Revisionary Life: 10/23/11

Saturday, October 29, 2011

A Little White Stool-ish Thingy and Forgiveness

This is not the best way to start a conversation or even a blog post, but, please accept my humble apology. I must ask your forgiveness.

I forgot to take before photos. I was SURE I had taken them in a batch of other things, but no.

I've found it's faster/easier to take photos of several before things at once. It's a bloggish spin on Henry Ford's assembly line method of working. Do several photos at once. Paint several items at once. And so on. It's really an efficient way to work if you have limited time (don't we all?) and like white stuff (again, don't we all?)

When I found this little stool for $5 in a thrift store, I bought it. It has been in my hoarding place - the place that is really supposed to be a garage but now my car won't fit - for a few years. Now that I'm blogging and being accountable to all my new friends, I have been bringing things from my stockpile into the house to work on. This one came in a week or so back.

A few posts back, I showed you a mirror I had painted with faux chalk-ish paint. My chosen faux recipe was adding 2 T. unsanded white grout to a cup of latex flat paint. (I chose the recipe because I had some grout stashed in my hoarding garage from another project.)

I had used the same mis-tint flat paint on other items, and it didn't cover very well. It took several coats to even get a "shabby" finish - one that looked covered enough to sand off a bit. The addition of the grout made the coverage much better - see the inside of my little stool/box thing with only one coat above.

I painted one coat, and a little touch-up second coat on the outside. I let it dry, which was pretty quick, and sanded to give it a worn look. Then, I rubbed a little Minwax Gel Stain walnut on, and sanded a little more. This recipe is a tad gritty, but workable.

The top of this piece was originally covered in a fairly worn tapestry-like fabric. Sometimes tapestry is nice, but trust me, this one needed covering in the worst way.

I snipped another piece from my painter's drop cloth. I added a layer of batting before stapling it down. (Actually, it was a layer of an old comforter, which was really a layer of batting between a couple of layers of cloth. I had it, and didn't have to buy new batting, which is not cheap!)

The top of this piece opens to reveal a nice little storage box. I think I will use it at my bedside, so I can stick my CoQ10 and Iron supplements inside it. They will be accessible and hidden instead of looking ugly in their bright orange bottles!

I don't know if this is really a stool, because it had a crooked sticker affixed to the inside of the lid that said, "do not exceed 50 lbs" or something like that. I debated about leaving the sticker exposed in case I ever decide to sell this, but it was crooked! So, I covered it with creamy burlap. The raw edges and staples were covered in ivory grosgrain ribbon. Aleene's Tacky Glue worked great for this!

Voila, my new little shabby white glorified pill box!

Today, I'm taking photos, painting several things, and getting a much-needed haircut! I hope you have a great weekend filled with loved ones, great food, and maybe a nice chick-flick!

Word for the Day:

Acts 10:43

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

May all your mistakes be forgiven, and may you feel the peace that comes with that forgiveness!

-Revi

Monday

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com Metamorphosis Monday

http://makingtheworldcuter.com/ Making The World Cuter Monday

Tuesday

http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/ Knick of Time Tuesday

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ Tuesday's Treasures

Wednesday

http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ White Wednesday

http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/ Primp Your Stuff Wed

http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/ Fall In Love Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/ Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/ Penny Pinching Party

Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/ Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/ Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/ Transformation Thursday
http://www.the36thavenue.com// Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ Thrifty Thursday

Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Feathered Nest Friday

http://redoux.blogspot.com/ Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/ Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ Frugalicious Friday

http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/ Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ Inspiration Friday

Saturday

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/ Saturday Nite Special

Monday, October 24, 2011

Easy Thrift Store Drum Shade Revision

This is sort of like one of those movies that shows the end at the beginning. I know there's a name for that kind of literary device, but it's been too many years since I learned it, and I've completely forgotten what it is.

That part doesn't matter so much - this story is about a poor young lamp. I can't tell you where she hails from. What I can tell you is when I met her, we were in a thrift store.

She was sweet, but a little overdressed for where I was going. She was a little dirty, but not disgustingly so. It was obvious a simple once over with a damp washcloth would work wonders on her. Her outfit was tired, dirty and a little too flashy in my opinion.

Still, with her shape, and that bone structure, I knew she could be a beauty. And she was sweet. So was her price tag.

I invited her to come home with me and have a nice bath. After dinner, we got down to business. With some probing on my part, she revealed true inner beauty. I knew she could be gently coaxed into a better life.

Still, there were some rough edges that needed to be addressed. And her love for cheap satin frocks that were less than flattering.... I understood what Henry Higgins must have felt like with Liza Doolittle.

First, a new outfit. A classic, traditional creamy burlap was just the ticket; it would be traditional, yet fresh and updated. With her shape, it would look fabulous!

A little measuring, cutting, some Tacky Glue along the edges, and we were well on our way. With the addition of a package of wide bias tape from Hobby Lobby, she was looking polished, and the rough edges were no longer visible.

I think she'll fit in quite well, so I plan on introducing her to the rest of the family.

Moral of the story: Don't judge a lamp shade by it's cover. If you find a nice drum shade with dirty or ugly fabric, this is a very easy fix!

What did I learn? Next time, use the thinner size bias tape. The wide size was more than was needed to cover raw edges. It didn't lie completely flat in a couple of places on the inside. I could redo it but I probably won't.

Word for the Day:

1 Timothy 2:8-10

 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

May all who meet you see your potential and your true inner beauty!

-Revi