Fall Flavour

If you follow my Facebook page, you will know that I was fooling around with trying to make a wreath yesterday. I had an old book I bought from a thrift store and a wreath form from Michael's and a glue gun (always a little dangerous). I have been investigating a few different websites with instructions on how to make a Book Page Wreath this past week and so I thought I would give it a try.

I have to say, that I am really pleased with how it turned out (and more than a little surprised...). This book, Madame Castel's Lodger was pretty old and the pages were yellowed which lent it a very vintage feel. Also a nice touch...

The top edges of the pages were coloured red! I love the little punch of colour in there.

This was really easy ~ there are many how-to's on-line, but I was inspired by The Nester site originally, so check it out if you want one for yourself.


So after I finished this work of art, I started fussing about where to put it. My husband has a tradition of making a wonderful dinner for two on Sunday nights for after the kids have eaten and are on their way to bed. While he was prepping our food, I had a glass of wine and thus fuelled, was inspired to tear apart our mantle and redecorate. The weather has really turned in Alberta this week and fall is in the air so I wanted to add some harvest-y touches. I am trying to do more seasonal stuff on some of our horizontal surfaces rather than leave them static and dusty all year long. I LOVE the dollarstore for this. So this is the mantle:

I managed to stick the wreath in there and some fall type colours and a crow with glitter. I bought the crow last year as a joke because my daughter hates them and I enjoy teasing her a little bit about that (mother of the year, right here).


I am not sure it is done, but it is a start.

During a fit a few days ago, I also got a start on my sideboard in our eating area.

The ceramic pumpkins were a purchase from last year after everything was marked down and I think they were something like $.35 each. I love the glass jars because they are nice to fill with seasonal stuff to make a mini-statement. I used dried beans in the bottom and styro squashes and sticks of berries from the dollarstore. The beans are a fun thing to bring home to scare your family into thinking you are going to make some sort of really healthy, beany soup. 

The mirror box is also made from dollarstore mirrors and a glue gun. I read how to do it here at The Art of Doing Stuff site (which everyone needs to read ~ Karen is hilarious).


I also pulled out a few other gems I had stored and it is starting to feel like fall all of a sudden.

This week I have a few things I will change outside as my flowers die off with these frosty nights. Until then, this little guy will stand guard, waiting for Thanksgiving:

I would love to hear where you get your inspiration for decorating. I know you are out there even though you might be shy to comment (I have a counter on the blog!)...  There are many inspiring decorating websites on the internet, but I love Pinterest for this as well. It is so nice to have people's inspirations all in one place.

Some Fun Tables

{Shabby Red Chalkboard Table}

$25

This table has a real sweetness to it. I think it is the gently scalloped edges, but it just shows the extra thought that went into the design.

This little guy was a rescue in the most literal way. I found it  in the back of a very crowded thrift store in Edmonton last spring looking very wobbly, water stained and sad. There was even a huge wad of chewed gum on the bottom ~ yuck.

A good cleaning (with gloves on, thank-you very much), a little sanding and some glue and he was ready to shine again. I had a little rustic red paint leftover from that great bench I did in spring and this seemed like to perfect project for it. After painting, I thought it needed something extra-fun to take it to the next level so I added a chalkboard feature as well as a little distressing to showcase those sweet curves.

21.25" wide

17" deep

18" high

This would be a fun message table, a great little activity table for a toddler, or a nightstand ~ ready for little love notes...

To purchase, shoot me an email or see the kijiji ad here.

{Shabby White Tray Table}

*SOLD*

I really love this type of piece as it is something so unique, yet functional. This was another find that I discovered neglected in the back of a thrift store. It was also pretty rough looking.

After a good cleaning and sanding, the charm of this piece started to show. It actually adjusts to 2 different heights and the tray is removable so you can load it up and use it to deliver snacks and treats to your impressed guests. 

This would work so well as an end table in a living room or at the end of a bed (think of the nice breakfasts you could get served), or even in the corner of a dining room as a little drink station.

27.5" wide

17.5" deep

23.25" height #1

20.5" height #2

Fire me an email to purchase this sweetie or take a peek at the kijiji ad here.

I have a page on facebook where you can get alerts to new pieces and posts and you can follow me on twitter (@hourtwenty5) as well, if you just can't get enough.

Not-so Paltry Hall-Tree

So, the kids are back in school and the sun is shining and I have had a few weeks of holidays with my husband and kids. It has been a great way to end a very nice summer. I made a point to try and stay relaxed ~ my motto with the kids was, "Try to say YES". This meant that I made an effort to not say "NO" as my first response. I think it went pretty well for the most part. On a very sad note, we had to say a heartbreaking good bye to our much loved pup of 15 years. He was my constant companion and for anyone who has come to my house to pick up a piece, you know he loved to come and say hello. When the house is empty like it is today, I feel his absence even more.

Good bye to my sweet Scona.


On a happier note, I love to meet some of the great people who bring me their furniture to make over. In August Owen and Cindy brought me this super hall tree with that good old 80's vibe.

The curves and mouldings are fantastic on this but it did not fit with this fun couple's vision for their home. They inherited it from his parents and could definitely see the potential here. They wanted a fresh and unique version of this great piece.


First I painted it with the famous blue:

It actually looked pretty cool, but would probably be a little overwhelming in most homes. I did this in my garage with the door open and I had people stopping to come in and see what I was doing ~ this colour catches people's attention!


