July's passion project

If you have been following me on facebook or recently here on the blog, you know that I chose a "passion project" every month. Simply put, it is a project or challenge that I give myself the month to complete. Sometimes I will do 2-3 projects. This summer I have been doing some simple painting projects that I can do outdoors. 

For July, it was this beat up bakers rack I picked up at a garage sale last summer. I have been putting off doing anything with it because I had no idea what color to paint it. Always looking for inspiration, I stumbled on a post in a group on facebook that used the color Ink Blue on a similar rack and fell in love with the color. 

Easy to find Painters Touch spray paint. I was perplexed on what to do with the wood sections, I didn't like the blond wood color, but wanted to keep the wood grain look. I just happened to have some Barn Red stain (for a future project) that made a nice contrast to the ink blue. 

The little wood knobs were stapled on, so I pulled them out, drilled holes and added some stainless steel knobs taken from a broken dresser that we took to the dump. Strange part is how the light hits these one looks higher than the other and it makes me a bit crazy lol. 

Both of these paint and stains are available at almost any home/hardware store. 

Chairs for Charity 2015

I finally finished my chair restoration for Chairs for Charity auction 2015.

Each year I donate an up-cycled theme decorated chair to a great cause. Chairs for Charity to bring awareness to L.A.M. My friend Carrie suffers from this lung disease and is a champion for getting the word out and raising funds and awareness of this little know affliction. You can read more about it here.

Below is the primed chair--it was a walnut wood color with this rose pink seat

 After priming, I used a couple of different stencils to get my flourishes on the back panel. I then used a chalk finish paint called Americana Decor in the "Yesteryear" color.  I will put my 2 cents in about chalk paint. I know there are many die hard Annie Sloan paint fans out there. I have used her paint, I even took a sponsored ASP class, and I love her paint. But at $40 a quart, the alternatives on the market are just as good. And there are a lot of recipes on the internet to make your own and several are not the right proportions and you can get some bad results. I have found the best "make your own" recipe is on the Lowe's website. You can buy their little sample pots (they will mix you any color you want). But for this project I was able to get this paint on sale at Craft Warehouse for $6.99 and I really liked the color.

Next was the waxing. I started with an antique color wax. I hated it! With the brown cast on the grey it looked dirty. So I mixed a clear wax with some black acrylic paint and waxed again and got the results I was looking for.

 finding the perfect seat fabric was not easy!

Sometimes it pays to walk back to the clearance area of the fabric store! I found this amazing remnant for $9 a yard. The bird was the perfect shade of grey.

 

So now the hunt begins again for next years chair!

French clocks Accent chair

This actually was my project for 2014 but only getting around to share it...
Each year I donate an up-cycled theme decorated chair to a great cause. Chairs for Charity to bring awareness to L.A.M. My friend Carrie suffers from this lung disease and is a champion for getting the word out and raising funds and awareness of this little know affliction. You can read more about it here.

I purchased 2 of these chairs from a local thrift store for $15 each.

Above is the primed chair--I forgot to take a pic of the original I was so excited to get started!

I used a chalk finish paint from the Lowe's recipe. Just love that it is so cheap to just buy one of the little 8 ounce jars in any color and mix up my own. This was a color called "Linen". 

After I did some random stenciling, I used a dark wax to get a nice aged look, let that dry, then lightly sanded randomly for distressing. Followed up with another light coat of clear wax and buffed.

I recovered the seat with heavy french script upholstery fabric--I only removed the piping of the old cover. Simply went over the top of the old fabric. Easy peasy.

The chair bid up to $125.00. Not bad for less than $25 investment!

Stay tuned for my 2015 chair--same design and a hint---this one is a very pale grey!

Joining in 

2013 re-purpose upcyle projects in review

As 2013 comes to a close and I have neglected my blog during the busy holiday season, I am playing a bit of catch up on some of the projects I worked on this last year that I never posted about.  I love the thrill of the hunt finding treasures that can have a new life. Some of these I sold on my website, but most I kept for myself!

Starting with the pic below, this is a big haul that I made at a farm sale last August. Most of these pieces came out of an old barn and were literally rusty, dusty, dirty but truly vintage treasures! That little yellow watering can my granddaughters loved to use it as it was just their size!

Starting with the spools, I cleaned them up, painted, added some vintage sheet music, some cup hooks, lace and a soft pink rose~viola, a jewelry tower below.

