the 1st of some of the changes

I’m currently going through the dreaded emotional rollercoaster
and the physical endurance test of clearing out mom’s house.
It’s a double-edged sword.
I get to at long-last bring my own belongings out of storage to make it feel like home for me, but it also means parting with most of mom’s belongings.
Which often feels like I’m erasing her.
Tears are frequent.

I feel like I should share the path of change, so,
first- mom’s room before & after.
I sold her [inherited] bedroom furniture. . . . . to a nurse.
And that’s probably the only part that she would have liked.
The next morning I had a meltdown~ “WHAT– did I do?“

• 

• 

• 

These were early pictures of setting it up and styling it for her~
no idea what happened to the pretty finished shots–?
The furniture passed to her from our beloved great auntie who bought it brand new to go in the house she was building in 1910.
Below is the way the room has been REdone.
With MY things, but, in her honor.

• 

• 

The foundation of the room got a fresh painted job because of all the holes that needed patching. This time the white has a warmer tone. The drapes were already changed to the soft, sheer white with lace, the hand-hooked wool garden rug remained.

The dresser, nightstand, and antique French bergère were pieces already dedicated to “her room” in my former house.

The bed was a long-ago project I posted on. It was an aMAZing mirror that had been broken- I bought the frame to make into a bed!

The looong cabinet was a $13, 5-yrs-ago Craigslist find that finally came out of my stashes, got a good cleaning, some repairs, and fresh paint job!

Many meaningful things have found their place in here–I just couldn’t let all her belongings go. I find myself sitting quietly in her room with regularity, and take comfort in being around her—stuff.

I struggled with letting a LOT of her things go and find I’m letting more of my own things go to strike a balance.

Missing you so much mom—
wish Heaven had visiting hours.

I love this last pre-cancer picture.

Want to see the “new” Living room?
That’s a big change, come on back—

Catherine

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another deviation

Cutting to the chase–
I’m currently working on a custom bookcase.

My main project is taking care of mom,
but I squeeze in anything else I’m able.
And right now that is a custom bookcase for mom’s bedroom so she can have
the things around her that make her happy & bring her joy.

 

While I complete this project, but before I share with you–
I just wanted to share a few of those special things that will go on the shelves!

Above are pics of my grand parents in their youth-
my grandfather in his WWI uniform.
And those little leather shoes were my grandfather’s, 1890-something!

The other two pictures are of
my mother as a little girl.
One in a dance costume, and the other with her favorite doll!  It was applied to wood and cut out—back in. . .1936?
Aren’t they so sweet?

♥♥♥
Bookshelf project next!

Finished, paint drying, about to get loaded up!

Catherine

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a new beginning

Step 1- mom’s move downstairs.

The focus was all about getting her settled into, and moving around safely in her new 1st flr spaces.  She’s pretty shaky, and I worried about all the obstacles of the furniture-shuffle, and purging of drawers & closets to fit in the smaller spaces.  Putting anything together for myself would have to wait, so I’d just have to deal with the absolute CHA-OS until further notice….ugh.

Step 2- My turn!
Let the Games Begin!

Although I LUV the upholstered & caned bed I made for the guest bedroom I’d been using, I longed to use ONE of the beds I’ve collected and REworked just sitting in storage!  I could totally visualize a fresh room design with each- but THEN I saw this AWEsome bed from Perigold!
I knew exACTly the direction I was taking!

Ooooof!  Can you believe the price?!?
Time for a “Sensible Chic” version!

 

 

My project starts with the most aMAZing bed
found on fb marketplace
last summer!

I popped the panel back in the footboard, but the bottom rail that holds it in is missing.  That’s okay- I only wanted to use the headboard right now anyway.

Here’s the beginning- sleeping on the floor.
The bed downstairs was incredibly high, so this was weird-weird-weird!

The first change!  Still on the floor, but it was feeling better!
I also added a 100yo door I split in half as “shutters.”
And THAT’s a story I’ll come back to later!

Being frugal –cough-cough, CHEAP!
I shopped sales, used a 40% coupon, and still got what I wanted.
$55 for padding, batting, and linen!

The bed box/frame

I bought and cut down pine boards to build a simple box frame to 54″×80″.
I ripped some of the cutoffs down to create cleats & rails to screw to the inside bed box/frame to support the box spring & mattress.

I sanded and spray painted everything with the RustOleum Metallic Rust.
I discovered by accident that it can mimic stained wood, and the Metallic Rust mimics Mahogany.  I hauled all the parts inside-upstairs to assemble.
Just one more of those UMPteen million trips up&down the stairs.
I screwed the decorative legs to the end corners (only had 2 legs) and cut the 2×2 dowel to create hidden legs at the head of the bed frame.
The newly upholstered headboard is actually hung a little higher on the wall,
so the bed itself is a separate piece.

 

I rescued the legs from a wingbacked chair thrown out for garbage!  (then I threw the remains out too!)

And lest you should forget the inspirational bed—

I like mine better!

 

All in for $158.66!

Can you believe?!?

And this is just the beginning!
Catherine

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I know~ it’s been a while

*** So much time has passed, and my mom is still in a fight.
But now it’s about getting her through recovery because
A LOT of “damage” was done to kill the cancer, to which
SHE WON!

Below exemplifies about what’s left of her and the long road ahead.

 

Recovery has presented OTHER challenges.

The more immediate is that mom has moved downstairs to the larger guest bedroom I occupied, and I’ve moved upstairs into the master suite.

The switch started at the New Year, and put us through varying stages of
Hoarders:  Buried Alive!  —not kidding.

I strategically moved furniture upstairs to clear the bedroom-
her furniture downstairs, to the living room, just long enough to

strip-repair-paint-REdecorate to HER tastes!

Some other construction plans are in the works to fine tune an AWEsome
New (albeit smaller) Master Suite for her.
THEN- I started flipping bathrooms.  An exHAUSTing exercise,
up & down the stairs.  About 30?  Trips each day?  —not kidding.
And there’s nothing like gutting/stripping a bathroom to discover just how good you actually clean it~ y i k e s !  The bathroom was also REdone to her tastes, complete with handicap elements for her safety.
I’ll have to share soon–it all looks SO pretty!

Now to MOI !

At last!  I’m getting to
RE-build
RE-design
RE-create
a room for myself!

With some aMAZing architecturals & flea market finds!
AND- some prized collected antiques & vintage pieces!

Here’s a view of my first few days & initial plans!

The room is newly painted &
many changes are already in the making!

Come back!  I’m back!
With a lot to share!

Catherine

You really don’t know how happy that makes me!

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God smiled on me!

It’s been a tough year.

Barely a project to work on–
mom’s cancer care is my full time job.  Any little project I can find time to sink my teeth into is—a—jOy!
Sure, I’ve found a few cool things to stash till my “comeback,”  but God truly smiled on me over the weekend!

Sunday morn-  slow start-  perusing fb mrkt place, found an 80’s side table with 4 BiG turned legs.  $10.  G o t  it.

–

On my way home with said table—WHAAAAAA???  No way—uh uhhh!

U-turn on a dime.  Jaw dropped, a few eye rubs-  like-  am I really this lucky right now??  A look upward—”Thank You Lord, you knew I needed this, huh?”
A vintage Victorian sofa and a (not matching) chair!

Now, I understand MOST people wouldn’t see my find as a treasure–but it REALLY IS, and I’m thrilled beyond measure!  UNfortunately- I had a wheel chair and now a big clunky table in the car.  How the heck am I getting THIS in here too?  Where there’s a will~there’s a way!

(I’m sort of more like, “Where there’s a will~I want to be in it!”)

But I was determined!  I moved, shifted, shoved, and shuffled until I could fit at least the SOFA in my Santa Fe.  Half IN- half OUT with the tail gate open.  The chair remained on the curb with my teary apologies and promise to “…come back for you!”  I drove the back streets to stay out of traffic.  Plus, I’m sure I looked like an episode of “Sanford & Sons.”

Back to the house intact, I off-loaded and gawked all the more at my inCREDible luck!  ROUGH shape, a LOT of work to do, but everything’s there!
Just a guess, but- looks like someone stripped it to reupholster, but quit at the daunting realization of the job & repairs.  I can appreciate, but–I CAN DO IT!

Since I had to run back out for the groceries that were forgotten in all the excitement, I decided to live up to that promise and went back for the chair–it was still there waiting for me!  I fully expected someone would have snagged it on my heels.

Another appreciative upward “Thank You for the gifts, I’ll do You proud!”

The fundamental detail differences between them–
NOT a pair, but both are still AWEsome!  And they were FREE!

I’ve got a lot of work to strip them further.  I’ll remove ALL of the springs, the remnants of fabric still hanging on, and the HUNDREDS of tiny tack nails.  I’d ultimately like to strip the wood and leave it raw.  Just a waxed finish!

