A is for Antiques, Old Stuff and stuff that just looks old

My newest oldest!

I am seriously in love with this piece.  I cleaned it up a little and beautiful! 

The pulls are amazing and the detail is charming! 

I saw a definition of Antique on Facebook the other day that said: Grandma had them, Mom sold them, I bought them back.    That pretty much explains my life in a nutshell.   My grandmother's kitchen was filled with a big old stove, a tiny refrigerator and the most amazing collection of cookie jars and cute things you have ever seen.  In that kitchen, on that big old stove, she baked some of the most amazing, love filled concoctions you could dream off and made the worst spaghetti on earth. My grandmother was Hungarian and somehow Italian food cooking was not something she could master.  It could be the tomato juice she used instead of pasta sauce.  That's just a guess.

My dream kitchen will have one of those big old stoves from the 1940's in white with red trim and if I can ever afford to replace the cookie jar my mother lost (shout out to mom who I still adore even though she lost the Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar promised to me by grandma when I was 7), that will be added someday.    I have had a love affair with history since I was a kid and today it translates into old stuff and junk.

The piece above is my latest purchase.   It is amazingly charming, old and well loved.  I have no idea how old it is exactly but what I do know about it is that it came from a friend of mine who is moving to Minnesota and that I fell in love with it the minute I saw it.  My friend said to me, "You could paint it and make it awesome."  I replied that this is not a 'paint it' piece.  This is a keep it like it is and put it somewhere to show it off piece.

I can't tell you exactly how I know not to paint this except that it is in really good condition, really pretty the way it is,  and I knew immediately that painting it would be a tragedy.

I have a love affair affair with old junk treasures.  Some of the stuff is awesome and some has potential.  Some needs to be painted and some doesn't.  My entire house is a work in progress and I am slowly filling it with well loved pieces or making stuff looked well love.

I have found pieces in the trash pile at my recreational land in East Texas.  Yes, my land has it's own trash pile.  There is no trash pickup out in the country and the people that lived there years and years ago just tossed everything in a pile. We take our trash with us when we leave but that doesn't fix the pile problem.  Truthfully, it scares me but I managed to find an amazing old bucket that I turned into a hanging planter so I got past my fear.

My kitchen is only 45 years young and at some point in the 90's someone did a remodel on it. They didn't do a really good job and the kitchen is terribly small.  When I moved in, the cabinets were all white and they looked hideous.  It wasn't a pretty white or a clean white and frankly, with no disrespect to all of you out there (and you are the majority) who love white cabinets, the artist in me is bored with white.   I kind of run to the beat of a different drum and my drum said turquoise and red 1950's style kitchen.   I distressed the cabinets and made them look old and thank heavens, my husband loves them.   Just a side note here, these cabinets are awesome.  Everyone who comes into my house just loves them.  The black isn't quite as dark in person but I am so glad I used a black glaze on them.  It has been over a year since I redid them and I am not even considering painting them which is a miracle for me. 

Do you remember these end tables your grandmother had?  These things were all the rage in the 1970's and they fit my home perfectly since it was built in 1970.   I don't do pieces from one single era because I like a lot of different things (None of which are mid-century mod)
but this was something I was determined to find and redo.   I like to think that when you save these pieces to love another lifetime, you are doing the earth a favor and yourself.  I have to apologize for this photo.  It is the best I have of them because the lighting in my living room even with every lamp turned on, is not good.   This is actually a lovely creamy mint green color paint with brown antique glaze for age.  No distressing.  (BTW, yes, I know I need a new camera.  I am using my iPhone because I lost the program for my Point and Shoot Sony and I want a 'real' camera next time but budget has to be met first!)

