Twin headboard bench...

Hi Everyone!  I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend.  When I get done working today, I plan on being out in the shop working on a bench for one of the guys I work with and getting started on making some wooden canvas'.  I love being busy.  Today I thought I would show you the twin bench I made for the Arbor Craft Fair that I attended last month. 

I love how this one turned out.  Here it is at the craft fair, waiting to go home with someone.  I decided to branch out of my normal benches and used a different color on the bench and different fabric.  I know it's difficult to tell because the seat is covered in plastic (to keep it clean) but it's black and cream and a very pretty green.

Here's what I started out with.  A bed set that my uncle Bill gave me.  In fact he gave me two sets...which is good because the style was very popular.  I started out by cutting out the center spindle on the footboard since it was in the way when I went to cut it in half.

I found the center of the footboard and drew a line across it.

I carefully cut the footboard apart on my miter saw, turning it around to cut both the top and bottom boards.

Then I built a frame and secured the footboard to the headboard using glue and screws.  And that's when I forgot to pick up the camera again.  I primed it and painted it almond.  I cut the seat out of plywood and upholstered it in my new favorite fabric.

I took it to the fair and got a lot of wonderful comments on it.  So many people looking at it and inquiring about it and taking my business card.  But it didn't sell on Saturday which actually surprised me.  But on Sunday, not more than 10 minutes after arriving, the gal that was running the show came up to me, very serious like and said, "Holly, I need to talk to you."  I thought she was going to tell me something bad or that I did something I shouldn't have....but instead she said, "I want that bench."  I almost starting laughing because she was so serious.  So I put a sold sign on it and she went to write me a check.  I headed to the truck to bring in a few more pieces including the ladder basket.  Which she also bought. 

One last look at the almond bench.  I can't wait to use it's twin to build a bench.  Isn't it sweet.  I know it went to a wonderful home.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a nice Mother's Day.  I can't wait to give my mom her gift.  I'll share it with you tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by.

Storage bench...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Tuesday!  I will be spending the day in the shop trying to get orders filled.  But I wanted to show you the bench with storage that I built for this last craft fair.  I showed you the in progress pictures of it a couple of weeks ago.  Here's what the headboard looked like.

And here it is built and painted with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Old Ochre.

I then waxed it with clear wax. 

And I upholstered the seat.  I left the plastic on it at the craft fair as little kids with sticky hands love to climb all over them if their parents aren't watching.

This bench sold fairly early to a nice young couple with a couple of kids.  I think the storage in it was the kicker.  I love to watch people when their making that decision to buy.  And I get almost as excited as they do when they say they are buying something.  But let's face it, it's a big purchase, literally!  They left it at the fair until almost the end of they day when they came back to pick it up, so a lot of people were able to see it.  Must get busy now on those orders.  Well, thanks for stopping by!

Armless headboard bench....

Hi Everyone!  Do you remember when I showed you this headboard and said I was going to make my first ever armless bench?  Well, I made one and took it to the Clarinda Craft Carnival.

I took apart another headboard that I wasn't crazy about the posts on it and used the back of it to make that Welcome sign with the pegs and I used the bottom of the posts as the front legs of this bench.

I painted it black since it seems to be the most popular color of the benches I've made.  I upholstered the seat and there it is.  And boy did everyone love it.  I put extra foam in the seat to make it comfortable.  To me it looks less like a bed and more like something you would see at a furniture store.  I had a lot of interest in this but some of them want to see it with storage in it.  So I'll try that next.  I was really happy with the way this turned out and I think I'm going to get some orders for this style of bench, which makes me very happy.  And the fact that it sold at the Clarinda Craft Carnival makes me giddy!  It was a good day!  Now I have to get to working on things for the next fair.  Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2012/03/sat-nite-special-link-party-125-benches.html 

Coffee table, storage bench...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Saturday!  I wanted to share with you one of the things I've been working on.  I made this storage bench/padded coffee table last year for the Clarinda Craft Fair in October and it sold before my benches did.  The top opens up and there's lots of storage inside.  So this year I thought I'd make a square one similar to this.

So I started working on my idea for a square, padded coffee table, made with the same look as the one from last year.  I cut the lumber and took it all inside into my living room since it was too hot to work in the shop and got all the sides made.  Each side is a panel that fit snugly together with the panel on either side and then the panels get glued and screwed together. 

So I had each panel made and I set it up in my living room and it was just too big.  Each side measures 36".  Which didn't seem too large to me when I laid out yardsticks when I was trying to determine my dimensions.  Boy was I wrong!  IT WAS HUGE!  I lived with it in my living room for two days and couldn't image anyone having room for that large of a box. 

I talked to my mom about it and she didn't think it sounded too big.  I talked with a co-worker of mine and the same thing, didn't sound too big.  I looked in Pottery Barn and their padded coffee tables were 48" square, but didn't have storage, just legs with an open area below........that's the problem!  It was the solidness of the box that made it seem so outrageous big.  I couldn't cut the panels down so instead, I'm making two rectangles instead of a square.  I'll try again on the square later.

So I made two more panels (I've only made one of the two so far) and put it together in my living room.

I haven't made the top yet.  Hopefully this weekend.

But I did move it out to the shop so I can sand it and get it ready for painting.

Since I will have two of them, I thought I'd paint one Graphite and the other Old White (using my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) and then wax and age them.  The only thing I haven't decided on is if I'm going to upholster the top like the one I did last year, or have a wooden top.  Or maybe one of each?  What do you think?  The nice thing about these storage pieces, it can be a coffee table or storage bench in your entry way or kids room or at the end of the bed, or at your dining room table.  They are very versatile.  I'll let you know what I decide.  Thanks for stopping by.