What's up doc?

So, what's everyone up to?

I'm having my first link party and everyone's invited!  This particular link party I'm doing through inlinkz is pretty cool because it allows you guys to include a thumbnail picture in the link from your post.  If all goes well, I may start having regular link parties.  If you've never participated in one and aren't sure why anyone would, they're a good way of getting yourself out there to introduce your blog to others and find new blogs to follow.  I'm sure most of you already knew that, but there are always the new kids on the block that can sometimes feel a little left out or not have any idea of what's really going on.  I still feel like one of the new kids sometimes too.  In fact, having this link party makes me feel like I'm sticking my neck out to have my head chopped off.  Not sure why, I'm just a little timid like that I guess.

Anyway, here we go.  I hope you all participate and have fun!  Party ends on April 13th and you can join anytime until then.☺
 

Coffee Table makeover

About three or four years ago, Jeff and I bought new living room furniture and came across a coffee table in the "scratch and dent" section and because we were buying a whole new living room set, the store threw it in for $25.00.  It had one scratch on the top about three inches long but was barely noticeable because it was also distressed by the manufacturer.  Distressed and/or distressable furniture is a must in our house.  Here's what it looked like as of a couple of days ago.

I have an in-house staff of distressors.

I've been wanting to refinish it for a while and now that we're having some warmer weather, I jumped right into it, without much of a plan.  That's how I roll.

I started by sanding off the table tops old finish with an orbital sander.  At least I think that's what it is.

I left a smidge of the old stain color hear and there and tried not to sand out too much of my children's distressing. 

 I like musing over their artwork, permanently etched into the wood and it's my prefered method of keeping track of their handwriting skills.  Madison's handwriting has made tremendous improvements over the last couple of years.

Then, with the help of one of my chickens, I primed and painted white over the old finish on the base of the table. 

 

I had to fire her when she went to take her 10 minute break and roosted on the wet paint.

Then I mixed a little bit of black acrylic craft paint in with some white to make a medium grey and watered it down by about 50%.  I wanted to go for a slightly weathered look and I wanted to keep the paint thin enough that I could still see through it.  I'm sure there are better methods but I'm just working with what I already had.

I brushed the mixture onto one board at a time then, with a damp towel, I rubbed most of it back off.

On the right side of the picture below, you can see the effect it had.

Next, I mixed some clear, glossy varnish with some medium brown acrylic craft paint and painted it on one board at a time followed by rubbing it down with a damp towel again.

I was both surprised and happy with the results I got considering the materials I used.

My children's handiwork is still visible.

Please visit the following:

and
 Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

and
Twice Remembered Cottage for Make Your Monday
and
The Girl Creative for Just Something I Whipped Up
and
Blue Cricket Design for Show and Tell
and
My Backyard Eden for Make it Yours Day
and
Reinvinted for Trash to Treasure Tuesday
and
Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday
and
http://www.decormamma.blogspot.com/
as well as
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
and

The Big Vintage Oven Reveal!

 I was beginning to think this day would never ever come but,

with the exception of the two left burners which still need to be wired, my vintage oven is finally done!!!

She's beautiful and she cooks, just like me.  Except for the cooking part.  And I suppose the beauty part also would depend on the beholder but other than that we're exactly alike.  Old and large.  Except for the old part.  I'm forever 29.  And fortunately I'm not as large either.

It's been a long, long journey since we first brought her home that cold night in November.

Jeff rewired everything with all new wiring.

Removed the mouse poop filled insulation and replaced it with new.

Replaced all the old burners and degreased the whole thing.

He finished it last night at 10:30 pm after working on it for the last couple of Saturdays and we celebrated (tested it for accuracy) with frozen pizzas baked in the oven.  Something we used to take for granted.

The oven timer isn't working and rather than put more effort and money into fixing it, I think for now we'll just put a clock in that spot.  But other than that, it works just like a brand new oven.  I did some cooking and baking on it today and was really impressed with it.  Hurray!  It was a very long wait but so worth it.

Once the kitchen is done (still a long ways to go) I'd like it to have a similar look to this kitchen.

Coastal Living

Please visit Twice Remembered for the ever fun Make Your Monday and
Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday and
Blue Cricket Design for Show and Tell
as well as
The Single Nester for Tuesday Turquoise!

Bathroom update

Where do I begin...
My bathroom is still coming along, just a lot slower now.  Remember I said that would most likely happen. 
Now we've decided that rather than finishing an entire project we prefer starting as many projects as we can and then run around in circles adding a little here and there to each one in a chaotic manner.  It just makes sense.  We like to call it circuit building and circuit decorating.  We got the idea from circuit training which works so well on getting into good physical shape, we thought we'd apply it to our house too because what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Back to my bathroom.  The kids fear I've gone a little ruffle crazy and Jeff says he likes it.  He knows who butters his bread.  Anyway, here's my latest ruffled project.

Disregard the unfinished yada, yada and blah, blah, blah.  We're busy.

I made these the same way I made the pillows.

Now, if you like it but you'd rather buy one, how about this one from Anthropologie for only $98.

Or this one from Target for only $26.99.

It is very similar to the one used in my bathroom inspiration picture from Country Living.

After rubbing the fingerprints right off my fingers making what few ruffles I did, I would recommend buying one.  Those of you who've ever made ruffles know what I'm talking about. 

Speaking of my fingerprintless, delicate little fingers...they're also now covered in blisters and calluses because I shoveled 9,000 pounds of concrete making a concrete floor for our well house turned tornado shelter. 

Yes I did.

Upcoming features:

1950's oven (to be finished today,)

more pillows

tornado shelter,

light fixtures, 

gardening

and quite possibly, none of the above. 

For more great ideas, please visit: