the Zig & the Zag of it all

* Uh-huh, yeah~  I’m bouncing from project to project, which means nothing is getting –finished.  I just don’t want to keep getting paint out, then clean up-put away, then get it back out, then clean up……..  You get it.  So until I finish everything marked for Cornforth White–the job bounces.

Below you can see how I got a little over anxious to see how the new color would affect the built-ins, and used some of the wall paint to see!

I did get some eggshell Cornforth White mixed to paint properly!
The interior of the bookcases will be a soft white.
* I can report- the Cornforth White wall paint is now cleaned up/put away!
** I dread moving all those books!  TG it’s just into the hall!

My initial plan was to hang decoratively framed slat board
—about 2ft high × 56″ wide—
high on the wall adjacent to the closet for flexible hanging of clothes & hats.
I was fully ready to order metal hangers- (×4) 5 hook waterfall hangers $1.95 each & (×20) hat holders w/foam pads $2.50 each, for a total of $57.80.
I figured I earned this treat.  And then they informed me the shipping would come in at $59.  Uh–  NO.

So I will BUILD what I need.
1st- I decided to now add a long buffet mirror high on the wall-
then layer in my own hanging system.
I ripped wood to create a “shelf” to fit under the mirror.  Simple pieces, run through the router table with a ½” round-over bit for softer edges.
2nd- I ripped 3  2½”×14½” strips to “mimic” the one cascading hanger I happened to have—which became my guide.
3rd- I pinned all 3 arms together.  All cuts are made at once AND uniform.  The Dept Store hanger I had hung on a 10° angle, so I cut the ends of mine to match on the chop saw.  I tipped the table saw blade to 10° to make the slits that will catch the hangers.  I spaced my slits at 1½” apart for 10 slits.
4th- I separated the arms and ran those through the router too. 

  

I screwed the arms into the shelf from the back side with 3″ & 2″ screws for the most stability against the weight of the hanging clothes.
I took the whole assemblage outside for a primer coat.
Finally- I screwed the shelf to the wall finding 3 studs to make sure
nothing is falling down!

I had to test things out right away!

(Mom still had a few clothes needing to get moved downstairs.)

I’ll leave the mirror in its dark stain, but paint the rest to blend into the walls.
Then I’ll load everything up!

I’ll tell you about the hats soon~

Catherine

No—wire—hangers!  ; D

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HaPPy VALenTINE’s DaY!

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my salvaged wood, farm-styled wine rack

I still had some barn boards.

And somehow, I also have a surplus of heavy coiled springs.

A N D- this idea came to mind.  I’ve seen a few variations on this, but here’s MY twist on it!

–

–

I plucked out 2 of the shorter boards—and discovered a mouse hiding out between them!  He went on the run–I went on the run–and a LOT of shrieking ensued!  And- this repeated many times throughout the day.

So now I’m grossed out and trying to scrub the boards CLEAN and DISINFECT them too—yeesh!  I gave them a couple of days out in the sunshine too.

This week- instead of going to the gym early each morning, I’m going out to the garden to pull weeds and start the Spring clean up.

It’s a big job and will take the whole week.

Then I clean up, change clothes, & get back to my workshop before Nellie’s!

–

—back to the “WINE RACK!”

I ran the boards through the table saw to clean up the edges, then cut them to length on the chop saw.  80″ in length.

I used pine cut offs from other projects to frame the 2 boards tightly together.  Sanded, puttied, fine-sanded, and stained the frame.  Once everything was set up I seal-coated the entire project, front and back.

◊At right & below shows my scheming stages!

Yesterday I began working out how to attach the springs.  The last chair I gutted used a really interesting method of securing the springs to the wood frame.  So I thought it prudent to save the hardware—just in case!

What you can’t see above~ I drilled a hole into each piece with a metal bit, then screwed each into place before bending/wrapping over the spring.  I used a small metal eye to catch the other end of the spring.  The springs are held very firmly for the [heavy] bottles of wine!

–

While I was playing with placement and spacing, I pulled out some really long cut nails -spikes- I had.  I was thinking how cool they could be holding wine glasses!  I don’t have all I need, so I’m working on that.  Otherwise–

I still have a few kinks to work out & hope the Nellie’s crowd will ♥ it!

