Hot Red Side BORED!

Someone in my neighborhood was moving and getting rid of a tired, old, worn cabinet.

It was warped; one door was off; the back was moldy and water damaged; the top serving area was veneered with patches of it already chiseled off; and the shelves were warped.  The three drawers along the top were lined and glued with spring green felt (what were they thinking?) and the bottom skirt was damaged with chunks of wood missing.  As I pondered this dilapidated ol' cabinet I almost asked the owner the story behind it and decided instead to ask the price.  "How much are you asking for this?"  "Oh, I think $50.00 is fair."

"Yes.  Yes.  I can see that but..." and then I started pointing out how much work needed to be put into this number to get it looking good enough to put in my house.

"Well" he pondered, "this would work for storage in your garage."

Oh how he didn't know me!  I wanted this number for my dining room.  I had visions of a dry bar, looking to fill it with entertainment goodies and serving dishes.  Glasses and barware. "Ok.  If you don't sell it and you'll take $15.00 for it, please call me at the end of the day."  I gave him my business card.

By the time I got home I was half relieved he hadn't sold it to me.  Whew!  Dodged that bullet.  That would have taken me a few weeks to refurbish.  I knew this would be a complete re-do and I knew it would take a lot of hand sanding.  Do you see the detail of those three front drawers!!??

The phone rang.  "Hi.  I'll take $5.00 for it and I'll drop it off at your house if you still want it."

"Yes, sir."

The very next day I started on it.  Each drawer took me three hours to sand.  Little pieces of sandpaper, tooth picks and tooth brushes in and out and over and over each of those petals.  I pulled off the back and completely refitted that piece.  I chiseled all the veneer off and sanded until I could barely see the light of day for the dust!  I pulled off all the hardware; filled in all the dings with wood filler; and sanded smooth the inside shelves.  Those drawers messed up with a bad (and I mean bad) felt-and-glue-job took several attempts at dissolving the glue with various products and sanding.  Eventually they were smooth and clean as a whistle!.

About three weeks later she was ready for priming and paint.  You'll see she's finished in a vibrant red but I was going for something light and cheery which would fit right into my current decor.  This was the first color I applied after a good coat of primer.  Ralph Lauren Aegean Blue: 

The interior is Ralph Lauren Cinnamon which was a not at all brown like cinnamon but a warm golden.  I liked it.  As soon as it dried and cured for 3 days it was ready for the dining room.  Just one problem.  I didn't like it.

Nope.  I didn't like it at all.  Somehow my bright, island blue sideboard just looked like a cheerful piece of furniture just perfect for...

....for a kid's room.  And I couldn't get my head past that notion.

Sigh...I went back to Home Depot and looked for something more stately.  More...dining room-ish.

Maybe this was the month my hormones were playing games with my sense of style and color.  Yeah.  That's it.  But every color I picked out just didn't make me hear the usual song of the angels.  I settled on Ralph Lauren Anthem Red.  

 

And it happened again!  I wasn't comfortable with it.    No matter how I positioned it; no matter how I accessorized it; no matter how many guests ooo'd and ahhh'd over it I just didn't like it.

Ever have a project like that?  You loved the idea of it; loved the potential; loved the colors and knobs and shape and style but just didn't hear bells and whistles when you put it in your living space?

I listed it on CraigsList asking $100 for it.  You already know how much a gallon of paint costs and those drawer pulls were from Anthropologie at $12. each.  Anyone wanting that sideboard might think they've gotten the holy grail of sideboards. But nooooooo.  After weeks on CraigsList I got one inquiry:  "Will you be willing to take $35 for it?"  

A few more weeks on CraigsList with no interest and I called the Viet Nam Veterans organization which was happy to accept my donation, pick it up and sell it in their shop. 

 I'm only speculating but I'm sure there will be other projects that ultimately don't float my boat!  The good thing is I'm getting a lot of practice under my belt and honing my furniture restoration and refinishing talents.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Chalk This Up!

There are a bazillion beautiful chalkboard DIY projects and tutorials on Pinterest. 

Still I wanted to try a few of my own.  It just so happened I have a stash of unused frames in my garage calling out to me:  "Use me.  Use me up!"
 
 A quick cleaning with a soft, wet towel and TSP and these frames were ready to be painted.

For the chalkboard insert--I've been thinking about using a painters canvas instead of MDF or plywood.  Joann's carry them in several sizes.  This project required a 16 x 20.  Watch for sales when they are discounted 40-50%.  For odd-sized frames like the white one pictured in this post I used 1/4" MDF cut to size.  I've also been interested in giving the chalkboard spray paint a whirl instead of the brush on type.  Turns out I like the brush on type far better--more on that in a minute.

I spread out my drop cloths and used two pieces of scrap wood to prop the canvas above the cloth.  This picture looks a bit blotchy but that's because the spray paint is partially dry.

