All my bags are packed...

I just love me an old suitcase, don't you? A little treasure. A real piece of the past...a story of travels and desinations. The older, the better!  Perhaps used when leaving loved ones or even reuniting. It's the same reason I suppose that I love old, old, and older homes. They have a story of their own and with that lies the magic and mystery.  So, yeah when I find an old suitcase, I get a little excited :)  To give you an idea, the last time my brother-in-law was visiting he asked if someone was taking a trip somewhere, lol!  Here's a random stack in my livingroom. What!? It matches my holiday decor!

 This is what I did today with some of my stock pile of old suitcases...yes, it's a nightstand!

 Believe it or not I actually had a hard time drilling holes for the legs in the bottom suitcase, it kinda hurt...until I saw the end result of course! The best part is these are glued to each other but can still be opened and used for storing personal items. Score!

 See, I told you...all the Jane Eyre and Bronte you can handle!  It might be harder to part with these than I have imagined, but the good news is I still have plenty laying around and since I can't seem to pass them up at yard sales and thrifts I am not too worried.

Here are some other fun used I found on pinterest today...loooove the suitcase shelves and have seriously thought about copying this idea, I love it that much...still not sure I could go through with sawing them in half though. Baby steps people.

 Oh these ones are making me drool, now that is some serious age...oh the places they've been!!!

 and last but not least, I thought this was a charming and yet simple way to display a message...wish I had a lakehouse to make one for :). Hey, maybe some of my suitcases have been to a lakehouse before! ;)

 

So that's it for tonight. I have a large end table/small coffee table that I should be able to finish tomorrow so hopefully I can find the time to get it posted this week.  Hmmm, what would you do with an old suitcase?

A yellow bench for the country.

I am just finishing up this bench for a clients mother. I would love something like this christmas morning but I would have to find a place for it and that might be a problem since my house has already reached its max on furniture :) This yellow beauty will end up on her covered porch in the country. I might just have to drive over one day to see it :) Don't ask me why the photo is so blurry but it's late and I am lazy enough to let it slide.

 Here's a clearer, closer up pic of some of the lines and distressing. I just love yellow...

 

Well, I am not sure what will be next, either a vanity or some old doors turned shelves, or a new/but old pantry door in my kitchen, or a weathered sign...well you get the picture, hehe. Time to get back at it :)
Ericka

Cottage Bench

It's that time of year for this DIYer that makes the holidays just that much crazier around our house.  Handmade gifts are the best (in my opinion) so I am busy working hard, trying to get projects finished for others as well as a few items to give to dear friends and family.  This one I just finished tonight, well it's mostly finished, haha. It's another headboard/footboard bench.  You would think I would be sick of building these by now but apparantly I am not :) I get to do one more (a full size in yellow) for someone's mother in the next couple of weeks and I can't wait to get it done! It's got some really nice lines to it that I am sure she will love, at least I hope she does :)

 I love white with dark walnut stain. LOVE it! Pure cottage charm if you ask me.

Well, that's it for now but hopefully I will have some time to post the other projects and gifts as I finish them. Enjoy the season, I know I will even if it is crazy sometimes!

Headboard, bench, and crib upcycle.

Howdy all, it's been another week and here I am sharing some more finished projects that will be available to purchase at the upcoming craft fair.  First an old picture frame turned FULL size headboard.  I love how simple and vintage this feels...if only I had a guestroom with a full size bed to put it in :)...

 a bench in burlap stamped fabric.  This bench is HEAVY, metal, and would be perfect on a covered porch! Because it is so big I am selling this NOW instead of waiting for the fair. Let me know if you are interested!

Also, another chalkboard made from an old crib that was donated to me :) Hate the recalls, but there are soooo many fun things to repurpose a crib for.  Here's one.

More to come, but it seems as if I am running out of time and fast!  We'll see what last minute projects I will be able to crank out in time for the fair.  Hope you like!
                                                                                               Ericka :)

Hutch, drop leaf, accent table, antique desk and more chalkboards!