At 6½ ft tall+ I thought it would be nice just to lean against the wall  –kind of like riddling racks.

OR mount it!

Catherine

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6 ReStore corbels—3 shelves

Y e s,  I sort of abandoned blogging for a while last year.

I needed a FEW minutes.

My bad.

 

Just like on the computer– I needed to hit the REfresh button.

But that’s not to say I wasn’t working on projects.  Oh, I was.

I had a  L O T  of project ideas, and I’d be selling in 2 Fall shows.   BUT—  I knew the summer would be consumed by yard and garden repair.  And I started focusing on myself & hitting the gym hard.  A N D, of course, there was FAMILY TIME.  Seemed like EVERY. thing. was a full time proposition.

I just showed you the wall cabinet that was created because of orphaned desk drawers.  I actually made a variety of wall hanging things.  -Shelves.

I still had some very plain-Jane ReStore corbels.  I bought all 6 they had and parked on them forEVER before I came up with the first project.  But each time, I found I had to cut a bit off—and I kept them.  You never know…

3 corbel pairs became 3 shelves.

And the cut offs became another shelf!

The 1st pair of corbels were used to create an Over Mantle Shelf.

I backed it with 3 of the many fleur-de-lis tins I bought in a flea market.

The Over Mantle Shelf sold so quick & easy at Nellie’s Barn Sale 2016,

I decided to make a 2nd shelf for the 2017 show too.

There’s a place I go by with regularity that tosses out some out-of-the-ordinary pallets—I now stalk them!  The 3rd shelf was made from the boards of one their pallets.  I liked the mixed woods and only sanded, then finished with a clear-coated.  You can see I ripped trim pieces on the table saw for extra detail.  It too, was a quick sale!

I now had 6 corbel cut offs, which got me thinking. . .

how about stretching them out for a  L O N G  plate rail?

* The long boards were also pallets from that place!

5ft long, with a routed groove to catch the standing plates.

That shelf above the plate rail was made from salvaged parts of a vintage sewing machine cabinet.  I made 2 like that!

I only had the decorative door for the one below.

I made the sides and used part of a drawer face for the top.

I like making shelves, they’re fun and easy!

And speaking of corbels and pallets—

I know most of you only look at and use the top pallet boards, but look again at the thick “foot” boards.  They’re usually 2″ to 3″ thick— and thick wood is expensive to buy.

I bought this amazing and adorable pair of corbels in a church flea market.  I’ve been hoarding them because, well— they’re too cute to give up!    And then I noticed they were roughly the same size as the pallet FEET,

so look what I did!

It was not easy pulling the nails, but once clear, I traced out the shape of the corbels and cut them at the band saw.  I got all of these from 1 pallet foot! 

Wouldn’t they be awesome under a plate rail/chair rail in a room?

And one last PALLET FOOT project–

I played with the spacing of my last 5 votive candles, then cut the pallet FOOT board to length.  I drilled the holes with a 1½” mortising bit at the drill press.  Sanded smooth, then Lyme-waxed.  I LUV IT!

Catherine

I told you I was busy working!

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“trash” to treasures!

Penny-pinching.  Tight.  Cheap.

Hoarder.

Thrifty.  Frugal.  Economical.

Sparing.  Careful.  Prudent.  Efficient.

O k a y—a pinch of Parsimonious.  Yes, I’m a bit of all of the above.

I cut a LOT of wood.  And I’m not very fast to toss the scraps into the garbage OR burn pile.  You just NEVER know when you’ll NEED some small scrap.  For a test cut, a spacer, all kinds of—things.  And then there’s always that UNexpected—Project.

Call it a WooD CraFT project!

Like-

-made from SCRAPs!

AND-

All kinds of STARS for Christmas!

From all kinds of scrap wood AND some leather-clad wood!

AND-

Do you SEE why I don’t toss wood scraps so capriciously?

I picked up a CRAZY CHECK today for—

a variety of my stars, the Christmas Tree shelf, a scrap wood box, and the bottom rustic coat hanger-shelf!  Woot-woot!

From the TRASH to Paid TREASURES!

Catherine

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I have an idea~

W e l l, I’ve never posted from my phone before, but my new computer is being “fixed.”

L o n g story, I don’t like Best Buy. Worst Buy would be more accurate.

