Crafting Chaos

Revisiting my dusty old blog today...

      Today.  It happened today. I came to the sobering realization that I have, beyond a doubt, become one of those people who have more crafty gadgets and materials in my closets than the time to use said crafty gadgets and materials. I'm fairly certain that I could be locked up in this house for a year or more and have enough stuff  to make stuff without having to step foot into Michael's, JoAnn, or Hobby Lobby for the duration of eternity.

      The thought had  barely solidified before I had personally challenged  myself to do that very thing. So, now it's on. I'm going to make shit out of the shit that I have.  Beginning Feb. 1 it's going down right here in this space. I will be creative. I will not quit like it's day four two of my New Year's resolution.

      I am scared. There's an embroidery machine up here that I never learned to use, and will now probably have to actually read the manual. I am not a manual reader. Regrettable.

Bee Supportive. 

BombDiggedyTastic

Squeaky chair makeover complete. Would I do this again? Probably. Although I had to let this one sit around awhile until it was nice enough to spray paint outside, it actually only took a couple of hours-well, maybe a couple of couple of hours- and one smallish mistake which required some paint remover. I'm calling it a success.

Squeaky Chair-part deux

     Sooo...got that chair all taken apart AFTER I took pics of how it should go back together (kiss my brain) cleaned off the rusticles and schmootz, and am now waiting for the fabric to arrive. I found the most amazing fabric site, which just makes me wish that I knew how to sew more than a straight line (If I'd only paid more attention to Mrs. Cho back in 7th grade home ec.-I blame myself).  Proudly, I even remembered to trace the (nasty) vinyl seat and back portions onto some kraft paper to make a pattern. KMB again! I'm certain that Mrs. Cho would be proud of owning that small bit. She suffered, that woman. God love her heart.
     For my sew-worthy friends, the site is www.spoonflower.com , but you probably already know about the site, since I'm the ultimate fabric newb an you are not.
      I don't think I've ever posted a photo of my fabulous sewing machine, so here it is in all of its tur-qua glory. I will never love another:

 

More RETRO Whimsy!

In my area, we have many, many, Facebook sites dedicated to "Trash and Treasure", as in "One man's trash...". I am pretty sure I have subscribed to all of them within a 50 mile radius, because, hey, I like old crap. What I like even better about old crap is making something cool out of old crap. It makes me feel all ecologically friendly and fuzzy inside.

My latest score is this bomb-diggety Cosco step-stool chair-one like I grew up with on visits to my sweet grammy's house. Dang, how those step thingies squeaked when you pulled them out. This one does not disappoint either. Squ-eeee-k-tastic!

 

Once I get the gunk scrubbed off and the legs all shinied up, I think it's getting a makeover. I see something different for the seat-mebbe some red? Or an IU logo? Or, OMG, I cannot wait to get going on this baby tomorrow!

DiY Bar Part 2

I just now realized I forgot to post the "during" and "after" pics of the former console/current bar. It only took one afternoon and some mad measuring skills and cutting devices-thanks hubs! Also, he clearly does not trust me with power tools, especially HIS power tools. Fearing that I would lop off a digit, or worse, he was kind enough to help me out with the saw. And we only very minorly disagreed that my staining skills need some improvement.

First, a look at its record player. See the filth? I really wanted to take the hose to it, but thought better of that and just wiped it down with a damp cloth and some Pledge.

I labeled this pic ickdirt: Self-explanatory.ICK.

 

Oddly, I didn't take a photo of the coolest feature of this furniture. The left one-third of the unit has this slide in record bin kind of thing. It's sort of delicate, being 50 year old plastic and all, but I am using it to hold all of the cocktail napkins, shot glasses, and other drinking paraphernalia that one accumulates over time.

 

The bar is OPEN!

 

But wait! It needed a little something....

 

Some groovy, schmoovy 60's rocks glasses...Thank you Ebay!

 

 

But wait! There's more...

 

Ambience lighting!! SHAGADELIC!