SOME of the other desks

As I mentioned in the last post, I ended up with a glut of desks in my stash.  All good, sturdy desks, and I do sell a few desks to clients who need them.  I had a lot though!  So, we began to think of different ways to repurpose some of those desks.  Today I'll show you one of the ways, which is quick and easy to do, and I have seen done on many different blogs.

Here is what we started with.  Love those huge wooden knobs.  An open knee on both sides and 2 
columns of drawers.  This is what we did.

We (and by we I mean the Mr. with my input) unscrewed the top, knocked out the center drawer, patched a few rough spots, re cut the top to fit and routed it to fit the two sets of drawers. A little paint and wax and viola`, side tables/night stands.  Love them.  I have 3 pairs, 2 of which are complete and will be for sale at the Prairie Market next weekend.  Here's what the other set looks like.

Sweet right?  Now those other desks...that's for another post.
Deb

The Throne

Let me start by saying that I am praying for all the families from the Naval Yard affected by today's tragedy.  It is unbelievable that we are seeing this yet again!  It seems rather bizarre and insensitive to be thinking about anything but that today without at least acknowledging my great sorrow at the suffering so many will be feeling today.  My heart aches for you!

This summer for VBS I (a known picker) was tagged with finding an arm chair which could be outfitted to look like a throne.  Of course, that's all the excuse I needed to get out there and look for a likely chair!  I do wish I had taken a photo of the grungy gal she was, her brief moment as the The Throne for a wonderful week of VBS but then I'm not exactly known for thinking of those things ahead of time!  That's why my posts are one continually lament and apology for what could have been.

So, here you go with the reveal at least.

For this project I was trying a new paint from The Plaster Paint Company.  I was not paid or given anything to tell you about this paint, but hey, I like to my experiences with new products when I can.  First of all this is a latex based paint with a plaster mixed in.  I bought a paint of this yummy green color Mossy Green.  As with many of these wonderful new paints, no priming necessary (Yes!).  So I just cleaned the dust off and went to town.  I did use 2 coats, and in a couple of areas 3, to get it well covered.  I let my project rest overnight before distressing because my experience with just plain latex paints tells me that it might be too rubbery for a time after painting.  I doubt you'd really have to do that, but it just worked out for me.  I distressed with a sanding block and it went very smoothly and easily.

I was very impressed with the ease of putting this paint down.  The marks you see on this piece were due to the pickling/antiquing done to this chair during construction/production.  The paint showed minimal to no brush marks, was easy to clean up, and dried fairly quickly.  

The finish feels nice and smooth and the color is great.  I used wax and a final buff to give it a nice hard finish.  I bought a pint of this paint and maybe used 1/2, or 1 cup, of paint.  In a couple of spots I did get a few little white flecks which I suspect would be due to the plaster mixture they use, but the paint in the can is very well blended and saved me the trouble of mixing my own!  Another plus, low VOC, which is always pleasant!

A fun, funky piece of fabric completed this project and you'll find this for sale at the Prairie Market here in 1 month!  Ga!  I'd better get crackin'!

Have a great week!  Deb

P.S. I went quiet for some time in part because I was working on 6 pieces of furniture to be featured in 2 different homes at the Omaha Street of Dreams!  If you get a chance go tour the SoD where you will see some fabulous homes.  My pieces are in the Absolute Customs homes on the tour.  Enjoy!

Thank You!

Thank you!!! We had a fabulous time seeing old friends and meeting new ones!  It is beyond gratifying to hear your kind comments.  Like I said to some of you "it makes the sweat in July more tolerable".  We truly appreciate your support of our little group, and we hope to continue bringing you something new and exciting each time.  Feel free to let us know if there are certain items you'd like to see more of next time.

Here are the rest of the photos of the Prairie Market all set up.  For those of you who were only made it on Saturday you can see how packed it was on Friday when we opened. 

 

 

Each time we grow bigger and better!  Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Deb

2 Days from now

2 Days from now we'll be in the middle of an amazing time with old and new friends as they check out all of our hard work!  It's an amazing thing to watch grown women almost racing each other down the driveway to be the first inside.  We LOVE it!

