Upcycled Father's Day Gifts

 Last weekend my family and I finally made it to one of Country Living magazine's Fair. I have been wanting to go for a few years now but it has always been held too far away. This year it was held at the Duchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York so there was no reason to miss the event filed with handmade creations, homemade foods, informative demonstrations, captivating speakers and great antiques. We left Rochester at 4:45am and made it to Rhinebeck in 5 hours just as the gates opened. It poured the first day but that didn't dampen this treasure hunting family. We picked up a few items (well, a truckload and SUVfilled to the brim) and I had Father's day in mind for a few of my scores. These projects are super simple and need little to no experience with power tools....

Shoe last and vintage red Stanley level. 

Shoe last coat hook  I found this basket overflowing with them so I picked a bunch up for $5. each. I love them so much I have a pair on my fireplace hearth.

Shoe lasts are wooden forms in the shape of a human foot used in shoemaking to provide fit and style of a shoe.

I drilled a pilot hole in the toe of the shoe last. It was narrow so I needed to use a small bit. I screwed in a small C hook and drilled a hole in the back for a screw. You could also use a simple saw tooth picture frame hook just below the metal heel. Its as simple as that.

LEVEL KEY HOOK- I measured out every inch and drilled a small pilot hole for the L hooks. If you don't have a drill you can simply nail a hole and remove the nail giving you a start for the screw. I placed saw tooth hangers on the back. The best thing was that I didn't need a level to hang it!

Too bad my father's name isn't Stanley

 

This could also be used as a tie rack.

TOOL BOX COFFEE TABLE- The tool chest was bought for $12. I added some legs that I sawed off from a desk (thats another project). I screwed the legs from the inside of the tool chest. The great thing about it is that there is storage inside. Storage and a table.. bonus!

This can be opened without removing all the items on the top. Thats a tiny hidden drawer at the bottom.

Stopping to smell the flowers... These oversized magazine banners were scattered all over the Fair.

PICTURE (not so) PERFECT- a decoupage tutorial

Last week I ran into a client friend at Home Goods an she mentioned that she loved seeing all my upcycling projects that I post on my Facebook page. She had just left the Goodwill store next door and couldn't find anything to to help accessorize her mantle. I thought to myself "She couldn't find anything?" So I left Home Goods and took her frustration as a challenge. I texted her a picture of my thrift shop score. So this ones for you Margot.  Hope you like the finished product. Just look for good bones and never mind about the color. You can always paint it!

My cute faded "little duck saying hello to a turtle" picture. You can see the price. I had big plans for this small investment. I loved the gold leaf frame but sadly my friend had to go....

I removed the faded image and began decoupaging tissue paper from a gift that I received. I first gave the frame a coat of old fashioned Modge Podge but any white glue would do.  The first coat of the glue adheres the paper and the second acts as a topcoat.

As I mentioned earlier I loved the gold leafing so I cut the paper with an X-acto blade knife very carefully using the dark ridge as a guide. This could be done with wrapping paper, fabric, wallpaper or any other kind of paper.

After cutting the tissue paper, I gave the entire frame a thick coat of Modge Podge as a sealant. I carefully used the brush to even out all the creases and air bubbles. It goes on white and dries clear.

I have had these cute bee curtain pins for some time now. I never really used them on curtains but I thought they would make great decorative nails. I made a bow and stapled it to the back and found a beveled oval mirror at Micheal's that I tacked in.

I grouped the small mirror with a collection of other neutral colored artwork.

Total time spent on project - 1 hour and cost is under $10.

Every week I will be posting a simple up cycling project. I will give the time spent and overall cost. Let me know what you think.

Super Hero's to the Rescue

Often a child needs a little inspiration to encourage them to spend time in their bedroom. This past week I had a blast painting a Superhero medley in a 6 year old boy's room. Danny art directed the entire room and let me know exactly who his favorite heros were. He was particularly inspired by seeing the Iron Man 3 movie and the filming of Spiderman 3 here in Downtown Rochester.  After completion he told me, "I never wanted to leave my room." Music to my ears... No villains allowed!

Marvel's Spiderman with city skyline 

DC Comic's Batman

Marvel Comic's Iron Man 

The Cartoon Network's Ben 10 Omniverse

Diamond head 

POW!

