Projects

Although I don’t get as much done as I used to (no time, no energy, no money), I still try to keep myself busy with projects. I want to share a few….

It’s been a while since I made this shelf. It’s HUGE and looks a little out of place in my small house. But whatever! Shawn was out of town when I finished it and I had to ask my neighbor to help me hang it up, it was that heavy.

Here is a before and after of this record table I found at a garage sale. I gutted the whole thing and now it holds… well, nothing. But someday I will have something stored in there. For now it’s just an entry table hiding an air vent.

Here is a before and after of this desk I found 2 years ago (that is how slow I have become) in Oregon. It was $7. I was with Shawn when I saw it. He didn’t think it was necessary to buy it because we already have a desk. He doesn’t think anything I buy necessary. It is…. oh it definitely is.
Don’t let it’s size deceive you… it is a heavy sucker! The wood wasn’t too bad, but I just preferred white.
 

Then, there is the project of the century. At least that is what I am dubbing it. I don’t know what gave me the idea that this project would be simple. Perhaps it was those craft bloggers who make reupholstering look like a piece of cake. They’re lying… it’s not! And it doesn’t take a weekend like they portray. If you’re like me it takes 6 months (maybe less if you don’t quit halfway through like I did)!!!

Here is the before. It was $20 (in Oregon of course, you can’t find deals like that here!)
 

I spent roughly 20 hours just removing staples. This was by far the worst part of the project. I hated my life!
Once the staples were removed, I disassembled it piece by piece…. taking 8 million pictures of the process so I would know how to put it back together.
This is the chair totally taken apart. I painted the wood, then quit. It sat in my garage for MONTHS! I didn’t have the energy to put it back together. I mean… look at this thing. I considered throwing it in a dumpster.

My motivation to get it done was when poor Shawn asked if he would ever be able to park in the garage again. He sure puts up with a lot. So, I gave myself a 6 week deadline and promised him he could have his spot in the garage back. I met my deadline with time to spare.
Here is my chair, all done… FINALLY!
 

And I only cried twice. Once when I saw better fabric at the store and wanted to buy it after I had already cut my fabric at home. And the 2nd time when the only way to complete the reconstruction was to buy a new tool. Shawn says I have to do more reupholster projects now that he spent the money on that tool.
He said it…. not me!
Although I’m not thrilled to dive into another chair just now.

I’ve got something bigger, and better up my sleeve….