Wowza!  It's been a whole month since I posted anything!  It's been a cah-razy month!!  Feels like its gone super fast and super slow at the same time...  Doug and I got to get away for our anniversary this month, which was fantastic!  Doug loves Chicago so we headed off for the big city for a weekend.  He LOVES Ikea (I'm not even kidding!) so we went there immediately even though we only had 15 minutes before it closed when we got there.  But you better know we used that 15 precious minutes wisely!  We ran through the office department (to make sure the desk he HAD to have was still there) and went right to As Is.  Think of your happiest place... waiting... waiting... now, think of that happiest place where everything is marked down to 1/2 off!  That's Ikea As Is section :) 

In the 15 minutes we were there we snatched a dresser, not sure I have honestly ever bought a new dresser to be honest, but it was a good deal and I can sell it for more than I bought for when I'm sick of it. :)  That's how I roll.  We checked out 3, yes 3 times from Ikea in that weekend.  Omword.  Out of control.  Doug very nearly peed his pants when he found out the desk that he hasn't stopped jabbering about for 6 months was cheaper than he realized.  I thought he might jump for joy and scream like I do when I'm excited, but alas, his melancholy self just smiled and acted like the doctor had just told him that his blood pressure is normal.  Bless his calm little heart :)

Anywho... last time I went to Ikea I got some great fabric which I've been hoarding.  I HATE using my fabric until I know absolutely sure what I want to use it for, which is why I have totes of fabric.  It's ridiculous.  I love this fabric and wanted to do something special with it.  This chair was on the side of the road and I thought I was going to have to fight a guy for it, but he not wanting the chair he was just getting out of his car to go into his house :)  I'm sure he thought I was nuts. 

Poor chair!  It's a great little piece- missing a foot cap and a screwbut otherwise really wasn't in terrible shape!  Sass that puppy up and this is the after...

It's so cute!!  I covered it with plastic over the fabric so Luke can use it when he helps me in the kitchen and the stuff will just wipe off.  I didn't want my precious fabric to be ruined! :)  I also used the fabric to make a much needed curtain for the kitchen.  I'm sure my neighbors have seen some interesting things with there being no cover on the window!  ;)

When I love something, I love it.  I'd be fine with the whole house having this fabric on everything and robins egg blue walls.  Blue and greens are my favs.. they are my happy place. :)

I've been trying to work on our basement to get it cleaned out and organized.  When we moved in we had 2 HUGE 275 gallon fuel tanks in the basement that they used to use to heat the house.  They were enormous and I always wanted them out, but just wasn't sure how to get them out.

A friend told mentioned that there is a company that would come and pump them out for free and even pay you for what they pumped!  You better know I was on that like white on rice.  Like red on a barn.  Like... well, I was on it.  They came for free and pumped 275 gallons of fuel out of one of them that was full!  I gladly accepted the $200 they wanted to give me for the sludge they pumped out of the fuel tanks and with both tanks empty we started getting them unhooked and trying to get them up the stairs.  Too heavy for us, so another friend came who wants them to help get them out and they are now gone!  I'm so happy!

Now to get a treadmill down the stairs!  I'm sure Doug will just be thrilled about that plan. :)

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Happy lamps to you...

I know I say in every blog that I LOVE this or that, but seriously, this project just makes me straight up happy!!! :)  I've had this lamp literally for 10 years... I got it when Doug and I were first married from a whole in the wall junk store and I "stain glass" painted it red and recovered a shade for it... it was cute, but my style has definetly changed since then.  In fact I don't own a single piece of furniture from those days except a desk and it's been repaint (imagine that right! :).

I found a couple of old pictures with the lamp in them... the one with Luke cracks me up!  He's so his dad's child... :)

 

 

...and I have no clue how to get the pictures that I scan to be just the picture instead of all that white space.. whatever, you get the picture. Also, I'm clearly super good at using the paint program and circling things too :)

Anywho.. enough about my mad computer skills... :)  The lamp has great features, but I just never got around to being inspired about it... until the other day.  I had this divine inspiration to tear it apart and  rethink it.  I love color, but wanted something modern-y like my house and funky.. couldn't be happier.. check this out peeps!