I’m already picturing the sofa in a thick-nubby linen OR a soft mohair–and guess what?  Under the ugly floral of it’s (???) 2nd life are the remnants of a soft pink’ish-brow MOHAIR!

I’m also picturing it with a caned back to really show off that soft curve-linear form! ♥♥♥

Are you with me?
Can you see it?

Catherine

And now some inspiration!

* It may have originally looked something like this–

If it had to be fully reupholstered again, I like these simplistic elements–

But I LUV the idea of a caned back!

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I squeezed in a dresser project!

I stumbled onto this “pretty” dresser for cheap,

then took a much needed, relaxing drive to a very small, out-of-the-way town to go get it!

An awesome drive with some aMAZing old homes along the way—I’d love to make the drive again just to take lots of photos!

Anyway- I bought the dresser.  Sure, I knew it had some obvious issues, but nothing I couldn’t handle, and the owners rapidly loaded it up for me.  When I was home and off-loading it I finally started to see other problems.
Oh boy.

The biggest problem-
a completely broken,
poorly “repaired,”
(& totally concealed) front left leg.  And remember the front is a big curve!

Okay- this is not so much a problem for MY skills as much as, with mom’s full-time cancer care—I just don’t have much time for this.  I just wanted a FUN-EASY project to work on when I can find bits of time.
So -g r e a t- let the fUn begin.

I started with all the veneer problems, and then pondered on that broken leg.  At first I was hoping to clean out the terrible “repair” job and fill it with bondo.  It never set up with enough stability, and I’d NEVER put my name on that kind of work, so after a LOT of wasted time & materials- I ended up cutting away all the damage and just REbuilding it.

*Sorry- no pics to share.  But- I used scrap wood I keep on hand, figured the angles of the straight side to the curved front, glued & nailed in place, let it fully set up—then fine-tuned/shaped with coarse sandpaper in a belt sander.  Now it is  S O L I D.

I also stripped the top and discovered issues hidden under the SUPER DARK over stain job someone gave it at some point.  Looks like it was overly sanded in a few areas, but it REstained nicely and looks beautiful now!

I waxed the top instead of clear coating it—I just think it brings out the richness in the wood more and is softer to the touch!  But that’s just my preference!
OH!  And I heat-set the wax before the final buffing.  The wax becomes a harder, more long-lasting, durable finish. 

Next- I taped off and covered and protected the top, then painted the body with a spongy weenie-roller—about 7 very thin coats.  Left side, right side, front, left side, right side, front, left side, right side………
Each thin coat dries so quickly and all those thin roller-coats finish more like a sprayed piece.
*Hint- I don’t have a sprayer.

Once completely painted–it had several days to set up before I could come back to it.  Actually, it was probably a week later (hospital schedules and all).  I had planned a decoupaged face and the time-lag gave me lots of time to plan the finished look.  AND figure out some other more appropriate hardware.

I was looking through ig and this caught my eye—it reminded me of a poster in my stashes!  That’s how my plan came to be. . . with a few adjustments.  

I measured off, taped my poster to the dresser face, then used a sharp Exacto to cut each drawer section free.  I was careful to save each face-frame part since I still wasn’t sure if I’d use it or not (I did in the end).  A pencil gave quick registration marks for placement to keep everything aligned.
Working from the top down, I pulled each drawer(s) out as I worked on it.  It let me double-check the alignment because 1) paper stretches when it’s wet, and 2) I was already messing with each section by my personal method of “distressing!”

–

–

Yes!  I wad it up
into an abusive ball.
Yes, it gets torn some!
It’s all part of that
“aging” process!

Then I smooth it out gently by hand, apply a really good wallpaper paste and REapply to the drawer face.
I prefer to smooth it out and position it with my hands at first, THEN use a flex-plastic scraper to gently smooth it out, pushing out the excess paste, and finally, wipe it down with a damp rag making sure the edges are well affixed.

Here’s my poster (from Hobby Lobby).

Working on the last drawer-

And then I decided it really did need the slight face frame cross sections after all.
You can also see I added my selection of vintage hardware right away!
SO much better!

*I filled former hardware holes and REdrilled before painting.  I poked through the paper with an awl to reveal the new hardware placement.

Now you can see how the poster was NOT large enough to cover the face,
but I had a plan!  I taped it out to expand the size with a “frame.”
But that wasn’t all.
I used a liquid gold leafing pen to freehand outline the very outer frame edge.
Irregular on the inside edge–crisp on the outside edge.
I just like that subtle contradiction!

