Occasionally, Chairs

So, I went to town on Monday, to meet my daughter and drop of her children to her after work. On the way home, I just had to turn into the Resource Center. I am still looking for a phonics book. (Abeka Blue-Back Speller, 2nd hand) …that’s my excuse story and I’m sticking to it. :)
Anyway- I found this chair.

:: The Procrastinator's Table ::

I finished my table... 

actually, you'd be quite proud of me; I finished this project the same weekend I started it. 

A VERY BIG DEAL TO ME!!! 

You know the procrastinator I am prone to be.  

After all... 

I lived with my bedroom floor looking like this for little more than a month! 

 I didn't change much out on the walls. I did hang the white shelf back onto the wall. Yes, it fell down. (you can barely see it in the above photo)  Crash!  that was a night I didn't get much sleep.  

It's securely attached now though. 

I didn't paint the inside of the table/cabinet.  Didn't see any point in it; as there is a door! 

 Also, the slide out tray for extra surface... only got a little paint along the edge. 

I know what you're thinking.  Wow, --- You really went out on a limb there with your choice of paint color! 

...And Well, Yes, I did! You know me so well. 

You, dear faithful reader, have known my struggle. 

You might remember last year around about this time (a year ago this month!) I wrote this: 

I think I've been making myself crazy! All along I thought it was that "White was so peaceful"; and to some it may be. But, let me tell you-- if you can't achieve The Shabby White look... it's NOT peaceful. It becomes a crazy cycle; and there you are, just spinning your wheels, trying to accomplish something that just isn't you. ~CorninmyCoffee-pot (more on discontentment in the home) 

So what color is it? 

Valspar Terra Cotta Red... 

Or is it?!?! 

 It kind of looks like Black and Decker Firestorm Orange... 

Doesn't it? 

Oh, and just so you know... 

I'm happy with the color! :) 

click here to read about my inspiration

click here to read about my frankentable

Thank you to these 2 ladies for allowing me to use their photos and for inspiration!

Cindy@ Cottage Instincts

Kristy@4theloveofwood

 

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. ~Psalm 37:4 

 

***Oh, and just so you know... I used the Valspar paint sample and plaster of paris to make my own DIY chalk paint and sealed it with Minwax finishing paste wax (with a little bit of stain added to make it darker) 

:: My Very Own Frankentable ::

So.. I needed a table.
I had a table.
But it wasn't going to be the right fit without a little bit of modification.

 I had remembered reading this blog... 

4 the Love of Wood and her post showing how



 to add legs to furniture

You must click on that link if you've not read her blog and YOU MUST see her furniture transformations...
they are so Wonderful!

Again... Inspired!!!

So... 

I added cabriole legs to the front --(right there, in my kitchen, isn't that were you work on all your projects? ) 

I made straight legs for the back from scraps...(it IS going against a wall) 
and underneath, used some for braces between the new legs.
I attached all these with my drill from Black and Decker

 I found a scrap trim piece in the shed...I needed to make an apron to cover the alterations. 

I cut my very first miter cuts... ever!!! 

I used this 'firestorm ORANGE' Black and Decker cordless saw 

on a 45° angle... to make my cuts. 

That was fun! 

No, Not perfect ...  Nothing a little bit of wood filler can't fix, right? 

And here it is...waiting to be painted and the door to be put back on the front. 

Can you say...Frankentable? 

Ta-dah! 

                                                        
                                                        But wait there's more... 

**Thank you Kristy for the use of your 'Legs' photo...Part 1  and Part 2

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Here are some links for you to click on if you're interested in purchasing some cordless tools OR just browsing and comparison shopping. 

Remember by clicking on these  Amazon Affiliate links...

your helping this blog author contribute to the household income. :) 

 Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4

:: Forced Inspiration OR ::

...A Tale of Two tables.

Ok...so here is the deal... 

I've been buying sewing machines.

First, I helped my daughter choose one for herself at the thrift store. 

Then...I went back and bought my Husqvarna Viking machine

and then a couple of weeks later, when they still had two left... 

I bought both of them for $4 each.
But, that's not what I'm here to tell you about. 
I want to tell you a tale of two tables... because of the aforementioned sewing machines...

I gave away my table (the one below) ...so she'd have a place to sew when she wants.

Ever since I helped my daughter with her purchase...

the side of my bed looks like this... 

a toxic dump!!!

see how everything is just thrown on top of my shoes...right on the floor?! 

Yes-- see, I've been sewing, painting, wrangling chickens and keets... I can't see this mess when the lights are out...I'm sleeping after a HARD days work.

I looked around at the the thrift for a table...but really I have so much furniture...I didn't want to buy anything else. I knew I'd find something to work beside my bed. 

I read this... :: Cottage Instincts:: 
Cindy has recently started her own business and it always showing some beautifully made over furniture...
including this little number she calls "Tanya" in a lovely green. :) 

van Gogh Paint/Product Review

I was feeling inspired! 

I had a similar table...

including magazine rack! 

Well, that settled it... I was going to take this little table from the living room and add some legs and paint! 

Legs? Yes, legs.
I can't wait to show you what I've done with my little table!
...Or the whole corner on my side of the bed.

I like it!

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4

 

:: A Simple Little Rocker::

My Grand Mother's rocking chair:

This is just a small little rocking chair. It holds great meaning for me and sentimental value. I don't think I've ever shown it here before; but I wanted to share it's story with you because it is an interesting one.

