To Learn Something New

It always seems like a good idea.  You know, learning something new for my business, until it comes down to crunch time anyway.  I have two chairs, and no before photo so use your imaginations please, with rush seats.  The seats were a bit worse for wear if you know what I mean, but otherwise the chairs were in perfect condition.  Sometimes I feel the need for explaining why I would even buy some of what I buy.  Anyhow, with preps madly under way for Prairie Market (mark your calendars now!), I just kept pushing them back because I knew what dealing with them meant.  Yup, tackling something I had never done before.  And sometimes you just have to decide, do I really WANT to learn something new this week or not.  Obviously I chose not to tackle this right now.  No Thank You!  I will someday, but not this time around.  So then what to do with 2 chairs with less than desirable seats?  Make a bench of course!

And with the Mr.'s help that's just what we did.  I think I like it more than I would have with 2 new chairs.

It is so sturdy with those nice big bolts anchoring it down.  Wouldn't it be cute in a mud room, or for a pop of color on a grand front porch?

It is finished in a color called Peacock and a product from Heirloom Traditions called Aqua Clear.  Heirloom Traditions is the parent company and manufacturer for Debi's Design Diary DIY Paint that I retail.  I can not tell you how much respect and love I have for Paula at HT and Debi at DIY Paint.  They are both so forward thinking and kind and respectful and I could go on forever.  I am able to retail some HT products in my booth and I will be adding Aqua Clear for sure with my next order.  I wanted to work with it before I offered it to you so I could help you with your projects.  I LOVE it a lot.  It is a water resistant finish, not water proof (so don't go putting my bench out in the middle of your rose bed in the rain).  But a covered porch should be just great!

So here is another lovely offering for the Prairie Market sale on July 17 & 18 in Gretna at the Big Red Barn by the Middle school.  We are all working feverishly to finish up some great products for you.  I tell you, we are really going outside the box with some creative endeavors this year.  You need to mark your calendars.  While you are at it, you can follow me on Facebook by pushing that handy little "F" button on the sidebar.  And though there is no button for it (because I never thought I would join) you can also follow me on Instagram (TWICENICEFURNITURE), and Prairie Market is also on Facebook with lots of pre-sale photos (Prairie Market Gals) and you should follow that too!  I will stop because I am starting to sound bossy again.

Have a super weekend!  It's almost here so hang on!
Deb

My New Furniture Obsession & Ladies Night Out

You can NEVER have too many chairs!  Really.  I have discovered that I was chair deprived for many, many years.  So recently I have become obsessed with simple side chairs.  I've bought some, restyled some lucky finds, bought some from my partners to use in my home (ahem, before they could even be brought into the house for the Prairie Market),**(correction, attempted to buy, Suz wouldn't let me pay cause she's super nice like that)** and scoured everywhere for more.  Many times they are difficult to find, well find in my budget.  Now I've decided that the rest of the world, or at least Nebraska, needs more chairs too.  Lucky me I was given 2 chairs by another partner, restyled those and managed to sell them before I even thought to get a photo taken :-(.

I finally found one cute little cane back the other day that was in the budget and snapped it up.  Then my newly minted "picker", the Mr., found 2 more budget pleasing chairs for me last week.  These 2 restyles went fairly quickly.  Sorry, no before because I appear to be hopeless when it comes to that, but I did get afters on these before they headed down to NJ & Co.!

These 2 ladies are very clean lined, well made and were in remarkably good condition.  I actually considered keeping the blue velveteen that was on the cushions, but I had fabric burning a hole in my craft room!  These are painted in Annie Sloan Old Ochre and waxed with clear wax only.  As hard as it is to find any good chairs at times, it is much more difficult to find a matching pair of nice chairs!

I love that open armed barrel style.  The caning was in wonderful condition.  They are distressed to give them a bit of shabby chic character.

Isn't this postmark fabric the bomb?!  Love it on these chairs.  Now, what if you paired these

with this.

Wouldn't that be fabulous in a small sitting area, or set up as a special conversation area in YOUR living room or family room??!  Yes, it would be wonderful....if I had a bit more space here.....

All 3 of these pieces are for sale at NJ & Co.  which is hosting their monthly Ladies Night Out tonight from 4:30-8 P.M.!  Come see us tonight and find me to say hi!

Happy New Year and New Blessings to You!
Deb