Category Archives: Make-overs

Old things transformed into new pieces

Ugly April Challenge

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Spring has sprung – yayyyy!  Getting the yard together is almost finished then I can sit back and relax and enjoy chilling in my Rest Haven.  I began to clean out my garage for two reasons: 1 – to find something that needed a makeover and 2- the 2nd annual 49-mile Yard Sale is coming.  Everyone is getting excited about.  You can learn more about the sale by visiting the website here.  When Serena at Thrift Diving announced the Ugly April Challenge I was determined to find something to make over (without buying).  If you live in the south -I believe you’ll find one of these on lots of porches or lurking around in backyards.  Well I found mine and dug it out..talk about a much needed makeover.. Yikes.. this chair is totally yucky :-/

 

Yea pretty bad!!  I also found this retro ashtray too!  Completely rusted just like the chair.

These two pieces will come in handy, because when I’m out working in the yard, I like having a couple of squatting zones. instead of walking back to the gazebo for a quick rest.  After sanding and sanding and sanding.. I got the surface as smooth as I can.. especially the seat part.  I decided to use some colors that will brighten up the space.  I used Rustoleum Pistacchio on the chair and Rustoleum Coral on the ashtray.   They look so much better now!  Retro Back To Life!!

Don’t you agree??

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OooLaLa.. so refreshing with their new look!  The metallic gold handle gave it a glamour touch

Glad Serena did the Ugly April Challenge, because these may have sat out another year…

On to the next!!   Tah Tah Lovies!

Thrifty Thursday

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Hello,hello,hello… I know – it’s not thursday.. (but that’s the day I found my project) .. It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything.. I had to take to hiatus from blogging.  Even though time changed and our days got longer, it stills seems like they’re going too quick – Feels like I’m running out of time..  Work, home,cook, projects, exercise…etc..etc..etc..next thing I know it’s after midnight and time to go to bed to start all over again.. (where does the day go????) …  My cyber-friend Miss K over at Pure&Complex already gave me my frowny face.. Where have I been scolding… chuckles.. thanks “K” for missing me.. My brother came for a surprise visit and it was wonderful time spent with my little darlings.. Ava and Laylah.. I even played hooky from work to escape to the zoo with them.. A trip well worth my time off

Karriem met a new friend.. who he was hoping wouldn’t lick him in the face..lol..

Needless to say I miss them already….   after that.. I had yard work to do.. uggghhhh… I truly regret not getting the leaves up sooner.. but – oh well.. no need in crying over spilled milk..  That alone took a few hours after work to get done.    My chair project is almost done.. Yipppeeeee…I’m the one holding up the last part.. I have to refinish the wood frame.. so that’s my next step. I can’t wait to show you the finished product.  In the meantime.. I did come across this cute vintage lamp while thrifting at Goodwill.

      

Not bad for $8.75.. I think it’ll be great for a new spring look.   My only dilemna was the shade.. I’m not big on the shape or pleats…   I found another one in my storage area.. and decided to to use it instead.   It had seen better days, but I figured – it’s worth a try..  I didn’t do too bad on my kitchen lamp shade (if you missed it you can see it here) so I decided to give this one a whirl..

I’ve been leaning towards toile fabric- so I decided to give it a try.  First I laid the fabric out and placed the shade on top and rolled it across the fabric, marking as I roll it..

I used a hot glue gun to adhere the fabric to the shade.. Be very careful with that glue gun, because it’s easy to wind up with this…  Yeeeouuuuuchh!!!!!!

Luckily I leave a bottle of AloeVera gel in the fridge to help with burns. If you haven’t tried it..trust me, it works great on burns.  It took me all of an hour to complete the new shade  and I must say.. Not bad!