The canvas works well and the spray paint covered well the problem was that after writing on the painted chalkboard canvas with white chalk, it was hard to erase. After several attempts to remove the chalk with a few different erasers I finally used a damp cloth and...well...I was just looking for the old-school, authentic chalkboard eraser affect. I'll be returning to the regular chalkboard paint--the paint brush-on type.

After the chalkboard paint dried I slid it right into the frame.  A 16 x 20 frame and a 16 x 20 canvas match perfectly.  Ta-da!

Here's a rectangualar frame and chalkboard propped
on an easel.

Add a few magnets to the back of the
frame and affix it to your refrigerator.

This one is square with hardware affixed to the back so that it can be hung on a wall or door.

Or an "At the Pool" sign near your front door.


Nifty, eh?




I'm only speculating but I think I'll be doing more of these and shipping them off to my nieces.

She Sees Shell-Back Chairs

A few years ago I nabbed up four wooden Adirondack chairs not far from my house.  My neighbor had tossed them out to the curb and attached a sign:  "FREE".  I couldn't resist.  The good thing is these weren't just run of the mill Adirondack chairs but solid, bonafide, cedar.  You know what that meant?  They would weather years in the elements and not rot or grow mold and mildew and would do very well in my backyard.  I painted them with marine grade paint but that's a story for another time.

A few months ago I nabbed four shellback chairs at an estate sale.  My oldest helped me cart them home.  "Mom, knowing you they'll be shiny and new in no time."

Fast-forward four months...

Here they are yellow.  Drab. Rusty.  Dinged.  Bent.  

First things first:  I power washed them using the garden hose blasting full-force and got off as much rust and mud as possible.  Secondly I used a brush and a scouring sponge with a little detergent and lots of elbow grease: 

I repeatedly cleaned each chair removing rust, rust, and more rust.  Don't under emphasize this step, your spray paint finish will look so much better and smoother with the rust removed.

Next I let the chairs dry completely.  In the sun with a little zephyr they were dry within an hour.  So I spread the paint cloths and started with two chairs.  I like to let one chair dry while I move to the next.  Sort of tag team spray painting. 

 

I do the underside first.  That way I'm not navigating under the chair with a spray can trying to get into each crack and crevice.  Once the legs are thoroughly dry you can focus on the right side up -- which is what people see and where they will marvel at your fine, fine paint job!  These two chairs took three cans of paint so about 1 1/2 cans per chair.

 

Next, slowly, evenly and methodically spray the remainder of the chair.  I apply at least three coats depending on the level of rust.  Pay close attention to the rusty patches and give them an extra dose of spray.  Oh, and I prefer using Rustoleum's hammered paint but cannot find it in cheery, cool colors.  Man!  That hammered paint is awesome!  Next best thing is Rustoleum's Ultra Cover 2X Glossy used on these chairs in Seaside (blue).

After a couple hours drying here's the finished product.

Purely speculation on my part but I think these are going to look snappy on the patio this summer.

Green Acres

Quite often when I turn the corner and head down my street I launch into song:  Greeeeen acres is the place for me!  Faaarrrmmm livin' is the life I lead.  Land spreadin' out so far and wide...

This time of year it's verdant, lush and a-bloom with citrus, avocados, amaryllis, sweet pea, clivia, watsonia, freesia, star-of-david, geranium, fern, and the list goes on.  Long gone are the tulips and daffodils.  But they've given me that gardening itch.

Apple Blossom Amaryllis

Double Midnight Hollyhock

Seeing the marine layer hang over the Santa Monica Mountains and glimpsing the lush, grassy peeks of the San Gabriel Mountains  let's me know it's time to get busy in the garden.  This year a new asparagus bed goes in and the usual basil, rosemary, mint, oregano, sage, chives, and thyme get planted.  Each year I plant a couple new varieties and this year I'm looking forward to lemon sage.  O' just think of the possibilities.

I'm only speculating again but I'm sure there will be more singing in my future.  I can just hear Oliver calling out to Liiiisa:  you are my wife!  Goodbye city life!  Maybe I'll learn the 2nd verse to the Green Acres theme song!

Peonies

Sleeping Beauty!

"Mom!  Let's make Mickey Mouse pajamas for our Disney adventure."

We quickly rustled through the pattern file and voila!  This is perfect. 

Next, we hop into the car chatting and giggling all the way to the fabric store..  We look at three aisles of flannel fabric and find...nothing.  "Maybe we can use solid red flannel" I hinted.

"No, that just wouldn't be the same."  she said softly.

"Ok then, let's look around more."

And what to my wondering eyes should appear?   Across the store a sign: Character Fabrics.  I point it out to her and we make a bee line like two sprinters in a track and field relay.  Sure enough there's Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White fabric.  There's Tinkerbell and Cars.  We turn the corner and there's the perfect Mickey Mouse flannel fabric.  Six yards of it ought to do the trick.  Enough for 2 pair of pajamas.

We get home and cut it out. Pin it together and sew a couple straight seams.

A little bit of pressing of the seams; add a waist band and thread the elastic.

Looking at her sporting big, flannel, Mickey jammies and I know it's not just speculation-- she's a sleeping beauty!