 In 1939, my paternal Grandfather and my Grandmother were expecting their first child.  

He was working in Dallas at Sanger Bros. Department Store; they were having a Dollar Days Sale and with his employee discount he bought this rocking chair for a whopping  .85 cents!! 

 It's a small chair. 

My Grandmother rocked her babies in this chair. 

Later her grand-babies... and the day they brought it to my home, she rocked my oldest child; her Great Grand daughter.  According to my grand-dad the chair was a much better fit back then. 

(I think he was being cheeky when he said that...because Grandmother gave him the stink-eye!) 

It didn't always look like this-- the seat was different, I was told it was a twisted paper woven seat.

When I was almost 1 year old-- my parents took a trip to Missouri with my Grandparents to visit my Great grandparents-- her parents.  I learned to walk in Missouri-- I don't remember it. 

Anyway, Grand-dad took this chair along and had the seat re-caned; while we were up for the visit.   

There was a local artisan there that used WILLOW BARK,  soaked in the Buffalo River and rewove the seat. I think he  did a magnificent job; because this seat has held up some 47 years now. 

I've owned it almost 26 years. 

About 12 or 13 years ago...my boys were goofing off in the living room and one of them stepped on the back of one of the rockers and cracked it and it broke.  So, I moved the chair to my bedroom and didn't use it for such a long time...until about 4 years ago-- I took it to the Furniture Shop in town; owned by a Mennonite Family and had the rocker on bottom replaced. They did a wonderful job too!  It only cost $35 for the repair. 

He said I might need to get the seat re-caned one of these days. 

But I don't think so. 

This little chair has good bones and is quite strong. 

I love sitting in it while sitting next to the stove. 

...and just rocking. 

Life doesn't get much simpler than that. 

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Sunny Simple Life

The grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. ~Philippians 4:23


 

:: How To~Table and Chair ::

The week after Thanksgiving I showed you the table and chairs on my front porch that I made over on a whim...that  week OF THANKSGIVING! 

It was such an easy project and really went pretty quickly. 

I am going to show you the GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY!!! 

Not necessarily in that order. 

Just a reminder-- this is how the 3 chairs looked after a  couple of years of weathering outside near the shed. (What can I say? ...you need a place to sit when you're working by the shed, looks are of no consequence)

So...back when I did my 3 chairs to a Bench project this summer.

 I took the seats off these chairs because the LITTLES that come to my house everyday...have done quite a number on them...they were gross! 

 Pictures don't lie. 

I was in a hurry... our guest count went up by 12 people at a moments notice!!!

 Fortunately, I had a more than willing helper. Yes! this project was so easy a 3 year old could do it; and was very eager to do so! 

Let those dry over night! 

(remember. this. table. Nothing is safe when there is Ooops! Paint in the HOUSE!)

I let that dry about 24 hours...because I'm sure it had soaked into the padding; and I wanted it to be good and dry. 

~~~However, where the dirt was ground, embedded, ONE WITH THE FABRIC...the paint was darker. Some of that darkness is my shadow... 

 I found a stencil in my stash...covered the parts I didn't want to use with duck tape. I was going for a rope L@@K...but ended up with more a "check-plate" or tire track L@@K... 

The original chairs had a piece of wood going across the backs...only 1 chair had it left and I couldn't and didn't have the resources or the time to figure that one out... so I took it off

...and was left with this. 

 Not very comfy L@@KING.... 

This came to mind... it is insulation for pipes. I got this pack at LOWES... 

You can find them here- 

affiliate link: 

Duck Brand 1285241 Insulating Foam Pipe Covers, 0.75-Inch by 3-Feet, Pack of 4 Sticks

I can't tell you the measurement...because I just eye-balled it...PRECISION IS THE LEAST OF MY PRIORITIES... I painted dirty upholstery FOLKS! 

 I had a bag of fabric that had been stripped for a rug...in fact this was a rug, and it fell apart in my hands one day when I was hanging it on the line... I let it hang there to dry and then picked it apart (only the thread holding it came undone; the rest was still strong and perfectly stripped pieces) 

Perfect for a shabby little project like this! 

 Remember the table from up top?  

 ... I'll wait, while you see what it looked like before. 

 I painted it too...as soon as the seats were painted...and yes! the 3 year old helped. What can I say? The child loves to paint! This was the perfect project for her to help with; and WE enjoyed it! 

The table?  I did that... I used a SHARPIE MARKER!  Why not? the lines were already there. 

For the exception of the DUCK pipe wraps...and the Ooops! paint... I didn't have to buy anything. In fact... I had all these things on hand already! The wraps were left overs, I never took back for a refund, and the Ooops! Paint...is just something I have to buy when I go to LOWE'S. (I can't help myself, Ooops! is my favorite color) :) 

Ok...so the shiny finish was all but gone completely on the table. No prepping. The seats  WERE 'A GONNER'... 

So what is a girl to do?  

The paint was interior semi-gloss. The label says- cleans up with water. Resists smudges, dirt and finger prints. THEY ARE NOT LYING.  The kids got cupcake and pecan pie on the seats and the table...and it cleaned right off.  I'm thinking I should paint all my upholstery. It would be way easier! 

COZY~LITTLE~HOUSE

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Then  He said to them,

 "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet and send portions to them that have nothing prepared; for the is a holy day unto the LORD.

 Do not be grieved; for the Joy of the LORD is your strength. ~Nehemiah 8:10