Knitting Stand Makeover!

Yesterday, I posted about my Mystery Find that I picked up for free while out on a run. Well thanks to a follower, I now know that it's a knitting stand!
I wanted to do something a little different with it, and I was inspired by a couple of places. I was perusing the Spring Target shipments a couple of weeks ago, and I loved the white/gold contrasts along with everything else on that aisle. It was all super-fabulous:

I was also inspired by THIS post by Jenny at LGN. If you don't follow her blog, you need to. Everything she does and finds is amazing.

If you follow me on Pinterest, you probably saw this image from her post on my Decorating Inspiration board.

I love the "dipped" look on the legs. It's so different.

For a refresher, here is the knitting stand before (well, after I cleaned about 10 layers of dirt and who knows what else off of it).

I first spray-painted it with several coats of white. I used Rustoleum primer and glossy finish in one. I used glossy to get the shiny look that I wanted.
I then taped off the legs where I wanted my "dipped" effect to start.

This is after the first of 2 coats of gold.

I didn't take pictures but I also taped off the 2 round knobs on top and gave them the gold treatment as well.
Here is the after:

I have to tell you, I love it even more than I thought I would. I'm sure this paint choice might not be for everyone, but I think it totally gives this piece a new life!

I tried it out with some towels since I am planning on putting this in the bathroom as storage, and I love it even more. It's perfect!
I didn't spend any money on this at all, which makes it even better! I already had the spray paint and I picked it up from the side of the road so it cost me nothing!
How can you get any better than free?

Work In Progress...Does Anyone Know What This Is?

I wanted to show you what I am working on today. This sucker is getting a paint job. I found him while I was running a couple of weeks ago (yes, I pick things up off the side of the road), and I walked the mile back with him and the dog (yes, my neighbors think I'm crazy).

Problem is, I'm not exactly sure what he is. Does anyone know? Seriously?? There are 2 doors that go on top (one is on the ground) and there is a ledge inside.

Since he was free, I'm going to do something a little daring and creative with him. I think he'll end up in the master bath (that has been under construction since the beginning of time) to hold towels or TP or something.

There was just something about him that was charming and I couldn't pass it up. I might start walking around the neighborhood holding things like this more regularly because my arm muscles got a major workout!
Can anyone help me out with what you think this was originally used for? I'm taking all suggestions!
PS, did anyone notice my excessive use of parenthesis today? Not sure what's going on there. I'll be back this week with an updated "AFTER" pic!

Featured on Finding Fabulous!

While I was out of town last week, Jane from Finding Fabulous featured my thrift store tray makeover! If you missed the original before and after post, you can catch it HERE.
Before:

After:

Jane has an awesome blog where she features all kinds of fabulous things that were DIY-ed on a budget. Check it out when you have some time!
And check out her feature of MidSouth Stagers HERE!
Thanks Jane!!

Tribute To My DIY Hero

I have been absent from my blog over the past week because I have been home for an unexpected trip. My grandfather passed away Tuesday, and thankfully I was able to spend his 2 final days with him. He was 97 years old, and until 2 weeks ago, was still driving, growing his own greens, and living independently. He was an inspiration to many, but I feel priviledged to have been his grandaughter, and also to be able to carry on both his and my grandmother's knack for DIY-ing. They were DIY-ers mostly out of necessity, but also because having expensive material posessions was not what mattered most to them. Family and friends were their top priorities, and I think we all need to take a page from their book to make sure that these are our priorities as well.

 My brother, me, and Opa
My Opa (He was dutch, and this is what we called him...it is what many Europeans use as the word for grandfather) kept a giant garden for many years, built his own work-shop behind his house, and added on an entire bathroom (while in his 70's!!). He could build just about anything, and fished for and grew most of the food that he (and we) ate.

My cousin Cathy, Opa, and me on one of his birthdays.
He made many of the furniture pieces in my grandparent's house, and I am so glad to have one of the pieces he made in my home. He was always checking on others and was more than generous with the food that he grew in his garden and the fish that he caught. He took me on long walks (in the stroller) through the neighborhood when I was little and pushed me on the swing (teaching me dutch songs) until the sun went down. He always let me "help" in the garden and in the shop, and even sometimes let me mow the lawn!

