Writing Desk Re-Do

 

My PROJECT this week

 

Just a bit of background: when the hubby is gone for a specific length of time, I need to be kept busy so that time goes relatively fast.  It’s enough that my regular schedule is out of whack so I may as well go with it and be crazy.  I eat weird food, go to bed late, and clean the house like crazy.  Then I add on top of that, a project way too big to finish before he gets home.  But, here goes…..

 

Years ago we traded our water bed for this writing desk.  It came from our daughter’s best friend’s parents.  I believe it has to be quite old as the wood is very thick and hard to sand.  It was natural wood then, but of course I decided to paint it. Then realizing I didn’t like it, after hours and days of sanding, I sprayed it with that ‘silly string’ paint over top of the white.

 

The closures on these two drawers are also very old, I don’t think you could find this type today and I'm not sure what you call them either.  They do stick a bit and a little muscle is needed to open them.

Now it sits in the guest room in the basement and does not match anything.  I’m not sure what color it will be or what texture but I’ll keep you ‘posted’.  I’m thinking a distressed grey-blue with the proper knobs.  But first the long process of removing the paint and sanding. 

See you later.

..... later

Finally the piece has been sanded and ready for paint. 

Keep posted.

Granny to Glamourous

Christmas Snowflakes (otherwise known as ‘doilies’)

I renamed my ‘doilies’ and thought that they looked more like snowflakes especially at this time of year.  After seeing an article in Martha Stewarts’ magazine, which I thought was beautifully done with a twist of contemporary, I knew I had to try it.  And that is the twist for sure – using the doilies and adding a contemporary flair to your arrangement.  I’m not sure I have captured the look I have in my thoughts but I’ll need to go shopping to get that effect, but this Christmas I’ll make due with what I have.

I started by going to the local thrift store and found 2 wooded racks holding all sizes of snowflakes.  To sum it up, I cleaned up.  Some were as little as .30 going up to 1.30.  I bought a total of 24 that cost me $9.90.  I have no idea how they decide on the price and the lady who rang up my purchases obviously had the same thoughts as she had to ask her helper if these prices were right.  Both looked at the snowflakes and hummed and hawed over them.  I said “maybe it’s the time that went into the task.  Just hurry it up so I can get home and see if this idea is going to work!”  (I didn’t say that but was sure thinking it) My husband Greg made a comment as we left saying I should feel bad that I cleaned them out and some old lady’s going to go there looking for some pretty doilies for Christmas and find none hanging on the racks.  Ah, I say she should have been there early like me.

That evening I had to take the price tags off gently as to not snag the delicate stitches with the staples.  It took about 30 minutes to arrange the snowflakes into something I liked.  Not as easy as you’d think it would be.  First it looked too symmetrical as I tried too hard to make it perfect.  It’s not in my nature to create something so random looking and be able to leave it that way.  Then I ‘threw’ them on the table to see what I got and then flattened them out.  Nope, not good either.  Finally, a random large and small placement that didn’t look to ‘placed’ was making me happy.  Of course, thru all this, my husband is such an encourager.  His giggling and snickering at me, just made me more adamant to make this happen.  I began to gently stitch the snowflakes together only to realize I was going to be there all night!  I really don’t want to use the glue gun, but alas, because I just couldn’t wait to get it done, out came the glue.  Later I can stitch them together if I really like them.  Can you imagine my patience to crochet? Not.

An alternative look is to spray glue on the snowflakes and toss some glitter on them.  You may like this but I thought I’d try it plain this year.  Next year.  I may also dye a snowflake or two to match my colors of Christmas and toss them ‘randomly’ on top to add that special something.

I have to say, I think this is one craft that is probably not a real hit with today’s young crafters.  It may be soon lost and my Christmas doilies may be worth a lot of money some day.  I best start collecting them now.  I remember my mom and even my grandmother with crochet needles working away while they visited or whenever.  Can you imagine if you invited your friends over for an evening and brought out your crocheting?  Actually they may be intrigued with what you’re creating but on the way home, they’d be saying, “what’s with that?”

Armoire Decor

 

One evening I got into a decorating mood and I decided I'd waited long enough in changing some décor for the fall and that mid-November is not too late to spruce things up on the amoire in the dining room.  I realized when I was done that I could easily change up a few things to bring in the Christmas theme, specifically like the vase and candles.

This armoire is my mother-in-laws and I’ve grown to love it.  When we moved into our new house, I didn’t know where to put it.  With the ‘open floor’ concept in a lot of newer homes, we didn’t have a lot of walls to place things.  Today it displays pictures and other memories.

 

My gold framed mirrors I bought from a garage sale in a neighbouring community.  I always thought I would paint them but sometimes things are better off just the way they are.  And I can’t decide what color they would look better in.  I've grown to love them the way they are.

The feathers in the vase are my huge purchase from the Dollar Store.

 

The armoire holds lots of family pictures, such as our daughters wedding photo, taken at the Calgary Zoo.  

 

My mom gave me the linen doily which I confess to changing (or cutting) the shape of it to suit my desire.  There is a name for this craft but couldn't even google it because I didn't know what I was describing.  You actually sew by hand special knots around a design and then cut out the pieces of fabric in between, thus leaving the open spaces.  It's very beautiful when done but very time consuming.  The glass & metal plate I received from my daughter years ago, so I’m guessing it was a Christmas gift.

 

I remember the day we took these cute pictures of our children.  I think they had to be 5 & 6 years old.  The frames were also bought at a Dollar Store years ago.

 

Our daughter had these animal picture holders at her wedding and I couldn’t resist having a set of my own.  I took out the pictures just for taking the photo as it looked too cluttered.

 

So you can see and read that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to decorate and make your home warm and inviting.  While it’s nice to buy those more expensive items, it’s not always necessary.  Sometimes you just need a few items to get you going and you’ll create something you can be proud of.