Lime finished Chest

This old chest of drawers, which I have featured in this blog more than once, and I never manage to feature with the actual handles that are on it, is amazing.  It was in terrible condition and had to be painted.  Unlike the buffet above, this piece needed serious TLC just to make it work.  I basically had to rebuild half the drawers.  I love how this chest turned out.   I had it for sale and nobody has ever purchased it and that is just fine by me. I realize that everyone doesn't need a high chest of drawers and the thing that is in vogue right now is the wide dressers that you can turn into media cabinets.   The thing is, this chest has character that mass produced furniture just doesn't have. It is probably 60 years old, maybe more, and when I was refinishing it, I thought about the families that used it before me.  The hopes and dreams and laughter and sadness this piece witnessed over the years.   This piece took an incredible amount of work and it doesn't photograph as well as it should but it is simply beautiful.   So pretty in fact that it is the inspiration for my guest bedroom remodel.   The queen bed that I have for the room will be finished in a antique grey and the colors for the bedroom will be white, yellow, blue, and grey.

So yes, I love antiques and old junk.  Whether you make something look old or find a new use from something that is old, there is nothing more amazing that bringing new life to something that was once well loved and should be again.

Blogging from A-Z

Buying and Selling: DIY fanaticism

Goodbye sweet Dry Sink. Pictures don't do it justice. 

I had my first official sale last night and it was to the nicest man.  He actually has a resale shop but fell in love with my dry sink (above) and wants it for his own place.  We talked for quite a while about painting and redoing furniture and he wants me to school him in the finer points of furniture refinishing.  He said my stuff is so much better than the stuff he has seen on the market that he wants to pick my brain. :)

I can't describe how wonderful it feels to have someone appreciate what you love doing.  I would love to do it full time someday but that's probably a pipe dream.  In the meantime, I love that something I made beautiful has found a home where it can be appreciated!  

Okay, here is a sneak peak at one of my next projects.   This is a table that has been sitting in my office at work.  I am refinishing this for my house.  

Project 1: my new TV stand. 

It will be my new TV stand.  I am going to paint it the same colors as I did the buffet that holds my DVD's.  General Finishes Linen Milk Paint on the legs and Java Gel stain on the top.   I have fallen in love with General Finishes Milk Paint.  This stuff goes on so smooth and it doesn't require a ton of sanding, the way chalk paint can.  No brush strokes! 

Very happy to see the beautiful wood grain. 

And I am about to start working on this as well.  This will be for the kiddo's room.  The body will be General Finishes antique white milk paint (her choice) and the top will be their java gel stain.

I am so excited to get my hands on this.  

In the meantime we found out today that we are going to be on the Tour De Coop this year.  On April 30th people will be coming to our backyard to check out our Chickens and the coop area.  I am so excited.  We don't have that Pinterest fancy coop happening so I wasn't sure we are fancy enough.   I love my chickens though and don't mind at all sharing the love with others.   Expect more on this sometime around 4/30! 

Happy Terrific Tuesday folks.   Do you refinish old furniture or love chickens too?  If so send me a shout out!

Hey, it's okay Tuesday: I'm feeling like a female failure!

Happy Tuesday!   It's time for "Hey, it's okay Tuesday" the hop where I get to share all the things that are OKAY with me even if they aren't "normal".   Here is what's okay with me:

Be sure to link up with Amber With Airing my Dirty Laundry above 

It's Okay:

* Every night I go out and spend some QT with my chickens.   They are very entertaining, believe it or not and my hubs and I just sit out there with them and watch and sometimes one will come up to us and let us 'Chicken Cuddle'.

* I spent several minutes this morning figuring out when we will have fresh eggs from our little ladies.  Have you seen the price of eggs?  

* That I laugh that sad sort of laugh when the news, Twitter,  and talk radio start all getting upset that Whataburger won't be selling breakfast at 11pm anymore because of the egg shortage.   Really?  There are people who lost their homes and lives in the flooding in Texas and people are freaking out about not being able to get taquitos until 5am.  It isn't hard to scramble eggs, add some cheese and a slice of bacon or crumbled sausage and boom, you have  your own breakfast taquito.  You can even make them ahead and eat them all week.   There are bigger problems in the world than no Blue Bell ice cream and no Whataburger taquitos.  (Don't worry, I will pin some recipes tomorrow on the blog for those very confused.)

