Step Ladder Side Table

Chipped green paint, rust, metal...ahhh...just my cup of tea :)

I had all the pieces given to me by my friend who owns the local antique shop when he was cleaning out his back shed. I had the holes drilled by a professional glass company here in town and attached it to the top using 1920's screws (off an old couch/futon thing in my basement). I loooove it!

DIY Towel Rack

I went to my local antique store and was given this awesome thing...not sure what it was... It had awesome stenciling on the back, saying "Patented July 25, 1882" and carpet on the other side. Anyway, I wasn't sure what I'd do with it at first. Then, inspiration struck! I'd make it into a hand towel holder! I quickly unscrewed the foot pedal(?) and then attached it to the rockers with a few screws. Then I used some wired twine(?) that I had in my stash and ran it through the screw holes where the pedal once was. Then I added some hinges to the back for hangers, and voila! A towel holder!

Post Office Box Picture Frame

I snagged two of these PO Box doors today at my local antique shop. One had a broken glass plaque so I removed it and inserted a picture (I cut one out of a magazine for an example, I'm going to have to round up one of my own). It is SO steampunk and awesome!! This one is circa 1902 and all the dials and latches work!

Hook Set, With Vintage Forks and Reclaimed Cedar Shingles

Remember those funky forks I got? Well, I bent them into hooks and mounted them onto some old cedar shingles. I love that you can see the outline of a door handle that was once there. Attached with mismatched screws, the look is slightly primitive/industrial chic. I love it :)

For sale on my Etsy page, $8.

Vintage Cooler Planter

I found this old metal 1950s? cooler at the Salvation Army for $4. I grabbed it up and took it home!
But, I couldn't decide what to do with it...and then, inspiration struck! It'd be a awesome planter! I had this trellis in the back yard. I put it in and put some plants in. That's it!

It even has a drain hole in the side already! How perfect!

Drum Table

I saw this table on Pinterest,

 I was inspired to make my own!

I took a few of my hubby's old forgotten drums, one without the "drum" part, and stacked them. I glued the two drums together with all purpose heavy duty adhesive, and put the glass table top on top. My mother in law had given me two of these tops. I just need suction cups for the top and...

maybe legs? I haven't decided. But if and when I do add legs, I will be sure to add the pic!

Cosco Metal Folding Chairs Facelift

I bought four of these metal mid-century folding chairs at an auction i attended for $4 each. They were in excellent condition, albeit ugly.

I had some robins egg blue latex semi gloss paint on hand so I brushed on several coats of it on the seat, letting each coat dry for about an hour. I decided on a nautical theme so I found an image that I liked from Google and printed it out onto a manila envelope I cut down to paper size. I exacto-ed the image out, therefore making a stencil. I layed the stencil onto the seat, surrounding it with some cardboard, and sprayed some Krylon Paint + Primer in Pumpkin Orange over the stencil. I took a stick and held the stencil down in spots while I sprayed. Then I spread a thick layer of Mod Podge over the seat and let it dry to seal everything.

And that's it! Here's what they look like now!

Embroidery Hoop Clock DIY

I was so inspired by clock ideas while Pinteresting last night, I just had to make one of my own. I had several embroidery hoops laying around, so I decided on my biggest (go big or go home, right?) I had just bought this Paris fabric from Hobby Lobby and it was just the look I wanted to go for. I had a piece of scrap lace also I liked paired with it. I spread out the fabric and lace the way I wanted it on top of the inner piece of the hoop, and placed the outer hoop around it, pulling the fabric taught. I snipped away the extra fabric and hot glued it to the inside of the hoop. My stepmother had just given me these beads and jewelry parts and I just loved the way the silver looked against the colors. Really vintage-y. I sewed them on equal distance apart around in a random fashion. I marked the center and made a small hole with a knitting needle. I got a clock kit from Hobby Lobby and followed the instructions for installing it. I put an old CD between the clock motor and the fabric for extra stability. Last, I tied a piece of string from the hanger to the tightening knob so it would stay up straight and not swing around.

I think it looks quite handsome, don't you?

