Sunday, September 13, 2009

~*Was It a Selfish Saturday?*~

Well, it could have been... guess it depends on how you look at it.

Hello Dear Friends! Yesterday I took the day for MYSELF & crafted to my hearts content! While I didn't stitch on anything, I did hook & finish up two trash~to~treasure pieces. Tony was working in the garage building a packer for the go kart track and Trinity spent the day playing with the dog & later on with two of his cousins... so I did my own thing! It felt GREAT too!

Here is what I did...

First, let me remind you of what I started with. This is the group of stuff I found when my good buddy, Sher, and I hit the thrift shops in town a few weeks ago...



Look closer at this...



It now looks like this...



The cross stitch on the top was one I had done several years ago for another idea I had that didn't pan out as envisioned. 'Willard School' was the name of the one~room school house my Dad went to (well, both my Aunts too). The building has now become someones home. I don't get to Willard, Kansas often now... but each time I do, I make a drive by & imagine what it would have been like as a school.

Here is a close~up view of the stitching... I've aged it with some sandpaper & a few snips here and there...



The slate sitting at the bottom was also from the thrift store. The large part of this piece was only 25 cents... and the slate was only 99 cents. Hard to believe it only cost $1.24 total!

My next project of the day was the stool. Here is a view of how it looked before (it was only $5)...



Here is how it looks now...



Using cheap spray paint, I first gave it a coat of black & then a quick coat of red. I didn't even bother with sanding before painting... I figure I do enough sanding after painting to make up for it.

After the red was applied...



After the sanding... notice the school board 'thingy' there too... I didn't even bother repainting it...



Then a coat of shoe polish to stain & wax... (remember I told you that lil' secret before)



I grabbed a scrap of linen & one basket of woolly worms... drew up a geometric design... then headed for my spot under the Oaks in the backyard... (the linen was actually one I had scribbled on the other side for another rug that never became a rug)



While hooking... I decided to make a change in the design...



Tony had to ask me if I was hooking a pizza. I wasn't amused by the comment... but we did have homemade pizza for supper last night. LOL



Another view of the finished stool...



So, was it a selfish day? Maybe it was to some extent... but it sure feels good to have a few of the things on my list finished. It always feels good to me to have worked with my imagination, heart, and hands. Plus, I feel the creative juices are regurgitated for more.

Wishing you a day of warm smiles, sunshine, and crafting joys...

Betty

34 comments:

  1. Betty,
    I love your trash to treasure items that you made. The chalboard with the stitchery on it is WAY cool!!!
    Love the pizza footstool too :)
    Some days you just have to "fill up your tank"

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  2. Wonderful re-dos on both! And don't worry- we ALL need to be a little selfish sometimes! lol

    ~Christine~

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  3. Absolutely wonderful. Love all your ideas and finishes. Super, I need to get out of my creative slump. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  4. WOW! WOW! WOW! Very nice recycled pieces! Love them both. Really like how you famed the stitching with safety pins. Very cool.

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  5. Betty, everyone neeeeeds some "me" time. So happy you took that time for yourself. It sure looks like you enjoyed yourself. You created some beauties!! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Betty...you weren't selfish at all!! Love the chalkboard with your awesome stitching on it!! Also love the stool!! You have a great day!!
    Brenda

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  7. I love all the redos..you do absolutely wonderful work..:)glad you had a day to work on what you wanted..:)

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  8. Wow, just wonderful and I too love how you used the rusty safety pins!
    Love the hooked stool such a good job on both!
    Rondell

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  9. Love the stool! Creating is not
    being selfish, by any means!

    Bear Hugs~Karen

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  10. Beautiful finishes Betty! You are an inspiration!

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  11. Wow Betty,
    Love your redos....Usually when I find things they get put on the shelf and I don't do anything with them until months (or sometimes years) later. You are certainly on the ball!!!
    Pam

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  12. Great job with you re-dos. Would you mind sharing your staining with shoe polish . What a great idea!

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  13. I wouldn't say you had a selfish day. Sometimes we just need to take time to recharge our batteries so we can do what's required of us on all the other days! Great job on all your projects!

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  14. For Pat & anyone else interested....

    You asked for more info on using shoe polish for staining & waxing. It is just that. I buy regular Kiwi brown shoe polish. After my pieces have been painted & sanded for distressing... I rub on some polish. The brown polish is the best to use. It stains the wood & the wax adds a protective finish. :) Simple as can be & a great touch!

    Smiles,

    Betty

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  15. Awesome treasures! Love how you did the chalkboard with the schoolhouse and I'm sure each time you see it you can dream of that one room school. The little footstool looks so prim with such a scrappy ol' fashion look! You sure accomplished a lot this weekend.

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  16. I love that chalkboard, very nicely done and so prim.
    It is fun to turn trash to treasure and you do such a wonderful job.

    Debbie

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  17. Oh Betty, everything turned out WONDERFUL!...I still say if I had seen that little stool first it would have been sitting in MY house! HA We need to hit the stores again...This time you come my direction and I'll take you to some of my favorite haunts! Hugs, Sher

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  18. Truly, everything looks just wonderful. I love to see the makeovers. Dianntha

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  19. Betty~What wonderful ideas you have! They both turned out just beautifully! I think we all need a day for just for "ourselves" every once in a while..I'm glad you were able to do what you love! Thank you for always sharing your great projects (and tips) with us! (:

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  20. Wow Betty! They are both awesome! Congratulations on such wonderful finishes! I just love a great bargain! And I love when a project from some time ago just suddenly comes together the way it was meant to be :)
    Blessings, Patti

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  21. Betty ~
    Everyone needs some "me" time. It's not being selfish ~ I'm sure you deserved it!
    Pug hugs :)
    Lauren

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  22. Betty - what a great day you had - loved your re-do's - take more days like that - can't even image what you will come up with!

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  23. Hi! I don't think it was a selfish Saturday at all, it was more like a productive Saturday! The makeovers look great. I love reading your blog. You are so creative! I've been wanting to try rug hooking and punch needle for a while now. Looks like I have to make a trip to the craft store this week.

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  24. Hi,
    Love your re-dos, they turn out wonderful. Nice job!

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  25. great work Betty...love your T2T projects!!!

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  26. Wow, Betty! You are incredibly gifted at repurposing items. I'm so impressed with how easy you make it all look! Thank you for sharing!!

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  27. Are you hooking a pizza?!?!? LOL! What a guy!!! I think your dh would get a long with my dh pretty durn good! Love all your "new" treasures! I'd say it was a pretty PRODUCTIVE Saturday! Thanks for sharing with us! :-)

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  28. Great job, Betty! And good for you for taking some time for yourself.

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  29. Betty,
    I just have to tell you that I have been reading your blog for about a year now and I love to see all of your handiwork. You outdid yourself on this one! Great job on everything.
    Linda

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  30. Love the trash to treasures!!!Don't you love those "ME" days, everyone deserves them now and then!!
    Cammie

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  31. Betty, You find the best stuff to redo! I've been eyeing up roadside "items" differently now. Your hooking is super, use up those worms!!

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