SERIOUSLY!!  Ah-mazing!  I heart this lamp!  Does it just make you happy?!

Dear spraypaint inventor, I love you with all my heart.  Sincerely, Melody.

Remember this chair...

It went out the door at $200!  I couldn't be happier about spending $15 total for the chair and fabric.  Let me tell you, I was pretty excited about a $185 profit! :)

Ciao.

...and... more robins egg blue! :)

I feel like maybe my life's calling is to reupholster chairs... seems to be what I spend most my time on!  This beast had to sit for awhile while I tried to find fabric for it- it needed 5 yards!!  I wasn't about to dump a fortune into upholstering it and even at $5/yard that would be $30 into it already!  AND I'm stingy (read thrifty).  Imagine my excitement to find fabric for $1.97/yard at the fabric store!  Needless to say I bought the entire bolt and they threw in the cardboard bolt too, which always makes me happy! :) The chair was $5 (haggled her down :) at a garage sale, so total fabric and chair cost $15 total!

Before...

This chair has good bones and turned out great!  So annoying... I had to tear the sides off after I finished them because I forgot to staple the fabric on the sides down into the chair... ugh.  Nothing more annoying that digging out staples that you've hammered down!  But I persevered and didn't loose my Christianity on this chair :)  I've gotten close on other chairs, but thank God for praying people... that and my husband telling me to just walk away for a minute and cool down :)

After...

I just realized as  I am posting this I missed some tacks on the chair... the work never ends!  It turned out super cute though.  Now the decision is keep or sell.. this is what I agonize over!  I can make some great dough selling, but then I can't decide...  I ONLY have 7 more yards of this fabric- the decision shouldn't be this hard! :)


I <3 craigslist...especially the free section.  People put some amazing things on there!  This wicker set was free from a lady here in town- actually my old library teacher from elementary school.  It needed some TLC...

TLC as in major amounts of spray paint :)  Clipped the loose wicker and painted it up and sold it off!  Turned out lovely- greens and blues make my day!

I absolutely love free!

I also love selling junk... makes me happy to make some money doing something I created.  Makes me feel like I'm contributing something to the human race, like I'm improving the environment, like I'm saving starving children- all from my living room with tacks, staples, fabric and a hammer.  

I'm off to save the world... hope you all have a great weekend- live it up before the winter comes!!!

Chairs x100

Today was clean out the garage day... a good thing too, I could barely open the door to get in it!  Hubs and I took a whack at it and whipped it!  I think it may have whipped us too- we both are hurting...  but it looks WAY better and I can actually open the door now :)  You would not believe the absolute pile of chairs I have!  I was surprised when we got going.. they were coming out of the woodwork.

Today may be a first.. I took a piece of furniture to the curb.  I told Doug I felt like I'd failed and he told me it was more like cutting my loses :)  This chair is a beast and would have taken a ton of fabric/time/staples/tacks/brain power to manage.  Also, I'm sick of moving it around the garage to make room for other projects.   That being said it's on the curb if anyone wants it.. :)

Last year (or maybe year before) I found this fantastic desk at Salvation Army and it was half off WITH A CHAIR!!   You better know I crammed this pink baby in my car and drove off.

The chair may or may not have been peed on.. I'm still not quite sure.  Apparently I have low standards though and it was all mine.  Jazz this thing up and and the end result was fantastic!

The top (like everything else I paint :) is robins egg blue and houndstooth print chair.  Turned out super cute.  It's headed out the door this week for sale at $100!  Can't beat a profit of $93- I paid $7 for it!

People have asked to hire upholstery done, but that makes me so nervous- if it's MY fabric and MY piece of furniture that is one thing, but having to do it on someone elses time schedule and to their liking is something else.  I did do a chair for a friend- not sure what possessed me to do so, but it turned out good and hopefully didn't fall apart as soon as she got it home!   Found the chair for $5 and fabric was a shower curtain that was the design I was looking for.  Maybe she hates the chair... at least she hasn't told me so :)

Before....

