October Ramblings

I've had a lot of ideas swirling around in my head lately of projects to work on, but somehow I blinked and October has flown by!

It has been marked by:

- lots of work

-  a dog who has torn up more things than I care to think about...one of them being the thermometer.... which I need right now because I have self-diagnosed myself with the flu...

-cooler weather and the excitement of fall!

Anyways.....

Here is a sign for the laundry room I made. I stained the wood, painted lettering and added the hinges for a country effect:

And I made another pencil sign for a sweet friend at my school.  It's her first year teaching and she is doing a GREAT job! 

 I'm loving the cooler weather and gettting to wear scarves...hope everyone has blessed week. :) 

Also, I'm in the market for a camera. Please let me know if you have any suggestions! 

Butcher Block finished!

Here are completed pictures of the butcher block!

The top drawer pull is replaced with a sparkly glass ball that I love.  The side has hooks that match the top, for hanging towels, and there is another level of shelf still to insert.  (it's actually sitting on the chair behind the pumpkins!)

..

 Cash heard the camera and came running.  He looks so nervous because he is...the pumpkins have for some reason sent him over the edge.  Everytime he sees them he barks as if it's a person entering.  Silly boy. 

Lessons Learned

I've been working on two projects lately. The desk from the previous post and a butcher block redo.

Here is the butcher block, formerly white and in the process of becoming black (and awesome):

These two projects have become the bane of my existence.  Because,  while they present themselves as solid wood, they are thoroughly laminate.  And don't believe those cutesy pinterest bloggers who talk about how "easy" it is to paint laminate.  It isn't.  They lie.  And they have really good cameras to make their ridiculous creations look awesome.

Ok rant over.

But...I've learned a few things.  Feel free to disagree or offer suggestions.

1.  Don't sand the laminate first (unless it's in awful condition).  It creates an awful backdrop that no number of layers of killz, primer, paint + primer, will make smoothe again.

2.  Do many layers.  1 at a time.  And don't go over what you just painted, unless it's to quickly remove dripping.

I finally figured this out on the backside of the butcher block and the drawer.  But one side of it is a *hot mess.

(*my husband says I only look at the flaws and that it looks fine.)

Here is the drawer with it's first quick layer.  FIGHT the desire to go over it again until dry.

Here it is after several layers. See?? pretty. (drawer is on top)

 I'm heading to get some cute knobs for the drawers/cabinet doors tomorrow and off it will be sent.  Will show a final pic when finished.

Hope we all have a blessed week!
xoxo

A little Monday Night

Life is what happens when you're busy not blogging.  Tis true.

Since the last time I've blogged I've read: 

Bossypants...



I've graded ~4000 papers

I've done ~8 loads of laundry

 and worked out ~6 times. (only because my friend Laci is crazy awesome and makes me do it)



Also,  I've found this little gem at a local goodwillish type store.

 (The best part of this picture is Cash playing with his Homie, (large sized Homer Simpson doll he's OBSESSED with)


And here it is after lots of sanding and a coat of killz...just a typical Monday.

 (Please note, this being a significant amount of time after the previous picture was taken, Homie is left to rest in peace and a bone is now the object of affection.)

Red Love

For once I got to pick something up from craigslist and it was not a torrential downpour.

I spotted a side-drawer type table and thought if it's in decent shape, it'll be awesome.  (Sidenote, the couple also gave me a little tv stand, that still needs some tlc, but two for one. whoop! that's a big work in progress though)

I've sanded and painted a few coats....and think it's adorable...

I am in love with the red color and even more so, the knobs.  


If you are interested in purchasing please contact me at adrienneleigh83@gmail.com



Hope you're having a great week.  It's only Tuesday.  Did anyone else have a moment today where you thought it was Thursday because of your level of exhaustion? 

I decorated for Halloween...

...and got in the Christmas spirit!