Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I know I'm a week early but, I'm checking out for the remainder of the year and going to celebrate the season with my family!  I hope everyone has a spectacular, fabulous, positively overwhelmingly happy holiday and I will be back in full force in 2011!!

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!

Stay safe.
Lisa

Flat Stanley Update

We have had Flat Stanley visiting this week and have tried to show him some of the sights.   My Mom gave our address to a 3rd grader in Texas and this is a school project for her so here are some of the places we've taken him to see the sights!

Santa's Village!

Addie, Flat Stanley will be on his way back to you and your class shortly!

Lisa

Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens

Basketball practice!

Sparkle!

Good Friday Morning!


We're putting the final touches on the sparkle around here and then we are heading to the ranch! 


Recently on someone's blog I saw an old leaded glass window turned mirror.....it was awesome and I wish I could give credit where credit is due but I just can't remember. Thank you fellow blogger!


I bought several old windows at an auction not long ago and one of the windows had quite a bit of damage.  I wasn't sure if anyone would want it but then when I saw the blog with the mirror, I fell in love!  I tried it myself and am not sure I want to part with it now......


BEFORE:

AFTER:



I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Lisa

She loved it!

The armoire has been delivered and she loved it!  WOOT!  WOOT!

My sister, Meg helped me deliver the armoire this morning and other than manipulating the tight corner at the top of the stairs, it went very well.   We delivered while Emily was still at school so that we could get it in her room and surprise her.  Her Mom loved it and was very excited for Emily to see it tonight....I am so happy and hope Emliy is too!

Now I should get moving on a few Christmas things around here.  Just want to let you know.......All is happy with the world again around here! :)

Lisa

Awesome Armoire!

It's done!  It's done!  It's done!


The armoire I have been so worried about is finally done and will be delivered this morning!  I hope the family she's going back to loves her.......it makes me so nervous to do these custom refinishing pieces!  I love it but it also just makes me cringe; Will it be everything they hoped?  Should I have used poly?  Should I have chosen a different stain?  Should I have put 1 more coat or 1 less coat of stain.......AAARGH!

This beauty was sitting in my client's garage for 5 years.  She had incredibly beautiful bones but was in a sad little state of affairs.  Her top was warped, cracked, and just not working anymore.  Every bit of wood was dry and the hardware was all a little rusty.  I stripped, sanded, conditioned, stained, and conditioned some more.  I replaced her top, found a key for the lock....because everything 11 year old girl needs a special place to lock away a few things especially when her 8 year old brother is around.....and waxed until I just can't wax her again right now. And I'm still just a little worried about whether they will love it or not!!!




I know I really need to work on my photography skills too because the after pictures just don't do it justice but......here she is!!!!  

My little helper really wanted to be in every picture!

I'm going to load her up now and go deliver!  Have a great day and wish me luck!

Lisa

Sawdust, Sanding, and Nightmares!

I hardly slept at all last night because I kept having nightmares that I didn't finish this armoire in time for a little girl's birthday on Saturday.....when I picked this up from her Mom in November, I had PLENTY of time....what happened?!?!  Anyway, after dreaming of all the awful reasons I couldn't get this done, I jumped right on it this morning.  Well, after making breakfast, getting everyone dressed and dropped off at school (on time, thankfully!) that is.


It was snowing outside and the wind was blowing like crazy; it was freezing in Alabama this morning!!!  But I worked like a Tazmanian Devil.  I sanded, I stripped, I sanded and blew everything clean with the air compressor.  I had to remove the top because it was damaged beyond repair and was no longer a very good "roof".  I cut a new piece, sanded, and fit it in place.....with a little muscle and will power.  I finished just in time to go get the kids from the school bus so they wouldn't have to walk in the freezing wind.


Oh, and did I mention that we received a "Flat Stanley" from a little girl in Texas?!  Well, we did and every time I have talked to my Mom (who gave our address to the Flat Stanley sender) she has asked what we've done with Flat Stanley.  Well Mom, Flat Stanley got to see the inside of a very cold and dirty garage today!  Tomorrow he should get to see something more exciting since we will be going on a Kindergarten field trip to Santa's Village!

