Rusty Rave Monday - Summer Stand Out's!

I have been otherwise occupied with travel and projects and haven't posted in a while, so here's a little bit of what I've been up to...

I refinished a table that I have been storing in my garage!

I was inspired by this Pottery Barn beauty which is priced at $700.

I found this table about a year ago and picked it up for $25!

It wasn't in too bad of shape, but was in need of some sanding and TLC.

I didn't want to totally mimic the Pottery Barn style, so I sanded down to the wood as much as possible to smooth out the scuffs and scratches.

I decided that I was just a bit crazy, beginning a project like this during July in Arizona! I was up early in the morning to try and beat the heat, but we were still at three-digit temperatures.

So I took it inside to paint!

After I let it cure for a day or two, I had to take it outside again to sand some more.

But I love the way it turned out!

We got out the glaze and did some finishing touches!

Cooool!
I have also taken to using wallpaper remnants to "paper my drawers". It's a fun finishing touch!



From this...

...to this! Then more glazing...

Yay!

While I had the glaze out...

This used to be black, much better now!

I got these candlesticks at a garage sale for $1. They used to be gold--so lovely in white with a little glaze for good measure!

Fun, fun, fun!

Rusty Rave Monday: A Great Giveaway and a Swap

In honor of my sister's 200th post at Something Special, and her brand new blog look, by Valentine Design, she is having a giveaway! Check it out and spread the word!

Have a lovely day!

Plum Perfect Friday - Pretty Publications, "Novel" Novels, OR Bodacious Books!

Here's a little project that I have had in mind for a while now...I saw these fabric covered, and coverless books at Restoration Hardware, and thought they were very cool!

Obviously the coverless paperbacks are easy to recreate, but here's my take on making the fabric covered ones, (I got a little help from the DIY Maven, if you want to check her tutorial out...)

I found 5 of the same book for a $1 at The Habitat for Humanity ReStore! First ya gotta cut the spine from the cover with an Exacto Knife. It was necessary to paint my books white because my fabric was fairly see-through, so I did the edges first.

(Sorry, Nathan...)

After they all dried, I painted on the Modge Podge,

centered it on the fabric,

turned it over, smoothed it out, then pushed in the creases on the spine.

Cut the corners.

More Modge Podge...

Glue the spine back in place,

More creasing and, then viola, your done!

It took me about an hour from start to finish, and I did 5 books. Pretty quick and easy...I WILL be making more of these, they are such good decorative embellishments for vinettes!

Here's to discounted design!

Rusty Rave Monday - Stepping Up the Stools!

I found both bar stools at Goodwill for under $25 about two years ago, and hadn't figured out a use for them until it donned on me, recently, that they would be perfect in my current home office makeover! With my oldest daughter moving back in, we had to make some rearrangements in accommodations, which opened up a "can of worms" (as, I found, this kind of thing usually does...) thus, the need for the overhaul!

They were in perfect condition, but I really just needed them to be white!

I gave in, and masked them, (I hate to mask!) and did my "thang"...

...and they are perfect for my new craft/sewing table!

I'll be really glad when this room is done! I am tired of not being able to completely function in there. More to come...

Plum Perfect Friday - Winsome White...

...it's the best! White just makes everything feel fresh and new and clean, it's bright and happy, and goes with everything! I have always been into white. I dreamed of an all-white decor even before it became "chic".

Now this is definitely "better after". I obtained it when a friend moved and wanted to throw out this adorable wicker desk...so, I mercifully took it off her hands. Of course, I was thrilled to obtain it and had the vision to spiff it up!

At the present, it has been put to good use as a fabulous laptop computer desk for my oldest daughter's bedroom! How great is that? I get a rush when re-use, recycle, re-purpose or re-do!

Now I've got some painting to do...hope you have some "winsome white" in your day, I plan to!

Plum Perfect Friday - Going Glaze Happy!

I have been wanting to try the glazing thing for a long time so finally got started one day a couple of weeks ago and just could not stop! Check out the projects my daughter, Kaitlin and I did all in one day.

The first project to practice and learn on was frame with cute detail that I had painted white.

I love the way it turned out, so-ooo I had to do more...

Remember this cool old silverware chest that I painted white,

it really enhances the nice details.

This is a before picture of the mirror and hearth at Christmastime.

After seeing me in action, my daughter wanted to get in on the action and try it too,

so she began helping me glaze.

After doing the mirror and putting it with the hearth we just had to make them match! We added the scrollie detail and

she started in on the biggest project!

Turned out great and looks so much better.

Then, Kaitlin wanted to do a shelf for her room...

And finally a cute sconce!

I think I have a new found passion...there's bound to be more projects on the way. Happy Glazing!