Mama With a Dash of DIY Drama

Jingle Bell Junk Swapin' Good Time!

2012-12-03T08:18:00.001-06:00

Miss me? I know, I know... it's been like, FOREVER since I've written a post! I've been busy with life, a new career, etc., etc., and have failed at taking photos of my furniture before it goes to someone else's home. Boo me. But this, THIS is different! My bloggy BFF's are some of the craftiest peeps I know and I've teamed up with them for the JINGLE BELL JUNK SWAP! Sounds fun, right?

Ch ch ch ch changes.. and a Chest of Drawers

2012-08-25T12:35:00.000-05:00

I'm going to ask you a favor. I'd love for you to "like" me, if you don't already. I'm hoping to incorporate my "work smarter, not harder" mantra into my blog. So, going forward, my blog will become secondary (audible gasp here) to my facebook page as a way to showcase my work. I know, I know. Look at me all bucking the trends and whatnot. I promise to come back and

Wordless Thursday (hee hee) Fit for a Princess

2012-08-16T10:18:00.002-05:00

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed What Have You Redone? at Redoux var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : '

Little Metallic Whatchamacallit

2012-08-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

I've wanted to try metallic paint for awhile and this small dresser/buffet/nightstand/entry table/whatchamacallit seemed like the perfect victim. Oh, you weren't expecting a REAL before photo were you? It took a LOT of sanding and a few million coats of primer to get it perfectly smooth. It's such a cute little thing, but too small to really hold much in the way of clothes.

The Cheerleader

2012-08-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have a cheerleader? var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s =

The Humor in Craigslist

2012-08-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

It's probably no secret that I love Craigslist. With only one exception, I've found that the people who buy and sell on Craigslist are nice, genuine people. Finding an antique or vintage piece that was unloved or unneeded, fixing it up and giving it drama and a new life makes me a happy, happy girl! (A few examples: here, here, and here) But let's be honest, Craigslist is also pretty darn

Gloria

2012-08-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Yep, she's big and she's chunky and even her curves have curves (this is a Madagascar 2 reference of course) This chest is by far the most distressed piece I've ever done. After spraying everything in sight with my HLVP paint gun, I thought it might be fun to hand paint again (just to make sure I remembered how) A little ASCP, clear wax, distressing, dark wax and buffing.

NOT your little girls headboard!

2012-08-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

I found a vintage, pink, vinyl, diamond-tufted, king-sized headboard and fell in love. Love at first sight can have it's problems though. Pink headboards are probably best reserved for little girls. Most little girls don't have king-sized beds. Hmmmmm. So, I paid a visit to my nearest auto parts store and picked up a can of spray paint. Yep, paint made specifically for car interiors of

Playing Catch Up!

2012-07-30T04:30:00.000-05:00

Here a few more pieces that I've finished over the summer. I won't even pretend that I did a very good job of taking before, during or even after shots of these, so forgive the photography (some were even taken on my phone - yikes!) Orange Sherbet dresser. I think this is my husband's favorite. I love the detailed hardware around the keyholes. Sandstone Cove chest of drawers. Remember

Report Card & What I've been up to!

2012-07-27T16:46:00.001-05:00

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.... var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';

Summer Frenzy and a White Vanity

2012-06-14T14:31:00.000-05:00

I have to laugh at myself. (Okay, I do that A LOT.) I always imagine summer as this warm, breezy, relaxing, fun- and cookout-filled time with family. Then reality sets in and we run around with our hair on fire trying to fit in all the activities. I KNOW I'm not the only one! Luckily, I have this blog that forces me to stop for a moment and WRITE and think and reflect on how very

Red China Hutch

2012-05-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

My youngest son asked me "Mommy, what are you painting now?" I answered "a red china hutch". He asked "is that like Red Solo Cup?" var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' ==

Recent Vintage Finds

2012-05-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share some of the fun vintage decor I've found over the past couple of weeks! This Spanish carved wood box is so cool. I love the dragons and the feet! Don't you love these great vintage seltzer bottles and glassware? The bottles were made in Austria. I promise to put together a better vignette in the shop! The tray wasn't always this pretty. I can live