For those of you that aren't aware, Flat Stanley is a 1964 children's book written by Jeff Brown (1926 – December 3, 2003) and illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. It is the first in a series of books featuring Stanley Lambchop, a completely flat boy.  We will be escorting Flat Stanley around with us during the next week.  Mom, I got this!  Don't worry, I will show him the sights and you will be proud! :)


The armoire will be stained tonight after everyone is tucked in bed and THEN I will sleep very soundly!

Take care.

Lisa

Gooood Morning Blogland!!

It is starting to feel a lot Christmas!!

I completed two Christmas presents yesterday!!  YEAH! And I SO want to show you guys but, I am very afraid the surprise would be spoiled if the receiver were to read the blog today.  Suffice it to say, they turned out better than I expected and I think someone is going to be very surprised on Christmas morning!

It is snowing little flurries here this morning but with a house full of sleepers and that armoire hanging over my head, I got out there for some more sanding.  Oh, was it cold!  My goal is to have it all sanded and ready for staining by tonight~ PLEASE let me reach my goal so I can get this off my list!!!!  It's just one of those projects I can't seem to get into right now but I know it will be beautiful when I ever get it finished!

I've talked a lot about my little Cowboy and my sweet Sugar Bug but I'm not sure if everyone out there has gotten the double meaning to Sugar Bug;  sometimes she is as sweet as she can be and sometimes......well, she is a little more on the bug side.  Anyway, we watched Ramona and Beezus last night and if you haven't see it, you should!  I remember reading some of the books about Ramona, Beezus, and Henry Huggins when I was little but, watching it last night was like watching my sweet Sugar Bug right there on the TV!!  Cowboy thought it was pretty funny until I said that means that he is the "Beezus" character and he wasn't impressed with being personified in girl form!  Anyway......it's a good little family movie and particularly fun if you have a Sugar Bug in your house!


Hope everyone stays warm today.....think good armoire sanding thoughts for me please!

Lisa

Fa La La La La!

So you all know we've had the flu and I don't have any new furniture pictures for you....I'm working on it though....but I do have a few great pictures I've been wanting to share.  


My little Sugar Bug has run a fever for 9 straight days at this point and we've been to the Dr. 4 times, had tests run and x-rays taken.....the conclusion is, she just doesn't handle the flu well!?!?!  SO, antibiotics have finally started and we are trying to get back on track around here.  I have ONE WEEK to get things ship shape before the holiday break starts!  AAAAHHH!


In the midst of all this, the holiday spirit just doesn't seem to have hit yet.  Today I got up with renewed vigor, the Christmas music is going and so are we!!!


Here are just a few of my favorite things from this past week!

A winter sunrise in Alabama!

I love the glow the lights cast on everything in my home!

A cabinet full of my jadite, my Grandmother's china, and chalk decorations my Dad made for his grandmothers at least 50 years ago!

My sweet Sugar Bug with her snowman creation.....a home from school project!

Oh, and the coloring we did this week!!!

I hope everyone is in the Happy Holiday spirit!  Stay healthy!!


Lisa

It's confirmed...we have the flu!

We've been to the doctor and it is confirmed....we have the flu!!!  AAARGH!


Luckily, as I said earlier, I think I will actually live now but as of Saturday morning, it was really questionable.  I have one baby bedded down on one couch and the other tucked snuggly in my bed.  My sister has been quarantined upstairs so that we will at least have one survivor who can run out for emergency supplies, and I am doing my best to get the Christmas ornaments out in fits and spurts!  


The flu.....REALLY?!?!?!!  The best part of the whole thing, depending on how you look at it, is that I can now visually identify 90% of the cast members on Shake It Up!, Hannah Montana, iCarly, Phineas and Ferb, Pair of Kings, and Sonny With a Chance.  It isn't often we sit and watch much TV but even  more rare that I sit too and with these as my TV choices, it's no wonder!!


So now that I think I might live, between taking care of my poor little sick babies and trying to decorate for Christmas, I am also finally kicking myself into high gear on this lovely!!

