I Don't Really Want To Let This One Go

I have had this end table for several years. I really don't have the room for it so it must go. And it doesn't really fit with the other things in our living room. We didn't realize how much detail this table has until I painted it.

After 3 coats of white chalk paint, heavy distressing, paste wax finish here it is. 

I sanded the top and restained with Minwax Ebony but couldn't get it to go darker than this. But it is still pretty. I left the original hardware just the way it was. 

My front porch looks like a paint shop. I have several projects going on out there. The neighbors probably think I am nuts. 

Another Addition To My Living Room

I can't say it enough. I love free. This little table was just that.

3 of the 4 legs needed new bolts. 2 of the 4 pulls were missing. But it had great potential. Dave cracks me up he still looks at me with this What??? face when I pick something up. 

I sanded the top down and stained it with Minwax Early American. Then I painted the bottom with the oops chalk paint from Lowes. The pieces in my Living Room are all going to be this color. This table is also great because it has the same legs on it that match the coffee table that used to be my parents. 

After 3 coats of paint, some distressing, paste wax and new knobs from Menard's here it is.

Kitchen Countertop Done and for 30.00 Woot Woot

We finished our countertop this weekend on the sink side of the kitchen. It looks beautiful. We used 2 x 4's. Who would have thought after sanding they have so much grain to them. The total cost for this countertop was 30.00 which is a double plus. We also made a pattern in the corner. We absolutely love that part. First we layed it all out. Then glued the pieces together and used clamps to hold it together with cement blocks on top. Dave cut the length once it was placed and glued. Then cut out the sink hole. I sanded the whole thing down and stained it with Minwas Early America. Then coated with 4 coats of poly. It was probably need more but I will do that once this heat breaks here.

It took 7 boards on the sink area and 8 on the snack bar area. I may make that part wider later, I am not sure about it yet. This is a work in progress but it is coming along. I am the kind of person who changes their mind 9 million times before I finish so we shall see how it turns out.

A Dresser Done Just Right

I just love the Habitat For Humanity Restore. I have picked up several pieces of furniture there. This dresser was 4.77. Gotta love a good price on something with lots of potential.

Sorry about the blurry pictures. My eyes are just not working right with this heat we have had here. I did not notice the blurriness until I uploaded them, and it is too late to redo them. The dresser is done. 

I mixed some white chalk paint. It is just a basic white wall and trim paint from Menards. Already mixed on the shelf and ready to go. I mixed 1 cup of paint to 1/2 cup of baking soda. The baking soda is mixed with just enough water to make it soupy before I mix it with the paint. It took 3 coats of paint to paint the dresser. It doesn't look that dark in these pictures, but it is a darker almost black. Then I sanded the top down and stained it with Minwax stain in Ebony. One of the drawers was missing so I took the drawer slide out of the top spot and also stained the inside of that. 

I wanted a natural looking distressing on this piece so after the paint dried I look a damp sock and started wiping. This will usually take the paint off only in the areas that seem to want to come off. That is the easiest way to explain it. There are some spots that I would like to be distressed so I use my nail with the cloth and kind of scratch it off. 

Then I used Minwax Finishing paste and gave it one coat. And here it is I LOVE the way it turned out. The drawers have an old newspaper look on the inside so I left that alone.

I did not do a thing to the pulls. I loved the way they looked so that is the way they stayed. The little shelf on the top was also purchased at the Restore on the same day for 3.00. It was already painted white so I just got out the old sander and distressed it. That is going to go on the top of the dresser with a few things on it. I'm not sure what things yet but we shall see. 

I am linking this post up with

 

Part 2 of Fantastic Furniture Finds

The 2 can chairs we found at the ReStore are going to be replacing the other chair I posted about earlier in my blog that I put in the sun room. These are going to go with the table so good.

I used the blueish grey chalk paint and painted 2 coats. Then I used Minwax stain in ebony and got it into all of the grooves and cracks, even on the seats. I let it all dry really well in between coats. Then a little distressing. And here they are.

I am super tired now but it was well worth it. We also finished painting the cupboards in the kitchen. No wonder I am beat. But I had to take advantage of the kids being gone. They will be all moved in soon and right on grama's heels from now on.

More Fantastic Furniture Finds

Well we went to the ReStore again and I found some treasures. I spent yesterday and today redoing 3 of them. The ReStore was having a sale in the clearance center, buy one get one free. So for 23.00 I got a plush chair that is in desperate need of repair, 2 cane back chairs, a side table and another chair. Here is the side table.

It has been really nice outside so I took advantage of that. First I cleaned it really well. Then I used on oops quart of paint we got at Lowes for 2.50. It is a greyish blue. I Love this color in fact I am thinking about taking it back and having them mix up a gallon for me for the dining room. Well I mixed chalk paint and painted the top. Then I white washed in Dutch Boy White Chocolate chalk paint on the bottom. The wheels and drawer pull got a fresh coat of the Rustoleum Hammered in Dark Brown. Then after the paint dried I sponged on Minwax stain in Ebony making sure I got it down in the detail and cracks. Then I simply wiped it off with a damp rag. The damp rag also distressed it for me so double plus. Less work. Here it is after a wax coat with finishing paste.

And again I am not sure where I will be putting it. My youngest daughter is moving home with the grandkids this week so once again plans are changing. I think they are taking over my basement with their toys. But I don't mind, they are worth moving a few things around. 

My Niece Skyler Continues Reaping In Success

My niece has now been featured on our local news Channel 3 Congratulations just does not say enough.

View the Interview Here

We are so proud of you Skyler!  She was also featured in the Jackson Mi newspaper MLive.

View the Article Here

And here she is with Dave Pirner. The second picture is my brother James. Of course he had to get in on the action too.

I am in awe of this child. She is just amazing. It also brings back so many memories of my own. I used to sing. But alas my MS has taken my breathing so singing is next to impossible for me now. I think it's time to admit it. Yes my MS does define me in so many ways. But I think I am still going to say no it does not define me in many other ways. So maybe I am still on the fence. Who knows. Any way again Congratulations Sklyer and we love you!