Little Nightstand

Lots of projects going lately, including this sweet little nightstand.

Here's the "before" shot:

I gave this one a really "clean" look, no distressing.  The graduated color on the drawer fronts was fun to do.  I changed out most of the things in my room at Liberty House today, so hope to post photos of some of those things in the next few days.  I don't have room there right now for this little nightstand, so  if you are interested, let me know!

Radio Cabinet Redo & Annie Sloan Paint

Just took this old radio cabinet down to Liberty House.  I think it would be really pretty in a bathroom to hold towels or as a little wardrobe for children's clothes or a cool bar or to stack books in . . .

It was my first big project with the Annie Sloan paint and I am a convert!  It is so much fun and easier to use than regular paint, dries quickly, and distresses beautifully.  I used Old White and Duck Egg Blue on this.  It's pricey, but seems to go a long ways--plus you don't have to sand or prime.  I just wish we had a dealer nearby--thanks to Hobbin for hauling it back from Colorado for me!

The paint really highlights the pretty details . . .

I put the original on/off switch back on (just for fun):

I did remember to take a "Before" picture--here it is after I took out the front panel and some other odds and ends.  That front panel is going to be something interesting someday.

Grain Sacks

I was the winning bid on a box of really dirty old grain sacks recently.  It took about a week to work my way through the stack--shaking out plenty of dirt and grainy bits, soaking, washing, and drying them.  I had to really want 'em which I do.  So here's my lovely pile . . .

And some projects that I've used them on . . .

New Cottonwood Sign

Just finished this sign and kind of love it.  I use manila tags on most of the things I sell, so seemed like a good idea for a sign.  The guys at the lumberyard have a good "scrap" pile and are good enough to cut pieces to size.  When I got home from there, I decided to use my algebra skills to make the proportions the same as the actual tag (I was very proud).  Ben cut it down further (after I did the math) along with the corners and the hole.  We found a manila file folder (that had our wedding pictures in it!) and used it for the "reinforcement" part.  I made a stencil for the letters, added some clothesline rope, and done!

There is nothing like a patient husband . . .

I've been very busy with a lot of new projects--it helps to have auctions and garage sales providing furniture now that summer is here.  Ben continues to have the patience of Job.  He not only hauls the stuff home for me, but does repairs as needed.   And he never complains about my messes in the dining room or extra furniture sitting around the house.  Here's what the table looked like the other day . . . I was on a painting frenzy (or some kind of frenzy).

New Vanity at Liberty House

Pat sold my old oak cupboard on Friday (at Liberty House), though we were a little sad to see it go.  We'd had it for a long time and it had even traveled to NYC and back with Julie.  But it was time!  So I have been busy moving a few recently finished projects into my little room, including this vanity/desk.

Super Moon

Ran outside at bedtime last night and got this photo of the "Super Moon".  Amazing!

London Tube Chair

Just finished this little project!  I am kicking myself for not taking a "before" shot--it was painted with some really ugly designs, but I loved all the curves and detail and knew it had potential.  The seat was the time-consuming part.  I enlarged the names of some London Tube stops with the little projector, traced over them, traced them onto clear plastic which I then cut out to make a stencil (yes, time-consuming).  Then I stenciled them onto black cotton duck fabric.

Unless I decide to keep it, this will be headed down to Liberty House.  I'll be posting photos of some other recently finished projects soon (though I'm still have troubling uploading photos!).

Thanks to Hobbin for sending this chair my way!

Spring!

Some pretty sights around here.

                                                            Bradford pear blossoms . . .

Current chair project . . .

Best:  Growing belly, just finished booties . . .

My Own Little Shop!

Well, I've been crazy busy since the "flea market" at Liberty House two weeks ago!  It went well and the best thing was that Pat offered me my own little room in her shop!  It's tiny, but just perfect for what I want.  She emptied it out (no small job), I painted it, and Ben installed a new light fixture.  I finished a lot of projects, and have been moving things in and pricing today.  Tomorrow Pat celebrates having Liberty House for 10 years, so hope to have a lot of folks stop in.

Liberty House this Saturday!

I'm excited to join Rachel from  Two Dog Pond and several other ladies at Liberty House this Saturday!  Should be a great time and fun to see everybody's wares.  Thanks for inviting us, Pat!

I'm pretty much packed up to go, though still doing a little painting and sewing as I get inspired.  Here's what I just (or just about) finished:

Newest little dresser--all spruced up and looking ready for a party:

Julie won't be there, but I'll have some of her cards:

Hope to see you Saturday!

Distressed Chair with Scalloped Seat

Just finished a chair . . .

I'm not always a fan of "distressed", but after a few tries, I really like how this finish came out.  The seat is covered with linen and then topped with this scalloped linen slipcover.  It seemed just the thing for this chair with its curvy legs and back.

This will be for sale at Liberty House on Saturday, March 3, though I'm kind of getting attached . . .  

Ottoman Project

Just finished a little ottoman!  Though a very ugly "before", it was solid and well-constructed piece and turned out to be so much fun to work on.