Opa's grandkids on his 96th birthday. The last pic of all of us together.
He loved his family and my Oma, and I am grateful for the time that we had with him. There will never be another one like him.

Why I Shouldn't Have Nice Things

Do you see this sweet ball of fur?

Look how playful and innocent he is...

Oh look how sweet and content...

So carefree and happy...

Such a cutie. You just want to squeeze him...

Until he runs around your house like he has become temporarily possessed and knocks over/shatters your soon-to-be-hung MIRROR that you just blogged about finding and that you had already picked out a place for...

Yes...those are pieces of it on the floor.
Cut to me with the saddest face you've ever seen.(Yes that was a Karen Walker/Madonna reference)
So yes, this...

is why I shouldn't have nice things (note the crazy eyes...)
I may or may not be ordering this shirt for him shortly. It's a toddler shirt, and he acts like one so I find it appropriate.

Alternate title: Why I shouldn't leave nice things in destroying-distance of the Murphy Monster. Either way my mirror is in a bad state. I'm checking out mirror repair options today, but I'm pretty sure it's going to cost me a pretty penny either way. The original glass was super thick. I'll keep you updated.

Estate Sale Deals!

I am SO excited about what I snatched up at an estate sale this week (Ok, not exactly snatched up, but I couldn't believe that on the last day of the sale it was still there!

This is a Carver's Guild mirror that had a price tag of $125. I saw it on Sunday, the second day of the sale when it was marked down to $80. But I still couldn't bring myself to spend that much (I'm cheap). But I went back on Monday, thinking for sure that it was gone, and it was STILL THERE! It was marked at $67.50, and after talking them down to $50 and trying not to show how excited I was, I loaded it up!
HERE is one on ebay to show you just how insane $50 for this mirror is!!
I have an idea of where it's going, and I'll post once I make that decision. I also found a few other great things. If you can see what looks like a pile of fabric to the right, that is 4 custom drapery panels that I got for $20 total. I love the print on them and the colors are right on trend.

A tip about estate sales:
Go the first day and scope it out. They usually run 2-3 days. If there is something that you know is an awesome price and will go fast, go ahead and snatch it up. If you have to think on it then wait. Go back on the last day when everything is priced much lower and see if your piece is still there. You would be suprised, like I was!!

A Few Blog Updates!

I hope everyone is having a happy January! I thought with the new year I should spend a little time updating the blog. So, a few things that you should check out:
There are several new options in the column to the right. You can now "like" us on facebook, get every new post emailed to you by simply entering your email address, and check out our Pinterest page by clicking the button!
We also have a new header showcasing some recent projects and a new background.

Also, I bought THIS today! Which hopefully means better pictures on the blog!
In keeping with the theme of new year, new updates, I have made several personal "resolutions", or whatever you want to call them. Here are a few, because I feel like if I make them public, I will be more likely to follow them!
1. Start wearing eye cream at night. Apparently the rest of you started doing this years ago, and no one told me. Now my eyes are all wrinkly and it's going to take me years to catch up. Thanks a lot for keeping me out of the loop, guys! I guess better late than never.
2. Start only getting on Facebook to update my business page or occasionally post pictures. I feel like the "friend" side of it has become a little negative lately, and I am not even seeing updates from the only people that I would like to keep up with. So if you need to get in touch with me, it's probably not the best place to do that. So far I am 3 days and counting with no Facebook, and it's pretty great!
3. Get over my body issues. This is my big one, and it's the hardest. I don't know if I'll ever be completely able to embrace things like cellulite, hair turning grey, or flabby arms, but I'm going to do better not to dwell on it. That brings me to my new blog venture on the side:

www.sensiblychicshopper.blogspot.com

I get asked about my clothes a lot, and I decided to do this to help people shop for fashionable things on a budget. I am not an expert, not even close, so this is just informative and for fun. The catch is that I would have to be OK with posting pictures of myself (which I don't know if you've noticed, is a thing that doesn't happen on this blog!). This will be the big challenge for me, so please check it out and give me some encouragement! I hope you'll follow along with the new blog as well as this one. And spread the word to anyone you think might enjoy it! I'm really excited about it!

Did any of you commit to resolutions this year? Have you already broken them? I'm curious to see what others think about them, so let me know!