Heat Blast

Four Arms

Minecraft Mural Madness

      Last week I was commissioned to paint a mural in an 8 year old boy's room.  At our first meeting, myself and the boy's parents gathered in the all white room to discussed what they wanted me to paint. They told me that their son liked Lego's and computer games. No problem. I had painted lego murals before... They told me that their son's all time favorite video game was Minecraft and that he spend hours upon hours creating his kingdom.  I had never heard of Minecraft before and they giggled. Hey, I have a daughter who's into fashion! It didn't take me long to figure out what this craze was all about.  I went straight to my 11 year old nephew and his friends for a Minecraft consultation and tutorial. He taught me how the Minecraft's images are pixilated (old school to me) and how it all worked.... Six days later with the help of my assistant the white room was no more. It is now "The sickest room ever!" according to my 8 year old client.... 

Detail of the wall behind the bed. My assistant and I taped off every square with Scotch Blue Painter's tape for clean crisp lines. We used Sherwin Williams Emerald Paints for easy two coat coverage. The Emerald line is excellent for low VOC.

                             

Before: big white room

                                   

After; a portrait of the homeowner's house and front yard pond with fountains.

Up close image of the pond

                                                    A Minecraft Creeper and Wolf

           

I'm in love with Minecraft Steve and his trusty Duck.

POUF...There it is!

  Looking for an inexpensive way to add color or seating for your space? Well, the pouf is the perfect answer without emptying your wallet. I am completely obsessed with these little gems. I could put them in every room of my house if I could! A pouf by definition is a stuffed seat without any arms, legs or back and is most typically round.  Traditional Morroccan pouf's are made from leather, and are the ideal combination of stitched leather, beautiful colors and function. Today, a pouf can be found in all colors, shapes and materials. The pouf has been popping up everywhere... and the latest pouf is ever more stylish than its Moroccan ancestors. ... So take a seat!

     

Surya carpet Atlanta showroom

Traditional poufs from $149 up.

Imports from Marrakesh- Chelsea Market NYC

Blue and White outdoor weather resistant pouf from  www.homedecorators.com 

This floral inspired pouf is hand-crafted from multi-colored balls of wool. $209.39 overstock.com

This hand stitched Mandara Indian Pouf set incudes beads and stones $85.69 overstock.com

My favorite is this tradition Moroccan design in pistachio leather! $144.99 from overstock.com

Bring the outdoors in with these gorgeous felted wool stones made by renowned South African designer Ronal Jordaan. Prices range from $298. -$695. vivaterra.com

These colorful durable children's poufs are available from Target.com form only $59.99 each.

Adding old rustic charm to a newly built mudroom

Often in a new home or addition storage spaces take a back seat in design and color to the rest of the house.  Most of the time these small rooms have little to no color and the first inclination is to paint the built-in the same color as the trim. This young family wanted their custom millwork to draw attention, add charm, resemble a piece of furniture, withhold the wear and tears of two small boys and a busy family life while at the same time complimenting their love for antiques and all things old. 

Here is Mia my assistant and supervisor on the unfinished built-in.   I taped off all the walls and the floor using 3M blue painters tape. I prefer the one with the orange core. It is the best at preventing paint from bleeding under the tape.

I distressed the wood further by hammering the threads of a screw and using the back of the hammer to gouge the wood.

I wanted the built ins to look like they had been painted several times. In order to achieve that look I randomly painted red (Sherwin-Williams Red Bay 6321) and navy blue (Sherwin-Williams 6531 Indigo) undertones making sure that these colors pooled in the grooves and distressed areas. I then covered the two colors with a topcoat of 7610 Turkish Tile. It was important not to cover the the red and navy completely but to give it one light coat leaving brush stroke and areas where the under colors show through.  Basically, paint like you are in elementary school missing spots... and don't bother using a good quality brush. It's the inconsistancy and uneveness that give it charm.

After the top coat of Turkish Tile is dry I took a heavy grit sandpaper and sand the edges and certain areas of the built in to expose further the under colors and natural wood.

                                                                                                                          To protect and further give the paint depth I painted a dark blue almost black glaze.  I do this in small areas at a time. Wiping the glaze off in certain areas. This glaze stains the natural wood and creates yet another layer of color. As the glaze dries the brush strokes show. Below are details of multiple layers.

The tape is removed and the built- in is left to dry for at least 24-48 hours. Hooks found at Anthropologie are put up and the open spaces can accommodate wire or wicker baskets.