Saturday, September 25, 2010

To The Store



Here are some photos of the last load I brought to my booth at Not So Shabby-downtown Zeeland.  Stop by to check it out sometime.  Thanks to all of you for your wonderful support and interest!






Glass Apples or Pumpkins...whatever you want them to be...fill them with candy or acorns.


Pottery Barn Pillows




Love the graphic pattern on these pillows!



"If I only had a brain"! Tempted to keep this one.


Can custom order any letters and color combination.






Old schoolhouse desk. Perfect for a little girl's room.




Handmade birdhouse out of the book "Cinderella".










We do custom sign orders.




Cute votive candle holders.




OUCH.

Didn't bring this to the store yet...Esker can't part with it!
Happy Fall!

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Can I get an "Amen"?

What a good reminder!  My friend ordered this sign for her son's room.  It's based on one of his favorite bible verses.  I like the simplicity of this font and this advice!  Easier said than done, right?  At least it is for me.

This hutch I found at Allegan (not the antique show, but a garage sale near there).  I think it will be so stinkin' cute in a little girl's room.  I like it with or without the top hutch piece.  Look for it at this year's tag sale or my booth at "Not So Shabby" downtown Zeeland.

The price was right on this chair I found while biking one day on the south side of town.  I wasn't intending to garage sale, but I couldn't NOT stop. I ended up finding three huge pieces in addition to this, so back with the van I went.  I could see it looking cute and 'shabby' with a coat of soft white paint.

Again, a little change goes a long way.

I think this is the 4th drop leaf table I've bought this year. I love how versatile these tables are. I've had one for about ten years now, and I've always found a place for it somewhere.  In this house, it's on my front sunporch and on summer nights, we actually do put up the side leaves and eat dinner out there.  I liked the patina on this one, but it was really dull and chalky to the touch.

Okay, this one is a toss up.  I might've liked the 'before' better.  It didn't take the stain evenly, but it does look better in person. 


Isn't she a thing of beauty?
A few months ago, I received a text message from a number I didn't have in my phone.  The message simply asked, "Do you want this dresser?"  Well, I am desperately in need of a new cell phone and the picture looked pretty good. I said, "Sure, I'll take it!" not knowing what condition it was in, or who even sent it for that matter!  A few weeks later, I was working in the garage and over walks my next door neighbor carrying this beast.  He laughed when I told him that I didn't know it was him who had texted me about this.
But I got the last laugh when it turned out as great as it did!
Thanks Tim!  Keep 'em coming buddy!

This one was another mystery.  I was shopping at an antique mall in Holland and came across this odd looking 'workbench'.  I loved the stain color and the character of the piece and could see great potential in the original table. 










Ken took off the added on drawers and is going to repurpose them into a cubby shelf wall unit.  I cleaned it all up and bri-waxed the top and it's ready to go!
The sides are so cool!  The come from a track along the bottom and lift up into place so easily. 

As you can see, I almost forgot to snap a before picture of this ugly duckling.  I should've opened the doors so you could see that this antique side table houses an old record player and on the right side, a radio.  The bottom doors were for speakers and only one side actually opens, but again, for the price, I couldn't walk away.
I used a black and white mini floral pattern to cover the bottom doors.  The grid over the fabric was original to the piece as were the handles on the doors up top.  I think it's quirky and cute.  Might not be a practical piece, but it's a great conversation piece!

And sometimes you just have to leave well enough alone.  I found this dresser at a Goodwill in Ludington on a rainy camping day.  Had to have it for the color and the hardware!  Ken was jones'n to fix the bottom drawer, but I didn't want to let him.  Sometimes we have to love people (and things) just the way they are!

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Monday, September 13, 2010

The Bandwagon

Okay, I admit....I jumped on the bandwagon.  I HAD to have one of these rustic industrial carts that they used (and still use) in some warehouses to haul junk.  I found this one at an estate sale in Allegan a few weekends ago and with the seller's help, pieced this thing together from two separate carts. (The wheels weren't on this one originally). 
I've used this style cart before on two other occasions in sunrooms for clients, (I posted the pics on the blog a while ago).  They all turn out unique and each with it's own character.  This one I wanted for myself...
However, this 100 year old bungalow that I live in, isn't accomodating when it comes to bigger pieces. Foiled again.

It was covered in some kind of pink gook before I sanded it down.

LOVE my orbital sander.  In fact, Ken had to order a replacement part for it, because I had worn it down from overuse!  Now, it's better than ever.















After I sanded it, I washed it really well, and simply applied low luster polyurethane to it to finish it off.  I didn't want to stain it dark because I knew the coat of poly would automatically darken it.
I love how the beauty of the piece still shows through...even though it's been through the ringer, the charm is still there.  I guess that's what I love so much about God.  He sees me the same way I see this piece....with great beauty and potential...He even finds me charming in spite of all my dents and dings!  Amazing!!!

Once again, my camera doesn't do this justice.  And I would've showed it off in a finished off living room setting if I could've lifted the thing!!  It weighs a ton!  If I don't sell it out of my garage in the time being, it will be for sale at this year's tag sale in November.  More details about that big event to come!! Stay tuned....

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