Barbwire trim on re-purposed Toolbox Tote.Ugly to pretty

I hope you saw this blog ...  Tool Box Tote Trays and STUFF. Fab Finds $14.00  of my fabulous 'picks' that I bought for $14.00. If not, you can go to the link above.

I love the old time-worn wooden toolbox totes ... what a story they could tell.

 

This gray one is my favorite but it is big and heavy. It is 32½" long ... 8½" wide. There is a little compartment in the back where two saws would have been kept. 
This is a carpenters tool box.

Can you imagine carrying this around full of tools?

I cleaned away all the gunk, washed it really good and sanded it to show more ware and get rid of the stains.

 
Then I applied a thin coat of light brown BRIWAX. Never used this before, but I really love it. This brought out the glow of the bare wood and brightened the gray color. May have a little blue in the gray ... maybe a French gray. Looks rich now. 
 

I had two really neat antique pieces of barbwire and this "key-like-cotter-key-chained-together-thingy" that I thought would look good on it.

  

Ugly, mean looking Barb ... OUCH

Here is the make-over. 
 
I attached the wire with the three, big SHARP barbs to what I decided was the front because I wanted the slotted saw compartment in the back for standing stuff like platters or books.

The rather plain, simple piece of twisted wire with very sharp barbs would go on the back.

 

 That piece looked a little lost all by itself, so I moved it to one side, added the key chain thingy and the rusty iron star.

Wow, this turned out good and needed to be on the front ... but way too late because I had nailed big staples in to hold everything in place, so no changing anything now. Just go with it. 

My daughter has dishes at her ranch house that are decorated with Western scenes and barbwire ... so I got the bright idea to clean up and decorate this tote for her to use as a centerpiece this Fall.

 Well; now have decided it is way too big for a table centerpiece. 

Regardless of size, or how or who will use it, I was happy with the decorations and I will find a place for it.

I simply added some Texas Whitetail deer antlers and an old clock face. Too much stuff distracted.

I think it turned out pretty nice and I will enjoy decorating with it, that is if my daughter does not borrow it. 

I am sure you could not miss the ORANGE tote in the first picture ...

But look at me now ........... 

Tutorial coming up soon about the Tote and that beautiful lace tablecloth in the background.

Thanks for the visit. I love your comments. 

Blessings,

Audrey Z. 

Linking to: 

The Dedicated House

Knick of Time Tuesday

From My Front Porch to Yours

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

I Gotta Create

ONE potting shed ... TWO sinks

Freatured:   I Gotta Create

Another great find !!!

My OLD potting shed was being used for storage for several years and this year I cleaned it up ... replace the water pipes ... got it looking good and did a post on it here … Potting Shed and then this week; I found this old, cast iron, enameled, cottage vanity sink with the back splash.  Oh ... I have wanted one of these for a very long time.

  I wire brushed the bottom to get rid of the surface rust and painted it. Did not want to do this, but needed to protect it.

Only $8.00 and 20% off at the Thrift Store. Just had to have it ... but where to put it? Did not take me long to figure that one out. 

I had a small sink with running water in my potting counter, so did not need another sink ...

 Solution ... just tuck it in the plants in the corner of the first 'room' and use it as a planter.

It replaces an old plastic produce basket that the mailbox planter was sitting on. (Old look below)

The trick was to figure out how and what to mount the sink to. Pretty heavy ... maybe 20/25 pounds.  I tried a shutter and an old door but neither looked right; so just decided to mount it to the lattice and hang my GARDEN Blessings sign above it. Can see the tutorial on the sign by clicking the above link.

 

While working I saw the clouds roll in and was so hoping for rain ... did not come, but the sky was beautiful. Hard to see the Eagle or Hawk soaring and enjoying the openness of the sky ... loved watching him !!! So peaceful. He is the black speck in the middle of the picture.

Lucky to find some metal pieces in my stash to make a mounting bracket. Mr. Z. helped with cutting to make them fit. We bolted them together to make a bracket for the pieces on the sink. Do not know how this was originally mounted but this metal bracket will hold the sink close to the lattice … and the PVC pipe will hold the weight of the sink and it is secure.  I just happen to have pieces of PVC pipe that would work for the support. I notched the large piece to fit the shape of the back, then cut two pieces to support the back where the faucets were connected. Ended up not using the back supports.  

I surrounded the base with what plants I had there so the PVC pipe is not too noticeable. 

For right now, I just sat a potted plant in it but maybe next year I will plant some flowers in it. 

The 'hot'- 'cold' buttons are missing from the top of the faucets, but I will find some to replace them. 

I think it looks pretty neat tucked in the corner by the window.  

It has lots of character and I just love it like it is. What do you think ?  should I just sit a potted plant in it or actually plant in it ?

The left 'room' had too much sun on it to get a good picture. Always lots of shadows with this lattice.

Thanks for the visit ... I would love your comments.
 
Blessings ... 
Audrey Z. 

Linking to: 
I Gotta Create
Funky Junk Interiors SNS
2805
Knick of Time Tuesday

Debbiedoo's Newbie Reunion 
Serendipity and Spice

"Fly Away" sign and Summer Mantel.
Worth the Wait.

Summer got a head start on me this year and I was a little late in getting around to decorating my mantel. I always enjoy this vintage floral painting for Spring. I still enjoy birds, bird nests and eggs most anytime of the year.

I added a part of a fence gate and my beautiful 
"I'll Fly Away" sign to pick up the colors in the painting.

The sign reminds me of my Mom as she sang this many times in Church. "I'll Fly Away" ... such a beautiful hand painted sign by Carrie @lovely, etc.
 

Carrie painted and blogged about her sign and I wanted one just like it so bad. I planned to try to copy it ... 

BUT when I won the "give-away" prize for "That's the Ticket Blog Hop and Giveaway" hosted by
 Carrie @lovely,etc,  Angie at Knick of Time, Gertie at The Old Block House, and Shannon at Rusty and Redone, I asked Carrie to paint one for me just like hers ... same colors, same everything.

Carrie paints some beautiful signs ... all hand-done and they are worth the wait when you order one. I am loving her other signs and planned to copy some of them, but may have to order one from her as I have had "Blessings" planned for months now and have not gotten around to painting it.

I hope you will visit Carrie and see the beautiful work that she does.

I think that she is very busy right now decorating a nursery for a baby boy she is expecting soon.  
 

My mantel changes with the seasons and now I am already thinking of Fall decorating. Can't wait to get summer over with. Summer has not been very nice here in Texas this year. 

I think the correct way to decorate a mantel is symmetrical ...  using a large picture/mirror or item in the middle and like items on each side. 

I have a hard time doing this ... but must try because ... 

just look how beautiful and restful this copy-cat mantle by bj at "Sweet Nothings" looks. 

I usually put the large picture/wreath/mirror or whatever to the left and have room for another large item on the right to balance it. 

I will try symmetrical for the Fall season mantel. 
I bet I will like it.

How do you decorate your mantel... symmetrical or hodge-podge like I do?

Hope you summer has been enjoyable.
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you and love your comments.
Blessings,
Audrey Z.  

Linking to:
 I've Gotta Create
From my Front Porch to Yours 

2805