Rope Lamp–An Easy Make-Over

We refinished our basement a couple of years ago and I am still putting some decorative touches on the space.  Of course, if I can reuse something I already have… all the better.  Here is a very low cost remake of a lamp base.

This is the lamp as I started attaching the rope.  You can see it has a pinkish colored ceramic base with brass trim.  It was the right size for the room but definitely not the right color or style.   Pinterest had several pictures of projects wrapped in rope and it gave me the idea to try it here.  So off I went to Wal-Mart for rope.  When I got back home, I pulled out my trusty glue gun and started wrapping.  I hot glued it securely to the ceramic and just kept wrapping.

The base completed. 

I bought a natural linen lamp shade at Lowes to finish the look.  I love the natural and organic look. 

Evening…

Daytime…

Such a quick and easy project!  See you again soon….

Suzanne

Vintage White Dresser

This pretty little vintage dresser is one of my most favorite finds.  It even came with a mirror which attaches to the back.  I was hoping it was small enough to use as a bathroom vanity in my main floor bathroom but it was just a smidge too big.   I had it priced and ready to send to the Prairie Market Sale last October but I just wasn’t ready to part with it.

Here is the before . 

Pretty dinged up and look at that shiny varnish.  But it has really nice detailing and I am a sucker for those casters on the legs.

 

Here she is in process.  I used Annie Sloan Old White paint and distressed over the detailing.  I painted the top of this piece because it was in pretty bad shape.

And now finished with some decorative touches.

Love the brass hardware.  I left it pretty much as is.

A few more items for staging.  Love love love this rusty old fan.  And the neat vintage knitting yarn spools from my sister-in-law.

A picture of my sunroom.  Isn’t she cute in the corner.  Such a sweet dresser.

You can also see the chair and ottoman which I slipcovered in painters drop cloths and the green side chair (that I have featured before) but now has a new dry brushed white finish over top to soften the look.

Thanks for stopping by.  I know I have been MIA for a while.  I have been working on a few projects of my own…. really!   And I proved to myself, beyond a shadow of a doubt,  that I  am not “Super Woman” after all.  I needed some time to regroup, work at my nursing job,  hold down the fort while my CPA husband worked long hours during tax season, and spend time with my teenagers who will be flying the coop in the next year and then 2 years after that.   I’ve also enjoyed doing some reading over the winter.  If you are looking for a quick to read series I highly recommend the Maisie Dobbs books by Jacqueline Winspear. 

I look forward to sharing more frequently in the future.  I will be working on a few pieces for the Prairie Market Sale coming again this October.  That’s all for now…

Suzanne

Bright Colored Furniture For a Child’s Room

Okay – So…. one last post before our upcoming Prairie Market Sale this Friday and Saturday.  I painted this little vanity/desk in a bight green color.  I envisioned it in a little girls room or playroom.  It has drawers painted in a creamy white and then some fun knobs from Hobby Lobby that put the finishing touches on it.

No distressing this time.

A closer look at the knobs.

I added a student sized desk chair that was also painted in the creamy white.  Detailed the legs with a bit of bright pink and green.

Set  a fun embroidered pillow on the chair to add a bit of whimsy and softness.

She makes me smile!

Then I painted a small wardrobe in a bright pink color to coordinate with the desk. 

The inside was painted a soft pink.

And fun colorful knobs added to this as well.

Here are the wardrobe and desk together.  Wouldn’t they make a fun little girls room?

And not to forget… the hand painted table and stools set that also coordinate.

 

They were slipcovered with this bright fun flower power fabric!

The entire set together.

These pieces and much more will be available to buy this Friday and Saturday during our Prairie Market Sale.  Please stop and say “hello” to all of us!!

Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13

9:00am to 5:00pm

9607 Fairby Drive  Gretna, NE (just east of hwy 6 and Cornhusker)

Suzanne

Hoot Hoot For Fall – Owl Pillows

Looks like Fall has officially arrived in the Midwest.  The leaves are turning those beautiful yellow,orange and reds … and the morning air is crisp and fresh.  I have been away from the sewing machine for a while and it felt good to stitch something again.  I saw the pattern for these owls and knew they were my next project.  They are really easy to whip up.

I used leftover materials from other projects to pull these together.  The feathers around the middle are simply made with strips of fabric or selvage.  Whatever you have on hand.  Then cut to look like feathers.

They each have a personality, don’t you think?  Quirky….and Silly….

These owl buddies are priced and ready for our upcoming Prairie Market sale.  They would be a great gift for small children, as they are made completely of fabric (no buttons or loose objects).

Hope they made you smile a bit.  Have a great week!

Suzanne

Magazine Rack with Chevron Pattern

This is the story of an ugly beat-up magazine rack.  I love magazines and they seem to multiply at my house.  Especially, since the Golf magazines (for hubby) must come weekly….or more often,  Really!  So needless to say, I have magazine storage in every room of the house…  Guess it’s my attempt to keep the house looking “picked up”.

The before picture.  An ugly but sturdy piece… that’s definitely seen better days.

Here is the after.  I thought the flat sides were perfect for painting a chevron pattern on them.

I started by painting the entire inside and out with Annie Sloan Old White paint.  Then I  taped off the chevron pattern using painters tape.  Finally, I painted over the sides again using Annie Sloan Paris Gray.  The taping is a bit time consuming but worth the effort.

Another look.  I finished the piece by waxing it with clear wax.  I chose not to distress this piece for a more contemporary look.

Here it is in my sunroom.  It would be fun in any room of the house.

Thanks for stopping by.  Wishing you a terrific week!

Suzanne

Vintage Painted Blue Hutch–A 70’s Redo

I wanted to share with you one of my recent projects.  I picked up this hutch from a super nice family who had 5 hutches to get rid of… I took 2….  I didn’t want to be too greedy!  I love hutches… really I do.  They can be used in any room in the house.  A hutch would be adorable in a baby’s room to hold diapers, t-shirts, and everything needed for baby.  I also love to see a hutch in the bathroom.  The idea that you can display some items out in then open and store some items under cover is very appealing to me.  They work in any bedroom or even the kitchen.  Every home needs at least one!

This 70’s hutch received a color combination of Annie Sloan Louis Blue and Old White.  As in many projects, it started out as an all white buffet with plans to stencil the back panel with a pretty grass green color.  But after 2 coats of the Old White paint, the varnish continued to bleed through to the surface causing an ugly pink blotchy mess.  So trying really hard not to swear under my breath,  I stepped away from the project for a few days, and came up with a plan B.  I decided  to use the Louis Blue for the overall color and added Old White as the accent.  I am really pleased how it turned out.  Here she is….

I wanted to give you a look at how she started out. ( I had already removed the backing for this picture.)  The hutch is a very basic brown 70’s style retro piece.  I apologize for the garage mess.

The buffet after painting with the Louis Blue and Old White.  (My husband would really LOVE to park in the garage again!)

Next I  started on the stencil.  This was my first try at stenciling over a large space.  It was not as difficult as I had imagined.  And so glad the Annie Sloan chalk paint dries fast.  It just takes time….

And now the hutch with the back panel reattached.  Also note the glass sliding doors on the top.  Isn’t that cool?! 

A closer look at the detailing.  I distressed the edges just a bit.

A closer look at the stencil detailing.

 

 

Thanks so much for taking a look.  The old brown hutch turned out bright and cheery and a bit modern.  The hutch will be for sale at our Prairie Market on October 12 and 13th.  Or you can contact me via email if you live in the Omaha, Nebraska, metropolitan area and would like to see it sooner. 

Have a terrific day! 

Suzanne