Remembering 9/11...

Hi Everyone!  It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the 9/11 attacks.  I was working as a Manager for a Telecom Company and I was sitting in a training class when news of the first tower came to us via our pagers.  We had telephone equipment in the towers and some employees working there.  My manager paged me that I should just stay in class and they would page us if we were needed.  It was difficult to know that things were happening and to be out of the loop.  When class was over and I headed back to my office building, the security was higher already and my employees were very glad to have me back in the office.

By the time I got home from work, all I could do was sit in front of the television and watch playback of the things I'd missed learning about while I was in class.  It was strange to be alone in my apartment, watching it all  unfold.  It seemed like a horrible movie that wouldn't end.  I talked with my parents several times that night and was thankful we were all safe even though we weren't together.  I'm still amazed at the stories of heroic measures and patriotism that came out of that tragedy.  I am honored to be an American.  Here's to those that lost their lives that day, to the first responders that ran into the building to help, and to the troops that fight for our freedom.  Thank you!

Another Queen Anne chair....

Hi Everyone!  I hope you are all having a great weekend.  I've been busy getting ready for my second craft fair of the season that will happen a week from today.  But first I want to show you one of the chairs I took to the Essex Labor Day Market this past Monday.  It is one of the chairs that my Aunt Nancy gave to me.  Here's what it looked like when I pulled it out of storage.

A bit too dark for my taste.

 And here's how she turned out.  I used Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Country Grey.

 Then I sanded it and waxed it using clear wax.

 And I recovered the seat in my Mom's favorite fabric that I've used on a lot of my bench cushions.

I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  I have four more of this style to redo, but a few of them need a little TLC first.  I took this and the arm chair to the Essex Labor Day Market, but they didn't sell.  There was a lot of interest in them and one lady really wanted them, but her husband told her they were too fancy for them.  She almost looked heartbroken.  I guess it just wasn't meant to be.  Thanks for stopping by!

The ironing board companion piece...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Wednesday!  Do you remember the wedding dress art I did on the antique ironing board? 

Well, I decided to do a companion piece to go along with the wedding dress.  I found an antique ironing board without legs for $5 at the local antique shop.  Sorry I forgot to take a picture of just the board before I started working on it.

 I drew this tux onto the board free hand and then painted it.  In this picture it looks blue, but I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite so it's actually grey.  I did the details in black.  Then added Tailor to the top.

 I used the same logo on this one as I did on the wedding dress but didn't get a close up of it.  Then I waxed the whole board in dark wax.  Here is the logo from the wedding dress ironing board.

And here they are together at the Craft Fair.  Sorry for the bad picture.  We were in a hurry to get some pictures snapped and I didn't get more than one picture of anything.

Well, thanks for stopping by.

Message or photo center....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend.  I sure did.  I'll share the items I finished this weekend and show you some pictures from the Labor Day Market I went to in the next few days.  But first I wanted to show you one of the things I've been working on.  I found this frame hanging in my garage.  I don't know where it came from or why my grandfather put it in the garage, but I'm sure glad that he did! 

 I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk paint in Old White.  Then I sanded it and waxed it. 

 And added nails to the back of the frame and strung black wire in a grid pattern.

And added mini clips to the intersection of the wires.  I found the clips at Hobby Lobby for $2.99.  I've had them in my stash of items for a while now.  I don't know what made me get them, but I'm sure glad that I did.

 And here's how it turned out.  It can be used to hold messages or photos.

Or anything else you might want to attach and display.  I have today off work and must get out in the shop so I can get ready for the Red Oak Craft Fair next weekend.  More to come soon!  Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Labor Day....

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you have all had a great weekend and a good Labor Day!  My brother and his family are here and will be leaving today to go home.  And today is the big Essex Labor Day Market and Craft Fair that I've been telling you about for the last few months.  Hopefully all of my hard work will pay off today.  I'll let you know tomorrow.  Enjoy your day!

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Labor Day!

Modified headboard bench....

Hi Everyone!  I hope you are all having a great weekend.  I wanted to show you how my modified bench turned out.  Do you remember this?  I added the feet to the arms and the finials to the back after cutting off the wing shapes from the posts.  This bench was ordered by a client so she wanted it black and the name Jensen on the back.  It is a gift for her sister-in-law.

Here it is laying on it's back while I paint the letters on.

And here it is finished.

 Now that it's all uniform in color, the added pieces look more like they belong.

 And the cushion was made by my mother.  She refers to the work I give her as coming from Donna's Do It Shop.  Thanks Mom!  This fabric has been the most popular fabric for bench cushions.  And it's my mom's favorite.

My client came this week and picked it up and seemed very happy with it.  I just hope her sister-in-law likes it.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  My brother and his family are here.  But I will be busy getting ready for the Essex Labor Day Market on Monday!  I have a few things left to finish for that craft fair and then two weeks from today is the Red Oak Craft Fair that I have a whole big long list of items to finish.  No matter how well I think I have things planned out, it always seems like I'm in a rush the last couple of weeks.  And this year the three + week heat wave and the storm clean up didn't help my schedule.  Every year I try to avoid this rush to get things done and every year I can't avoid it.  There is always next year.  Thanks for stopping by.

Storage box bench or coffee table...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Friday!  I hope you have plans for a great weekend!  I will be finishing things up for the Craft Fair on Monday.  My brother and his family are coming, in fact they are on the road as I type this.  Do you remember this storage box bench that I shared with you a few weeks ago?  Well, I finally finished the first of two of them. 

I painted this one semi-gloss white and then added walnut stain to tone down the brightness of the white.

And using the same walnut stain, I stained the top.  It's a plywood top and the edges have been faced with an iron-on veneer to give it a much more finished look.

 And here's how it turned out.

 I'm really happy with how this turned out.  It's the perfect size for a coffee table or bench with built-in storage.  I think the walnut stained top looks good against the white.  Now it's on to the second one.  I think I'm going to paint the base of that one black and make it a padded top.  Have a great holiday weekend!  Thanks for stopping by.