Weekend Furniture Re-do's

I found this wood table out thrifting and knew I had to have it.  

For $9.99, I could turn it into something special.  I have plenty of luck selling sofa/entry tables. 

I wondered what color I should paint it.

While at the paint store, I browsed through the yellows and found an amazing color.  I thought it’d be perfect for my table.

I came home and started painting, but to my dismay, it looked horrible.  

Later that day, on a walk, I noticed the stripes on the road and the color of the street signs.

And the yellow lost all its appeal.  Had I really just painted my table the color of road stripes?

The table sat in my garage for a few days, until the counselor and I went out on a date.  Like usual, our date ended at Wal-mart to pick up a few groceries.  Browsing, I looked through the spray paint colors and picked up metallic silver.

Now the table sits in my kitchen, just where I never knew I needed it so desperately.  I have no pantry and very little counter space, so this table works great for cookies sheets and big bowls and anything else I need to use it for. 

When I purchased the dresser for $30 at my local thrift store, a lady who was also browsing the furniture section actually stopped me.

“What do you plan on doing with that?” she asked.  “It’s in really bad shape.”

“I plan on re-doing it, maybe a cream or white.”

“Really,” she said.  “I’d love to see how it looks when you’re done.”

So, I gave her the name of the blog and maybe she’ll be checking it out today.

Yeah, this piece was in really bad shape.

With its missing front panel.

Dinged up corners.

Dog-chewed foot boards!

Could she be beautiful again?  After all, she had great bones and was solid wood.  A little sanding and some paint and I’m really happy with how she turned out.

We all need a little fix-up now and then, don’t we?  

I sprayed the fixtures the metallic silver I used on my table. 

And the little cubby can be used for any cute little thing.

Books?

Lastly, I found this little bookshelf at the benefit yard sale last week Leah Lowe's family held to help pay for her funeral expenses.

In honor of Leah, I wanted to make it beautiful and share it with someone special.

I paint it red and take it to a friend's baby shower.  My friend's isn't sure if she's having a boy or girl (didn't want to find out), but the theme of the baby's room is western.

She already has ideas of how she'll decorate it in her space.  

Isn't this cute!  I can't wait to see the rest of the room.

We're Expanding!

Just a quick post to let you know I've been crazy busy this week preparing for a second space at Qcumberz. I painted and crafted all week and set up my new space tonight. In my rush, I neglected to take any after pictures of my furniture and projects- HELP. I didn't have the camera with me so I used my camera phone- however, I don't have a memory card, nor media package and don't know how to get the pics off the phone. I tried sending them to my online account, but on verizon it still says I have no pictures. If there are any camera phone genies out there I'd love whatever advice you have- My phone is an LG Octane. Enjoy your weekend. I hope to have some pics by Monday. Love, Kelly.

Easy Trash Finds for Christmas

It’s great living next door to a caterer.

My neighbor, the caterer is ever so kind in sharing leftover food from weddings, special events, etc. and more often, her decorating ideas.

She’s a genius.  This last month, she inherited a huge box of antique sheet music.  She’s made a sheet music wreath, wrapped candle sticks and bird houses in sheet music, added holly and red glittery birds, candy canes and snow flakes.  Her house is a winter wonderland.

Much of her decorating reminds me of some of the stuff Kelly and I saw at Anthropologie, like this Christmas tree, made out of sheet music priced at $38.00.

And these Mason & salt/pepper shaker jars, full of a Christmas tree and snow.

No reason to pay this much for cute Christmas decor, when you can make the same type of stuff from thrift store finds.  My neighbor, the caterer, had a box of old Christmas decorations ready to take to Goodwill, when she offered them to me.

I brought them home and paired them up with the 20 feet of garland I purchased at a garaging this weekend (paid $2.00 for all of it).

I strung up more garland across my windows and paired it with the caterer's decorations she gave me.  

Remember my gorgeous Christmas tree I found at a garage sale last year?  The home owner charged me $1.00 per foot, pricing the tree at $10.00.  Yes, this is the counselor's childhood sleeping bag covered with football mascots used as a tree skirt.  The counselor put up the tree while I was out garaging and the tree skirt was his idea.  We all have our battles, don't we. 

With the colder weather, Reef needed some warm shoes.  I found these leather boutique European boots at D.I. for $4.00.  

I love how he pairs them with his swimsuit.

Ride like the wind, little guy!

I found little sister's Christmas dress on Goodwill's dollar day this summer.  I found the red shoes last week at Deseret Industries for $2.00. Here she is after church.

We took family photos on Sunday.  I went thrifting with my mom on Saturday, hoping I'd find something fun and bold with a hint of Anthropologie coming through.  I found this Jones New York 1990's jacket and loved the color.  It was half-off day at Goodwill, so I paid $7.50 for it.  The boys all had their $1.00 day Goodwill sweaters.  Eden and I are wearing hair pieces I made from vintage silk flowers.  I think it's the only time this year Chandler and Payson have worn something besides basketball shorts and Nike t-shirts.

