Antique Mirror

I recently purchased this gorgeous antique mirror at an auction in Kitchener (Thanks Mom for being the best and bringing it home for me).  It was in rough shape when I got it, but had the most amazing detailing.  And the best part, is it's old, weathered, antique mirror.  I L-O-V-E antique mirror.... tiny bubbles, little bumps, and small knicks.  The best.

So, with some tlc, I brought it back to life.  Errrr, going to be hard to say good bye to this one!

Antique Mirror $95 $80 (21" x 35")  Contact me for more info!

Blanket Box

It brings me nothing but joy to have a forgotten piece of furniture make it's way back into a home because of my work.

Enter, Grandpa's old, broken forgotten blanket box.

This poor thing had been beaten up and even lost a leg.  But after a couple of weeks in my work shop, it's looks perfectly 'antiqued', and is ready to be a loved piece, full of memories, once again.

ANOTHER Hall Tree Make Over!

Remember the last hall tree I revamped??  you can check it out here.

Well, after that make over, I was overwhelmed with requests for more hall trees.  So, I've had my eyes peeled for more.  Surprisingly, I came across another, exactly the same as the last one I did!!  I had to drive all the way to Caledonia to pick it up, but I didn't mind.  After all, that's my old hood ;)

This hall tree was going to a fabulous, fun, light hearted family, so I wanted to kick it up a notch and be adventurous with colour.  I went with my most favourite furniture colour - RED... Emperor's Silk, to be exact!

Console Table to Sofa Table

As most of you know, I've been spending most of my kid-free time over at the Mitchell house trying to get Grandma's living room done before her home-coming next week. I finally finished today, and the room turned out beautiful. I can't wait to share all of the "after" shots with you. But, for today, I'm sharing just one little tidbit of the room.

I have a thing for sofa tables these days. I love the look of a sofa in the middle of a room, anchored with a sofa table at it's back. A sofa table gives you an opportunity to display decorative items, add lighting in the middle of a room, and create an open concept living space. BUT, they are hard to come by. Especially, in my upcycling world. I searched high and low for a new sofa table for Grandma Mitchell's space, but couldn't find one. I found a few new ones, but at $500-$800 a piece, forget it. That's not the way I roll.

I was leaving the room after a long day of reupholstering (the day I staple-gunned my hand. fun.), and long behold, I see this....

How had I walked passed this beauty so many times??? I instantly asked if I could swipe it and paint it, and happily, I was granted permission. But really, of course I was! Look at what I did to it!

This is my most favourite piece in the room.  It turned out beautiful.  Hope to post the rest of the space this week! Stay tuned!

P.S.  Like my new site?!?!?  All my new pages will be up and running soon.... xo

Upcycled Hall Tree

View my up-cycled hall tree article here on Answers.com!!!

Painted China Curio

I recently painted this gorgeous piece of furniture for a friend.  It was so hard loading it in my van for delivery because secretly, I wanted to swipe it!!  But, I must say, it fit beautifully in her new home... and she must have really like it - she packed my van up with 3 more pieces to be painted!  My workshop is jammed!!!  I LOVE IT!!!

2 Colour Distressing with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I found this Ikea Hemnes table in my basement a few weeks ago (you can get lost in a sea of furniture down there!)  and thought it would be perfect to try out a 2 tone distressing technique.  The bottom layer is 2 coats of Annie Sloan Old Violet.  And the top coat is 2 thin layers of Old White.  

The result is a beachy, distressed side table that is perfect for my messy 2 kids.  I love it, and can't wait to try new colour combinations!

EASY DIY Envelope Pillow Cover

I'll admit I have ADD when it comes to home decor.  I'm constantly changing my mind when it comes to layouts, colours, fabric and blah blah blah.  I even annoy myself.

Remember my awesome toy room here.  Took me days to paint the stripes.... 

Well, this is what it looks like now.  Just 12 months later!!

I needed a work space, so I shafted the kids.  Sorry monkeys.

Anyway, the whole point to this story is that I wanted an easy DIY pillow cover pattern, so I could change up my pillows as often as I want.  I haven't busted out my sewing machine since we lived in this house, so I didn't want anything complicated.  So, here is what I came up with.  The world's easiest pillow cover for any dummy on a sewing machine.

First, grab your pillow insert and measure it.  Mine is 20"x20".  Lay it out on your fabric.

Measure and cut your fabric to be 2" longer than your insert on one side (22" for me!).  For the other side, double the length of your insert, and add 6" (For me, 20"x2"=40"+6"=46") See Ry,  I don't need Grade 12 math.

On the shorter sides, with an iron, press a .5" seam, then flip and press another .5" seam

Then bust out that dusty sewing machine and sew the hem.  Just a straight line.  You can do it.

Lay your fabric face up and place pillow in center

Fold the long sides, one after the other

 

Make sure the fabric is lined up on either side and fits snug around the pillow. Then, pin the two flaps of fabric together on either side

Slide the insert out and pin all the way down the sides

Now sew along the edges.  Once you are done sewing, turn the case inside out and slide your insert back in!

You're done!!

P.S. Like the bench?  Just redid it for my little princess and her crazy stuffie obsession.  

Coffee Table Re-do!

Not too long ago, my girlfriend asked me to keep my eye out for a coffee table for her living room.  I spotted this heavy sucker on kijiji for just $30 bucks and emailed her right away.

After a few coats of Annie Sloan's Paris Grey, this coffee table looks like it's worth a pretty penny, and looks amazing in her space!  Couldn't be happier!

Some before pics... (and I am so sorry for the poor pics.  Just got my new camera lens in the mail this week!)

And after!  I did 3 coats of Annie Sloan Paris Grey, 2 coats of wax, and minimal distressing along the detailed edges.