And after...

So cute!  I used almost every square inch of the fabric to get this chair covered!  I had only a couple of small strips left over.  I love the white and brown together!

Doug teases me all time about the things I decide to try as my "firsts".  I decided to try to make a pillow a few years back and it was in the shape of a bird and really hard to make!  He just thought it was hilarious that I decided to make a bird pillow instead of just trying to make a square pillow.   This couch was my first "real" upholstery I did.  Honestly, for it being my first time and me never having seen any tutorials on upholstery it's not too shabby if I say so myself!  NOW I look at it and think "what was I doing?!" but it's passable.

The amazing thing about this couch is that a king size bed fits perfectly between the arms!  How exciting!  I sawed the front part off and made the arms and back a "headboard" and the front legs part a "footboard".  It's still not finished, but when it is, oh what a glorious day that will be :)

Here it is with the legs sawed off.  I really need to get this thing done.  I think I might reupholster it also.  It's gotten sort of dingy due to time and having kids (and myself) around... Probably will paint the arms/legs white... I'm into white right now so that will probably be the color I go with...

I'm too tired to think any more... had a great long weekend.  Our friends came from Ames to visit and Doug got to drive their convertible when we went for ice cream.  We had an absolute blast with them.  Got to see Doug's parent too and spend time with them and our family, which we always enjoy!  Doug had Thursday-today off and it was fantastic!  I don't want him to go back to work tomorrow, but someone has to make money so I can buy spray paint and fabric and eat bacon! :)

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Nothing makes me happier than these 3 boxes of pure amazing joy... mirrors!!! AH!  150 of them. 12"x12" each.. FREE!  (don't mind the mirror picture- underneath are the square ones :)

A lady I bought a chandelier from 2 YEARS AGO had a wall of mirrors that I told her I loved.  She hated the wall with the mirrors and said she and the husband were going to take them down and would I like them when they took them down.  Uh, yeah!  So 2 years later she emailed me (even remembered my first name!) to tell me that the mirrors were down and I could come get them.  Needless to say I nearly peed my pants with excitement to get the email!  These puppies are shiny, shimmery, gold to me.  I'm a magpie, what can I say....if it is shiny/sparkly/reflective I'm in heaven!  I have big plans for these mirrors... lets hope my idea works!

Years ago I found this amazing junk store in CR and sadly they went out of business.  I think they were probably a front for a meth lab/drug ring, but hey, they had great junk AND they would let me haggle with them.  I love to haggle :)  Luke is learning to do this well too... way too much time spent with me.  He haggled a poor lady at a garage sale this summer and got what he wanted for the price he wanted and then turned around and changed his mind got his money back and bought something else...what a kid. 

Back to the junk store though... before they closed I found this lovely treasure there.  It, as you can see, was in not so lovely condition, but with lots of time and diligent sanding she really became a beauty!

It had layers of thick bright red, blue, and yellow paint.. it was like sanding bubble gum. Then there were layers of gesso... It was crazy!!  It literally took me over a span of a year to finish working on it off and on, but it was well worth it!   I'm amazed at how awesome the original hardware looks on the finished piece.  And to think I paid $15 for it!

And of course it needed some beautiful insides too!  Robins egg blue with shimmery fuschia paisley print paper- beautiful.

God really loves me... I know because the junk store/drug front has moved closer to me and is just one city away!  They know me by name and we are at the "Love ya!" stage when I pack up my car and drive off with all my newly bought treasures! :)  It's the only place I know that will sell you a solid wood vintage buffet for $5!

Hope everyone is getting out and enjoying this fabulous week!  We're canoeing this weekend- it might be more of a canoe walk with how low the river is, but it will be fun with all our friends!

Happy treasure hunting everyone! :)

Black, white and fuschia all over

This little gem is quite possibly one of my favorite pieces...  I have furniture ADD so we'll see how long I keep it before it gets sold. :)  My house is a rotating door with furniture.  Also, nothing ever gets finished on my house because I'm always working on projects to sell...  I need two of me to get everything done. :)  That's a scary thought... two of me.