I'm glad I have some extra cash to start my holiday shopping.

I’d have to say my biggest payoff of the year was this credenza I found a few weeks ago.  

I paid $10.00 for it at a church rummage sale. It’s the same song and dance I’ve heard before and the reason this blog is called My Dear Trash.

“Yeah, it’s just an old ugly thing ready to go in the dumpster.  You really want it?  $10.00 and it’s yours.”

So, for $10.00 it was mine. 

It’s all in the eye of the beholder and I could tell this piece of furniture had a home somewhere.

Solid wood, no scratches, excellent working condition, so I listed it as-is on craigslist.

It sold in just a few days for $150.00 to an interior decorator who has huge plans for it.

What a way to start my holiday season.
Linking up to:

This Weeks Garaging Find!

Great finds this weekend! Here's a peek...Let's take a look at prices:
This Eiffel Tower is over 2 1/2 feet tall and was just $5.00, The oval frames were 1.00 each.
This french style nightstand was $10.00 and the wreath 1.00
Another 1.00 frame and 1.00 wreath. A vintage volkswagon metal car .50, books .50, teak tray 2.00.
And just in case you're not sick of my cupboard door projects, I picked up 4 cherry wood doors for $5.00!
And this was 1.00- I say "This" because I don't know what it is. I thought it was a garbage can, but when I opened it, there's a removable circular metal piece- maybe so you could make a fire in it and cook up some steaks???? It has a sticker for $21.99 on it, so it must be something cool- If you know what it is, I'd love for you to leave me a comment. What'd you find this weekend? Love, Kelly

Chalkboard Door

At a recent garage sale I found the frame of a screen door...AND... It was free! I'm helping a friend decorate for her daughter's wedding in January and I thought this frame would be the perfect foundation for a "Firsts" chalkboard. This is where the couple writes how they met, first date, first kiss, how he proposed, etc. I had a scrap piece of beadboard from our kitchen redo so I cut it to fit the inset of the door and painted it up with chalkboard paint. This door will be paired with a few french doors and used as a backdrop at the reception. Here's how it looks so far...
I just love the rusty hardware
Here's an even closure look
We'll be adding some vinyl to the top with their names and to make it free standing I'll be adding some brackets like these to each bottom corner...

I'll have lots of pics when the receptions over (Jan. 20)- so stay tuned. Love, Kelly.

The gift of trash as a baby gift to a mother of 5

My friend Amberlee, beautiful, super skilled, most talented, always has a smile on her face and designer jeans on her cute little bod, exceptional taste in home décor, art and friends (just saying), exemplar in all things love and mother of not four, but five children.  

She just had her fifth little precious angel, a baby boy named Steele.

He’s beautiful and I asked if I could take some photos of her baby sent straight from heaven. 

Amberlee loved the idea.

Stepping inside Amberlee's home to set up for the photo shoot, I never noticed how organic everything is; rock stone-tiled floors, lots of plants; dark wood furniture that looks like it’s from an old European church, and this trunk.

“It’s trash,” she said, referring to the fact she purchased it at a thrift store.

Really!  Trash! 

I had to have little Steele photographed by this trunk.

I brought this retro table and little drawer too.

Here’s how the photo's turned out.

So, what do you give to a mother of five as a baby gift?  With three other boys, she already has the clothes, toys, bedding, stoller, etc.

Amberlee’s older children love to play outside.

When I found this teak wood rocker for $14.99 at Goodwill, I had an idea.

I already had these Anthropologie cushions I’d found out garage selling for $2.00 a piece.

This is what happens when trash collides.

Now, she can sit out on her front patio and watch the kids’ play, while she nurses that new little one.

Cupboard Door Project #2

I'm still working on using up my cupboard door pile. Here's the before picture of the one I used for my next project...And here's the after...
This is a gift for my daughter. We started by putting 4 nails in the board (one for my daughter, her husband, their dog and our first grand baby, which is due in April) We placed the nails from the center, out, so it's easy to add more nails as they add to their family. No pressure, but there's enough room for 4 more grandchildren- 5 if they steal the dogs nail. Let me know what you think. Love, Kelly.

Cupboard Door Chalkboard Project!

A while back I picked up a whole stack of cupboard doors at a garage sale for a few bucks- So this week I thought I'd use a few in some projects. Here's the before of my first door...It measures over 3 feet tall and almost 2 feet wide so I thought it'd make a great chalkboard for the shop. Here's the after...

I used FolkArts Patina paint and then glazed with Briwax in dark brown. I just love the finish. Let me know what you think. Love Kelly.