I blogged about it here but in case you missed it, this will be a birthday present for a very special girl. She decided she doesn't want it painted and would rather just have it restored and refinished to match the other traditional antique pieces already in her room.  I hope to get it done this week so that next week can be dedicated to Christmas presents!


Wish me luck!

Lisa

Sick!

Sugar Bug was the first victim Thursday night at Disney on Ice!  I was the second and now my little Cowboy is sick too.  I don't think I've slept that much in years but, as of today, I think I will actually live.

Hope everyone else out there is doing well.

Lisa

The furniture sometimes talks!

While I was making my little Craigslist pick-up the other day, I decided to make a side trip to a thrift store that can really be hit or miss.  Well, this time it was a HIT!!!

Just a little background..... my little sister Meg, while working on her MBA, is living with us and has taken over my budget spreadsheet.  I tell you she knows down to the penny, what I've spent, what I've earned, and where my little business stands financially.   SO, she has sort of hinted that we have enough inventory right now but.....this little bedroom set screamed, "HELP ME!!!"  I couldn't walk away.  Well, not twice anyway!  I did try but, I just couldn't actually drive away from the store without talking to the workers and then negotiating a little.  Meg was saying something about the garage, the list of projects, the budget and I could see her lips moving but....."HELP ME!" was all I could really hear! Oh, and the lady that said she would take 1/3 off the already great price!


Before she could say too much more, Meg was helping carry a bed, chifferobe, and nightstand out to the truck!  I'll have to catch up on some projects and hopefully the budget will work itself out but I know I heard "THANK YOU!" when I closed the tailgate!


Don't you think these little guys deserved rescuing?  The black might not have been so bad if it weren't high gloss, sloppy, and then my personal favorite was the previous owners addition of the creepy silver spiky corner things!!  But, I do love the casters and the lines so, I think they will be gooorgeous when finished!

Lisa

Lucy

This year, like many others in America, we are really trying to scale back on the Christmas presents.  I am trying to make, redo, and be creative with my present giving but I still want everyone to LOVE everything they get!! With all that being said, I have been combing Craigslist for a few things that I think could be remade for some of the special people in my life.  

SCORE....on Wed. I found something that will be a huge hit (once it is loved on a little bit).  I can't say too much because well, it's going to be a gift and I don't want the surprise ruined should someone special be reading this however, when it's all said and done, before and afters WILL be posted. 

One of the best parts of this Craigslist pickup was that it was a stay-at-home Dad that I dealt with.  Dad, Malcolm (2), and Lucy (4) answered the door.  Lucy proceeded to tell me all about her birthday, their recent move, and her brother's potty training issues.  To which, Malcolm stripped down, climbed on the couch and started jumping from couch to couch to table!!  Dad calmly got out the screwdriver to take apart my purchase!  

picture courtesy of: http://www.cobaltcarriers.com/blog1.htm

Later, I got an e-mail saying Lucy would like the lady with the August birthday to send pictures of the "present" in it's new home!  I'm sure she has no idea this little treasure will travel great distances before it is in it's new home BUT, I did promise to send pictures when it's done!

Don't you just love it when people surprise you and it's fun?!  As I was checking off my to-do list and fitting in this little side trip, Lucy, Malcolm, and laid back Dad were NOT what I expected!

Hope you have a pleasant surprise in your day!

Lisa

Thanks and Sorry!

Hey!

Lots to tell:
Not sure if ya'll remember the highchair, but sweet pregnant Kim came yesterday to pick it up.  Her mother-in-law bought if for them as a gift and she was thrilled with how it turned out!  She sent the nicest thank you note after she got home; isn't that the best part of this?!  Thanks again Kim and MIL!

Thanks to Handsome Hubby for buying tickets to Disney on Ice!  He is away on travel and left the tickets as a surprise for us and boy, were the kids surprised!  It was a school night (ugh!) and Cowboy was not sure he wanted to sit through 7 singing princesses but, Sugar Bug was thrilled.....until she started complaining about a tummy ache.  Hhhmmm, no fever, no cough, let's just go potty and see what happens I thought.  Everything seemed well enough...do you hear it coming?!?!

