A made-over make-over

Of course I think people should buy everything I paint, but it doesn't always happen. Sometimes things just don't find a lovely home to go to. The best way to deal with it is to re-think the piece  and get out the paint cans.

This coffee table was decoupaged with leopard tissue paper and given an aged finish. It had a few lookers, but nothing serious.

It received a fresh coat of black paint.

Since this little blinged up table already had the bling on it,  I had to figure out away to paint around it, and yet cover the flowers.

So I decided on a stripped, french market inspired pattern. 

Hopefully now they are ready to fly out the door!

Jen

The little table that could...A love story

I'm on a budget.. who isn't now right? The quest to prettify my house  has been a little bit harder.

When I went on this shopping day

in November of last year, (funny post, you should read it some time,) I saw this little chest of drawers. Now I could paint something like this.. but I really liked this exact one.

My eyes met it's knobs from across the room and it was love...Weeeeeellll... for $199 it was more like lust.. Every month, I would go in to the store and it would still be there marked down just a tad more. As I drooled over it and caressed the top( to wipe off the drool) and I'd think(sigh)... maybe... 

This went on for months... if it were a real relationship I would've been called  a stalker by now...So after months of pining and glancing, I had saved  a little fun money and  I went it for this Kim Parker. 

And there it still was , the object of my affection... with a slightly wonky drawer! Marked down to $100! Hmmm.... Knowing what I know about the retail business ( I worked at  Marshall's for a stint.. not recommended.) and the economy, I approached the manager...

"I really like this and I know it is on clearance, but this drawer is broken..."(Wiggle. wiggle.)

"mmmhmmmm."Said the manager.

"I was wondering if there is any way this could be marked down just  a little more to fit my budget. It would leave today." (puppy dog eyes.)

"HHHmmmmmm." Said manager again.

So for $90.00 I scored my heart's desire! So don't be afraid to ask so your love story can come true... The worst they can do is have you escorted politely from the store, with a big, strong man on each arm.

A little paint goes along way....Dining area make over

I had really wanted to paint my dining area in the worst way since I had rearranged it.. it had become a train wreck of faux finish and jumbled furniture... I had to admit, I liked the new set up, but I was embarrassed by how it looked yet never had the time to do anything about it. The one good thing about a recession is more time on one's hands, so I decided to finally take an opportunity to work on my own space.. finally... I know it's  along way off from where I want it, but still, it's much better than it was!

Before

This is my icky, yucky space before hand. Bad eating area, bad!

After

 (Thank you Cherry and Melissa 

for the paint color idea... and Thank you to my good friend Nicola for helping me paint.)  

Some "New to me" yard sale chairs..

Before

The room from a far with it's dark color and CLUTTER. Ack!My eyes! My eyes! It's blinding me!

After

Ahhh... much brighter. I love that wonderful Benjamin Moore Aura paint...You know they will color match any color in it? Fabulous!

Less cluttered

I have a story about this little red cabinet for later...

I am calling this my artsy book stack, but really it's a bunch of books I had no place to put..

SO what do you think?  You have to work with what you have, right? I wish I had a better camera to truly embrace the full effect, in daylight it's so nice too... I have to tell you though, I am having  a hard time not hanging more things on the walls and getting more artsy..  but I like  how crisp it looks so for now I am resisting the urge, maybe I should give up over-accessorizing for Lent. I have a few more little things I want to do,like swap out the chandelier for a semi-flush mount and add some molding.. but all in good time.. all in good time... 

Jen

Thank you and a winner!

Thank you so much to every one who participated and stopped by for the party! What a great time! There were so many creative ideas and so many clever and talented projects! I think we might have to make this a regular thing once  a month, so get your creative caps on and  start brain storming your next make over!

Also, I had mentioned that once a month I was going to do a drawing from my followers section just as a way to say thank you for sticking by me! This month the winner is Number 35! 

