Dining Chairs Mish-mash

Chair style 1

I prefer my  things don’t match. I like them to complement, but not be identical. So goes my dining chairs. I found two chairs for $15 each at a second-hand store. They had more, but again, no matchy-matchy for me!

The arms were scratched or chewed up by a critter, so I sanded and re-stained them.

I thought the details, the knobs and crosses on the back, went great with my table. New cushions and fabric make them perfect.

Chair Style 2

This little guy I found at an estate sale up the road. It was $1.

Sanded it. Taped the wood off. Painted the metal a flat grey. (Yes, Eleanor, grey again!) Stained the wood walnut. Wa-laa!

Chair Style 3

These chairs, I picked up for $3 apiece. Man, they were musty. I don’t have a before picture, but the original fabric was a heavy mustard upholstery. I was thrilled that the wood matched my other chairs, and even the details were mimicked. Not exact, but similar.

I used the same fabric, and encored the pillow fabric on the back.

Now to find a two-person settee, and my set will be complete.

Dining Table Makeover Adventures

Last January, I found a vintage table listed on Craig’s List for $200. It was just what I’d been looking for: ornate legs, hide-a-table extenders that slide in and out, and casters. The listing said it was in fair condition. One leg was missing a chunk and the veneer on the top was peeling and in terrible shape. But, it was sturdy.

I went to see it. Loved it. Made a deal to purchase it for $150, and then worried about spending too much for a peeling piece of junk. You know how that goes.

After experimenting with a few chairs, we decided the casters made the table too high. We removed them. Stephen squared up the legs, tightened screws and added a few more to make the leg support arch more stable.

I painted the legs Annie Sloan’s Paris Grey.

“Grey. Again?” My daughter asked.

“Yes, Eleanor. I want to marry the color grey.” 
After researching for hours on how to apply veneer, where to buy veneer, and how much it would cost; I decided NOT to re-du the veneer. I found one lonely forum entry by a professional furniture restorer explaining how he uses hardener epoxy to re-build damaged molding on antique pieces. It seemed easy enough. And it finishes smooth and very hard. I used 3Ms all-purpose filler. I peeled away all the loose veneer I could, sanded and then applied the epoxy- like drywall compound  -on the missing parts. Sand it smooth and repeat. Level and smooth. I’m not a perfectionist. I figured my kids would be slowly destroying the table for the next 10 years, so I wasn’t going to make myself crazy getting it perfect.

More Chalk Paint. More sanding. More compound epoxy. More sanding. More paint.

When I painted, the veneer sucked in the moisture, and started to pop up in places. I used a sharp syringe and watered-down wood glue to stab adhesive into the air bubbles. Then, I pressed it down with books and bench press weights overnight.  That works, but it is a tedious process.

More sanding to shabby it up. Then paste wax and a good polish.

I can’t say enough good things about Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint. It is a dream to work with. After applying wax, it hardens and shines beautifully.

After using the table for a few months, the veneer will still pop up in tiny places when I wipe it down or a it gets wet. Once it dries, it lays flat again. Having a painted table top was not my first choice, but I don’t hate it.

I love the way it looks, but its not the most comfortable to sit at. The scrollwork rubs our legs when we sit two to a side, and it stops the chair arms from tucking under. I’ll detail the chairs I re-did in a following post.

I still debate whether $150 (plus $100 for paint and epoxy) was a good deal for it. Hmmm. What do you think?

Spiral Joys o’ Butter

Joining the conversation over at Sprinkle Bakes about my favorite cookies!

Cabbage Rose Pillow

New bedding, new pillow. This throw pillow is made from 3 re-purposed wool and cashmere felted sweaters. One sweater made the cover. The roses are made from the leftover rosettes I used in making scarves.

I folded a flat and well worn bed pillow in half to use as the pillow form.

It reminds me of a garden bed of cabbages.

Linen and vintage scrap pillows

I haven’t been posting, but I’ve been sewing!

My mother passed along quilt pieces that her aunt had cut and hand stitched to me. I’ve used them for crafts and random sewing projects. A few weeks ago I stitched together a few couch pillows. The front is pieced from this vintage stash, and the pillow is with teal linen.

• I love linen! I purchase all my linen from this place: Fabric Store
• Rainbow is trendy!  So, I followed. Sends me back to my childhood, rainbows and unicorns!
• I’m tired of deflating pillows. I splurged and got expensive pillow forms. Lets see if its worth the extra cash?

Calico Burleighware

When I was a little girl, a friend’s family used a collection of Calicoware and Ironstone for their dishes. I loved eating at their place because of those dishes! Since my everyday dishes are in terrible shape, I’ve decided to start my own eclectic collection. I researched the history of this design, and discovered it is still made in Burleigh, England. It comes in many patterns and colors and dishes. One day, I’ll have to order straight from England to fill out my table, but until then it is so fun to find a plate or cup in antique stores! I feel like I found buried treasure. I picked a 10″ plate up yesterday from the first shop I entered. I saw it as I entered the store. Unbelievable. I picked up a cherry plate a  a viney tree plate too.

Blue and White China

Blue Calico

Burleigh Pottery

Chalkboard Project

I’ve been wanting a something painted with chalkboard paint for years. When I found this huge bulletin board at a thrift store, I knew this was the project for it! Stephen replaced the cork board with smooth plywood which I painted with a smooth nap mohair roller.  The pictures speak for themselves!

EAT!

I was inspired by Holly at Chez Beeper Bebe to go with cloth napkins. My husband is one of those men who likes to have napkins around the table… I’m one of those women who uses a shirt sleeve…and he pulls paper towels off for every meal and tosses them when done, whether they have been used or not. This drives my insanely frugal self CRAZY. So, we’ll see if cloth napkins will satisfy both of us.

Here’s a cute design I made following Holly’s tutorial. She kept the edges of her cloth unfinished and frayed. I finished mine with a rolled hem stitch on my over-lock machine. Love that finish!

My sewing machine has been skipping stitches when on zig zag for years. So, I’ve never been happy with my applique or button holes. I determined to get to the bottom of the problem this time since the stitches will be evident on the back of these napkins. After reading through many how-to’s online and much trial and error, I fixed it! Ahh, how pretty are those stitches?

Crochet Heart Garland

I’ve seen these things all over the place! So quick and easy. And cute. And lasting.

One heart took me less than five minutes.

And I like using up my scrap yarn!

I think this is my second time crocheting. So, its an easy project. Inviting you to make more and more!

Links to heart garland pictures and tutorials around the web:

• Little Birdie Secrets This has a video of how to crochet the entire heart. Perfect for those who’ve never held a crochet hook!
• Design*Sponge This is a different pattern from the one I used. Tiny and precise.
• Wise Craft I used this pattern. I love the way she used gray and black! And her crochet skills are way better than mine.
• Skip to My Lou I think this pattern is the one that sparked the craze. Its a bit different from mine, attached in two places.
• Maize in Montana

Henry’s New Bed

I love loft beds. So practical for small rooms. We picked up a beat up loft bed for Henry on Craig’s List for $100. And when I say ‘beat up’, it was. It looked like a kid had taken a screwdriver to the soft wood. Stephen and I spent 6 weeks, re-finishing it. Here’s the Before and After.

I had a sewing marathon on Sunday, determined to get the quilt out of the way! Here it is with the proud recipient!