For those of you who enjoy my before and afters of found objects and furniture and thought I wouldn’t be continuing because I’ve changed the blog, rest assured it will still be a big part of my life that I will share with you. To reassure you I have a few items to show you today.
First I was given a small jewelry/music box just after Christmas that was found in someone’s trash. Here’s the before.
Here you can see the details needed a lot of attention.
I started by brightening it up, which gave me this.
Talk about a flop, I hated it. Remember this is my no spend month, I thought I could be smart and tried to use the kids washable markers to brighten up the colors. It was horrible.
Here it is today. I’m much happier with it now. A little modge podge and some clippings from a magazine made all the difference along with toning down the colors to make it more girly.
I’m running out of white paint so to work on the current projects I watered down what was left 2 parts water to 1 part paint, still I’m scraping the bottom of the can. The free can of paint I saved from ending in the landfill was used to finish 3 chairs, a large entertainment center, a desk and now two jewelry boxes.
On the same day, I received from the same person this:
I wasn’t sure what I would do with this, but set it aside. Today I know what I will do with it. Look at what I found today.
There is no music box in side, but there is a hole in the back for one. I tried fitting the one above inside and it works perfectly. I’ve already sanded it down and given it two coats of paint, the handles were all broken so I will have to think of something to use for new handles. As this month I’ve chosen to spend nothing unless essential, I have a plan to make my own knobs for the drawers, wish me luck as I’ve never done this before.
Heading out to check my mail I spotted a table, another desk (exactly like the two I’ve already redone) and these.
Yep, institutional chairs! The same kind you can find in waiting rooms and cheaper hotel rooms, did I mention this building used to be a hotel? I’ve already started to remove the veneer off of one to get rid of that orange-yellowish look.
Can you see the difference between them now? I think I may keep one of them myself for extra seating when I’m done.
I didn’t drag in the table or the desk as I just don’t have the room right now with the chairs in here, but they are indoors sitting in the common hallway so if they are there in a couple of days I might just have to find a way to drag them in here to work on. I took one look at the table and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, but the old saying “you can’t have everything” stopped me, so far.
One week into the new year and I can add to my Saved From Landfill page and my Before and Afters. Not a bad start, if I say so myself. I just took a look at my Saved From Landfills page and realized I have over 75 items I’ve saved just since I moved here. That doesn’t include the two huge boxes of books I saved, I counted that as one.
I am eyeing off that chest of drawers! Work your magic, Lois.
Isn’t that cute. It needs some work but it’s coming out nicely. My grand daughter needs a jewelry box so this will go to her, I have to stick with the colors that will work in her room, so having white here works.
The little gadget looks like a tiny musical instrument. You turn the handle and it plays a little tune. My son bought me one as a present. You get a better sound out of them if you sit them on a solid surface.
Thanks Jean, yes it is a music box needing something to put it in. Fortunately, I have found just the item to put it in the jewelry box that looks like a chest of drawers.
The little jewellery box looks so different, you have a real gift for this type of work.
Oh you should have seen the in-betweens, it was horrible I thought I may have ruined it. It came together when I was given a magazine for my grand kids to cut up and found those beautiful pictures! Now I’m happy with it.
I tend to like institutional type chairs because they are sturdy. Looks like you have a lot to keep you busy during this cold weather. Hope someone donates you paint and supplies, if you need them, during this no spend month, so you can keep going.
I do have plenty to stay busy for a couple of months, probably! I sure could use another infusion of free paint as I am scraping the bottom of what I currently have. I am left with some green and the watered down remains in the white, plus some of the blue milk paint from the chairs I gave my son and wife, some of the blue will be used on at least one of the chair, the one I want to keep for myself.
A successful life seems to be about focus- I love the way your personal focus this month (and other months as well, but this month’s goal of no unnecessary spending in particular) blesses the environment, others with whom you share, and your finances. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Tessa, I’m not a big spender on most months, but this month is showing me where I do spend, for example I would have bought knobs for the chest jewelry box, and the finished jewelry box I was close to buying something for that but held off and found those pictures in a magazine. So if I hold off a little maybe things will come to me and I can save more.
Wow, I love the jewelry box! What a transformation!
You really should do an etsy shop, or sell your reclaimed treasures at an art fair. I’ve always liked seeing “upcycled” items, but usually they don’t look as polished as what you do.
Oooh, Etsy! Definitely something to look into, but I’ve heard that their fee system can be frustrating.
I have been considering looking into Etsy to sell items, but just haven’t had the time to find out how it works. Something I need to do, thanks Caitlin.
Bethany, you may be on to something. I have tried listing the desk on Craigslist to sell, but it’s not popular in this area and I still have the desk, but may I could start selling them at fairs!! Thank you for the compliment, I tend to compare my finds with projects that people spend real money making over pieces and find mine plain and a little boring. I need to stop comparing my finds to other treasures.
You have re-inspired me to get back to my “Repurpose This” series! A good kind of peer pressure
. I couldnt believe, after all my posts last year, my most popular one was about repurposing coffee cans! Thank goodness I drink a lot of coffee…I have some more material to work with here.
I’m pretty new to your blog and hadn’t noticed your “Repurpose this” series. I definitely have to check that out soon. I’m glad you will be doing more and will look forward to getting some inspiration from you.
You did a great job, and gave it a new life
Thank you, I have fun playing around to see what I can come up with.