love anything old, this wonderful lady started pulling out more items for me for FREE!  She was happy to move the items out of her garage to a home that appreciated them.
 

Now, what to do with them.....hmm the mind is spinning with ideas!

The suitcase belonged to her aunt who was very much a woman of her day. 

It has her initials on it, the middle one being her maiden name.  

The aunt would have been in her 90's if she was still living.

Pretty plates and the

Lena Ross Spera suitcase 

An old mantel clock and books:

(Hi Ho Pinocchio, PT Barnum King of the Circus & A World Explorer John Smith)

Beautiful ceramic handpainted lamp

Oranjay,  Ma's root beer bottles and cider jugs 

Kitchen In Progress

 We are in the midst of finishing our kitchen remodel, so my blog has been neglected the last few days.  As you can see below, my kitchen was stuck somewhere in the 1940's with pink speckled laminate counters and backsplash.  Last fall (mid October '08), I started removing the paint from the cabinetry and woodwork and uncovered some beautiful patina-ed pine.  We had many changes made before Christmas '08 (cupboards reconfigured with new doors, new sink, faucet, countertop, & bead-board installed), then put the kitchen on hold due to the holidays, kids coming home from college and life in general.  We got back on track in July when we finally pulled up the old linoleum to uncover 5 inch wide pine flooring in nice shape but dark and dingy. It has been a long process, but will be worth all the effort and $ we saved by doing most of the work ourselves.  The reveal should be the week after Thanksgiving, so stay tuned!

 

 

This has been my best friend during this renovation.

It's a bit on the pricey side, but it has no odor or nasty chemicals and works very well.

Most paint stores carry this or check out their website to find a store near you.

Multi Strip

 

Back to Nature Multi Strip

 

3 Old Chairs = 1 ReNEWed Bench

This set of 3 matching chairs have been in our home for some 20 years, purchased at a garage sale for $12 (for all 3).  They've been moving room to room as extra table seating, desk, and bedroom chairs.  Most recently they were moved to our screenhouse (a corn crib in its former life) to serve as extra seating. Chair cushions had helped with maintaining their usefulness as the rush seats were starting to sag & fall apart.  When I came across the CL makeover (see link below), I knew this was what I wanted to do with them.  It was a bit tricky in parts due to having to cut the plank seat around the tops of these chair legs (with the help of my dh), but it was well worth the effort.  I love how it looks on our back porch- so inviting and a place for our cat to dine.

Closeup of chair back and seat

 

Here are some pics of the project in progress.

Painting is done, now to the finishing details

 

Plank seat consists of 2 reclaimed tongue n groove barn boards
cut to fit and glued with Gorilla Wood Glue
Tongue was left exposed on front for added detail. (see photo above)

LOVE this paint!  It's so creamy and gives such a smooth finish.

The added touch to attach plank to chairs

(1st drill a hole big enough or wood will split)

Supplies:

Pittsburg Pure Performance (zero VOC) Black Satin

3M sanding pad w/80 grit

Old square nails

Drill and drill bit to predrill holes for nails
2 Reclaimed barn-boards

Gorilla Wood Glue

 Build a Bench with Chairs