My latest "saved from the scrap heap" project

My sister came by a few weeks ago and was headed to the thrift store with some things she was clearing out.  In the middle was this old "retro" stool.  She bought it at a garage sale last year but didn't do anything with it.  Was missing one of the rubber feet. The vinyl seat had been mended with red plastic tape and the crome legs were spotty with rust.  But the plastic back was so neat and just needed a good cleaning.  So here is the before:

Next was the scrubbing and painting:

I then recovered the old seat and put it all back together!

Total cost for paint and new rubber feet was about 8$  Have it sitting at the end of an isle of books and have had one customer use it, plus I had my sister sit on it the other day on my little back steps at the store while I cut her hair.  LOL  we had several folks go by the alley and throw off their caps and asked to be next.  Can't get away with anything in this little town!

Thought for the day:Where ever you go, there you are


Just call me "the recycle queen"

When I look at somethin that has been discarded I tend to see a new use for it.  Usually it involves tools and paint.  Here is a "table" that I found being thrown out after someone had their garage sale this spring.  Originally it hung from the ceiling of a kitchen in an older house.  Hard to believe.  But imagine just lifting it straight up and attaching it to the ceiling over a big island.  It had florecent lights in it and pot hooks.
Here is a before pic:

I had to buy the piece of plywoodthat was put on it to make the top.  It was sanded along with the whole unit, then the painting started:

As you can see I moved it into my book store to work on it.  In the next photo you can see the final work.  It makes a good display table in my store and a place to stack my hand woven rugs that are for sale.

I ended up tacking tennis balls that were cut in half on those lower corners to keep someone from whacking their legs.  Have to admit I was the first victim!  You can see my upside down stool also that I think I mentioned before.  Put wheels on it and shelves on the rungs, painted it pink and there you have a display cart. 

Money

http://themindunleashed.org/2014/04/money-form-social-control-americans-debt-slaves.html

This is not a happy feel good site but maybe a wake up call to what is happening to our country.  Take it or leave it, thats up to you. 

Old Soul

Sometimes when you have to much to say you end up being unable to say anything.  Ever feel that way.  So much going on that I don't feel comfortable laying out here.  Just know that life gives us many lessons along the way and we need to be paying attention to our daily bits of happiness that we are given.  We need to learn to see something beautiful everyday of our life, even if it is just a tree in bloom or the smell of fresh turned soil in the flower garden. Take note and give thanks as there are no guarentees in life.  Seems that most of us have to have a few years of gray in our hair to finally realize that.  How much time is wasted in our younger years with worry about everything and competing to see who is right or wrong. 

I am a firm believer that some of us have old souls and some are new.  The new souls just never get it.  Its all about them at this stage and they never see the rainbows or delicate pansy. In their next life they will be better.  I think that is our progression to learn and then learn again. Sometimes it is our job to assist someone else along their path and that becomes our path.  That makes sense to me. That helps me to accept why life is so hard for some people and others seem to breeze thru life like they have a silver spoon in their mouth. I don't think they "get it". 

“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.”


― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

New Singer in the family!

About a month ago I bought this old Singer cabinet from my sister in law.  I had been looking for one for over a year.  This picture is after I cleaned and painted the metal work and had stripped the cabinet.  I next appled a wood conditioner, then a wood finish that was a clear stain and sealer.  After rubbing this in well and drying I applied 2 coats of clear polyurethane clear gloss.

The sewing machine belonged to my mother in law and in inherited it when she passed away.  It was purchased by her in the 50's and had been converted to electric.  I took it to a repair man and he removed the motor, cleaned it and sold me a new belt.  Now this old 1918 model Red Eye has been converted back to original.  So I am one happy camper and since I haven't "treddled" since I was 18 years old, I have to practice a little.  This will be a keeper for sure.  

My Denim has multiple uses

This is my second denim quilt.  It is my keeper for myself.

If you have a good eye you can see the patter that I had going here.  I used 3 shades of denim, all new this time.  Will add the other denim one I made out of recycled denim that I gave to my daughter last year. The pockets are regular jean pockets of assorted sizes and shades.

This one was fun to make as I could just use my imaginationa dn do what I wanted.  The reddish designs are a chenille technique.

By cutting fabric on the bias and layering 3 or 4 layers, lay out your design and sew down the center.  Then take a stiff brush if you don't have a chenille brush and as you brush the fibers you get the color and fuzzy look.  these were actually the same colors but it looks different depending on how you layer it. Could be used to put fun things on kids cloths or tote bags.