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Ode to a table

I did this one a while ago but I figured it would be fun to show.
We were in need of a Large table for our family. My husband has a sister and brother each
with four kids so we needed something that would seat alot of people for family dinner but didn't want to spend much.
I found this table on craigslist for $25. It was a little dated and rough but I had a picture in my head of what it could be.

One thing to keep in mind with furniture is that it is cheaper to buy something ugly and make it your own then pay someone else to do it, and there is a scense of accomplishment. And if you are like me, you are fine cutting a few corners (I didn't sand it before I painted), It will go faster and if you buy good durable paint it won't be a problem.
I knew I wanted to replace the glass with mosaic (which by the way is a lot easier than you think) , and paint the table. Painting makes it easy to match chairs if you are into matching. I just painted all the wood chairs the same black as the table. I also covered them with fabric and waterproof plastic that you can find at Joans or any large fabric store. This makes it easy to wipe down and you can change out the color when you want to redo things.

I spent a little $ on the grout for the mosaic and got the glass free from my sister in law.
You can use a lot of things (broken dishes, rocks, marbles). With glass you just need to make sure you file down the edges so they won't cut someone reaching across the table for more potatoes. You also want to make sure for a dinning table or any sort of surface that is a usable space that it ends up being a mostly even surface. Don't be afraid to try something new, and if you get stuck or have questions there's always Youtube. :)

Not Just a Hutch

I am redoing my dining room one square foot at a time. I got these shelves from a friend and was excited to have more storage space for my dishes. I have always loved the look and Ideah of a Hutch, but I don't have a hutch soo...... in the theme of revamping my house, working with what I have and not spending $ I came up with this.

The Blue on the shelves is the same color as I painted the piano. It is a nice way to create cheap symmetry when all the items in a room come from different locations and time periods.
These are the shelves before they were painted.

Ahhhh redemption, how sweet it is :)

Bountiful Basket Blessing

I started this Food co-op a couple weeks ago and have Loved it.
https://contributions2.bountifulbaskets.org/
It is basically a basket full of Half Fruits and Half Veggies.
We eat a lot of Fruit and Vegetables at my house so it has been nice to not have to choose and just take what I am given. It forces me to be creative with my cooking, which I enjoy.
This is a typical basket

And is is only $15, plus the early pickup which costs a little extra in my book :) But it is worth it.
This week we received a basket which had
Lemons
Purple Kale
Asparagus
I was most excited about these
Here are a few recipes I found that look Yummy
For the Kale
http://www.lifescript.com/Body/Food/Cook/7_Eggless_Breakfast_Recipes.aspx
Scroll down to the Kale pesto MMMmmmm
http://www.choose-healthy-food.com/kale-recipes.html

Lemons anyone?
http://simpledailyrecipes.com/267/creamy-lemon-oat-bars/
http://abiggerblast.com/lemon_recipies.html
lemon tiramisu
http://thelovebite.com/recipes/sweet_stuff/limoncello_tiramisu/

Asparagus
http://bigboldbeautifulfood.blogspot.com/2009/05/lauras-phyllo-asparagus-spears.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/savory-pie-and-tart-recipes?lpgStart=1&currentslide=11&currentChapter=1
I made this one last week, scroll down
http://sketch42blog.com/2010/05/farmers-market-asparagus-4-ways/

Bountiful Baskets is Available in AZ,CO,ID,WY,OR,TX,UT,NV,WA,MT
They have other things offered as well, it varies week to week. You sign up online at the beginning of the week, shop, pay, print your receipt and pick up on the weekend. Enjoy :)

One Room at a time

Spring fever hit me hard this year, in part due to the hours I have spend pouring over the pages of
Animal Vegetable Mineral (I highly recommend this book). So to ward off the fever I have been switching stuff up in my house. Starting with my bedroom I vowed to spend as little as possible and sweat a lot.

 Silly me I did not take a good before shot, still getting used to this blogging stuff

The wall were already a pail blue and I had made the curtains a while ago. I wanted to add some bright Yellow in small ways, thus the spray painted collage of empty frames, spray painted owl and candle holder. I love me some spray paint. When you are buying paint, choose a glossy finish, that way you can paint a few pieces of furniture that need revamping.
Such as a sheet dresser and book case.

I used an idea from a friend for hanging art. All it takes is yarn, tissue paper and time.
This is the basic idea, increase the square get a bigger poof.
http://creativecalibrations.com/pages/puffball.html

Organizational hangers and totes are always nice to round off a room by getting stuff put away. Make sure you check places like goodwill and other thrift stores first. It's not necessary that is matches, this will save you lots of $.

 Don't be shy, if you are in need of Furniture Ask your friends. So many people have stuff lying around collecting dust.
You can also Facebook it
 Check the Free section on Craigslist.org and freecycle.org
Spray paint goes a long way toward redeeming things.
And as you organize get rid of things, good rule of thumb
IF SOMETHING COMES IN, SOMETHING SHOULD GO OUT
:)

ThePaintedPiano

There is something exciting about reclaiming and renewing. Weather it is a patch of dirt transformed into a garden, Trash made into something beautiful, or my favorite at the moment painting what was old and ugly to make it new.

 I received this piano as a gift from Friends and the moment I saw her I knew what she could be.
Piano's are a little tricky to redo. It must be taken apart carefully, taped and sanded if your into that sort of thing (I cut corners and gave her a good cleaning and started in) pieces are painted individually so they don't stick together, the keys come out and so on. This particular piano needed a lot of vacuuming  and a good wipe down after years of being caressed by sweaty children's hands.

But after a good vacuuming, the tediousness of replacing the keys and a few last minute touch ups she is better than new. My husband says "Only you my love would choose to have a blue piano" Hmmm That is where he is wrong........ :) Wouldn't you agree. Everyone needs a Blue painted piano

Quirks of Life: Mason Jar's As Lighting

Quirks of Life: Mason Jar's As Lighting: "I know there are some people out there that absolutely adore mason jars and find millions of excuses to use them both functionally and as me..."