I bought this dresser last fall.  Had a couple creative ideas~I thought.  Changed my mind.  But I have anOTHer idea. . .and I’m feeling better now. . .

Stay tuned!

Catherine

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where to begin~

The pace was very steady AND very busy leading into the holidays.

Things did settle down in January and February, but sort of accelerated soon after that, and then took off like a runaway train.

12, even 14 hour days became the norm, and I was just trying to hang in there.  Posting projects got pushed off the loooong lists—in favor of sleep. You know?  SOMEthing had to give.

When I found a couple short, surprise lulls~ trying to edit what pictures I DID have and gather my thoughts to write something felt daunting.

And I was exhausted.  So I passed.

Part of that exhaustion came from tough, early morning workouts AND cutting carbs.  CARBS.

* I’ll have to share some of my bragging rights on the workout progress soon!

But the sheer  –physicality–  of the tree damage-repair-moving plants-clean up of this big property was -d r a i n i n g.  There were  m a n y  “zombie” days.

OMGosh the changes without the tree and its shade!

The project scope grew exponentially and I wore a LOT of hats!  Landscape designer, landscaper, crew foreman, laborer, the buyer & deliveryman–and the watergirl so no one fainted on me from dehydration in the heat and humidity.

–

The tough, laborious work continues, but is not so all-consuming anymore. And I’m back to tell you all about it!

The landscape changes, a bench, a dresser, the antique mall(s), a kid’s cubby, the pergola porch swing, new grapevines and trellis—

and a vacation!

Catherine

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another “plot twist!”

I know, I know—I’ve been horribly absent.

Like everyone else, I’ve had a thousand and one things going on.

Blogging, heck  -just opening my laptop-  has taken a total backseat.

One weekend after another I’ve had— a bridal shower, a big pop-up show, the outdoor wedding of my niece/Goddaughter, the twins’ huge birthday party, a graduation & party, a surprise 70th birthday party. . . and all the work and prep associated with [a few of] the events.

*Add to that  -in the vain of my standard klutziness–  I took a little tumble at my niece’s outdoor wedding, spraining my left ankle and right knee.  Suffice it to say that even a low heel and undulating, soft ground don’t mix.  AND, before the night ended I also got a fat-split lip in a hugging accident with a VERY tall nephew.  (Murphy’s Law’s got nothin’ on me.)

I generally just consider it all “Catherine’s World”

but I believe this could be my new mantra  and  a sign for my studio!   Do I hear you laughing…?

I’m also weeding and working on the gardens.  Losing our huge BoxElder means a LOT of plants need to be moved, so I’m taking advantage to REarrange and REcreate some of the garden vignettes!  This will launch a couple of architectural-construction summer projects too!  ♠ the Domino effect!

I have been squeezing in some actual projects here and there, and have several post-drafts in the works to share with you so—

c’mon back!

Catherine

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should I show you…?

Don’t want to gross anyone out, but—here’s where I’m at…

To recap—crushed hand under some barn boards,

needed surgery~had surgery, lots of pain and seriously watching clock for next pain pill.

4 days in, figured out bandages were too tight~got loosened and things were markedly improved.

9 days post surgery, necessary flight out East,

1st TSA agent encountered accidentally hit finger trying to help me~ couldn’t breathe, almost cried, more pain, and now nauseous.

Saw Dr upon return~ screw held, sutures held, a little bleeding, but—okay.

VERY interesting to travel. . . . . –just function– ONE HANDED.

Stitches come out this Friday on schedule, then move to a soft splint and therapy soon after.

SO nice to have FRESH bandages,

AND to get to see healing, progress—

and a straight finger again!

*hope the pictures don’t gross you out.

Maybe just EXIT now!

I’ll totally understand. . .

Look, my hand will look NORMAL again—YaY!

Sure can’t wait to get back to work!

Catherine

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recovery-

Well~

I’m currently a 1·armed bandit- huntin’ & a peckin’- to say HI!

I made it through my (1st) surgery—

the Dr broke it, cut it open to cut out/cut away the damage, and put a screw down the tip to hold it all straight.

If you’re thinking  O W E,

then you know how I’m feeling. . . I’m in a lot of pain, but coping.  And can’t wait for this all to be just a memory and I‘m back to work~

Catherine .

*The above bouquette & proxy hug are from 2nd big brother away on business ♥

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