Willywagtail

She wins the book Household Wisdom by Tess Evelegh! It has all kinds of neat tid bits like how to make your own bath salts or how to make scented wands out of fresh stalks of lavender. And of course I just hit 100 followers, so of course I have to give the 100th person something, you know kind of like  a supermarket giveaway....

 So Country Romantic e-mail me your address and I'll send you a surprise in the mail as well!

That you guys so much! I'll have my dining area make over posted in a few days! :)

Jen

Welcome to the furniture,room, and trash to treasure make -over party!

Welcome! I am so glad you could come! I am excited to see all of your amazing transformations! Who doesn't looooove  a good make-over?

Here are the rules: Link up to Mr. Linky with the specific post so if people are reading this a month from now they can go right to the correct post. You can use an old post, but it should still link back here.

Link back to THIS post so that readers can also find the party right away.

Have  a great time! Who brought the chips and dip?

This is a table make-over I did for a client.

Look what some one did the this poor abused table! Some one should call DCTS ( Department of Chairs and Table Services...) ! They said it was for their beach house... now I have seen some of your lovely beach houses and I don't think that would fit into any of them. But, it was  a family piece and they really wanted to keep it... Alas, there was still hope ( Okay, so I am being just  a tad dramatic...)!

It was finished in a faux wood grain and a mottled paint technique on the top. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and joining in!

Now let's see your fabulous make overs!

Are you ready to Party?!

( Not my kids, but I got this in an e-mail entitled "why Dad's shouldn't babysit".)

Tomorrow is our make -over party! Stop by to see all kinds of before and after's or join in.. I'll have Mr. Linky up just after Midnight central time for all of you late stayer-uppers, super early risers and those across the pond!

Jen

The queen of the putty-knife

The last few days, spackle has been my last name. You never realize how many thing you have hanging on a  wall until you have to fill all of those little nail holes. The painting itself isn't  the hard work,

 it's the picking the color where on the paint strips they look different, but they all look the same on the wall, 

spackling, 

and moving stuff,

 and saying goodbye to old friends..

 and getting ready for a breath of fresh air...

Thrifty makeover, room make-over, trash to treasure make it over party!

Don't forget about our link up party on Wednesday the 25 th! Show us your best furniture make -over, room make-over and trash to treasure here! If you made it over, we want to see it!

Here's a yard sale find.....

* Editor's note: I have to add in that I bought the bench with the gold vinyl already on it... gold vinyl is never a good decorating decision.. even if you are stranded an a deserted island with one chair to cover and only  one yard of gold vinyl... use  coconut husks or palm leaves or something instead...

And stop by Thrify Decor Chick for even more make overs!

Wrap and staple job- a tutorial

I know! I know! I just recovered this chair! But,  it was so dark and seemed kind of detached from the rest of the room. 

I've been asked how to do a basic re-cover on a simple chair, so I thought it was the perfect time for  a tutorial. 

First. Measure your chair seat and add two inches all of the way around. If the chair cushion is flat and hard, you'll need to buy foam and batting (about 2' thick or so ,depending on how padded you like it for your tushie. The batting goes between the foam and new fabric.)

Then get your staple gun. I like staples that are 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch depending on the thickness of the fabric.

After unscrewing the seat, place the  seat upside down in the center of the cut fabric. No need to remove the old fabric if it's in good condition. With 54' inch wide fabric it takes approximately 3/4 of a yard to cover 2 seats. It only cost $7 to recover this chair (I bought the fabric on sale with a coupon at Jo Ann fabrics.). 

It will take about 15-20 minutes to recover the chair start to finish.

( If you are re-padding, place the batting and foam between the fabric and the seat.) 

The first staple goes in the front center. Fold  the fabric about an inch over and to the inside. This will help it from fraying or pulling later.

 The second staple goes in the back center. After folding the edge over, pull the fabric lightly  while you staple to keep it taught, but not over tight so it depresses the cushion. I'd show you if I had just one more hand.

