Monday, January 4, 2010

Nose to the Grindstone

I don't know about you, but I enjoyed this holiday break so much. The lazy days with no schedules or appointments, the having to ask yourself what day it was, the staying in pajamas all day, the movie watching, the purchasing of Christmas leftovers and a significantly reduced prices (I got some Christmas dishes for 32 cents a piece!), and the finally getting around to finishing up some projects that have been needing to be done. As most of you know, I am a thrift store junkie. I have been one for as long as I can remember and way before it was the cool thing to be. Imagine my happiness at finding others "just like me" here in blog land! :) (My second favorite store is the hardware store, by the way...) Well, I wanted to share some of my recent thrift store make-overs. First, is a little two drawer cabinet I found. I realized after I started sanding away that I had broken the first rule of blogging and didn't take a before picture. But, trust me when I tell you that it was ug.ly. It was spray painted a hideous light green, over pink, over white. There was so much spray paint on this baby, that even I almost looked past it's potential. After sanding for what seemed hours, I finally got to the point that I thought it could handle its last and final paint job. I was so wrong. More sanding was required, and I thought, for a fleeting moment, that this little project was a lost cause. After even more sanding, I sprayed a light coat of flat, cranberry colored spray paint on it. (I am one that would usually expound on the virtues of spray paint, but in this instance, I will say the less is definitely more.) I thought to change the handles but the original ones just looked better. However, the screws were stripped and would not stay tight in the drawers. Craig, (my brilliant and clever husband) suggested Gorilla gluing them in place. So I did. And it worked. After sanding the edges and going over them with a dry brush and a teeny, tiny bit of black paint, I pronounced this project finished. It still shows signs of its former overly painted life, like the crackling bit by the handle on the top shelf, but I would like to think that it makes it looks just a little more prim. Next up is a salt box house. I blogged about this back in May but can't link to that post. (Can someone please tell me how to do that?) It was painted a shiny royal blue with a brown roof. I went with the cranberry color again, and painted the roof black. This baby was a huge pain in the rear. Despite my sanding, the paint still bubbled up and cracked. I was determined to make it right though. Craig cut me some new roof slats as I broke the others trying to nail them back on. I used his nail gun and it was just too powerful. He very kindly volunteered to put the new roof on for me....I think I heard him mumbling something about "doing it right this time".... :) I had to put the silver heart on the front to cover up some gluing issues from it's former life. It had a rusty heart on it before and it must have been glued on with some industrial strength stuff because I just couldn't get it all off. Anyway, it looks fab with the clip light on! And finally, this is a little dresser that my dad gave me while we were in Utah this summer. I remember this from when I was a little girl. My mom used to keep good smelling things in it like perfume and powder. In it's former life, it was a pink-ish sort of color. ( I know....Ewwwww!) But now it's black. After sanding off all it paint, (note to self. "When sanding what appears to be lead based paint, always wear a mask and other protective clothing. It makes you all itchy and gives a BIG headache.") and even the part where my little brother, Jay, wrote his name, I painted it with a semi-gloss black paint. I cleaned up the handles with a little steel wool. I tried a brass polish but realized they weren't brass. I finished it up by sanding the edges and staining the whole thing. I would like to think that it feels a lot prettier! This will find a new home in the Library. (also known as the toilet room in the master bathroom) Now, if you will excuse me, I really need to go and attempt to catch up with all the things that I so irresponsibly neglected these last two weeks..... Have a great day!!

13 comments:

Kimberly said...

Beautiful projects! And dishes for 32c...?!? Didja snag a couple for me?

I think this is how you can to a link... go to your previous post list (under edit posts), find the specific one you're after and open it. Copy then paste it to your current post. Make sense...? I hope so, because I really have no idea what I'm doing!

Have a great day! Kimberly

Gettysburg Homestead said...

Great job girlie!!!! Hey got a question. I have some salt box houses I'm not using let me know if you want them. I can send you pics as I just found them.

The library... hahahaha my new downstairs bathroom is my new library as I moved some Country Samplers in there.

Mary

Thimbleanna said...

Wow Jo-Anne! What wonderful projects! You have a gift for seeing the pearl in the ugly exterior!

Julie said...

Wow!! I am impressed. Your re-dos are fabulous. You have far more patience than I do.

It was hard for us all to go back to routine today, but we did it. The kids are already looking forward to a 2 day break they get in the middle of January.

Hope you are having a great day. Julie

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Hi Jo-Ann,

You sure have been busy and I just love everything you redid, the drawer turned out great and so did the stand I like it black instead of pink:)
Rondell

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Woo hoo, I love op shops and those pictures have ne wanting to run out the door and go searching for stuff! looks like great fun to me, Tracey

TrishAnderson said...

I like your nose the way it is. Don't grind it off too much! =) I do completely understand. Not that I have done any crafting projects, but other projects. I was also spoiled with naps every day while Josh was home. I miss those days already!

sea gull lighting said...

Cute projects!

Simple Home said...

They all look great Jo-Anne. I think I'd have given up after so much sanding, but you didn't, and look at those wonderful results! Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Marcia

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

Oh my goodness! You have been busy! My painting is at a standstill due to the weather. Our garage isn't heated, either. We've discussed it but we would love storage space if we put up insulation and drywall. I like my prim shelves so I wait until spring. I have been gathering lots of things to make over though so come spring I will be crazy busy!
I love the little dresser. Isn't it great to have sentimental pieces of our childhood in our adult homes? And the smaller chest-great job. How big is that? Is it like a jewelry chest or what?

Kris said...

Wow! Busy! They all look great. The way I would link to it - go to the old post then click on the post title. Copy and paste the resulting web address. Go back to your new draft post and use a hyper link (just like linking to someone else's blog for example). If you have any questions just email me! (don't know how clear that was!!!)

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

Yes, I love after Christmas clearance also! My very favorite time to shop, love it more than Black Friday (well, probably because I'm always working on Black Friday, haha!).

Loving your makeovers! Burgundy is my favorite color, it seems like everything I paint tends to be that color. So I'm really loving that cabinet. I collect houses... your salt box house is adorable!

Screaming Sardine said...

Jo-Anne -

These are such lovely pieces. I wish I had them. :) You did a really good job on them.

I especially love the saltbox house. I don't have one, but I want to get one soon. Very pretty.

Thanks so much for linking up to the Prairie Patch Link Party.

Cheers,
Tracy