I think the toile fabric did better justice with this lamp..(I just hope toile is not out of style – lol)

The painting was a another Goodwill find for $4.00.  A quick coat of white paint gives the boring frame a fresher look (as you see the wood frame did nothing for this painting)

 

For under $15.00 I created a quick inexpensive new look for the console table.  Next up – I’m also doing a 30-day makeover challenge with other bloggers..which will be another quick update of a chair that sorely needs some attention.  I’m late in the game to start but I’ll have it finished (fingers crossed) ..lol… well that’s what your thrifty girl has been up to.. and what about you..?  What are your upcoming projects.. Do share..I’d love to hear about them..

Tah-tah..As always… Your thrifty Gal

 

Cute Little Cabby

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It’s a ThrowBackThursday and I thought I’d share one of my favorite makeovers with my new readers and a “remember this” with my “ride or die chicks” that’s been with me from day one 😉  thanks for hanging in there with me.  Hope you enjoy reading it :

Saturday was such a beautiful day.  The weather was absolutely wonderful and I decided to finally work on this little cabinet I got for free back in November.  My sister was doing a house sale and it was an item that no one wanted..so she decided to bring it home, well she had no place for it and was going to dump it. Luckily I saved it just in time..I brought the cabinet home with me and kept it in the garage to air out.. It had the dreaded “OLD” smell… chuckles..   Let’s see.. of course I have to have music for my listening pleasure, so I popped in my Joe Simon and Lou Rawls cds along with a few other classics and began my project.   The cabinet was still sturdy but the scraping and sanding was harder than I thought.  I managed to get the surface somewhat smooth.  This is the cabinet before:

       

I’m done sanding and scraping, so next comes the primer

Ooops,,, Almost forgot to tape the glass.. so I had to take care of that before I continue.. ..

Next  comes the spray paint.  I used the metallic silver as my selection.

   

Next – its LUNCH TIME,.. gotta take a break and lunch was ” Salmon burger w/monterey jack cheese and chips.. Yuuummmy 🙂

Back to work and I sprayed another coat of metallic paint ….  this cabinet is turning out pretty good –      

It’s dry and time to put it to use…I figure in the bathroom for towels and toiletries would be perfect for now

      

The  crystal candy dish makes a good powder puff dish  – don’t cha think so too?

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All done!! Another job done and all for less that $15.00…   I just love great finds…

 

Pattern Cut

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I really appreciate you following along with me on this slow process.  After cleaning the excess cotton attached to the fabric, it was time to lay the fabric and cut the pattern.  That was easy enough for me.. (given I still have a problem cutting a straight line).   I had plans to start the year totally organized making plans, setting goals.. but the truth is.. I can’t devote every Friday to this project, so I pushed it back to every other.  But.. good news is ..  she assured me we should be finished with the chair in about 3 more classes..( I was like WOW!!)..

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You’re getting a glimpse of the fabric.. (I hope you like it… )

I left there with a bit  more enthusiasm and with another baby step toward an accomplishment.  Linda is an excellent teacher… her patience and understanding is really terrific.  She even handed me my first upholstery book, the staple gun she started with, staples, and guide sheet..

I’ve got studying to do.. and this is about to get real interesting (to me)… For now… Tah-tah!

All Apart

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Hi everyone!  The first session of my new venture consisted of taking the chair apart.  I have to admit, that was pretty interesting.  First we marked the chair’s fabric for where each piece goes,because once we take it apart, that becomes the pattern.

Taking it apart was not an easy task.   It was all tacked together.  Not one staple was in this chair.  You can imagine the million tacks we pulled out.

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Lot’s of tugging and pulling to get the seams apart, while preserving the cloth.

Those hole pluggers were some tough cookies to get out..

Almost finished… I always wondered what kept the buttons tucked in.  Well – here was my answer.

Tacks, tacks and more tacks…..

All apart.. and this is what we are looking at… Ready to cover him up…

The frame goes home with me to sand and refinish…

So goodbye to the old Don look…..

I’ll keep you posted on the next step… Thanks for following me on this re-upholstery journey.