So, I'm down to the very last items to price, just 2 more thank heavens, and getting the house ready to go.  I thought I'd share one more item with you before I get too busy, or too tired to think about a post.  (Though I might just post some staged photos for you on Thursday night.)

Here is a HUGE trestle/harvest type table that my family used for many years.  We moved, the table was too large for our new space and the rest is history.  Here it is in it's new paint just waiting for a new home.

The base is painted black, and the top, well lets just take a look.

I had every intention of just staining it, but I just wasn't happy with it.  So, I remembered a tutorial post by Shelley of The House of Smith's on creating a weathered barn wood look.  Following it loosely game me what I think is the perfect "new do" for this table.  What do you think?  Look closer.

Pretty cool how all that dry brushing gives you the texture and look of an aged piece of wood.
I liked it so much I said to my long suffering husband, "you know maybe we should just keep..." at which point he fixed me with a look and I slapped a sale tag on it.  You'd better come buy it before I change my mind...again!

It does not include chairs, we used 5 family antiques with it when we had it in the kitchen.  It does have this really long bench that can easily seat 3 to 4 people.  I think it would be super cool with an eclectic mix of vintage wood chairs! 

Hope to see you on Friday or Saturday!
Deb
Partying here:
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/10/poww-110-furniture-link-party.html
http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/2012/10/be-inspired-features-and-link-party-41.html
http://missmustardseed.com/2012/10/furniture-feature-friday-a-link-party-5/

Racing toward the Finish Line!!!

Well you didn't think I'd left you hanging here for no good reason did you?!  In addition to nursing a sinus infection for the entire month of September, I have been diligently working in the workshop.  Like an elf, or Rumpelstiltskin, or something along those lines.  All of us have self-imposed expectations of what we wanted to have ready to go.  We'll get there, and the world will continue to spin if that last table doesn't get painted or wreath doesn't get glued up.  But I will say that, from what I have heard from the ladies, THE PRAIRIE MARKET, is going to be packed to the gills with goodies.  Do stop by!

Here are some recent finishes of mine.  Just not sure I can part with that buffet...But if I can't then there will be another one for sale instead.  There that will make someone happy!

See anything you might like?  Don't forget, October 12 & 13th.  The info. is on the side bar and up on the top buttons.

And for some more immediate fun, NJ & Co. is hosting another Ladies Night Out with food and beverages on Thursday.  They will be open until 8:00 for shopping.  I just put some new pieces in up there, and the other ladies are getting in a ton of new Fall items!  There is some seriously gorgeous stuff in the shop right now!  Tell them Debbie sent you!

Hope you all are enjoying the gorgeous Fall weather!
Deb

Feature and Spring Mini Prairie Market!!!!!

Thank you so much to Stacey of Embracing Change for the feature on my Springing Forward cabinet!  It still strikes me as amazing that people from all over can look at my little ole stuff on this blog thingy.  I sound like I'm 100 and have lived in a remote cave I know, but I'm still blown away by the wonderful people I've "met" through this blog land.  Thanks Stacey for hosting a wonderful linky party!

Now, for those of you who live anywhere near the Greater Omaha area, or those that like a good road trip,  the Pairie Market is going to have another sale!  We shortened our name to Prairie Market, from Prairie Pickers & Peddlers Market, for obvious reasons ;-), and we will be hosting a 1 day Mini sale.
On Saturday, April 28th, from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., the 4 ladies who make up the Prairie Market will have a sale full of restyled furniture, antique and vintage finds, jewelry, home decor, and other handmade treasures!  There is more information in the Prairie Market button at the top of my blog including the sale address.  We, Suzanne, Tammy, Kirstin & Deb, hope you will join us and find some new and exciting items for your home or gift giving needs.  We decided with Mother's Day around the corner and Spring's arrival we had better be gearing up for some fresh new looks for you and your home!  Thanks to all who came by last year.  We had an absolute blast meeting and greeting old and new friends, and we were so gratified by the show of support and the response you had to our sale.  We can't wait to see you again now and then in the Fall when we hold the larger market sale.

Here are a couple of pictures from last year's Fall Market to remind you of all the great goodies we put together.

Hope to have some new reveals up by the end of the week. 
Enjoy the day!
Deb