The before shot.  Not even sure how I got this lifted into the car.  A couple stopped while I was trying to stuff it in the car and asked if I needed help, but I was determined to do it by myself so they just stood back and watched me sweat it out... :)

Obviously this is a jewel :) but couldn't stay in this fabulous shape.  It's a great chair that reclines and has a foot and leg rest that come out from below.  What a great chair!!  Here's the end result... I adore this chair!  How can you not love velvet fuschia chair!!!

I realized when I was finished with the upholestry that it was missing a couple springs on the inside so I still have that to finish and the fabric guard that goes between the chair and the leg rest.  Almost done! :)

Doug was not happy about this project, mainly because I left the dresser in the front yard for about 2 weeks... It's pretty ghetto looking so it did not help the look of the house.  It was rained on, made of chip board and upholstered with padded vinyl... I repeat... padded vinyl. ?!  What exactly goes through someones head before they upholster something in PADDED vinyl?!

 So I went to my local crack dealer and got the hook up.  The dealer being Restore/Habitat for humanity and the crack being wallpaper :)  I <3 Restore.  I take a paper sack with me every time I go because I usually hyperventilate because of excitement when I'm there.  Picked up this fantastic wallpaper and slapped it on the dresser put some clear plastic protector over it and nailed that sucker down with nail brads and voila!  It's the cutest little thing.  It works great in Luke's room with the chevron pattern.  With it being chip board there was no painting it so wallpaper was the next best choice besides fabric.  And here's the after!

Well, I'm off for a ham sandwich for lunch... peace out.

Welcome To Our Humble Commode :)

I think it's comical when I call my dad, brother-in-law (Kaleb), or friend (David) any time during the day they all immediately ask what I've found on the curb and that yes, I can use their truck to go get it. :)  I don't even have to ASK anymore- they know what I'm usually calling for.  I really need a truck/van/Uhual, but the husband knows better.  Although it was a glorious day, and I may have had a personal revival, when I found out the seats in my car lay down.. it was a powerful moment right there in front of Goodwill when that was found out!  It was one step closer to a truck :)

The curbs of Anamosa produce a plethora of fanastic junk that can be striped down, painted, upholstered, etc.. you just gotta have the vision.  Reminds me of the house we are in- dad said don't buy it, it's in terrible shape!  I saw it and was so excited because it was a blank slate to me.  It wasn't in great shape so I could do whatever I wanted to it and still not ruin it! :)  We got the house for a song and went to work... granted the work continues, but one day we'll get there.  Doug's become a pro at electric work and dry walling and all around handi-man-ness.  Plus he's super cute with a drill in his hand. :)

The bathroom when we moved in... these people apparently had a deep-seated love for wallpaper border.

The bathroom now... Much better than dusty rose with border! 

Still have flooring to install but making progress!


The living/dining rooms.. the house sat vacant for quite awhile and the pipes burst so the carpet and flooring in kitchen was quickly removed and they used crow bars to remove.  Floors and walls were in rough shape so we decided to paint!  I'm not much for plain wood so it was fun to get to do what we wanted with the floors!  These are before...

And after!

These are old pictures and it's just the painted floor before I put the polyurethane on... Unfortunately I used the wrong polyurethane on the floor so we have to redo it, but this is what it will look like again after we redo.

I found a stencil online that I LOVED, but costs $140!!  WHAT?!  So I decided it could be made by hand so that's what I set out to do.   I took the design to Copyworks to be printed on engineering size paper.  Then I painstakingly cut out the stencil from plastic and began painting... let just say, it's a work in progress.  I've cut it out 4 times (long stories there) and quite possibly will have to cut it again... grrr..

It's so great, but I have NO clue why I decide on Majestic Magenta as the color and was not very happy with the color after while so I decided to try again with black

Ah!  I absolutely adore this in  black and white and with the floors it's amazing!  My stencil literally shredded after just a few repeats, but I'm deteremined to get this painted on my wall, so we'll make this a winter project and recut the stencil yet again. :)