I Make Things - Furniture Make Overs

I love to make things. 

Specifically, I love using items in my art that would normally be thrown out.  

I use old wood, frames, fixtures, even discounted paint.  

I used wood from my dad's stock pile to restore this music cabinet.  I took out the speakers and replaced the panels with aged wood.  

This is still one of my most favorite pieces of all time.

It was a lot of work, but worth it.

I turn old mirrors into chalkboards.

You can read more about how I do this on an earlier post, by clicking here.

The french mirror/repurposed chalkboards sell very quickly. Many mirrors from dressers do not have professional hanging hooks because they attach to dressers.  These are usually the pieces I convert into chalkboards, because once I take the mirror out the frame is light-weight and I can add a hook for easy hanging. Every mirror I work with has a back panel.  I simply remove the mirror and back panel, paint the back panel with chalkboard paint and reattach it.  Other than nails, no other supplies are needed.

With a bit of imagination, chalkboard paint can be added to even the most unusual item.

Like this antique silver platter.

If professional hooks have been installed behind the mirror and I know my client can hang the mirror safely, I might add something special to make an old mirror look new. 

I love using the word LOVE when I make things.

I love using stencil patterns to make something ordinary stand out.

Want to see more chevron?  Click here for a piece I wrote about earlier.

I found this old piece of plank wood and added the chevron pattern with the midcentury swordfish I found at Goodwill.

This took some time to create, 

Before

but I love how it turned out.

After

Midcentury exemplified.

This piece had wicker cabinets and wicker is so not back in style, so I took the wicker out and replaced the panels with old wood, then added the chevron pattern.

Ombre with stenciled arrows.

And if a piece is really lucky, I'll accentuate the natural wood and leave the top butcher block.

My clients really love this look.

So few things are made out of real wood anymore, it's nice to show it off if it's there.

One of my all time favorite pieces was this Bassett hutch.  I really worked with the color and pattern.  Funniest thing, when the counselor took this into the shop, he placed the top piece on upside down.

See the electrical cord for the lighting fixture.  Yeah, normally, that should not be on the bottom.  Sometimes men and detail do not go hand in hand, but my man's a keeper anyway.  

  This shows just how well it was put back together, that it didn't completely fall apart while upside down.

There she is in all her glory, right-side up.

Vintage bar painted in red oil gloss paint.  The oil paint went on like sticky marshmallow whip.  I wasn't sure if it would work out, but viola!  

After several days of letting this thing dry out, it was gorgeous.  This piece felt so sweet to run your fingers over.  

I shop Hobby Lobby and when fun items, hooks and knobs are half-price, I stock up.

I took a chance on this Thomasville hutch desk.  

I don't normally like to work on pieces with glass, but I fell in love with this style and those brass fixtures.

I guess I could be called an environmental artist. 

I'm just happy I'm no longer a starving artist!

There are so many items I don't get around to photographing, like my custom shelves and barn wood wall hooks.  You can find my original pieces at either Merchant Square in Chandler AZ, booth 73 or Antique Plaza in Mesa AZ, booth 52.

Old Mirrors Turned Chalkboard

Sometimes this pile of mirrors gets to me, like that unsettled feeling you get when you know you have something to do but you just can’t put your finger on it.

For almost every dresser I bring home, there is a mirror included with it (sometimes two mirrors).  These mirrors are my “something to do.”  But, what do I do with them.  When I have benefit garage sales, I can barely give these old mirrors away.  I don’t think many people want an old mirror.  Truth is, I know these mirrors can be something wonderful, if only!  

The thing about me is I’m not your “attention to detail” type of person.  I’m not crafty, I don’t own all sorts of tools for up-doing and repurposing and I’m not that inventive with this type of thing.

But, still, I have all these mirrors, so I had to try something.

Chalkboards.

CHALKBOARDS!

 I see chalkboards in my sleep!

I'm in love with CHALKBOARDS!
I did keep one a mirror, but that's because it was pretty special.

And I did make some wall art, I think this would be called architectural salvage.
I want to do more things like this.

But the not crafty part is a problem.

Also, the counselor and I had a splendid yonder night at the Nickel Creek concert.  

I highly recommend I am a Lighthouse & When You Come Back Down.  The lyrics, musical talent and vocals of this group, well, I was mesmerized.  Their music is like a good massage, hitting just the right places and feeling ‘oh so good when you think you can’t feel any better.  

Yes, Nickel Creek was awesome.  

Linking up to:

What’s for dinner?

Here’s a way to keep the kids and hubby from constantly asking "what's for dinner?":  write out your menu for the week. Our family plans the week’s meals on Sunday night. I usually grocery shop on Monday, so I can buy all the ingredients for the week at one time (I'm all about saving time). Recently, I purchased this lovely chalkboard hanging  for 1.99 at Goodwill. All it needed was a little update.

First, I took it all apart and sanded the edges. What looked like black paint was actually really dark green. 

I sprayed it with Rustoleums Heirloom white

Then used an aging technique I learned here

I picked out some scrapbook paper and a fun font (carnival) and printed the “Menu” on my computer.

Using Rustoleums chalkboard paint, I refinished the chalkboard (it had a big scratch on it)

Finally, I put it all back together using hot glue.




I love how it turned out, but because I already have a Menu board (see picture below)




I’ve decided to give this one away. That’s right! Laura and I will be doing a super duper giveaway in December. Look for details coming soon. Hope you enjoyed! Love, Kelly