Refinished Antique Factory cart

Here are some pictures of an antique factory cart that Dwayne and I refinished.  It has been cleaned up from the original but not completely.  You can see some of the original paint here and there.  I didn't want it to look perfect like the ones in the stores that sell for like $500 dollars.  It has a nice finish now and should last FOREVER!  I left the boards untouched underneath so if someone wanted to they could flip them over and do as they pleased with them.  The wood is beautiful  They sure used pretty wood, even on things like this back in the days when wood was used instead of plastic and wire.  Most people use them as a coffee table. 
This cart is available for purchase if anyone is interested.  It's quite heavy so pick up is probably the best option unless you have a better idea and know how to do it.  I have more waiting to be refinished but just haven't gotten to them.  If you are interested in an unfinished one we can talk about that too.

 

Barn Board Sign

Here is a little sign I did a while back.  I had these cute little star hooks and wanted to use them.  Dwayne went out and pulled a chunk off the old barn...it's gone now but we saved what we could... and I just painted it up quick and put a few coats of polyurethane on it to keep the nice worn finish intact.  I love it but had put it away and forgot about it until I started getting stuff out to decorate with after the redo!!!  I wonder what else I have.  I'll share as I discover.  "Out of sight, out of mind."

The (Almost) Finished Redo

 We are finally almost finished with re-doing the living and dining rooms.  Previously it was white walls, the built in farmhouse cupboards were also white and the carpet was dark green.  Borders were up too.  Now, don't get me wrong....I loved it when we redid the first two times but after ten years it was time for another one!  The woodwork was all sanded down again and re-stained.  Looks much richer now.  Also added a coat of polyurethane this time.  Much easier to dust it.

 The walls in the dining room are one shade lighter than the living room because it's darker in there.  The cupboards look like a piece of furniture now that they are black.  We took the big doors off.  The inside is a nice warm cream color-actually it's called Muslin Wrap so it acually looks the color of muslin.  Anyway the light is new as well.  Planning new little shades soon.  The carpet lightens everything up so well.  See Angel loving her comfy new soft floor!  (Now I can see her when it's dark and I wont trip over her!!) 

 We put the same lights in both rooms.  I think it will be fun to put different decorations like berries etc. for the seasons on them.  This is the view from in the living room looking into the dining room.

Here is a straight on view of the cupboard.  Tater wanted his picture taken too!  We still need new knobs and pulls.  I have some pretty toile paper that is creamy colored with black in the foreground to line the back wall.  Haven't gotten it up yet.  My wonderful brother in law made me some doors that are just basically like screen frames to put back up so you can see through them.  I want to use chicken wire, but the little kind.  Don't know yet where I can get the little hole kind like you see in furniture. Maybe we will get really crazy and put glass in them too!!  Dwayne is going to put lights in there so we can show off all the goodies that we have collected from antique shows and flea markets.  Well, not all.....we would need a couple more cupboards....
There is a nice wax coating on there.  I hope that is the best option.  I like how it has held up on everything I've used it on so far.



I will share more pics and updates as we go .  I hope you like it as much as we do.  It seems like it's a whole new house.  Don't you love fixing things up?  We are doing things as cheaply inexpensively as possible too, for practical reasons and also on principle.  Even if I were rich I don't think I would feel right being extravagant.  Haven't been rich for too long I guess. 
Ahhhh, how beautiful, I just glanced up and the sun is shining.  What a great start for the day.  Blessings and love to all who stop by.

Here is just a quick ray of sunshine.  These bravely peeked out of the dirt to promise that spring is coming.

                                                     

             

 

.

A Gift For A Friend

Here is a framed collage I made for my friend Joan on the occasion of her birthday.  I absolutely love the quote and it totally applies to her.  This was really fun to do.  Now I have a bunch more I'd like to do.  Oh how I wish the craft room/studio was done. (And who is in charge of that? hmmmm)

My little things.

 Here is a little oil can I glued some crystals to and just stuck a curled wire in to to hold a picture or whatever I want!  I liked it so much I made it my mission to buy oil cans for the rest of the fall antique shows.  Now I have to get busy and actually make some more of them. 

 Here is an embroidery that I did, really for my husband.  I had the pillowcases from a resale shop and since we like our guns I thought he would like this iron on pattern when I saw it.  It's kind of westerney for his taste but not for me.  I like Cowgirl Chic!

This is a real horseshoe.  I just cleaned it up, painted it and stuck some crystals on it.  I have lots more to do.  many different color schemes to choose from and lots of vintage jewelry to add to it.  Again, I just need to get busy.

St. Patricks Day decoratons

Here is the twig tree all decked out for st. Patricks Day.

This was a fun one to decorate for

Here are the little mantel decorations.  Not a lot here but I like the printed burlap ribbon again.
I am sad that I missed Easter decorating but the house was absolutely torn up and I couldn't even get to the tree until this last weekend.  We have been redecorating. 

Valentines Day Decorations

Here is my little twig tree.  I plan on keeping it up year round.  This is Valentines day. So fun to play with.   I love the lights on at night.

Here is the Mantel with the Valentines Day decorations.