This was the first time I'd used upholstery tacks.  It took me a while to get the hang of pounding them in (with a trip to the lumberyard for a new little hammer), but I like the way they look.  The transfer on the top is a replica of a French grain sack.  The date on it is 1960 which I think fits the piece.

I'll have this for sale at Liberty House on March 3 if anybody is interested!

Scary "before" shot--I don't know what was worse, the fabric or the green paint finish:

Library Cabinet

An upcoming sale at Liberty House on March 3 has motivated me to get going on some new pieces.  It feels really good to have hammer and paint brush in hand again!  Things are going smoothly (I learned a lot from last summer's projects) and I hope to have a couple of dressers, an ottoman, a few chairs, and other miscellany ready by then.  I'll post photos as I finish (and as the computer will allow--still having issues getting pictures to load.)

This is an old oak library or office file box.  I painted each side a different color and Ben changed out the plastic hardware for these from Anthropologie.  It was great fun to do!

Playing around with some pictures and signs, too.

The painting part of the ottoman is done.  I'm going to try upholstery tacks on it instead of piping, and will post a picture as soon as it's done.  Meanwhile, I'm heading out to shovel some snow (not as much fun as painting).

Carrot Cupcakes and Snow

You gotta try this recipe for carrot cupcakes from Smitten Kitchen.  Moist, sweet, and they must be good for you with all the carrots and walnuts (and I left off the cream cheese frosting--she said smugly).

Meanwhile, we are digging out from our big snow . . .

Warm winter day

Some highlights from around here.

A sweet little baby quilt, now pieced and quilted.  I'm working on the binding and then will put it away until summer . . .

A new haircut for Pip . . .

And a recording-breaking warm day . . . which included a walk (Julie and me), a bike ride (Ben), and the urge to paint furniture (guess who).  No, I didn't actually paint today, but I did pull a lot of staples out of this ugly chair's seat cover.

Where it all happens

Do you remember a few months ago when I painted Julie's old room and set it all up for my own little creative space?  I love it, but the "layers" have quickly accumulated.  (You mean I have to clean up every now and then??)

Here's how it's looking now . . .

The laptop is between the sewing machine and iron so I can listen to podcasts and check my email while I sew.  The trash can is on top of the sewing machine table, so Pip can't knock it down and run off with scraps.  The bucket of my beloved paint brushes is next to the computer waiting for furniture rehab season.  And that's my design board to the left above the unorganized piles of fabric.

In the fall I switched from painting furniture to house projects and quilting.  I'm back to work on my New York Beauty quilt--and much closer to finishing.  Today I sewed the last of the paper pieced sections (there have been a lot!) and started appliqueing these round stars  to the brown squares.  I've worked very patiently on this quilt, but am ready to see it done.

And I'm still having trouble downloading photos from iPhoto to this blog--very frustrating!  It doesn't seem to matter which camera I use--or browser--sometimes they work, more often they do this:

Any suggestions?

Ah, biscuits!

I've been very neglectful about blogging the past few weeks, but not about eating!  Now I must share this wonderful biscuit recipe from www.plainchicken.blogspot.com.  They are very simple to make and have a great texture and taste.  I'd rate them right up there with KFC biscuits--and well above any I've tried to make over the years.

2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup 7-Up
1/4 cup melted butter

While oven is preheating to 450 degrees, melt the butter in a 9-inch square pan.
Meanwhile, in a bowl cut sour cream into the Bisquick.  Add the 7-Up.  It's a very soft wet dough.  Sprinkle additional Bisquick on the counter and pat dough out.  It's very sticky, so I sprinkled more Bisquick on top.  The recipe said to cut the biscuits with a round cutter, but they squared up as they baked, so I thought it was easier and less wasteful to just cut the square of dough into nine smaller squares with a knife.  Put them into the pan on top of the melted butter.  Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Photo from plainchicken.com

Off to a Good Home!

It may sound silly, but I loved seeing our things go off to "good homes" on Saturday (yes, kind of like puppies).

Take the little blue dresser.  I didn't really want to sell it--BUT knew we just didn't have room in our little house to keep it.  I was so happy to see Kitty, who is an amazing cake artist and owner of
 Tasteful Indulgence, buy it for her shop!  Check out this photo she sent:

Lucky dresser!  Doesn't it look happy surrounded by all those lovely cakes?!!

Craft Fair

Julie and I had a great time selling at our local Seward Jr. Women's Craft Fair today! Thanks to everybody who stopped by our booth.  It was so much fun to visit  and you were so nice to buy things!  Thank you!

There was a lot of interest in the pretty aqua dresser (above), but without a way to get it home most people had to pass.  This means it's still for sale ($85.) and my handsome husband and son-in-law will  deliver it locally.  Let me know if you're interested in it or anything else you saw.  You can contact Julie at her blog (http://julieowens.typepad.com/the-cork-board/)

 if you'd like more of her cards, bags, or baby hats.

Again, thanks Jr. Women's Club ladies for a fantastic job putting together this event--

and to all of you who came!