Burlap Rose Wreath in 3, I mean, 30 minutes or less

2012-05-25T16:32:00.001-05:00

Because I'm such a good friend and because my front door is a bit bare, I'm taking part in the Welcoming Wreath party hosted by Gwen over at The Bold Abode! So, here's my tutorial for making a wreath in 30 minutes or less! Step 1) have grape vine wreath, old burlap coffee sack, hot glue gun, scissors and other various accoutrements already on hand. Okay, the whole deal make take a little

Aqua Dresser Reveal (Spray Victim #1)

2012-05-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

You may remember this dresser from a previous post (here). It's the first piece I've done using my new spray gun! I really love how the gun makes quick work of painting and dry time! ta-da! The prep work was basically the same. I sanded and cleaned, re-glued and clamped a couple of the drawers and corrected a few flaws with wood filler. Then I gave it 3 light-to-medium

Chair love {part 764}

2012-05-24T05:00:00.000-05:00

I love chairs. The end. Okay, I love chairs and shoes that make me tall(er). Wait, I don't mean chairs that make me taller.... nevermind. ooops, not a true before, but can you see that lovely green color that the frame used to be? Yikes! (Yes, I still paint in the dining room, despite what can happen!) But shoes are shoes. For the most part you can't update them. You can't

Spray Tans for Furniture

2012-05-23T15:53:00.000-05:00

About a year and a half ago I was obsessed with spray tans. Source Not the orange "I'm in a fitness competition" spray tans, just the kind that left you feeling a little healthier and maybe even looking a little thinner without the nasty business of lying (laying?) in the sun. (Who has time for that anyway? Okay, I admit, I wish I did!) Anyway, it occurred to me that even with

By the numbers

2012-05-15T08:07:00.004-05:00

You think I paint EVERYTHING, don't you? Well, okay, I do paint almost everything. I love this curvy dresser and it's in such good shape that I was feeling a little guilty slapping a coat of paint on it. Although I really, really wanted to. var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() {

Happy Mother's Day!

2012-05-13T04:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you great Moms out there! May you all have a restful day! var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') +

Dilemma of the Day - be careful what you wish for

2012-05-11T12:43:00.001-05:00

Good morning sunshine! I'm writing this post at 5:05am and that's waaaay to early for me to be awake, so I'm feeling a little loopy! Mornings are not typically my time to shine, but Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings this week, I woke up at 4:18am. (Okay, well, 4:18am was when I first looked at my phone.) How does that happen? This isn't a good thing as I canNOT fall back to sleep

The Rules

2012-05-07T14:15:00.001-05:00

When you have a home full of boys, sometimes you need rules. (the offender) Rules like, "snacks and drinks stay on the hardwoods" (also known as you're not allowed to eat in a room with carpet) Rules such as "a healthy snack before junk food." Or, how about "take your shoes off when you come inside the house." Sometimes the rules are forgotten and Mom has to remind everyone.

All Jacked Up

2012-05-02T07:56:00.002-05:00

I love the Union Jack furniture that's all the rage right now. I've seen it done in really original color combinations on every type of furniture. The Southern Eclectic Design Sponge For my first go at it, I decided to stick closely to the traditional color scheme. But, I had no idea how to lay the stripes out. So, I read the history; the "why"

White

2012-04-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

White hat = good guys, right? White flag = I surrender! White dress shirt on 5 year old boy = um, NO! "Dark walnut stain, then butter yellow paint, then black paint, then dark stain. Can I be WHITE this time around?" she asked. "Of course." I replied. What, you don't talk to your furniture? Then how do you know what it wants to become? See, it's NOT about me and I

Channeling My Inner Bob Ross

2012-04-20T16:41:00.001-05:00

I'm currently taking a break from a project that is driving me bonkers! Maybe I should think of it as a "happy accident". More on that later. Taking a break for me usually means grabbing a paint brush and getting busy. There's just something so therapeutic about painting. This realization makes me think of Bob Ross. So this child-sized antique washstand ended up

Dilemma of the Day

2012-04-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

These beauties landed in my lap last week. 3 of them. I love them. They were once part of a huge, glorious chandelier in a vast, magnificent castle. I made that up - I really have NO idea what they were, what they're for, or what I can turn them into. Any suggestions? var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-26298913-1']); _gaq.push(['_