It's all in the numbers.Chalk painted benches

A couple years ago, I/we, Mr. Z. and I built three little tables or benches out of vintage pine lumber that I salvaged from a shack my sister tore down. Broke my heart that she tore down this 100 year old house.

Just before Thanksgiving, I started making changes in my dining room because the décor was stagnant and changes needed to be made.  I brought some primitive stuff in from the garage and work storage to stage a setup and see if I would like it. The long bench and my little bench with the drawer that we built would work well with my idea of stacking/staging. There you see it on top of the long bench.

(Please click pictures to enlarge)

The drawer was from an old dresser. We cut the depth down to fit and I added a vintage drawer pull. The sides still had a lot of chippy paint.

This was looking pretty good, but just a little too rustic so I decided to paint the two benches a matching gray. I mixed my own chalk paint using sand-free grout powder and paint that I had on hand. The long bench was not a problem and it was perfect for the plan. The little bench also turned out good, but it needed something more ... just too plain.          
                                                                   

Since I planned to use clocks and numbers as a theme for this display, I dressed the drawer with numbers and a clock face under the handle. I drew the design up with the numbers; reversed then; printed them out on wax paper with my ink jet printer and transferred/ironed them on the drawer front. I did the same with the clock face under the handle. The wax finish had to be sanded off first. Transferring a large clock or clock face to the top is still in the plans. I was really pleased with the numbers transfer. The clock face transfer did not go on as easy ... maybe some wax was left on the surface and it pulled more paint, but it looks aged and that is what I wanted.  

The handle had a round center, so that was perfect for the clock face. I added plastic clock hands under the handle.

This was fun/learning  project to do and serves the purpose for right now.

I LOVE to recycle or repurpose.

Linking to: 

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You Are Talking Too Much Meet-Me-Monday

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Funky Junk Interiors SNS

 DebbieDoo's Newbie Party Monday

Kammy's Korner Trash to Treasure

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Painter Drop Cloth French Door Drapes.Antler Horn Buttons

 We have French doors in our living room that open onto the Patio and I have never been happy with the way I had them draped or covered. Actually, for the last several years, we have just had a folding screen covering them ... but when we wanted to exit the door, we had to fold the screen. With the cold weather now, I wanted something to help keep the cold out so after I saw Donna at Funky Junk Interiors idea on using painter's drop cloths for a drape, I decided to try it and here is what I came up with.  
(Please click pictures to enlarge) I bought two 6' x 9' drop cloths from Home Depot for about $11.00 each. Lowes had the same thing ... different brand, same price, same weight, but I thought the ones at Home Depot felt softer. I bought swing-arm rods from Lowe's ... little expensive, but nice.

I draped them over the rods and folded part over to make a ruffle or valance. No cutting, no sewing. I left them like that for a couple weeks, then washed and ironed them to make them hang better. Just a couple days before company was coming for Christmas, I finished them up.

We had gone to our daughter and son in law's ranch for Thanksgiving and I picked some drop antlers out of the trash antlers (not all antlers are trash). They have tons of antlers all over the place. We sawed the burr (curly piece that fits to the head) off the end of the antler to use as a button for the drapes. Sawing is neither fun nor easy. Not advisable to breath the dust when the sawing. Protect the hands too.

Here are the eight buttons ... unwashed, in their natural state. 

Some are Whitetail and some Axis, but work good together.

Look better when washed.

The small one was a practice button. 

I randomly tacked four buttons to each panel catching both pieces of fabric in the tack. I also tacked along the outside edges. I used waxed button thread and left long strings to tie and leave some hanging down.

If we want to open the drape for light, we can just swing it to the side. 

 I am pleased with them ... not costly, good weight material, easy to make, helps keep out the cold and still lets in a little light. The rods are black and I think I will paint them bronze or copper.

We have a casual living room so these work in really well.

Our family liked them very much when they were here for Christmas and I expect them to be putting up painter's drop cloth drapes at their ranch pretty soon. Both our children have ranches.