Vanity Fair Cover 

* I am super jealous that Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner looks better in a dress than I do.  Is it wrong for me to think (s)he does sexy female better than me?  Will I get the benefits she got if I take female hormones?  It might be worth a shot!  I am really feeling like a failure on the female side.  I mean, I understand that there is surgery, hormones, and a lot of make-up involved in but gosh she is in her 60's and looks better than I do at 44.  Time to hit the gym and really eat right.  I still won't look sexy but at least I won't feel like a blob. 

* I am currently obsessed with Peppermint Essential Oil.  A friend Janetta (who sells for Young Living) sent me a sample months ago for my headaches.  I didn't believe so it sat on my bathroom counter for, well, ever.  I had the worst headache last week and nothing was working.  Not my OTC pain killers and not my prescription medication.   I figured I would try the oil because it sure couldn't hurt.   I swear to you, my headache went away in the time it took me to lay down and take a 45 minute nap.  Since then I have been adding a drop to my water bottle in the morning to ease stomach pain, had my step-kiddo take it when her tummy hurt and I ordered some oils.  My friend sent me a Young Living reference book so I am excited to learn more. 

**** A note: don't consume oil unless you know it is quality.  I researched it and most oils are not fit to consume. Also, obviously I am not a medical doctor so this is my experience only. 

* I still haven't picked up a paint brush and put it to a piece of furniture in weeks.  It finally stopped raining so maybe I can get a little done Sunday.   I have 4 pieces that need some attention.  Also, sadly, I have a house full of my stuff that could use some sprucing up.

* My hubs, who calls me the social media queen, is on something called Periscope and I have no idea what it is or why I need it.  Has anyone used this?  Is it amazing?  Am I missing out on a life changing part of social media?  

*I don't think I have time for more social media.  I really don't have time for the social media I have.  

*I started giving my Wednesday blogs 'Friends' type titles and I don't think anyone noticed, or cares. Remember how "Friends' always had titles "The one with...."  That's my Wednesday blog.  Speaking of my Wednesday hop, I am shamelessly begging y'all to join in!  

Alright that's what's okay with me today.  I promise since I ranted about Taquitos I will have some recipes pinned on my blog tomorrow so all you Whataburger freaks can make them yourself.  I mean, if you can scramble and egg.  If you can't scramble an egg, I am sorry, there isn't any hope for you in the kitchen.

Shameless Plug/Reminder and cry for Co-Hosts! 

A special reminder!  My blog hop "What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday" will be up at 9pm Central tonight.  Please consider joining me and sharing all the things you are loving and/or pinning this week.   Also, if anyone is interested in co-hosting this hop please send me a message.  I really would love to share and grow this hop.  (I don't have a fancy code because I haven't figured coding out yet.  Just a button.  I know, I suck.)

Blog will post at 9pm Central so you can join the hop

Thursday Favorite Things: Farmhouse Table Makeover

Katherin's Corner Thursday Favorite Things Hop 184

Yay it is Thursday and I can finally share my Thursday Favorite thing with you!  Here she is.  My new/old table.

I find it so much easier to paint things for myself than try and decipher what someone else will love.  The only problem is my hubby, bless his heart, doesn't always understand why I am painting "A perfectly fine ____."  He's so cute.  He doesn't notice things the way I do.  He doesn't look at his old table from his prior life and think "It's got good bones but it needs a update." It's ok, I don't notice things fishing he wishes I would.  So this week I am sharing with you my upcycled farmhouse table.   

Dated but solid

The table had good lines but was stuck in 1999 so I thought it was time to bring it into this decade.  Confession time, I haven't started on the chairs yet.  We have been without the table for days and days so for now I am planning on working on one chair at a time until all 6 are finished.  

This started with a good cleaning and sanding.  I used liquid TSP alternative and a couple of different sanders.  My go to is an orbital.  I know, I should love a palm sander but I love my orbital.  I also used a belt sander to beat this baby up a little.  This is the rough coat on the top.  It took a lot of tweeking and sanding more here and less there to get the final finish. 

Jave top and base leg coat

For the legs I started out with a blue-green color I custom mixed from several paint colors I had.  Actually there are about 5 blues, greens, or grays that make up the legs and side and that's the bottom layer.  I did this knowing I was going to cover it with moss green but wanting to bring out a color that was close to my kitchen and dining room wall color and near the darker turquoise kitchen cabinets. 