We had seats so close, you could feel the shavings of ice as the skaters moved around but, Sugar Bug would not leave my lap.  This is so unlike my baby that I really did start to wonder about her tummy ache.  After the 6th princess did her thing, they announced an intermission and the lights came on.  My girl, the strong willed steel tongued 5 year old I love SO much, very quickly and quietly pulled a Taco Bell bag from her coat pocket and proceeded to get very sick right there in the middle of a million giggling girls.  UUUGH!   As cool as a cucumber, she said, "Mom, I need a wet wipe and I think we'll have to skip Cinderella!"  No kidding?!?!

SO sorry to anyone sitting close to us last night....I sincerely hope we didn't spread anything!


Although I hadn't planned on having kids home today, when Cowboy climbed in bed at 3:30am complaining of his tummy I decided this might be the perfect day to get some of the ornaments on the tree (finally) and watch Cinderella on DVD!  Oh, and did I mention the boy that didn't want to see the dancing princesses really wanted his sick sister to just stick it out and stay for the Cinderella show after she puked her guts up.....he really didn't want to miss the best part!?!?!  Two thumbs up for Disney on Ice: Princess Classics! and an opportunity to discuss sibling compassion!

While at the ranch last week, in total peace and quiet, I watched a very red sun rise off in the distance.  Although it was dark when I got up this morning, I couldn't see the rising sun and am thinking back on this bit of beauty.  I hope for healthy children when they wake!

I have some great furniture projects planned for the next 2 weeks (I promise!!) and will post pics as soon as I get to work!  Hope everyone has a great day!

Lisa

Happy Days!

Oh, it's been SO crazy here for almost two weeks!  I know everyone is busy this time of year but I had to get up extra early this morning just to get a few quiet minutes alone and finally post something!


As most of you know, we headed out the Friday before Thanksgiving so that we could spend a whole week at our ranch in Texas!  This is one of our favorite times of the year and we all look forward to gathering at the ranch to hang out and celebrate.  Now, getting there is usually much harder than hosting 30 or more people!  Driving across the United States with 2 kids, 2 dogs, and a Suburban full of stuff has made for many a good story BUT, don't you worry, this trip we added my sister's horse dog to the mix and were pulling a U-Haul full of furniture for my other sister's new house!  Oh, the stories to tell!!  If only I could have been a fly on the wall instead of in the middle of it!

Before we could even begin loading the U-Haul, our wild child dog busted through the wire fence and was gone.  After a long and tiring search, she was recovered but not before many uuuugly words were exchanged between me, my sister, and my husband!  Then Meg and I started loading the U-Haul.  We moved and repositioned and moved some more!  Finally it was loaded and I started on the Suburban!  We were PACKED!

We started the trip in the dark hours of the morning and finally got to my Mom's in the dark hours of the evening.  There, we had to unload and repack half the trailer so that The Col. (my step-dad) could take it the rest of the way to Colorado and deliver to Erin's doorstep.  We were all tired, a little cranky (maybe an understatement, but honest nonetheless), and ready to get to the ranch!  We decided to get a good nights rest and start again the next morning.

The night was restless and I really think we all woke up crankier than we went to bed.  But, just when things couldn't get much crazier, we looked around and Meg's precious, first born, horse dog, was missing!!!!  We split into three teams and started combing the neighborhood.  If you live in the Mesquite area and were awakened by people screaming "REBEL" at the tops of their lungs.....I'm SO sorry!  Anyway, just when I was getting a little frantic, my cell phone rang....UUUGGGG, it was Meg!  I really thought it was parental six-sense and I was going to have to admit losing her only child but no, the local (Texas) Fire Department had called to tell her Rebel was eating breakfast at their house and would be ready to go home anytime!  Thank goodness he was was safe BUT, I was NOT HAPPY with the dog and this doesn't even touch on my already cranky husband's feelings!

As we got closer and closer to the ranch, miraculously Handsome Hubby's mood brightened.  We got there early enough to unload and get ready for an evening hunt which made for at least 3 VERY happy people!

Nothing palatial but, the place that makes me take a deep breath and smile!

This is the first installment of a series that will have to be continued later.....I must get moving to go make Christmas ornaments with Sugar Bug and her Kindergarten class!