I purchased this rock at an Estate sale ...  (it weighs almost twenty pounds) and has this wonderful painting of a deer. It wedged perfectly in this plate hanger. It is hanging on the wall next to the drapes and ties in quite well with the antler buttons. I also like to use drop antlers in my decorations.

 

Signed ... Francie Hardwick '83

Thanks for checking out my blog.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Linking to:  2805 Potpourri Friday

  I Gotta Create Kiss & Tell

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Mrs. Hines Class Show and Tell

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Boot Scoot'n on snowflakes in the Dining Room.Snowmen

Day after Christmas and all through the house, not much is happening as everyone is taking a nap.

Decorations will be coming down in a few days, but for now, we can enjoy the Snowmen for a little while longer.

I know everyone is tired of Christmas decorations, but I wanted to share a few more with you. I have a hodgepodge of Christmas decorations, but some of my favorites are Snowmen, bottle brush trees and winter scenes.

Hope you enjoy this tour.

Welcome ... come on in ...

... you have seen my Entry HERE   ... so next is Boot Scoot'n  in the dining room. (Western dancing in Texas)

Five decorated papier-mâché Santa boots filled with peppermint canes; sitting on Dollar Store snowflakes make up the centerpiece. Boots are vintage candy containers ... not sure if the large ones held candy or a bottlebrush tree, but think candy. Today they are stuffed with peppermint candy canes; some are true candy and the three foot plastic canes from Dollar Store ... were cut in half to fit and fill the tallest boot. The small dark gray boot at each place setting contains candy and a surprise underneath that.

I have used these round peppermint candy cane wreaths for napkin rings for a lot of years. I think I got them at the Dollar Store when we moved here in 1987. The little knitted or crochet Snowman is always a favorite at every place setting and was filled with candy mints and money. No one knew how much was in each one and I would try to trade mine with the grandsons. Usually did not work because they knew they had more in theirs than I did in mine. Sometimes they peeked before we sat down to the table. Anyway, it was a fun game. After I got the dark gray antique papier-mâché boots, the money was hidden in there under the cup of candy. As they get older, they expect more than a $1.00, more like $20.00.   

This table is comfortable for eight people so with nine expected this year I quickly set the little breakfast table. Turned out really cute. Gray boots with name tags were added later when everyone chose their place to sit.

I used five, day-of-the-week dish towels my daughter gave me years ago, still unused that were perfect with the snowman theme. The snowman in the center is handmade and is about thirty-five years old. The Decoration Committee made about thirty of these for table decorations for a Newcomer luncheon when we were in Michigan.

 Now, back in the dining room ... my window decoration can be see in another post ..."rusty wheel wreath". 
(Please click picture to enlarge)

Special large ormanments were displayed in some of my white stoneware dishes on our antique table/shelf to the left.
Yes, it folds out to make a table.

The little hand blown glass squirrel is a Christmas ornament as well as the brown rooster behind the candle. Beautiful candlelight reflections in the china cabinet mirror through the old Clorox bottle.

A Cardinal family in an old brass cage with berries, greens and a few white paper flowers adorn one side of the china cabinet while vintage reindeer march across the shelf.

This old restored bird house is home for Santa during Christmas. 
***************
We must remember to give thanks and remember the reason we celebrate this wonderful day.
The birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.A large hand carved wood angel candle holder looms over the silver plaque of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. Placed on a gold edged glass cake stand are two tattered old Holy Bibles, a prayer book, gold rim glasses, a praying angel bell, crochet book marks and tatted cross page marker. The large tin candle holder is handmade in Mexico ...
a primitive arts and crafts piece.  

The book on top with the turquoise and brass cross is a well used prayer book which belonged to my husband’s Mother. 

Wishing all of you a very Happy 2012.

May God bless everyone.

Thanks to everyone who joined me this year; for all your nice comments and inspirations.

Hope you enjoyed this tour and did not get bored with the length.

Linked to:

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