Are you a Noreply-comment, commenter?

Oh how I wish that everyone that leaves comments would check to ensure that they have an email address attached to whatever account they use.

I feel awful when someone leaves me a question and I can’t respond to them. Honestly, I’m a nice person and I’m not ignoring you.

So here is my public thank you for taking the time to comment. If you still have a question that you would like answered, please send me another message and ensure that you are NOT a noreply-comment@blogger.com

And don’t feel bad, I did the same thing when I started out

Updated faux bamboo barrel chair

The weather cooperated with me today, despite some rain earlier today. I completed one of the three chairs that I picked up this weekend.



I hand painted the primer on because I’m still too chicken to put an oil based paint in my hvlp sprayer. I did however use the sprayer for the white final finish. Talk about making life easier.

I bought the fabric from Tonic Living a while ago, but didn’t use it as planned.  I went to Canadian Tire and bought a foam camping mat that measure 2” x 24” x 72”, plenty for several chair seats and a bargain at $21. I used the existing seat bottom which was only nailed in. At one point these chairs had cane seats.

There was still a small gap between the covered seat base and the rim of the chair, so I made some trim out of the same fabric. Once I had the seat covered with foam, batting and fabric, I simply stapled the trim onto that.

It covered the gap perfectly and is a nice and snug fit.

I am learning not to be afraid of my spray gun and for the next two chairs I will use it, for sure! What a time saver and the finish is amazing.

I love Labour Day! I hope you are enjoying yours.

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Faux Bamboo barrel chairs

I have sold all of my faux bamboo Chippendale chairs and made enough to pay 3/4 of the cost of my new fridge!  Moving on, I found a set of 3 faux bamboo barrel chairs for $30 each.

I think the fabric is original and the owners said that they bought them in the early 70’s, one for each of their sons. I get the heeby jeebys thinking about these chairs sitting in each of their bedrooms throughout their teens. LOL. The finish is worn and there are small imperfections to the caning, but they are sturdy and definitely worthy of an update. I was able to find a stamp on the bottom of one of the chairs that said, Made in Italy. The following pictures are from the posting on Kijii.

I started searching to find similar chairs and was able to find quite a few examples of refurbished chairs.

I really like these ones, but finishing the sides as well as the seat is a little too ambitious for me.

source

If the finish on my chairs wasn’t in such rough shape, I would have liked to leave them in their natural state. Oh well.

source

So that’s what I am working on right now. I am going to start with one and see how it goes. I am using fabric that I already bought and didn’t use as planned, so that will save me some money. I hope to be able to reveal the chair on Monday, it depends on if the weather cooperates or not.

I’m going to the Drive-In tonight with my kids, so I have to get a nap in later this afternoon; does anyone else love naps?

Happy Labour Day!

Birthday Giveaway

Before I get to the giveaway…

When I started my kitchen reno back in February, I had planned on replacing my old fridge. If you read that post you knew that my reno deadline was my birthday. Well, it’s my birthday (on Monday) and today I put the final piece in place.

Behold, my new fridge. I’ve waited 15 years to get a new fridge, so yeah, I’m pretty happy.

To celebrate my I’m not counting anymore birthday, I am giving one of you a gift.

I will make a customized “Established” sign for you or a loved one. Once you provide me with the details - the initial, the dates and the name – I will make it and ship it to you. (This gift will not come framed)

These fit perfectly inside of the Ikea Verserum frame, which is what I have this one in.

Enter below. This giveaway is open to all and closes August 24th. Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

West Elm inspired chairs

I found these chairs at the Goodwill for 5 dollars each and they were Boring! The brown finish on them scratched incredibly easily but these chairs are com-fee and were worthy of an update.



I was inspired to change the colour based on the teapot that you see on the table. A great colour but a little too simple on it’s own, I found these chairs online and loved the swirly design.



Since I was making my swirls with white vinyl rather than painting them on (which I couldn't do in a million years), I placed them on the back of the chairs.



This update wasn’t without it’s challenges though and this is why I won’t use Valspar spray paint ever again, Blotchy, Uneven Coverage.

I used Indigo Streamer, which is a great blue, but after three coats and sanding in between each coat, it was still blotchy



I went to HD and had them colour match it and it turned out perfectly.

We have a provincial holiday on Monday, Simcoe day. I looked him up and he was a pretty cool dude, not to mention that we get a day off of work, thanks to this fine gentleman. Did you know, he phased out slavery in Upper Canada 23 years before Britain and 55 years before my fabulous neighbours to the south did!  Good thing too, because my maternal Great, Great, Great Grandfather came to Ontario from Missouri as a freed slave, for that very reason.



One day I'll fix the table; I have a pedestal base that I got for free with my coffee table top on it. I like the mismatched vibe going on, at least that's what I tell myself.

