Shelf anyone?

Earlier in the summer I went to a yard sale and found this. 

It sat in my garage with plans on getting it done. 

But like many many "little" projects I simply let it sit off to the side while I worked on bigger things that seemed more important. 

Every now and then I would look over at it and it always seemed to be calling to me, begging me to take a few hours out of my day to pay attention to it and just bring it back to life. 

I finally listened! 

I cleaned it up, sanded it down and brought new life to it. 

 Ok...seriously what is there not to love? 

My hubby came home tonight and saw this sitting in the kitchen...he stopped dead in his tracks and ooo'ed an awwwww'ed about it, exclaiming it's details were just right! 

He is soooooo coming around and I love him dearly for it :)

 Don't you just love how the drawer colours make the whole unit pop without screaming?

 I"m so thrilled with this one.

Now I keep wondering why I left it alone for so long. I need to get more of these little projects out of the way. 

Sharing:
Coastal Charm
The Dedicated House
Domestically Speaking 
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No Minimalist Here 
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Final reveal of Hoosier

I have the best clients. 

I just had to get that out there. 

When I started redoing furniture I never would have imagined meeting such wonderful people along the way. 

I really am blessed to be doing what I love and making people happy at the same time.

Now just a refresher on what the Hoosier looked like before. 

If you would like to see the "before" and "during" pictures you can read all about it HERE

I was finally able to finish it this weekend and return it to the wonderful couple who trusted me to make it beautiful again. 

And here she is complete. 

 Isn't she perfect now?

 That tin is positively shining now, and she hides an extra cutting board beneath her.

 That's the neighbours cottage in the background. I wonder if they have any idea how often I've accidentally featured it in my pictures? lol

 The inside is a pretty pretty blue! the owners favorite colour. :)

She is now proudly sitting in her home again. Ready to be used and shown off like she was meant to be. 

I'm going to miss her. But maybe I will be lucky to be invited back for a glass of wine and a chance to re visit this wonderful piece of history :) 

Sharing here:
Dwellings-The heart of your home
Knick of Time Interiors 
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Savvy Southern Style
Miss Mustard Seed  

Closing up shop :(

No...not forever and not even for a week. 

But closing up the cottage shop. 

It's sad, not sad as in frowning. Sad as in rip my heart out sad. 

You see, here in South western Ontario it's the middle of October and I've come to the realization that we aren't going to get really warm days anymore this year. As I sat shivering this morning and early afternoon getting the Hoosier finished I admitted to myself that this will be the last piece to see my cottage workshop till Spring. 

I love the cottage. I love the workshop I have here. I love it with every bone in my body, and I glory in the time I spend here working. 

But it's time

Time to close up shop and move everything left home. 

Where it's warm. 

yup...warmth wins! 

So lets see just a few of the things I've done here this spring, summer and fall. 

 This wonderful Sideboard!

The Barn Board Table

 This amazing Cabinet

 And the teal Desk

 A wonderful Buffet and hutch

 School Desk

This creamy dresser

 These wonderful Side tables

 This wonderful tall dresser

 An amazing desk

This duncan Phyfe side table

 Antique wash stand

 American Empire Desk

 Round coffee table

 BEAUTIFUL dresser

 Mid Century Sideboard

 Mid Century Buffet and hutch

 Eastlake table (for my husband)

 Round table (For my hubby)

 Occasional Table

 Headboard and bedside table in pink

 Purple desk

 Office table from record holder

 Two tone dining set

 Bowfront sideboard

Mexican bedside table. 

Ohhh there are more, but these are my favs. 

It's been a good summer. I loved it. 

Sadly packing up. But at the same time I'm looking forward to all the exciting pieces I'll be working on at home. 

Can I just move south? pack everything up and open shop where there is no snow? 

Ahhh I can dream can't I? 

Finally MY own Sideboard!

I have been on the lookout for years now for a sideboard for my own home.

I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted.

My husband knew I wanted one, and would often suggest that this one or that one would work well in our home. But I would never go along. I knew that someday (and I knew I had to be patient) I would find it, or it would find me.

Ever have a picture in your mind of what you want but you can't find it?

I tried to describe to hubby exactly what it looked like. He asked me once if I had ever seen one like the one in my mind. I admitted that no, I've never seen one like it before but that I was sure that out there somewhere, someone had built it already.

He just shook his head.

Sometimes I'm sure my brain scares him...lol

Well the day came.

You can read how I found it HERE

She came to me a little beat up.

The top and sides were perfect (no veneer) but the drawers had dried out and veneer was missing. I knew there was solid wood under it and I really crossed my fingers that it was nice enough to show off. 

So I set to work. 

 I have to tell you the best way to remove veneer is wetting down an old towel then heating it up with an OLD iron. It normally lifts right up. But you do need patience!

 ewwwy goo and a mess, but it works!

 I love the details :)

 See it lifting?

 And it was soooooo worth it!

 I love the grain I found under the veneer. This is solid mahogany!

I finished sanding and staining it...but I needed it out of my garage. So into the house it went. I had run out of poly so there it sat for weeks! 

Finally I picked up more poly but there were other things that needed to get done. So it sat for a few more weeks. 

Finally I decided that it sat long enough and I set to work again to finish it. 

I pulled out the original pulls and let them soak in vinegar to clean them. 

And I poly'ed the whole thing. 

Now when I finish a piece I sand between coats and it's not pretty. 

 It looks like this between coats. Not to worry though it does come up really nice. I normally start with a 320 grit paper and for the final sanding after the last coat I normally use a 600 grit sandpaper.

 See the difference?

 And finally done! I'm so happy :)

I'm so glad I waited to find the right one for me. :) :) :) 

Sharing here:
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Savvy Southern Style 
The Brambleerry Cottage 
Elizabeth and Co.
Knick of Time Interiors 
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Funkie Junk Interiors 
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