Natural Buffet Makeover

This is a buffet I refinished for a customer.  I forgot to take a before picture. The top had a crack down the middle, and the door wasn't attached to the body. The shelf in behind the door needed to be glued and nailed in too. 

 The top wasn't in to bad of shape but the finish was peeling so I took it to my day job and stripped it with a commercial grade stripper.

 After the top was stripped its ready to be sanded.

 I brought the top home to my shop to sand.

  I then used naptha to clean the finish that's already on it to get the dirt and grime out. You don't want to rub to hard and take the finish off. We call that a clean and coat.

 I lightly sanded the body and draws inside and out. Once everything is dry and cleaned off a coat of sealer goes on all wood that had no finish.

 The end product is an slightly used antique buffet. You don't want to sand out all of its history.  

#buffet #refinished  #furniture

Mirror Makeover

I love finding awesome mirrors at yard sales! This one is a plastered one and heavy. I will have to say, I kind of like the gold but it nedds some updating. 

 The detail on the mirror is beautiful. 

 I didn't want to take off the backing, being it was in great shape. So all I did was tape the mirror off and cleaned the frame to paint.

 I did two coats of the blue, let it dry. I the lightly sanded t with 220 grit to let some of the gold come through. After I waxed it with a clear cream wax.

 This is also a plastered mirror. I did everything the same as the mirror above but the color.

Both mirrors sold the first weekend my booth was open!! That was a great feeling!

One Month In Booth

I know it's been a long time from my last post. I have been building up my stock for my booth, doing custom jewelry orders, a lot of side work and working my full time day job. The reason I'm pushing myself so hard is, my husband John and I are finally getting back on track from John being let go at his job of 20 years in December.  We are blessed that he has found a new job and thing are coming together! 

Getting the booth ready has been a family project. John and my son have helped with loads of furniture and setting up.

 

I keep rearranging things trying to get the right look. This is still all new to me. I will have to say being able to set it up my way does feel good.

I had fun making my sign. Made things a little more real!

It has now been a month from opening day and I have made more sales then I ever did at the other places I have been in! So I'm really glad I took this jump into the unknown! 

I have met a lot of awesome new people and vendors. I really feel like I'm a part of something. 

Moving Day

Saturday was my move in my booth day!! I know it been a while from the last time I wrote. So much has happened.  A few weeks ago I got a call on a Thursday from the woman who ran The Secret Garden, telling me we need to get all of our items out of the building by Sunday!! So Thursday right after work my husband and I went and jam packed the truck and van full of my furniture. 

My boss was kind enough to allow me to store my furniture in the shop where we work. The past few weeks I have been cleaning and fixing the furniture up. I had no idea how bad of a shape they were in. There were rings from cups, footprints on table tops, McDonald cup lids in draws. Spots on bottoms of most pieces from someone mopping. Needless to say its all cleaned and fixed. The pieces are now in their new home for now. In hopes they will sell and go to their forever homes.

I have been also making tags for my items. Cards for the earring to go on. Boxing up necklaces. So a lot of stamping and cutting. I now have to make a display for the earring cards to hang from.

So much more to do before opening day... June 4th.

Here below are items that I have done. Some are already sold! The rest are at my booth!

Deer Repellent For Your Garden

Every Spring I say I'm going to save my plants and bushes from the deer, and they always get to them first!! The deer eat all the new growth on my bushes and all the green leaves coming up for my daylilies. This year I'm trying it. I heard so many people using Irish Spring soap for a deer repellent.  I cut up bars of Irish Spring.

I then cut up nylons. You could use mesh bag or jewelry bags. 

I placed all the cut up soap into the nylons and tied them all off.

I used bread ties on the ones I wanted to hang on the bushes.

I dropped the ones for my daylilies right on the ground with the new green leaves.

It was so easy to use the bread ties to the branches. 

Sorry deer! Your just going to have to keep on moving to the next yard! PLEASE!!

Display Cabinet Is Done

I am finely done with the display cabinet for my booth. Well.... I have to pick up the glass for the doors. I'm pleased with the way it came out. I added some items to give you an idea on how its going to looking.  I now need to work on my jewelry displays for the cabinet!!

 Here is a small table I'm working on! It will be so nice to get the furniture that's all done out of my basement! 

The Willows

The Willows is the new place that I will be setting up my booth.  I'm so nervous about doing this. I hoping I'm making the right decision in putting so much time and money into this new adventure. Isn't there a saying "it takes money to make money"? Sad part is I really don't have the money to be putting into crazy idea because my husband is still out of work... but if I don't get my furniture out there it won't make money :/

I would appreciate it if you could send a little prayer that things will work out for me please!! I could use all the positive vibes I can get! I truly love what I do and love to see the faces of the people when they like and buy my pieces. Just knowing something I put my love into is going to be in someone home is so satisfying. 

The pictures below are of the space underway. I wish I could show you what it looked like before. They have been so busy getting the space ready.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog! :)