Just adding some more items to my inventory and giving you locals a heads up on what to expect in my booth.  First, this headboard has been painted in a gray/beige paint and distressed. The inside is done in chalkboard paint. I drew the message with a girly room in mind, but that could be adjusted to suit the girl/message of your choice.

 The hooks on the bottom are so darling with crowns behind the glass in soft pink and aqua tones.  Perfect for hanging jewelry or other items.

 This sign is done in chalkboard paint as well with two antique jars planking either side.  I went with a fall/thanksgiving message but this could be used all year long by interchanging the message and flowers in the jars.

 This drop leaf table is so adorable! I seriously have tried to find a place for it in my home but the truth is I would have to start over with my existing decor and I am just not ready to do that yet :) It only has one drop side but would be so cute as a sofa table or entry table depending on the space.  It could even work as an extra wide nightstand. It is also painted in a Gray/beige like color with a stenciled red damask pattern and a brown glaze over the top. Love it!

 And last but not least is this cute little yellow distressed round table.  Perfect for adding a soft yellow to a room. This would function well as and oversized end table between two large chairs or even as a coffee table in a small room.

 

Here is the hutch/buffet I have been working on. I can never get enough of that bright vibrant red in my life and since it is the perfect entertaining color, why not paint it on something going in the dining area!

 This is the desk I have been working on, and while it isn't technically completed (it still needs the casters on and the shelf lined) it is close enough to post I think :) This one truly looks so much better in person than sitting in my dark kitchen but those of you planning on attending the craft fair won't have to take my word for it, you can decide for yourselves! I handpainted the branch leaf thing over turquoise paint with a charcoal glaze.  The hardware on this piece is what really makes it work in my opinion.  This one would look so chic in the right space.

So there you have it, it's friday night and I think I'll be taking it easy with the fam this weekend.  There's always next week to work. Have a great weekend everyone!

Another bench, chalkboards, and sneak peek!

Oh boy, where to begin! I have been oh so busy and I am happy to show you some of my progress today.  First, I finally finished this bench, I sold its gray "twin" last week and loved how it turned out so much that I just had to make another.  This one I finished in a celery/almond like color.  Love the extra wide seat that allows for all kinds of decorative pillows. This one would be so cute on a porch with some fall decor!

 Here's a closer shot of the crackly paint and glazed goodness I just love! Loooove it!

 I have also been finishing up some chalkboards.  You might remember this one from a couple months ago...today I changed out some knobs and added the blue porcelon roses instead followed by a handwritten "Bed and Breakfast" sign by yours truly.  I love the words with the fact that the top is a headboard! Perfect!

 This one just needed some cute hardware and something written so "Let it Snow" came to mind, perfect for all winter and so cute with stockings, scarfs and hats, or ice skates hanging from the hooks!  As with all things chalkboards you could make it function for any space you wanted though.

 Oh and here is my "sneak peek" at the desk I mentioned last week...its coming right along and I am loving the metallic thing going on here. Just a few more coats of paint and some finishing touches (possibly castors) and it will be all ready for the craft fair!

I have so much more to do including a kitchen hutch/buffet combo, an oversized end table, and a drop leaf table for starters...those will have to wait until next week ;)  Thanks for indulging me in this crazy passion of mine, I am so going to take a painting/building vacation in November!

A little of this, a little of that...

 

It's that time of year again...the time when I drive myself and my family crazy with endless trips to the hardware store and every waking moment I can spare outside painting, sanding, cutting, building, pricing...you get the idea. It's time for the annual Minico Craft Fair :).  I have a love/hate relationship with this fair because it draws in an insane amount of locals with vendors from so many different places.  The last two years I have shared a booth with my good friend Alyssa who makes beautiful soldered jewelry.  Our stuff compliments each other well and we get to split the entry fee so we keep doing it!  The reason why I hate the fair is for obvious reasons, it means I have to work like a dog the weeks prior, so that's where I am at today, 4 weeks out on a friday night trying not to fall asleep staring at my computer screen.  Here are a few of the "smaller items" I will be taking with me. I'm not going to post everything on here so if you are local you might want to hit the fair early in case there is something that sparks your interest...the last two years combined I have come home with 2 items unsold...like I said, there are an insane amount of people at this craft fair.

