Artsy Fartsy

This is the original art project I mentioned here . The numbers are made out of Grungeboard. I found them at Tuesday Morning. I've had the stretched gallery canvas forever. I need to return to Tuesday Morning for another pack of numbers as my canvas is quite large and I am falling short. First I'll fill the canvas, then I'll tweak, then I'll affix the numbers to the canvas. I'm coating the whole thing in flat white, a protective coat, and I'll probably leave it at that.

This Grungeboard stuff is fun, fun, fun. The packages include a lot of extra product that I won't use on this project, but that I'll be sure to use elsewhere.

After Pictures

Ok, I really didn't take a good before picture. When I first revealed this table here, I had already cut the beveled rounded edges off of it. I still have to break out the Restore-a-Finish on the legs, but I'm posting unstyled pictures anyway. Yup, my living room has ugly old false ceiling tile. It's true. I deal with it. I need new mini blinds and a futon cover (in white or natural) too. I have an idea for some new original artwork to replace the picture that's in the corner. Details to follow.

Kenmore 1020

This is a cool little machine that I'm selling. I hate to see it go, but I have more machines than I need and use. The 1020 only does straight and zig-zag stitches, but it does those beautifully. It's a great travel machine because of its diminutive size and cute carrying case. Don't let the size fool you because this baby ain't for play. It can pierce some layers. I know there is someone out there that will love it and feed it.

Craigslist Bounty

I'm listing the Windsor chairs on craigslist. They are beautiful chairs, but they are too big for my table. I have  two mismatched pairs of ladder back chairs in storage that will be more appropriate for the table, or I'll keep my eyes peeled for other options.

Honesty

You know what? This table is the fourth table that I've put in this space. All the others that came before, they just didn't feel right. I was never really happy with any of them. They were too big, too small, the wrong scale, etc., etc.. I've invested a small fortune in dining tables and chairs (including the latest set of chairs, which isn't going to work once again). I could have purchased a high end set for all of the money I've wasted. And you know what else? I actually like this latest, inherited from my mother table the best. I mean I really, really like it. Love it in fact, and the bench, which I bought for a very reasonable $35 years ago. While I haven't always had a place for the bench, I've always made a place for it in storage when not in use.

I'm not sure what my point is here, other than to make public the fact that I waste a lot of money trying to achieve perfection. Unfortunately, the chase only makes me more flawed.

This post was inspired by this lovely blogger's post.

Projects

The table is finished, at least for now. I'm going to use some Restore-a-Finish on the legs until I can muster up the motivation for another sanding project.  The bench is a WIP (work in progress), but I'm aiming for wrap by today or tomorrow. It took me hours to sand the top plank of the bench. The maker must have dipped the thing in polyurethane. Although I've been using an electrical sander, the coarsest sanding pad  I had on hand wouldn't do more than dull the finish. I broke out the sanding block and wore it out, and wore me out too.

I can only claim a small role in the seeding of my front yard. Yard Boy, aka Chuck, spent the better part of Saturday making it happen. I did chip in some raking and straw spreading labor, but I got off relatively easy on that project. The scraping of paint off my front porch made up for it though. I still have more scraping to do, but I'm taking a break from it today.

Onward...

Urban Outfitters Markdowns

On sale now, the UO Beaded Cord Kit marked down to $29.99 from $48. Because I have high ceilings and it needs to hang lower over a dining table, I ordered two cords to splice together. It can take a 100 watt bulb which is becoming a minimum requirement of mine.

The stars must have been in my favor, because I sold my blue chest of drawers just yesterday. I was elated to spot the beaded cord kit on UO's sale pages today. I've been keeping watch for a couple of months. A google search netted me a coupon code, UOUOUO, good for an additional 10% off. With the purchase of a drum shade, I'll probably have a little better than $100 in the fixture. Now I'm super motivated to get that table finished.

Free Digital MagazineSubscription

It's been a good digital magazine day. I read on several design blogs that the latest issue of Lonny is available for perusing, and then I received an email notification from Zinio letting me know that my digital copy of Elle Decor has arrived. Like most people, I tend to favor the real thing. That is, I like the paper version in my hands. I also realize that there may be a  time when we fondly recall the days of paper periodicals. I'm trying to embrace the digital medium and Zinio's Read Green Initiative has made it easier for me to do so in offering a free one year subscription to the magazine of my choice. I have to admit it's kind of nice knowing that I can have a clutter free collection of magazines, available at the click of a button.

Dining Table Project

Forgive me for the poor pictures and lack of a before picture. It was dark when I decided to tackle this project last night

I'm working on a drop leaf table that belonged to my mother. The table is really banged up from use and multiple moves. While it's not exactly my style, it's sturdy. I didn't really care for the top's rounded edges and thought that sawing them off would make the table look much more Shaker-ish. I love the simplicity of Shaker design and that Shaker furniture looks great in a traditional or contemporary setting. So I broke out my circular saw last night and didn't look back. No regrets. I like the table so much more now. Of course it's still pretty much a mess, but nothing a little wood putty, sandpaper, and paint can't fix.

I've had the bench you see in the pictures for years. It fits perfectly along the side of the table. The chairs, not so much. I'll probably end up listing them on craigslist and finding another bench or more suitable chairs to place on the other side of the table. There's really not enough room at either end of the table to place chairs. Or I should say it looks very cramped to place chairs on the end. The blue cabinet will have to go as well. I kind of figured that would be the case and I have been trying to unload it on craigslist for a couple of week now. I finally got a bite today.

I am really excited to finally find a direction for this space and I think it will look awesome when the pieces are finished and all the clutter is out of the picture.

Coming My Way

I belong to Crafter's Choice Book Club and couldn't resist the Buy Two for $22 offer. Shipping was free too.

Although their selection is limited, I would have to give the club a thumbs up because they offer some really good deals (like I could have gotten Thomas OBrien's new $50 book with this offer).

I'll be stalking the mailman next week.

Happy Easter

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter holiday.

The yard sale I planned never happened as I woke up at 5 am on Saturday with a horrible stomach ache and then a bout of liquid s**t. Yeah, probably more information than you needed. I'm not sure if it was a bug or something I ate, but I was positive trying to have a yard sale under the circumstances was not a good idea. At least I managed to drag a lot of furniture out of storage on Friday evening and give it all a good cleaning so it's ready for selling. Perhaps I'll try again this coming weekend, or maybe I'll take pictures and list it on craigslist.

May your Easter be one of joy!

Yard Sale

Tomorrow. Ugh. I'm committed since I just placed the ad on craigslist. Every year I threaten to unload a lot of stuff, but then I consider all of the work and lose steam. The last time I had a yard sale was right after I moved into my house and that was well over 4 years ago. Even worse than the work involved is having to deal with rude people that want something for nothing. Oh well, I'll just have to suck it up for a few hours.

Score!

I took a quick tour of Goodwill late yesterday and spotted this chair. After mulling over it for the night, I decided I would return today and buy it if it was still there. Of course I didn't expect to find it when I returned. I figured that "winning the prize" would require that I'd be waiting at the door when they reopened. Well being a night owl didn't help my cause, and after a trip to the post office at about 2 pm today I wandered back into the store. The chair was still there. Amazing, considering it was only $10. Yeah, it needs some elbow grease, but it's old and sturdy, and totally worth it.