The banana rack below was a simple project with painting, water slide decal
and a bit of distressing for  great retro cottage charm

You may have seen these other pieces incorporated into my fall and summer porch decor, the rusty scale (I love this, it fits so well as a decorating element))

 

The plant rack I painted yellow

worked great for both summer and fall decor

I think my best and simplest find was the wood carrier as I did nothing to it except fill it with seasonal charm! Below are the fall and Christmas displays I used it for.

at Christmas another purpose

Then the vases...those were for the glass bird feeders. these were so fun and they sold well both locally and off my website.I collect the pieces for them all year. Tutorial coming in the spring on these too.

 

A picket wood piece I picked up at yet another farm sale

 

A simple fix of "flipping" it upside down, painting, lettering and distressing gave it a nice "frenchy" appeal 

 I never did get to the ladder in the top pic, it is intended to use as a garden junk element. So when the weather gets nice, I will put my thinking cap on. I also have this chair back I am excited to work on.

I would love to hear your suggestions on this piece!

Whew! Now it starts all over again...the thrill of the hunt, and the vision of something wonderful for 2014!

Happy New Year to all my Junkin friends!

An amazing re-purpose

A few posts back, I asked if anyone knew what this was. I am still guessing, but I think it was a silk flower planter of some type. When I picked this up a garage sale a couple weeks ago, I envisioned what it could become. I love when an idea works!

I cleaned up as it was pretty dusty. Spray painted with Painters Touch Heirloom White satin. Then used a dry brush method to add some chalk paint in Provence blue. then waxed with a dark colored wax and buffed.

Next, since this was so deep, I needed to add a false bottom (I bet you are still wondering what I am planning). I simply cut a 2"x6" circle of cardboard, wrapped it around the post and taped it at the bottom. Then I cut 2 half circles, covered and glued some scrapbooking paper and placed inside. Nothing fancy.

 

I debated on how to divide the inside. I came up with these plastic storage containers. They are light, easy to clean, and most of all they fit the best.

Okay, so now the reveal....this is going to serve as an outdoor serving caddy! We eat outdoors in the summer a lot.

Instead of dragging out a pile of flatware and napkins, I can simply bring the whole caddy to the table and let everyone help themselves, or I can easily set each place setting in a jiffy. Note on the top loops I have added seasoning bottles, which will change based on what is being served

Below, I have a corner table on the patio that I can set this having it out of the way while we are eating. When cleaning up for the day, simply bringing in the caddy never got so easy, And I am all about making it easy on myself.

Total cost of this project was $4.00 That's right only FOUR DOLLARS for the caddy itself.  That is because everything else I had on hand including the spray paint. I am a firm believer in using what you have to make it work.


This week I am joining in on the following parties

Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Cottage Style Entertaining Party @ EtsyCottageStyle  
Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life
 Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Vintage Style Inspiration@ Knick of Time

An easy re-purpose planter

A fun and easy planting project this last week. Simply a vintage rusty 70's enamel colander has become a unique planter. I am having a love affair with apple green this summer----watch for more projects with this color.

 since the colander by nature is not designed to hold water.....

I moistened and added a thick layer of spaghnum moss to the bottom and part way up the sides.
A good quality potting soil and low growing fragrant Alyssum

 Don't forget to add a saucer underneath the colander!

Once this fills out, I will be back to post the
Viola of this easy re-purpose project.

Linking up this week with 

Etsy Cottage Style Vintage Cottage party

It’s Bloomin’ Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean

Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

 Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage 

Simple and sweet Fridays @Rooted in Thyme

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 Also pop over to my biz blog to see my latest project for the cottage garden I am selling on my website 

 MarionberryCottage~my biz blog

Prairie Princess up-cycle

I have this passion at the moment. Up-cycling denim with vintage crochet and lace. I love the softness and charm old lace brings to the rugged fabric. So far I have up-cycled four jackets and am on the hunt for more. Funny thing is that I have not really been hunting for them...they are finding me when I am out junking and treasure hunting for something else.
So Today I am sharing 3 of my "Prairie Princess" jackets. One I already sold, but these below currently are in my etsy shop. (Links below each picture)Also I stumbled upon an embroidered denim jumper that I created a awesome handbag with.

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/125457304/prarire-gypsy-cowgirl-boho-demin

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121256197/prarire-gypsy-victorian-boho-demin?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125458361/prarire-gypsy-cowgirl-boho-demin

https://www.etsy.com/listing/124739625/praire-cowgirl-demin-and-lace-handbag

Joining in the Etsy Cottage Style Blog party!
Click on the pic to join us!