Special Announcement!

What do all these supplies have in common?

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the supplies for the tutorials that will be featured in The Handmade Gift Guide's new magazine, The Handmade Companion, presented to you by their new Eco Craft Editor...Me! 

Being a part of a magazine has always been a dream of mine, so when Anne approached me about being a regular contributing editor, I was ecstatic.  The magazine will be printed quarterly {yep, a real life, in print magazine!} and will feature articles for shoppers and makers of handmade as well as for all you diy'rs.  

The first edition will be available at the Flint Handmade Holiday Craft Market.  Be sure to subscribe to The Handmade Gift Guide blog, facebook, or twitter to learn how to get your copy!

Thanks Anne for including me.  I can't express how excited and honored I am to be a part of this!   

Workday Redos

When I'm painting at the auction house, I'm like a kid in the candy store.  Sometimes I feel like brain is going to burst from all the ideas I have throughout the day!  Thank god for being able to bookmark stuff on Pinterest.

I love the challenge {and yes, I'll admit, slight anxiety} of deciding on which idea to use for a piece.  I am a bit limited at times though, since we mainly use the paint on hand, and/or "oops" paint we pick up from the local hardware store.  But nonetheless, it satisfies my craving to create, and almost always offers instant gratification.

Here are a few things I've worked on so far:

The original off white paint on the desk was in pretty good condition so I left that alone.  I sanded down the desktop, then applied a few coats of the chalkboard paint that Dan suggested.  A can of spray paint gave new life to the drawer pulls {and me a headache, ooph...Note to self: always use proper ventilation!}

If I was keeping the desk for myself, I would have done this:

Found on Pinterest 

The awesome vintage gold flecked upholstery on this vanity bench {or footstool?} was in perfect condition with no stains or wear, so I left that alone.  After priming the base and legs, I painted it with this pretty color of "oops" paint, then gave it a faux aged looked with some left over gold glaze and thinned down brown paint.  

This is what's up next:

This old plant stand will be primed and repainted, and given a new finial.  

This old stool will be primed, painted and reupholstered

The desktop of this vintage school desk already got a fresh coat of chalkboard paint.  The legs and base are going to be primed, then painted a bright red.  I think I'm going to simply spiff up the chair with a light woodstain.

I would love to dress up the desktop with some ABC's and 123's similar to this desk I found on Pinterest.  What do you think?

If you have any ideas for the plant stand, stool, or desk let me know!

Buy Nothing New Month {Final Assessment}

Are you ready for an update?  Did I fail miserably, or succeed gracefully with pride and dignity?

Psh.

I bought some new stuff.

I decided to make a rule that I could buy new if it was work related.  As long as it was something necessary and with no other immediate alternative.  So I bought some snaps and interfacing for some wallets that I needed to finish up, and some eyelets and charms for some upcoming DIY Tutorials.

But that's not what I'm fessing up about.


I bought Milo some toys.

A few of those orange plastic Hot Wheels race tracks to go with the gazillion toy cars he has acquired from friends and family. And a Toy Story 3 Landfill toy thingy.

Regardless of my excuse that the toy sections in our local thrift stores are full of broken toys {BELIEVE ME...Milo drags me through every inch of every toy section of every thrift store we frequent} I still bought something that was unnecessary.

I rarely buy Milo anything new, so it honestly was my pleasure.  I just probably should have waited until November 1st, ha.

Here's a positive spin...

Remember how I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to come up with a costume for the two of us without buying anything new? Everything worked out!  I didn't dress up {long story} and I found everything I needed for Milo's costume at the thrift store {woot!}

Surprisingly I'm not beating myself up for failing my challenge.  I'm actually pretty proud of myself.  Part of this {for me} was to see what I spend my money on.  I realized that I don't really buy much at all {new or used}, unless it's for work, a project, or sometimes for Milo.

I think I've got a handle on things.  Yay me!

In other news, I've got a big {HUGE} announcement coming up.  Stay tuned!