Things I've Been Working On!

I had gone to the thrift store two different times and seen this lamp.  I really liked it, but it had problems.  I forgot to take a before picture so I will attempt to describe how it looked.  First it had a very big shade that looked like a chinese peasant's hat.  Then the color of the lamp base was a cement  putty color and had been dry brushed with a little green and gold.  The color was very subtle.  Also it had many chips in the plaster all over on it's pointy edges.  But I loved it.  I thought about that lamp and thought about it and finally on my way home from work I went back and decided if it was still there, I would buy it.  Well it was still there and so for $12.95 I bought it.  I also purchased this shade for $3.00 and donated the chinese hat back to the thrift store. Well when I got home I got some LOOKS from my husband, but I took that big, (and I mean big) lamp to the garage and got out the oil rubbed bronze spray paint and gave it a good coat.  The beautiful finial that came on this lamp has gotten lost, so we got a replacement tonight at Home Depot. 

 Today was my day off and I went in search of some Rub-n-Buff.  I had read alot about this in blogland and wanted to try it.  I wanted to create some definition to the fruit and the basket and not have them disappear into the dark.  I got it at Hobby Lobby and it was wonderful.  I put some on with my finger, but then used a cheap brush to get a better coat and do it quickly as this stuff dries fast. I love the lamp's new look!   Stuart got a photo of me with the spray can, while I was working on the mirror you see below.

I got this mirror a while back when I was doing stuff for Abby's nursery.  We didn't use it and so I am going to refurbish it and take it to Texas for our house there.  I gave it a coat of white paint and then brushed it with some dark stain.  I'll post a photo of it in the next few days and let you see how it looks. It is not quite right yet. 

I have some plans for a few other things in the near future that involve some drop cloths, some green paint and some dark walnut stain and a sander.  I also bought some paste wax to give it a try on the dining table and chest of drawers that we have in our Texas house.

This should keep me busy for a while.

Trash to Treasure

For a long time I have been wanting a kitchen island. I looked up how to build one, online, we had been pricing cabinets, looking for used cabinets and never had gotten around to building it. Well one day, I was at my favorite thrift store and lo and behold there it was. A kitchen island just sitting there waiting for me. It was a little wobbly and needs a paint job. The price was right at only $14.99. I grabbed it and brought it home. Jan helped me reinforce the base and add some casters. He also added some trim to hide the reinforced base. I need to paint it. It is great. I have all my kitchen ware that was housed in the garage in it, the knives in the drawer and my pretty le cruset dutch oven on the shelf. It has towel racks and also butcher block top. It is just the right size. Good things come to those who wait.

Thanks Honey for your help!