Hope you are getting in the holiday spirit and I promise there won't be such long lapses in blogging again until Christmas!

Lisa

Honey, we're home!

We are finally back in Alabama and I have much to tell however, I also have much to do this morning before I can download pics and write.

Here is just a very small taste of what our weekend included:

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is ready for a VERY busy couple of weeks before we are off for Christmas!

Talk to you again soon.
Lisa

Sweet little chair

This sweet little chair was recently purchased scored at a church rummage sale by one of the Mom's from baseball.  She said she was there to help set up but, when she spotted it across the room she shamelessly sent her 6th grade daughter over to check it out and get the price.  My kind of lady!!!  Anyway, she got it for a song and loves it but thought it just needed a little update.  It's hard to tell in the picture but, there were a few little pieces of the veneer that were missing and the front "knees" had been rubbed and knocked about quite a bit.  With just a little elbow grease, some polish, wood putty, and a new & improved seat cushion she is back to looking pretty good!

This is not one of those makeovers that you oooh and aaah over but, I think Lara will be very happy with her cleaned-up and newly fabulous chair. AND....she gave me this little cutie in the deal.  I think this one will take little more love but, she'll be good as new soon too.

You can't tell it but that back piece only stayed put long enough for this one picture......a little love goes a looong way! :)

Lisa

Fun fabric and curves!

Another couple of finished projects!

I found this chair a while back in a thrift store and loved the curve of the seat and of course, the splendid legs!  Several weeks went by and then I found this end table with those same great legs!  

Wouldn't these just make a great little sitting area set?  I can see them in a corner of a living room or bedroom  and be just perfect.

I have recovered many chair seats (haven't we all?!) but this one I would consider to be more of an upholstery project because I had to make the piping and then sew the fabrics together. Now for the real deal....I can honestly say that I am neither a photographer or a seamstress but, I am determined to get better at both!!  And really, I'm pretty pleased with how this seat cushion came out because in the process, I just wasn't quite sure!

I sanded and then painted both pieces with Behr Premium Ultra Plus paint.  On some pieces I use my sprayer and this paint just kills me every time!!!  I thought maybe it was just me the first time so I tried it again and I had a few choice words for all of it along the way!  For whatever reason, I can use any other paint and have no problems with the sprayer but, Behr Premium Ultra Plus and my sprayer do NOT get along.  Anyway, after finally getting everything working, I love the way they turned out.  

On the little table, I sanded, stained, and them poly'd the top to make it more durable.  One of the handles was missing and although it looks like two drawers, it's really only one so I filled the holes and replaced the pulls with two glass knobs.  

Here they are finished and ready to go to a new home! 

Have a great day!

Lisa

Classy High Chair

Not long ago, I posted about a high chair I came across and decided to add to the stash in the garage.   I put it to the side thinking I would get to it when the right idea/client came along and then about a week later, I received an e-mail from sweet Kim!  She has a baby girl and will soon be welcoming a baby boy to the family too!  Woo-hoo!

Kim and I "talked" through e-mail a few times and ultimately decided that black, distressed, glazed, and poly'd (for easier clean-up) would be best. 

The high chair was really in great shape and very sturdy but did need a thorough sanding.  I painted it with 2 coats of black suede and then distressed it, glazed it with dark walnut stain, and finally covered it in Cabot's Water-Borne Polyurethane.  I applied several extra coats of the poly to the seat and tray for extra protection and to make it even easier for wipe down.  

Finally, one of the more important parts...the safety straps!  They were still there but were just not cute!  I really wanted them to be easy to clean (no one likes gunky straps on a highchair - eew) but I also did not want to compromise the safety aspect SO, Kim picked out fabric for a girl and boy!  She will be using this chair now for her little girl but anticipates using it in the future for the new little man!  I used the old straps and made removable (velcro) covers for them.  I think they are super cute, easy to take off and on, and the old straps provide the all important buckle.  The strap for their little legs wasn't in great shape so I made a new one for each set and hope this will stop them from slip-sliding straight through. 

I think these two little ones will be eating in style now!  What do you think?

More projects are lined up in the driveway....hopefully there will be more finished projects to post about later today!   My lunch break is now over! :)

Lisa