Vintage Jar Revamp

My dad brought me this old (pickle?) jar he found in his barn, it was definitely really old, but I don't know how old. The bottom has "1875" on it. The lid was rusted on, so that was my first order of business. I sprayed WD-40 around the lid from underneath and let it soak in for about 15 minutes. Then I took my hammer and tapped around the lid. It opened quite easily after that. I washed the jar, but it still had a few spots on the inside I couldn't get out. It was ok, since I think it gives the jar character. I rummaged in my junk drawer and found this green metal candlestick thing-a-ma-jig. I found a wooden knob that perfectly fit on top. I glued it all together with my trusty Amazing Goop (seriously, I LOVE this stuff!) Then I found this stand that matched the green on top and I dabbed a little glue on it so it would stay put and not fall off.

I can't decide what to put in it though. Oh, the possibilities!

Belt Backed Chair DIY

I found this chair in my neighbor's trash (yes, I checked for bedbugs!) They were moving and didn't want to take it. I absolutely loved the arms and knew I had to save it from the trash pile. It is actually a Thomasville Chair Company chair, so it was excellently made and very sturdy.

I took off the seat and ripped off the fabric.

I had some grey primer in my basement from another project, so I gave it two coats of that.

I immediately knew it would look awesome orange, so I went to Meijer and bought some pumpkin orange spray paint, and gave it two more coats.

I had some tan wool fabric in my stash and I covered the seat, stapling it to the underside of the wood base.

It was missing the back, so I decided to use some belts instead. I went to Goodwill and purchased three for $1.50 each. I strapped them around and drilled a screw in the side so they would stay in place.

The ends of the belt were long and were dangling, so I dabbed on some Amazing Goop glue (what I had on hand), clipped some binder clips on and let it dry. I then had my hubby clip off those screw ends with a big clippy tool (do you like my technical lingo?)

(And yes, I am going to paint that ugly pink filing cabinet!)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Pattern

I had an order for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle amigurumi dolls, so I made up this pattern.

Yarn weight: Worsted
Skill level: Beginner +
Gauge: Does not matter, just be sure it is tight so the stuffing doesn't show through.

Materials needed:
Head, arm and leg color, or MC1, about 50 yards
Torso color, or MC2, about 20 yards
Shell color, 10 yards
Mask color (varies, depending on which Turtle you are making), 2 yards
Stitch Marker
Yarn needle
Poly-fil

Head:

Using MC1, create Magic Circle, SC 6, Pull tail tight to close, PM in last SC
Round 1: Work 2 SC in each Sc around. 12 Sts
Round 2: *2 SC in first St, 1 SC in next st. Repeat from * around. 18 Sts
Round 3: *2 SC in first St , SC in next 2 Sts. Repeat from *around. 24 Sts
Round 4: *2 SC in first St , SC in next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. 30 Sts
Round 5: *2 SC in first St, SC in next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. 36 Sts
Round 6: *2 SC in first St, SC in next 5 Sts. Repeat from * around. 42 Sts
Round 7: *2 SC in first St, SC in next 6 Sts. Repeat from * around. 48 Sts
Round 8-12, SC around. 48 Sts.
Round 13: *Dec, SC in next 6 Sts. Repeat from * around. 42 Sts
Round 14: *Dec, SC in next 5 Sts. Repeat from * around. 36 Sts
Round 15: *Dec, SC in next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. 30 Sts
Round 16: *Dec, SC in next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. 24 Sts
Stuff tightly.
Round 17: *Dec, SC in next 2 Sts. Repeat from * around. 18 Sts
Round 18: *Dec, SC in next St. Repeat from * around. 12 Sts
Round 19: *Dec. Repeat around. 6 Sts
Finish off.

Arms, make 2:

Using MC1, create magic circle. SC 6, Pull tail tight to close. PM in last SC.
Round 1: Work 2 SC in each SC around. 12 Sts.
Round 2: *2 SC in first St, SC in next St. Repeat from * around. 18 Sts
Round 3-8: SC around. 18 Sts
Round 9: *Dec, SC in next 7 Sts. Repeat from * around. 16 Sts
Round 10: SC around. 16 Sts
Round 11: *Dec, SC in next 6 Sts. Repeat from * around. 14 Sts
Round 12: SC around. 14 Sts
Stuff arm lightly.
Round 13: *Dec, SC in next 5 Sts. Repeat from * around. 12 Sts
Round 14: *Dec, SC in next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. 10 Sts
Round 15: *Dec, SC in next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. 8 Sts
Pinch work top of work together, and working in both sides, closing the top of the work. Work 3 SC across. 3 Sts.
Finish off. Leave long tail for sewing to body.