Have a great weekend!

Thank you so much for the features, Knock off Decor and One Project Closer. I'm honoured.






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Chairs, lots of them

Remember my faux bamboo Chippendale chairs, and remember how I asked you to suggest some paint colours for them?  I appreciate your help and in the end decided that since I’m going to be selling 4 of them, I should go with a safe colour. So I did.



I primed them with spray on Zinnser cover stain and they still ate up the additional white spray paint as if they had been starved.



I have been working on 4 new chairs that I picked up at the Goodwill for $5 a piece. I thought it would be fun to add some embellishment to make them unique. I am waiting on the wipe on poly to dry before I can bring the inside, but here is a peak at what I have done to them.



That blue is the cats meow, and I’ll tell you all about it in an upcoming post and why I will never use Valspar spray paint again.

Teeny tiny budget bedroom makeover

There wasn’t much wrong with my bedroom as it was but when I was out with my blog buddy last week, I found 3 meters of fabulous Robert Allen fabric, and that inspired me to freshen up my bedroom.

The best part of this makeover was that my best friend came over half way through and helped me finish it. We got to spend some time together and accomplish this makeover in just a few hours. I am still working on accessorising and quite frankly, don't like too much stuff on the walls, it may just stay this way.





All of the changes were made with things that I had bought at thrift stores.
Here’s the breakdown:
8’ x 6’ jute rug – $10
Fabric for headboard and cushions – $4
Maltase coverlet and two pillow shams –  $16
Curtains – $14

Total: $44

I had left over paint from the kitchen and painted the one wall that was previously chocolate brown. I also  painted out a square above my dresser because I had previously had a tv on that wall and painted around it last time I painted, don’t be a ding dong like me:)



The jute rug was a steal at $10 and is in great condition



The fabric is so pretty and there was just enough to do the king sized headboard and two pillow covers.



It’s not how I had planned to spend my Sunday, but when inspiration hits, you just have to go with it.

I hope you are having a great weekend.

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Read more at http://diyshowoff.com/2013/08/04/that-diy-party-28/#vkkuZfZhlPURtkoT.99

DIY chalkboard paint

I have wanted to make my own chalkboard paint for a while and finally got around to doing so. of all of the colours I could have chosen, I went with grey, boring! 

After I sold my rattan étagères, this wall was left blank. Not that there is anything wrong with a blank wall, but this one is 15’ high, so without anything there, the room didn’t feel anchored, which is especially important when you have high ceilings.

I moved this dresser over from it’s old position where it hosted my tv. The frame was one I have had kicking around here for well over a year. I bought a piece of wood cut to the dimensions of the frame and painted on two coats of the diy chalkboard paint.

Is anyone else confused about DIY chalkboard paint versus DIY chalk paint? I used 1 tbs of unsanded grout in 1 cup of paint. Well isn’t that the same formula for chalk paint?  I’m a slow learner.  Either way it worked out fine. The only caution I have is to be absolutely sure you get every last little grain mixed in really well, stir for at least an hour, ok, maybe not quite that long.

Maybe some day I’ll live on the wild side and paint with something other than neutrals :)

Family pooch memorial sign

I was asked to make a memorial sign for a family who lost their family dog to a tragedy; it involves a groomer and a table and being leashed to that table and not being paid attention to. So sad.

This sign was made with a 16” x 16” piece of plywood. I added banding to the edges then painted it in three coats of Behr linen white (which is my fave new white).

 

Sorry for the crappy photos, I finished it last night and couldn’t get a good picture, then I rushed to take a picture of it before I left for work this morning.

The picture frame was attached with Velcro so that the photo can be changed if the recipient wants to. The edges were rubbed with black distressing ink and that’s that.

These signs are easy to make and the velcroed (is that a word?) frame makes it easy to change!

Have a wonderful day.

Putzing about

It seems like I have so little time to actually get anything done. I start on something and then have to dump it to deal with life’s little details.

I made some new cushions for my patio chairs with some thrifted fabric. I have since power washed the stones, please ignore the algae. LOL





I followed a fantastic tutorial by Christy at Confessions of a serial diyer. Easiest covers, ever.

I found this utility box at a garage sale for $2 and gave it a few coats of different colours to come up with a pretty little display box.

Before

After

We drink tea in our house every night after dinner, it must be our British roots. I found these EAT letters in a bright yellow but toned them down to better suit my space. And, rearranged them to be more appropriate for us.



I have fulfilled some sign orders and have one more in the works.



Today I am off to meet a fun and wonderful friend that I met through my blog. She is visiting from North Carolina and we are going to make a day of it, I can’t wait.

Have a fabulous weekend!