Going In The Right Direction

No, this is not a post about a road trip.

Instead, it is about yet another side table!

I've been on a roll lately making tables!!!

I had an antique sewing machine base. As usual, I went back and forth on what to put on it to create the top. My mind starts spinning with all the options so it is hard to decide what to do!

I ended up buying this piece of wood...

I had this 1960 map of the Southeastern United States... 

I used ModPodge to adhere the map to the wood...

I screwed the wood onto the sewing machine base and then moved outside for the fun part! Using a belt sander, I went over the map, removing pieces of it in some areas.

 I also used the sander to round the corners of the wood.

Next, I used a dark stain to go over the entire table top...

 This aged the piece nicely!

I finished it off with a few coats of polyurethane to seal the top.

Now for my problem...

I keep making these tables to sell, 

but they look so good in my house that I end up keeping them!

Sell or keep?

I'll let you know which direction I take on that!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack,  House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty,  Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, A Vision To Remember, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary, 5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Daisy Cottage Designs, Snappee Turtle, If It's Not Baroque, Sassy Little Lady, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, Life We Live 4, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  PJH Designs,  House Of Hoff, Hickory Trail, Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less,  Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies,  Ashley's Dandelion Wishes,  French Country Cottage,  Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  

Fairy Dust

This project was a collaboration 

between myself and my daughter, Carrie.

I had purchased a set of these cute little bottle pendants that have a cork in the top. My plan was to tear the word, original, out of a dictionary and put it in one of the bottles.

So, I tore it out and then brought out a bottle of glitter.

All the while, Carrie is watching and I could see the wheels turning in her brain!

She flipped through the dictionary and tore out the word, fairy.

Then she circled the word, fairy, with a fine tip Sharpie...

She handed me the piece of paper and said, "here...this will be much cuter!"

I poured some glitter into the bottle, rolled up the piece of paper to fit, and placed it down in the bottle...

 Carrie added a little bead charm to the bottle...

Carrie was right..

the fairy dust is much cuter!

I think we make a pretty good team!

I'm working on another fairy dust necklace that I am excited to share soon!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack,  House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty,  Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, A Vision To Remember, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary, 5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Daisy Cottage Designs, Snappee Turtle, If It's Not Baroque, Sassy Little Lady, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, Life We Live 4, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  PJH Designs,  House Of Hoff, Hickory Trail, Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less,  Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies,  Ashley's Dandelion Wishes,  French Country Cottage,  Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  

The Case Of The Missing Drawer

 This little primitive table was $9.99 at Goodwill...

The paint job was bad and it was missing a drawer...

I gave it a much needed coat of black paint.

I used a damp rag and washed some of the

 black paint over the brown top

to tone it down a little...

 This helped bring out the grain of the wood.

I measured the opening of the missing drawer and went to Hobby Lobby in search of a basket to fit. I found one the perfect size. Plus I went on the perfect day...baskets were 50% off!

 I thought about painting the basket, 

but decided that I like the contrast.

Plus, it kind of looks like it's smiling!

So, missing drawer no more.

Case solved! Or, should I say basket case?

Linking To:

 Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday,  Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack, House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty,  Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, A Vision To Remember, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary, 5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Daisy Cottage Designs, Snappee Turtle, If It's Not Baroque, Sassy Little Lady, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, Life We Live 4, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  PJH Designs,  House Of Hoff, Hickory Trail, Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less,  Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies,  Ashley's Dandelion Wishes,  French Country Cottage,  Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Homecoming,  The Koenigs,  

Shades Of Gray Table

Do you ever feel like you create things more so to appeal to others rather than yourself?

There was a time when I painted furniture with bright, whimsical patterns. It was fun. It made me really happy.

Lately, it seems to be the same old thing...

paint a color that appeals to the masses, distress, wax,

or

paint a color that appeals to the masses, glaze, poly.

When I bought this little table at a yard sale for $10,

I decided it was going to be a piece I would have fun with.