I guess I forgot to tell you how I lightly sanded all the wallpapered edges, huh?
In hindsight, I wish I had widened the “frame’s” sides.  Oh, well. . . .

This project was completed in drips & drabs of time.
I bought it May 18th and finally finished it on the 29th.
I loaded it in the car right away and it went to the antique mall the next day where I spent hours REsetting my space to accommodate it!  WoW- my space had become a neglected disaster area!  And guess what?

It sold right away!

Awesome!

But my space is a disaster once again for the new void.
So I found another dresser to work on.  Stay tuned.
Catherine

Not an antique-
not even vintage-
just  O L D.
But pretty now!

-my next dresser-

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2 old chairs and a vintage folding table

…just a few more of the broken items “gifted” me.

I L♥VE this table!

I especially love uncovering some of the mechanics & methods that were used–wAy back in the day!

The system they used to lock in the legs is actually pretty ingenious, don’t you think?                                        Although, it is a little bit wobbly, I’ll bet if the long locking-slat was WIDER it would remedy that issue!
In this instance, even though I could make things sturdier- I wanted to leave it “original.”

The table was fully stripped to clean it up–the original finish was NOT cool!
It took a LOT of sanding to further clean up, and then just a clear stain mixed w/a very small amount of tint to REstain the TOP to BOTTOM.
Ugh…yeah…not good enough.  It definitely needed some color.
I finished the top with 3 layers of paste wax for a silky finish.

–

I moved on to the really old school desk chair.  THAT only needed a good sanding, the leftover tinted stain from the table, and I sealed it with a clear coat.
I accidentally got some stain on the (kind of) rusty pedestal—interestingly, it made it look better.  So I hit it all and wiped it down!

The pedestal is “adjustable,” but I left it where it was.  I toyed with raising it the whole way for cleanup, but let’s face it- I went for lazy.
Even without being bolted to the floor, it’s surprisingly stable!

 

Here it is with the table!

And now–
what to do with that old broken kitchen chair?

Apparently, I’ve forgotten all about Before Pics anymore!

It looks like an ugly 70’s or 80’s era oak kitchen chair.  With a missing- broken off back.  Which is actually a bit of an improvement.  A bit, okay?

I gave it a light sanding for a “tooth” and then painted it a blue’ish green I really luv!  I padded and upholstered with one of my big brother’s old, W O R N-O U T quilts.

It’s surprisingly a pretty comfortable seat-

and could be kinda’ cute in a bathroom!

Catherine

*THIS was a really tough post to write.  I knocked over a glass of cranberry juice -which, just like a Bull’s eye- aimed perfectly for my keyboard!  Arrrrrgh!  Now ENTER doesn’t work.  Just try using your computer without ENTER~impossible!

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she thinks I’m a magician?

Sure- I do love to REcreate and REinvent some crazy stuff, but,
seriously, it’s come to this?

“I have this broken rocker and thought of you.
I just know you can do something with it!”

Um. . . thanks. . . ?

 

Rocker treads eat up space
-that I don’t have so much of-
so I hung it from the rafters in front of my wall of paints thinking it would be out of the way until I figure out what to do with it.

Honestly- I was thinking to just part it out into other projects, but, I don’t know yet.

I hit my head on that dang thing more than once.  One time, SO hard I saw stars.  And had a headache for a day.

 

When I get mom and all her things settled each day, I’ve been -trying- to give myself time in my studio, where so many projects await my attention.  OMGosh, it’s just nice to be IN my studio.  And even with my loooong absence–I’ve had enough of that rocker.

Do I take it apart, or to another level?  Hmmmm. . .

Have you ever seen a rocker for 2?  A rocker and a half?  A chaise-rocker?
What if I deconstruct part of it & just REmake it into something… W I D E R?

 

¹  The LEFT side was the broken and missing parts side, so I removed that side’s legs & rocker tread and made the numerous repairs.  I gave the re-glued and clamped parts 24 hrs to fully set up.

²  I used heavy card-stock paper to make a template of the right side seat contours.  I ripped some leftover 2×6 lumber for the width & thickness to create an extended seat.

³  I flipped & copied that contour to the new left side, cut it out with a jigsaw, sanded, created pocket screw joinery for some areas, and pre-drilled for 3″ screws at other joints.  I also had to REshape how the 2 fronts join together. 