The third staple goes in a side, repeat the folding and pulling.

Then do the last side the same way. 

When all of your sides are done, go back to the front and start at an edge next to the corner, pulling so the pattern and tautness are even with  the first staple. 

Go immediately to the opposite corner in the front and then fill in across the front. Staple the same way in the back next and then do each side. It's important to do this in this order so the fabric doesn't pull funny or become off-center. It will take some practice, but pick an easy, non-stretchy fabric to use the first time like a chenille or cotton duck.

The corners next... AAARRGGHHHHH!  :0  -No, I'm kidding!

Just pull the point up, tuck the sides in and then pull the corner down (If your fabric is really thick, you can trim it.).

Once it's down, staple.

Repeat for the other four corners. 

I find it's easier to get the chair seat on and off if it's on another chair or table. When you screw the newly covered chair seat down, after making sure it's lined up, apply pressure down to compress the seat. This will help the screw to grab the wood and new fabric.

Happy re-upholstering~! Once you do it, you'll find it's addictive!

Jen

10 minute make-over

The Nester at The Nesting Place Is having a 10 minute make over party and of course I am never one to miss a good party! My make-over didn't even take 10 minutes, unless you count the 8 minutes and 2 nails I broke prying the child proof safety cover out  of the outlet.

Lamp #1.. too blah....Moved out. 

Lamp #2 Moved in.

I think it's a huge difference!

Thanks to the Nester for having such a fun party!  Stop back over there and see all of the other great make-overs!

Don't forget Next Wednesday the 25th  of February I am also having a Mr. Linky trash to treasure, furniture-make over, room make-over party!Stop over and show us the best of what you've done!

Jen

A little blue paint never hurt anyone...

I picked up this little  table for $25 at a yard sale last year. It's been kind of bopping around my house, while I tried to find right space for it... I really liked the shape but I thought the dark wood was kind of heavy. I have been in this red,gold,green thing for  a while and am ready to lighten my decor  a little. I think it is seeing all of the wonderful cottage looks on your blogs has influenced me.

I had  a little bit of BM Stratton Blue left from the hutch makeover, so why not?

A bit of glazing with Tudor Brown and it was much better. I also moved it to a spot near my front door.

 I don't know why I hadn't thought about it before. It's a perfect spot to put my keys in it's little drawer and not have to search for them every time!

I also did a little thrifting over the week end and found this really cute, I can't think of what it's called,a terrarium? It was $6!

 I thought it would be cute with one of my extra clock faces, candles and a little bird waiting for spring...

Jen

For the Cora Paige playground benefit

Have you read about little Cora Paige?  On January 25th she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma after a series of seemingly normal ear infections. By February 8th she had gone to Heaven. Born on March 6th of last year, she wasn't even a year old yet.I can't imagine what they are going through, my heart aches for them. And yet, they still have such amazing faith.

They are building a memorial playground for her and to help with the donations, a lot of Etsy stores are donating their proceeds.

I have had a limited edition set of notecards printed from a vintage image in my Etsy store and all of the proceeds will go to building a playground for  Cora Paige. You can also donate directly here. Also there is a button on the page for all the other Etsy seller's as well.

Prizes and a party!

I had so much fun with the last drawing I did! I've decided to one once  a month  from my Follower's section. And  all you have to do is be a follower, I wanted to do something every month as a thank you for being such good friends... no leaving a comment, no doing ten things and Twitter, just hang out around here and you win something! .....I'll draw a name on the  25th of each month.

And how about a before and after party to chase away the winter blues?Whooo-hoo! Next Wednesday the 25th, link up to your favorite furniture make-over, room make-over or trash to treasure here.. show us your stuff!

Also,I am looking for input... what would you like to see more of on my blog? And what do you enjoy reading about the most? Make-overs, thrifted finds, home decorating projects, crafty things? I have  a poll on the right.. feel free to leave your opinion in a comment as well! :)

Jen