In Over My Head!?

It really doesn't look that bad, does it??

I have seriously considered leaving it like this.  That's how much I dislike the whole process of refinishing furniture.  It's just so much WORK!!  If the end result wasn't so worth it (at least it better be so worth it) I would never have started.  I began this project back in June after my husband gave me a sander for Mother's Day and haven't seemed to muster up the motivation to continue.  But summer is fading fast and soon enough it will be too cold outside to work on it, so finish it I must.

The main reason I am doing this is so that it will match the rest of the kitchen.  I don't know what we were thinking when we purchased this set.  We found it on Craigslist and bought it used from a little old man about 40 miles away.  We paid too much and it doesn't even match.  I guess I wasn't design conscious back then. 

 There are some things that I really love about it though.  The top is my favorite. I love how the grains match up to create a totally awesome design.

I also love that it has a glass top to preserve its beauty.  Such a great idea.  I can craft on it and not worry about ruining it!  Or Jayna can knock over her cup of milk, no sweat.  So because I love the top so much I am hoping to do a little something like Elizabeth's farm table over at Blue Clear Sky:

I'll stain just the top of the table the same color as my cabinets and then paint the rest black.

One chair down, 3 more to go plus a table!

Lamp Revamp

I've been meaning to give this lampshade a makeover ever since I bought it.  Since July's Create With Me project is just that, I decided to finally give it a little tlc.  And I didn't even wait until the last day of the month!  The Before and After:

The Ribbon/Trim aisle is quickly becoming a favorite section of mine.  I found this lacey, flowery stuff at Joann's.

And couldn't resist.  

With some:

and

I got to work!

I found it easiest to apply the fabri-tac to the lampshade rather than the back of the ribbon.  Simply squeeze some on and press your ribbon to your shade.  I started at the bottom, wrapping and gluing and then cutting each layer so it was not one continuous piece of ribbon, but rather 9 individual pieces.  You can't even tell where I began and finished with each layer!  This was such an easy and fast project that added some pretty little detail to Baby J's nursery.  

There is still plenty of time for you to join in the fun, so grab a lampshade and get crafty!

Create With Me Project and a Thrift Find

Isn't this pillow so fun?! I love it.  When I saw that UCreate's "Create With Me Project" were throw pillows and one of them was the Shag Pillow by V and Co I knew I had to get in on the action.  The tutorial was put together nicely and the pillow was fairly easy to construct, just a little tedious.  I made it for this rocking chair I found at the secondhand store for only $3.00!!  There were actually 2 of them and I bought them both!  Thank you Isaiah and Alyza!  I gave new life to the green one by sanding it down and painting it a cream color.  I had no idea it would be so much work, but am pleased with the results!

I started sanding down the purple one when I noticed a field of purple flowers down the street that I thought would be perfect for a photo shoot.

Then I decided I sort of like the purple so I haven't finished sanding it.  Best thrift find I've had in a while!