I gave it a few coats of a very creamy white and then distressed it pretty aggressively to have the blue and the original wood break through the white.

It gave it that vintage and cottage feel that Owen and Cindy were going for as well as making this piece a funky and fun addition to a hip house. I could not resist adding a little bit of glam though:

Just a little hit of pretty wallpaper to line the storage area. I just like knowing that it is there... I am running out of my wallpaper scraps ~ if anyone is doing a wallpaper project and would like to donate the leftovers, let me know!


This was a great project and a fun way to kick off fall. I have some interesting pieces that I will be listing this week as I get back on a regular blogging schedule. I also plan to add a few other features in the next few weeks now that I am back into my routine for the fall/winter.

Thanks again to Owen and Cindy for letting me work on this unique project!

Treasure Hunting

This past week I have had some company and been trying to get in all the promised activities for my kids before they head back to school. It has not given me a lot of opportunity to work, but I have had a super week shopping around and hunting for unique pieces to reform.


I almost fainted dead away with joy when I saw this hiding in a corner at my local thrift store.

It is a mid century bookcase that stores the books on a bit of an angle. I brought this baby home with me in a hurry! When my husband saw it, he really wanted to keep it so I don't know if I will be able to part with it. 


Through an amazing series of kijiji discussions, I was able to bring some really unusual pieces home. I think that both of these are custom made. They are so cool and unique that I really wanted to have them.

This looks like a jewelry box. It is SO heavy ~ solid wood and the drawers are all lined with velvet. Behind each door a little piece of wood slides out to store rings and necklaces. Have you ever seen anything like it? I am really not sure what I will do with it, but I hated to see it hidden away. So much thought and effort went into the design.

This was from the same seller and it is just as cool. I believe that this is also custom made. I love the size and the little storage area for records or magazines. It is also VERY heavy!


Last but not least I found this funky little bench in the city on a hunt last week with my daughter:

It is in very rough condition, but should be a really great piece once we work on it a little bit. I can just see it with some great fabric and new paint. I have some big plans for this sad little guy!


And look what else I have discovered?

My 11 year old is a super sander! He does love to work ~ so I found a great way to get him started.... 


I have a couple of new pieces that are very close to being finished and I hope to get them listed shortly. I also have several commissioned works that I will be ready to share in the next week or so. 


I hope that everyone is enjoying a fabulous summer!

Some BEFORE & AFTERS...

Last week was a busy time for finishing up some commissions. My daughter was at camp and my son was spending some quality time with his grandparents doing things like go-carting and playing mini golf ~ things his parents never do with him. I like to think it is because I just want my parents to get the rock-star status. I am generous like that....


First of all I finished this cabinet for Devin:

She and her family have recently moved into a beautiful new house and they are busy putting their touch on it. They had this old cabinet found at a garage sale.

It was old and very rustic and extremely heavy! Initially we were going to go with a white distressed treatment, but then she was inspired to try something a little more bold. I painted it with my current favourite blue from Ben Moore to coordinate with some wallpaper they had chosen for their new dining room.

It now has a very cottage-y feel to it. I added some distressing on the areas which already showed the most bumps and dents. Sometimes the risk with colour can really pay off ~ thanks Devin!


Next up is another returning customer with some nightstands that have been in the family for many years. They were so lovely, but needed some refinishing. Rhonda also wanted to take a risk with some colour. We coordinated the new colour to some linens in her bedroom and made a transformation.

{before}

(this is turning into a very swear-y post as the pictures ARE. NOT. LOADING.) Ahem.

{after}

(Thank-you evil blog fairies for cooperating...)

At the time she picked them, we still had not found the right new pulls, so I just painted the originals black and returned them to the drawers so that the drawers would be functional until new ones are found.

Rhonda was also looking for a new cabinet for her bathroom. I happened to have a brother to the cabinet I had just listed in the blue so I finished it for her to go with her bathroom in a very pale and creamy grey.

She also went home with my gallery shelf! 

Thank you so much to these fantastic clients who are willing to take a risk with some awesome furniture!

I also had someone contact me about this bench I had in my bedroom with the fantastic fabric. I did let it go as I have another bench to do for that spot. Now I "have" to pick new fabric.... 

Back to Black

2 Black Tables

Side Table with Drawer

{$40}
*SOLD*

I am posting two tables today as I finished them both this afternoon and they have some things in common. They are black and they are tables. Right...

So first up was a perfect candidate for an upcycle. It was a perfect little table with a drawer and an open area ~ very sturdy and in perfect shape, but SO dated and boring.

This was just screaming for a make over. I took off the legs and sprayed them silver and black and also reused an old leftover drawer pull from another project. I primed and painted it black and then lightly distressed the edges. The glam factor went up with the metallic wallpaper peeking out from the interior as well as lining the drawer.

17.25" wide

16" deep

22.75" high

To purchase this table, please email me or see the ad here.

Two Storey Black Table

{SOLD}

This is a really great sized table. It is so great to have the extra storage area on the bottom. I did this one the with the same black paint as the other table but the unique carving on the table top really pops with the distressed edges. It started out fairly basic:

I am so pleased with how the black makes it really special.

30.5" long

18.5" wide

18" high

To purchase this table, email me directly or contact me through the kijiji ad here.


I have several commissioned pieces that I hope to finish in the next day or so that I am excited to share! Through the magic of kijiji I have also scored some great finds that I think I might try to use in my own home.... Stay tuned!