Saturday, August 17, 2013

Crazy Krafting Saturday

Today was Crazy Krafting Saturday in honor of Cara's birthday.  You combine two crafting women along with 2 trays, 1 TV tray, 2 cabinet doors, 4 spindles, one large piece of wood, two two by fours,
8 nesting boxes, 1 picture frame, 1 drawer, a vintage 1975 Atlas and then throw in Mod Podge, wax, paint, a drill, and a sander and you have a really big time. Come back soon to see the results.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Repurposed Table #3

 
 
 
This is my third repurposed table and I am getting more proficient and faster with each table.
This  table started with a cabinet door that my daughter found for me. The one I used was not painted but I forgot to take a picture of the one I used before the table was assembled.
 
I found the base at Goodwill. I think it had been a knick knack shelving unit during the 1980's. It was the perfect size for the cabinet door.


I got the legs that I used from the Restore in Beaumont, Texas.  They were from a taller table but I cut them down to the right height for this table

I attached the cabinet door to the base with screws and glue.

I painted the base brown and started painting a chevron on the top. I found that I did not like painting the chevron pattern.  Half way through I decided I did not want to finish the design.

I finished it off with a dark wax.
 
 
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Late Summer Gardening

This is a quote from an old Southern Living Gardening Book that I first read not long after college:
Gardeners want lots of show for not much dough. That's why they should plant coleus. It costs little, grows quickly, and has the gaudiest foliage imaginable. It's equally happy in the ground or in a pot.
When I first read that I knew coleus was for me.  My current garden is a patio.  This spring I planted coleus and it was gorgeous. As the summer wore on and I traveled and was out of town for long periods of time my garden suffered.  I am home now and about to go back to work.  Today my "to do" list included cleaning the patio. I pruned the coleus first.  When I had a pile of beautiful coleus leaves at my feet I could not throw them away.  I needed a small "happy" for someone and decided a bunch of coleus would do the trick.
 I wrapped the jar in left over burlap from another project and tied it with tulle. I was happy with the look of it.Then I got to wondering if the coleus could be rooted in water. To answer this question I did a quick Google search and found out everything I ever wanted to know about coleus.
 http://www.growingthehomegarden.com/2008/08/coleus-cuttings-are-they-easiest.html is a site that has much information about coleus and how easy it is to propagate cuttings.
 

Friday, August 9, 2013

Goodwill Hunting Dos

I have been blogging so often about the wonderful, junky finds that come from the Restore that I have not shown much love to Goodwill.  I love to go to Goodwill.  They have such a wide variety of good junk just waiting to be given a second chance.  Not long ago I found this wonderful find.  It is solid wood and had been painted pink and blue with a goose on the child (think 1985).  Yesterday I decided it was it's turn to get a makeover.  I painted with my favorite red.  I can't tell you the color name.  I took an old Ralph Lauren sweater to Lowes and they mixed this red for me.  I call it Ralph Lauren Red.  I think I went with red because it looks like fall.  When I tire of it in front of the fireplace I plan on using it to store sewing notions.  It would also make a cute tool box.  Thanks again Goodwill, you made my day!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Green Picture/Recipe Holder

I started this photo board the day I made the orange bowl. I got frustrated with it and put it to the side for a couple of weeks.  I could not get the base attached to the board.  Tonight I went back and worked on it and everything worked perfect.  It is amazing what happens when you don't push and let creativity come to you in it's own time.
I attached the bulldog clip with a screw and a drop of glue.

This would be perfect in the kitchen to attach a recipe to.

I love it with a piece of scrapbook paper behind the picture. 

 




Friday, July 26, 2013

Orange Again!

I am continuing with the orange theme started last week.  I think it is such a great transitional color between summer and fall.  This was made out of some Goodwill finds.
These are some more of the finds from Goodwill.  I got them awhile back when they had a half off sale on their home goods.  I had sacks of great junk when I left that day.  I wanted to make a tall candlestick to go with a grouping in front of my fireplace.  I wanted something summery and light.
I used Gorilla Glue to put the parts together and painted it orange.
This is the finished grouping I made.  I have posted about the crosses that I make before.  The turquoise candle holders are made from vintage spindles.  This is the second set of these turquoise candle holders I have made and I still love them.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Hall Tree

 
 
I completed this hall tree a few months ago.  It has been waiting to be painted but I have decided I may leave it white and antique it up a bit.  This piece would never have gotten made if I had any knowledge of how hard it was going to be to attach the separate pieces before I started.  I think I have told you that I don't have many tools. I have and ancient saw (which I will not take a picture of because if I looked at the picture I might realize I should not be using it), a drill and glue.  If a project needs more than that it is not for me. I came across the main part of this project at a junk store in Galveston, Texas.  I think it had been a porch post, but was burned on one end so who knows what its first life was. The top section was from a bed post that came out of some ones trash.  I used the top part in another project that I blogged about earlier.  The original post that I got in Galveston was too short so I decided to add the bed post to it.  The problem was how to do this.  I went to Lowes.  The person I talked to first said very nicely, "No way!".  I think he wanted to ask why I was let out on the "home for the insane", but he was to kind to do that. The second person told me about double sided screws. 
The one he suggested was about 6 inches long.  He could not really tell me how to use it, but thought it would work.  I came home and googled and basically found out that I needed to drill two holes and then attach the screw to one piece of wood and then the other.  About two weeks later I finally did that.  It was harder that it sounded.  The hall tree was now the correct height and all it needed was a base and arms. 

The base was made out of three pieces of scrap wood that I bought at the Restore.  I glued and bolted them together.  I then attached the base using another double sided screw.  It turned out to be very sturdy.  The final step was to add the arms. The arms were made of scrap pieces of spindles left over from other projects.  Again I used double sided screws to attach them.  I used wooden drawer knobs on the end of the arms to add interest and cover up my bad cutting job. I wish I had taken pictures of the process but I never thought I would finish so, no photos.  I may add some decorative hooks and paint it later.  If I do I will post pictures.

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Saturday, July 20, 2013

Raspberries

One of the highlights of my trip to West Virginia is that we hiked to the edge of the woods and picked raspberries.  They were not huge commercial berries, but small wild raspberries. I had never picked berries "in the wild" before.  There were a lot of bugs, tall grass and things to make you itch.
We finally picked enough to make a pie.  In the olden days I might have starved to death.
 Before we went picking my host had made a raspberry pie from berries that had been picked earlier in the week. Maybe thinking about how good the pie was going to taste encouraged me to pick berries.
 She made the crust from scratch.  That is one talent I do not have.  The art of pastry has always eluded me.
The pie was a nice reward for picking berries.  The only thing that could have made it better was Blue Bell ice cream.  West Virginia is a wonderful place but could be better if the groceries sold Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream.

This is not my friends recipe, but one out of my collection.  I do not make the crust but let Betty Crocker do that for me.
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 6 - 7 tablespoons water
  • 3/4 - 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups raspberries
  • 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
  • Milk (optional)
  • Sugar (optional)
 
1. In a mixing bowl combine the 2 cups flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon water at a time, until all the dough is moistened. Divide in half. Form each half into a ball.

2. On a lightly floured surface flatten one dough ball. Roll from center to edges into a 12-inch circle.


3. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry.


4. In a large mixing bowl combine the sugar and 1/3 cup flour. Stir in berries and lemon peel. Gently toss the berries until well coated. Transfer berry mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate.


5. On lightly floured surface roll remaining dough into a 12-inch circle. For a lattice crust, trim bottom pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Cut rolled pastry into 1/2-inch strips and weave strips over filling. Fold bottom crust over strip ends; trimming strips as necessary. For a 2-crust pie, trim bottom pastry to edge of pie plate. Cut slits in top crust for escape of steam; place on filling and fold edge under bottom pastry. Flute edge as desired.


6. If desired, brush pastry top with a little milk and sprinkle with additional sugar.


7. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes more or until top is golden. Cool on wire rack. Makes 8 servings.
                   

Friday, July 19, 2013

Orange Bowl


This is a pedestal bowl that I made today.  Today was my second day at home.  I have been out of school for three weeks have been traveling.  For the last two days I have been home alone and feeling very creative.  Last night when I bought lemons it inspired me to make an orange bowl.  The reason I chose orange is that it will be good with summer colors but will transition so well into fall.
 
The pedestal came from a chair that I pulled out of the trash across the street.  I had it hidden in the attic for awhile because the garage was so full of junk.  I just knew I would use it when I was out of school and had more time.
I cut a piece of the leg and glued it to a base.  Then I searched until I found a wooden bowl I bought in March at Goodwill.
The bowl was a fifty cent find that I had been wanting to use.
Next came my two favorite things: my drill and glue.
 
Now I am ready for some afternoon lemonade. 
 
 


 

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Red Chest



I recently went to see friends in Huntington, WV where I lived for 6 wonderful years.  When my friend showed me the bedroom where I would be staying I saw this wonderful red chest(footlocker).  It had been her fathers and she had repainted it red in the 1970s.  It was red, chippy, and perfect.  It had that wonderful aged look that did not come from some new technique on Pinterest but from many moves and five children (all boys)!  I jokingly tried to talk her into putting legs on it.  I love chests with legs, but she declined the offer.  It was so perfect that I wanted the world to see it.  I will be posting more pics of my amazing stay in WV.


My friend lives in the country and one of the best parts of my visit is that we did not rush to start our days but lingered over breakfast and talked and talked and talked.  We had a year to catch up on.  Another thing that made the mornings special were this deer and her twins.  We saw them twice and it was amazing how beautiful they were.

 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

At The Beach!

                                                    This is the latest thing to pop into my
                                                     head.  Last week we met friends at the
                                                     beach and I wanted to make something
                                                     for my friend Jan for her birthday.
                                          It started with this cute tray that I found at Goodwill
                                          for only twenty five cents.  I originally was going to
                                          paint it and put it on a pedestal (6inches or so). I thought
                                          it would be cute with fruit in it.  But then I saw a beach
                                          table at Academy and completely changed my mind.

                                                   I screwed a piece of wood onto a spindle
                                                   from the Dallas Restore. Then I glued and
                                                   screwed the tray to the base I had made.
                                                   Originally it was going to be green but
                                                    ended up a different color. 
                                                   We sunk it in the sand and it was used
                                                     all day.  I think Jan was impressed when
                                                     someone came by and wanted to buy it.
                                         HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this link party! You should check it out I have gotten so much inspiration from the posts I have seen there. Definitely worth your time.
Lil\'Luna  Today's Creative BlogAdventures of a DIY Mom