 Here is a board sign I just finished for someone as a wedding gift, this will not be in the fair but you can be sure some signs like it will be :)

 Here's a little shabby table with a chalk board top. It just needs a bowl of  bright yellow lemon drops!

 Another little sign that will eventually be holding some long peppermint sticks!

 This was once an armoire door and now it holds to wire baskets...perfect for a kitchen holding fresh fruit and veggies or above a toilet with towels and TP...or the traditional floral arrangements somewhere else.

 Here's another door I painted and glazed and hung two antique jars on...still deciding on what wording I want on it...ideas?

This one is much simpler and definitely has a country vibe to it with its shabbiness and old antique tall jars against the dusty blue gray painted board but sometimes its the simplest decor that makes the biggest impact and I can just see these jars paired with some freshly cut daisies in them...love.
Next week I will share one, possibly two more headboard footboard benches and a desk redo that has taken me in a direction I have never gone with a piece of furniture...just wait!

Headboard/Footboard Goodness!

Just wrapping up another project this week with this headboard and footboard turned into a bench. These benches have been making their way into the DIY/CRAFT world for a few years now but they are so charming I couldn't resist building another!

 Here is what the headboard and footboard I used looked like before assembly.  Lucky for me I have an exact duplicate set to make another one out of...or use for something else :).

 I wanted to do something a little different. Gray has become the new tan and you see it EVERYWHERE these days but what you don't see all that often is a rustic gray look so that's where I decided to take this piece. By adding some deep walnut wood stain over the paint it gives it that beautiful glazed look and I love how it seaps into all the cracks and crevices for added visual appeal.

 In keeping with the walnut glaze I stained 2 x 4's for the seat in the same wood stain.  In this photo below the seat still needs to be screwed down and a coat of poly but you get the overall idea :)

I'm loving how it turned out, hope you do to!

A little bit of sunshine...

I have had this cute little cabinet sitting in my shed waiting to be finished for almost a year! Maybe that's why I can't find any "before" photos now.  Picture the ugliest metallic gold ever and you've got it :)

 This is it sitting pretty drying after a coat of primer, some mustard paint, and a dark walnut stain rubbed on and wiped off.

This would make the cutest seat with a cushion on top sitting under a window or would also work great as a bench in an entry or mudroom with a shelf with hooks hanging above. It's always nice to have a little bit of sunshine in your life...or your home for that matter :)  Happy designing all!

I think I'll link this beauty up to www.missmustardseed.com for her friday furniture linky party!

A Door/Hall Tree!

Perhaps some of you have seen something like this on Pinterest, that's where I originally saw this idea and once I laid eyes on it I knew I had to make one! It just so happened that I was given, yes given an old door not to mention a twin headboard and footboard, so I was all set to go.  Here is a pic of the door and the footboard cut in half and then screwed together.

 It is amazing what a little paint and some wood stain can do, yes? I painted the piece white in a chalk paint and then after it was dry lightly sanded and applied a deep walnut stain as a glaze.  I also ended up adding 3 matching coat hooks along the top.  I loved how a wreathe looked hung on it as well though if one didn't want to hang coats and bags.

 For the seat I simply cut some scrap wood and stained it in the same walnut stain I wiped on the white paint.  It is still drying and needs a coat of poly and some screws to hold it in place but other than that is ready to go...I feel like I say this alot, but I really wish I had a place for this one in my own home!

I am hoping to complete one more of these in time for the craft fair in October.  It will be the same concept with a twist so keep checking back so you don't miss it (Think nature) :)
I'm linking up to this weekends parties at www.funkyjunkinteriors.net and www.missmustardseed.com and homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com