Legs, make 2:

Using MC1, create magic circle. SC 6, Pull tail tight to close. PM in last SC.
Round 1: Work 2 SC in each SC around. 12 Sts.
Round 2: *2 SC in first St, SC in next St. Repeat from * around. 18 Sts.
Round 3: *2 SC in first St, SC in next 5 Sts. Repeat from * around.  21 Sts.
Round 4-12: SC around. 21 Sts.
Round 13: Dec, SC in next 9 Sts, Dec, SC in next 9 Sts. 19 Sts.
Round 14: SC around. 19 Sts.
Round 15: Dec, SC in next 7 Sts, Dec, SC in next 6 Sts. 17 Sts
Round 16: SC around. 17 Sts.
Stuff leg lightly.
Round 17: Dec, SC in next 6, Dec, SC in next 7 Sts. 15 Sts.
Round 18-19: SC around. 15 Sts.
Round 20: Dec, SC around. 14 Sts.
Finish off, leaving long tail for sewing to body. Finish stuffing leg.

Torso:

Using MC2, create magic circle. SC 6, Pull tail tight to close. PM in last SC.
Round 1: Work 2 SC in each SC around. 12 Sts.
Round 2: *2 SC in first St, SC in next St. Repeat from * around. 18 Sts.
Round 3: *2 SC in first St , SC in next 2 Sts. Repeat from *around. 24 Sts
Round 4: *2 SC in first St , SC in next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. 30 Sts
Round 5: *2 SC in first St, SC in next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. 36 Sts
Round 6-11: SC around. 36 Sts
Round 12: *Dec, SC in next 4 Sts. Repeat from * around. 30 Sts.
Round 13-14: SC around. 30 Sts.
Round 15: *Dec, SC in next 3 Sts. Repeat from * around. 24 Sts.
Round 16-17: SC around. 24 Sts
Round 18: *Dec, SC in next 2 Sts. Repeat from * around. 18 Sts
Round 19: SC around. 18 Sts
Finish off, leaving long tail for sewing to head and stuff tightly.

Sew the torso to the head, and the legs and arms to the body.

Shell:

Using shell color, Ch 9
Round 1: SC in second ch from hook, SC in next 6 Sts, 3 SC in next St. Working on the opposite side of the chain, work 6 SC across, in the starting SC, work 2 more SC. PM. 18 Sts.
Round 2: Work 2 SC in first St, 2 SC in next St, SC in next 6 Sts, 2 SC in next 2 Sts, SC in next 8 Sts. 22 Sts.
Round 3: 2 SC in first St, SC in next 10, 2 SC in next St, SC in next 10 Sts. 24 Sts.
Round 4: SC in first St, 2 SC in next St, SC  in next 11 Sts, 2 SC in next St, SC in next 10 Sts. 26 Sts.
Round 5: Sc in first 2 Sts, 2 SC in next St, SC in next 12 Sts, 2 Sc in next St, Sc in next 10 Sts. 28 Sts.
Round 6: Working in front loops only, *SC, 2 SC in next st. Repeat from *around to last St, SC. 41 Sts.
Round 7: Working in both loops, *SC in next 2 Sts, 2 SC in next St. Repeat from * around. 55 Sts.
Sl St in next St, finish off, leaving long tail for sewing onto body.
Optional: Sew shell detail with contrasting color yarn as shown.

Sash:

 Ch 45, Finish Off.
Tie around waist and tack down with Sash colored yarn in several places.

Mask:
Ch 45, PM in center Ch. Sl St in second Ch from hook, and in each Ch, until 5 Sts from center. SC, HDC, DC, HDC, SC, then Sl St in center St. Then, SC, HDC, DC, HDC, SC, then Sl St to the end.
Finish off, leaving long tail to sew onto head. 

DIY Coat Rack

I had These Shutters literally hanging off my old shed, and I decided they were a little gem just waiting for a facelift. I knew I wanted to make a coat hook to put by my front door. I had these curtain tiebacks I wasn't using anymore, so I simply attached them with some screws I had. I love the peeling paint and the old hardware. They have so much character, I am so glad I gave a second life to these old Shutters.

I used the hinges as hooks...

Voila!