I sanded the top (that's not the fun part)...

 and then gave it a coat of white paint.

Once the white paint was dry, I placed painters tape across the table in 3" increments...

Using a damp rag, I washed a gray color over the table...

I dipped the same damp rag into black acrylic paint and wiped it down one side of my gray stripe...

then I removed the tape and allowed the paint to dry completely...

 I repeated that process going the other direction...

I then painted a large flower using the gray, black, & white paint...

It was so much fun to paint this table! 

And, if no one likes it but me, it's okay...

I painted for enjoyment not approval.

So, what is painting for you...

work, fun, or both?

Linking To:

 Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack,  House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty,  Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, A Vision To Remember, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary, 5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Daisy Cottage Designs, Snappee Turtle, If It's Not Baroque, Sassy Little Lady, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, Life We Live 4, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  PJH Designs,  House Of Hoff, Hickory Trail, Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less,  Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies,  Ashley's Dandelion Wishes,  French Country Cottage,  Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  

If It's Ugly...

...paint it with chalkboard paint!

This utility cabinet was an eyesoar.

 But, it had great storage...

And the ugliness of it is nothing that a 

little chalkboard paint can't fix...

I left the handles in their original state.

I like the contrast of the black and white.

 Much better!

This was one of those pieces that I really couldn't decide

 whether to keep or sell.

It would be perfect in my garage as a place to store paint.

I was conflicted!

So, I took it to my space at Earth Mama's General Store 

and decided that I would give it 30 days to sell.

 If it didn't sell in 30 days, it was meant to be mine.

Just when I decided that maybe I would give it 15 days

 instead of 30...

you guessed it...

it sold!

After all, who doesn't need more storage?

Linking To:

 Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Yesterday On Tuesday, Fabric Bows & More, Ginger Snap Crafts, Beyond The Picket Fence, Primitive & Proper, Creations By Kara,  Primp, Rae Gun Ramblings, Adventures In Dinner, Ivy & Elephants, The Artsy Girl Connection,  Seven Thirty Three, Southern Lovely, Delightful Order, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Happy Hour Projects, Joyful Stamper, Chic On a Shoestring, Miss Mustard Seed, Blissful Bucket List, Ladybird Lane, Simply Sweet Home, One Artsy Mama, The Shabby Nest, Craft Junkie Too, A Little Knick Knack, The Vintage Farmhouse, House of Hepworths, Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Simply Designing, Truly Lovely, Create Craft Love, The Cottage Market, Country Momma Cooks, Funky Junk Interiors, Six Sisters' Stuff, Bowdabra, Addicted 2 Decorating, Tatertots & Jello, Young & Crafty,  Blissful & Domestic, Nap Time Crafters, A Vision To Remember, To Sew With Love, Boogieboard Cottage, Lovely Crafty Home, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Etcetorize, DIY Home Sweet Home, Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House, Pinkapotamus, Lines Across, Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts, Chef In Training, The Farmhouse Porch, Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Natural Mothers Network, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Me & My Boys, Mad In Crafts, Alderberry Hill, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Lil' Luna, Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie, The Trendy Treehouse, Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101, Craftionary, 5 Days 5 Ways,  Lamb Around,  Domestically Speaking, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, The Kurtz Corner, Fine Craft Guild,  Katies Nesting Spot, Hubby Made Me, The Thriftiness Miss, Homespun Happenings,  Curb Alert,   It's Overflowing, C.R.A.F.T., The Sasse Life, Finding Fabulous, The Answer Is Chocolate, Sugar and Dots, Sarahndipities, Skip To My Lou, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Thrifty Home, Or So She Says, Diana Rambles, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Crafty Texas Girls, Twelve O Eight, Daisy Cottage Designs, Snappee Turtle, If It's Not Baroque, Sassy Little Lady, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, Life We Live 4, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  PJH Designs,  House Of Hoff, Hickory Trail, Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less,  Miss Mustard Seed, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies,  Ashley's Dandelion Wishes,  French Country Cottage,  Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink When,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,