This top took a lot of purposed distressing. 

Meanwhile I decided to distress the top.   I used the belt sander, orbital sander, dremel, and hammer for this process.  Like I said, I beat it up.  My kiddo came out to find me hitting the table with a hammer and she put her 11 year old body on the table and said "You are hurting the table!"  I should say, she was not at all behind this transformation.   This was her childhood table growing up and she was not happy that I was changing the table she and her parents used for years.   I think she thinks I am a little paint crazy but she keeps asking me to do her room next so you know, you win some and lose some.  

The stain is Java gel by General Finishes and the look I was going for was not a uniform stain but a loved look: used and a little abused but beautiful.  I worked and worked to get this top perfectly imperfect.  (Meanwhile hubs kept asking me why "we" needed to refinish the perfectly good table at all?" Between the boat and the table our roomy garage was  cramped!) 

Can you see the turquoise peeking out from the moss green?

Next the legs got 2 coats of Moss Green paint by Waverly. This was my first time using Waverly chalk but it won't be my last. I love that it is cheap enough that I can buy out my Walmart on colors and  I am pretty pleased with the coverage which was smooth and self leveled very well.  Are you designer paint companies taking note?  Inexpensive alternatives to $40 pints of boutique paint and home made chalk paint are the loves of my life.   I live at the miss-tint section of my local big box stores! 

Once the Java gel dried for 3 days...3 long days...3 incredibly long and torturous days...I hate waiting, it was finally time to put on the protection.  It is my table so of course I wanted really durable.  General Finishes High Performance top coats. The finish is satin but you can't tell.   Why? Because after the poly dried (all 4 coats) everything for a coat of clear wax and the legs and side panels for a coat of a light brown wax.   After buffing the top it was time to move the table back into the house. 

Trust me it isn't this dark in the house normally. Yes, I need candles for my center piece. 

Where the lights never cooperate with me but that is life!  See why the bottom coat was turquoise?

I am happily surprised that I love the top.  It had me worried! (see the chairs in the background? LOL)

The table top was polished to a high shine because...well look at it!  

After wax the moss was a little deeper. 

If you look close you can see the turquoise under the moss along with a little of the wood. 

And just enough turquoise peeks through to give my walls love!

And someday the chairs will match the table.  I have to make some time to work on those when the kiddo isn't around.  

Perfect---just ignore Sadie's bowl on the floor.  It was dinner time.  

I am in total love and even hubby realized when it was done that it was pretty amazing!  He asked me this morning, "Can we use the table?"  Well of course!  It wouldn't be good for much if we couldn't.   I protected it from us.  Oh, and once it was finished, the man could not stop bragging about how much better it looked.  One day he is going to learn to trust me on this stuff.   Even the kiddo admitted that it looks nice.  

Alright folks, that is my Favorite Thing this week.  It's Opening Week of baseball season so the fact that anything beats that really shows how much I love my furniture.   

Have a Pinteresting Wednesday #2

Alright I forgot about this last week because I have been going crazy busy at work and we have been going through some major changes which have stressed me OUT!!  Also my hubs has been just a little worried himself which causes me to worry so basically you have two worried, grumpy, tired people living in my house.   Which explains what I have pinned this week!

Sleep:

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Faith:

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Furniture

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We have a table similar to this with different seating but I am doing something very much like this with the table.  I already have the stain Java Gel and the Old Fashioned Milk Paint.  This will be my first Milk Paint project and the only thing I am debating right now is to use a binder of go totatally chippy greatness.

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This is one of the colors I have in OFMP and this is the chippy look.

Grilling:

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The weather is beautiful in North Texas so it is time to start grilling.   We had grilled pork chops last night for my hubby's birthday with asparagus on the grill and we both spent the whole night saying "this is so good!"   We are making an effort to eat more healthy foods so this time of year grilling makes it easy. 

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Thanks to hunter hubby we happen to have a freezer full of this!

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And we are currently stocking up on this!

Okay, that's what I have been pinning this week.   What about you?   Did you find anything wonderful?