BEFORE & AFTER 2012 - recaping projects








For the very last post of this year I'm sharing 20 of the most dramatic Before and Afters of 2012.
Pin It Now!

CLOCK MADE FROM SALVAGED WOOD - recycling fence boards





I would love to share with
you how I build my very
first clock. I hope this
article offers some useful
tips if you want to try
making one for yourself.

Pin It Now!

WINTER COCOA - more mason jar ideas

 
Here is your next holiday gift idea using mason jars.
 
Fill your cleaned jars with broken-up candy canes, marshmallows,
and hot chocolate mix. It took 12 medium length candy canes to half fill this jar.
 
 
 
 
Your candy canes could also be kept intact to act as a stir stick.
Get creative and hang them from a basket or tie them up with ribbon to each jar.
 
 
Any size mason jar can be used just remember the bigger the jar the more filling it will need.
Have fun creating these last minute gifts that will warm every one's heart and tummy.
 
 
Pick up thrift store wire baskets to transport your gift and display on the gifties kitchen counter.
 Embellish the baskets with ribbons and bows, or get creative a make
a fancy label with ingredient lists and instructions.
 
You could also stack your jars up in a tall wine bag left over from a wine gift last year.
Put those bags back into use for an alternative festive drink.
 
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
 
 


Pin It Now!

MASON JAR DECOR AND LIGHTS - christmas tutorial

 




This is a simple tutorial with big impact and continued use. It's also another use for our ever loving Mason Jars we ALL love to collect.
Pin It Now!

TIS THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS - holiday decorating



Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.




Pin It Now!

USING DARK WAX - creme brule table

 
How many of you have seen an amazing furniture finish that you fell in love with
and you find out the artist used dark wax technics to achieve the look. If you are a buyer than you
can purchase the piece and enjoy it in your home, showing it off to friends and family.
 
 
But if you are just starting to paint for yourself,
incorporating dark wax into your paint projects can seem tricky and a bit daunting.
I'm not here to tell you that it isn't, I too struggled with using it but now know it's
only because I was just as frightened to use it as the next person.
 
 
What I am going to suggest is ... try it! Dig in, get your hands dirty, and see what happens.
Many of us also have the oppurtunity to take local classes to help get us over the hurdle of starting.
There are so many wonderful tricks and technics that can be achieved with it.
Like what I have done with this new table, I have named Creme Brule.

 
With the Creme Brule Table I used the dark wax in different areas.
You can see in the center of the top I used it to lightly age the finish,
where as I used it heavier to change the color around the accents. 
 
 
And before I leave you George has
this week's ETSY updates:
 
 

and a LOCAL OFFER:
For the next couple of weeks until Christmas, George would like to offer you the opportunity to order his candles and have them delivered by him personally through the week as *Thank You Gifts*, *Holiday House Warmings* and *Christmas Gifts*
Large Candles $15 local delivery included
Small Candles $13 local delivery included
Email georgegrandy@shaw.ca to start the process, custom color orders welcomed at no extra charge.

 

 


Pin It Now!

MARKETS & MIRRORS

 
 
This weekend has been filled with all sorts of fun ppl,
unexpected encounters, and a great deal of running around.
All to be expected when you are putting your best foot forward and showing off your wares.
 
 
But this weekend started almost a month ago when I helped a fellow
blogger / repurposer get through her market.
I'm pleased to introduce you to Jen of Jentiques
 
 
Some of you attended the vintage market
held in Maple Ridge several weeks ago but most of you didn't realize I would sort of be
a vendor there. That's because it wasn't official and a tad last minute. I promises Miss Jen of Jentiques
if she felt over extended through this busy season all she would have to do is
give me a few days notice and I would pull together what ever I could to fill in the gaps.
After all as she puts it I live in a museum of vintage things so it wasn't that hard. 
 

The picture above is Jentiques booth the morning of set up (looks amazing as is)
It truely had the feel of a little vintage store inside of this big barn.
The picture below is after her fairy god mother emptied her truck.
Looks like I just cluttered things up.
 
 
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Jen and visiting with all my other vintage vixens (and John)
throughout the 2 day event. I found myself stopping into over a dozen different booths to chit chat
and take in the scenery. At one point I walked the isles with a feather wreath festooned upon my
 head, I snuck into several different booths to find a comfy seat to drink my hot chocolate and just ppl
 watch, and I even bought a table I proudly carried around for awhile showing off.
When I'm comfortable I tend to get goofy.
 
 
Shhhh!! I also bought another mirror. Good thing I let a few go recently.


 A few of the items that came home from this last weekend's event are a jewellery organizer
now listed on Etsy 
 
 
 
A lovely vintage window and large shabby chic mirror
listed on the MIRRORS page with prices and dimesions.
 
 
I've slowly started the Christmas decorating and as it comes together I will share the photos.
 
 
 
 
 


Pin It Now!

THE BENEFITS OF DARK WAX - tuscan blue server



The goal for this cabinet
was to play with the paint 
finish and create something
super old looking.


Pin It Now!

CHANGING A WATERFALL - coco handpainted desk


I've never been a fan of water fall / art deco styled furniture, but it is made well and there is plenty of pieces out there. This desk/vanity came from The Gelco Furniture Company in Montreal circa 1950 - 1960.

Pin It Now!

COOKIES AND CREAM - numbered chest


I'm working on several new furniture pieces for the upcoming Christmas Craft & Gift show,
and this numbered chest is one of them.


I have nicknamed it the COOKIES & CREAM CHEST because of the colors used.


The dark top and trim is a rich chocolate color.


and the hardware is painted to match.



***********************************
Here are some unique hardware pieces available at

 
 
 
 
 

Pin It Now!

TALL BLUE VINTAGE DRESSER - fixing drawers





Time to share some tips and tricks I use to refreshing drawers.
Pin It Now!

PAINTING MARBLE - eiffel tower chest

 
There were so many aspects to bringing the Eiffel Tower chest together.

 
I had to replace many missing mouldings and do several repairs to the inside and top frame.

 
I learned that the underside of marble inserts are not finished and sealed
therefore can be painted and waxed.

 SEALED AND POLISHED                       RAW AND POROUS
 
The original marble insert was bright orange and had damaged areas.


 
Get everything painted and waxed then ....

 
add an adhesive vinyl wall graphic after unscrewing
and cleaning all the fancy escutcheons (lock plates) 

 
This wall graphic came in 9 sq. panels and I bought it at HomeSense about 6 months ago.

BEFORE                                               AFTER

One of the final steps was to preserve the amazing wood interior by waxing and polishing the drawers.

 

Pin It Now!

Email your Questions or Comments

Name

Email *

Message *

POPULAR ARTICLES

Your first stop for vintage hardware