Above you can also see I REdrilled with a 1″ mortising bit to REfit the legs and rocker tread.  What you can’t see in these pics is that I also pre-drilled for large dowels to join the legs together for stability—
aka STRETCHERS.

Until I was able to go buy the appropriate size dowel, I just moved on to prepping and painting.

I added extra supports for the seat (& the new padding).

I heavily padded, then upholstered the seat.

I was actually a little disappointed.  I only wanted to have an upholstered seat TOP, maintaining all the wood edges and frame.  But when I had to put screws into the front for support (even though I could have counter-sunk & plugged them) I nixed it for the ease of a wrapped seat.

During the week I was able to get a couple 5/8″ oak dowels.
I shaped/tapered the ends to fit snugly into the mortised holes.  These dowels are now the stretchers that tie the legs together and bring stability
to the chair.
The last thing was to run & apply welting for a clean finish.

–

Here it is at the antique mall!
That seat is really comfy seat!

A Rocker & a half
—jury’s out, huh?

Catherine

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Let me play catch up~

And I’ve missed all of you!

It’s been MORE than a little tough on this end.
In fact, as I half type–half peck this out with a broken finger…
in a splint…I’ll have more to share.  But later on that one!

I’m settling into my new role as a care giver,
I’ve actually gotten to work on a few projects,
I finally took down *everything* Christmas—except the tree.
It’s sooooooooo pretty I can’t do it!

Picture this~ 900 white lights, some twinkling.
300 blue lights, some twinkling.
Varying shades of white,
tarnished silvers & golds.
Crystal & rhinestone crosses, glittered pine cones,
crystallized branches & feathery doves.
Garlands of white Poinsettia and snowflakes.
A punctuation of cobalt blue vintage balls,
and a large vintage mercury glass tree topper!
Oh!  And a sheer, fluffy, delicately ruffled skirt!

Could YOU take it down yet?

W e l l—I’m not ready.

It’s the only thing left!

Catherine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nellie’s Barn Sale

So- I’m just NOW getting to catch my breath and start to recover.

It was an inCREDibly busy 2 months getting ready for Nellie’s.
But that was NOTHING to—
Wednesday- 
all the LAST MINUTE to-do-lists,
loading for the show, and the EXPERT SKILL of fitting it ALL in,
(in, on, behind—picture coming!)
Thursday-
the LAST, last minute packing,
the nerve-wracking drive there with an over-loaded van (no joke!),
getting laughed at on arrival for the CRAZY load,
OFF-loading & setting up.

See that sloping hill?  THAT was our challenging space.

Friday-
a BIG storm in the early hours that totally messed with us
the first morning and beginning of the show.
THAT was followed by temps in the 90’s & 100% humidity,
A N D- I lost a BIG sale when my Square card reader decided
it needed an update in the middle of processing!
(and she didn’t have enough cash or a checkbook available)

A scoop of FAT ELVIS on a peanut sugar cone softened the blow some.
◊ I passed SEVERAL people (bathroom break) Oooooooo-ing & O-M-G-ing over the ice cream they were eating—I HAD to ask.  “FAT!  ELVIS!”  So I went directly to the ice cream truck  –didn’t even LOOK at the menu board–  and ordered “One scoop of FAT ELVIS, please!”

O.  M.  G.

IN-CRED-IBLE beyond words!
I was totally in the “OMG’ing” camp!  ; D

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Bananas!

Saturday (cont.)–

ANOTHER storm, can humidity be more than 100% ???
We heard a lot of “I’m SO hot- I can’t think!”
as shoppers tried to decide on purchases.

–
We’d sold several big anchor pieces Friday and killed ourselves completely REsetting the 2nd morning.  In my exhaustion, I smashed my finger with the sledge hammer.  It’s NOT a show until there’s blood- right?

Show over, time to REload.
Drive the hour back to my bf’s.
Sunday-
Off-load HER U-Haul van,
load up a few extra things on MY van,
make the final drive back home.
Monday-
Off-Load van at the antq mall & REset my space with All New Stuff!
I still wasn’t finished when they kicked me out at closing.
Gas station & Car Wash with the van and return it to my GENEROUS s-i-l!
Tuesday-
Back to the antq mall to finish.
And finally–
START the recovery process! 

This morning I slept in to 7:30!
And now I’m writing you guys.
I have cool pics to share—as soon as I edit.

Until then, here’s a couple pics from our Holding-Sold area.

Catherine

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