Handmade Garden Tote...

Just a quick project today... just in time for summer gardening.

I have a habit of randomly weeding the garden beds out front. I'll see an obvious one on my way to the mailbox and pull it.  Then I'll notice its evil twin right next to it, and pull that one... and then the brotha' from anotha' motha' next to that, and so on until I forget what I came outside for in the first place (I hear that comes with age...)

I've been leaving a 5 gallon bucket next the the front stairs to carry around with me.  All that eye-gouging orange brightness and a handle to boot!

But then I remembered these garden totes we made a while back for the space at Two and a Half Women. The one picture in the back with the dish towels in it is one of  a couple I picked up last summer at TJ Max for an idea on construction and design.

The two in front (with the painted pails) we made at a fraction of the cost.  The ones shown are the smaller totes... about 12" long.  We also made a larger size at 18".   A little leftover plywood, some ASCP  and 2 coats of Polycrylic (versus wax, as they're meant to be used outside) and you're good to go.

Outside, you can use it to carry your clippers, gloves, bottle of water or much needed Skeeter Beater bug spray.  Yes... that's Skeeter... as in mosquito (we Southerners are quaint, no?)  and Yes it is much needed during the summer months in North Carolina! More importantly... it works just as well as Skin So Soft (anyone remember that tip?)

I've got the plans here somewhere... just hit the Contact Us link on the left side bar if you're interested!

The Thrifty Home

Hand Made by Me... A Beautiful Foot Stool

As I stated on my previous post, this latest project has become a much welcomed place to rest my feet at the end of the day.

It started with some recycled legs from my old bed's headboard (read here).  I cut them from the frame, painted a base coat of ASCP in Old White and a top coat of Louis Blue.  Then distressed the legs and waxed them to a smooth finish. 

We cut a 16x16 piece of plywood and drilled the legs into the plywood from the top down into the legs... just to be sure it was sturdy.  Then I just stacked the foam on top.

You can see a glimpse of the chair I made the stool for in the first picture.... although the chair itself has a high back to it, the profile of the seat is low. I had to measure the end height of the stool to make sure it wouldn't be too tall and would sit evenly with the chair's cushion. I bought what I thought was a 4" piece of 16x16 foam. Turns out, it was 4 pieces of 1 inch foam in one package.... no matter. I just stacked it up and went from there. Luckily, foam doesn't have a "smooth surface" to speak of and won't slide around.

I didn't want there to be any sharp edges to the final piece 'cause knowin' me, I'd be the one to bump my leg (or knee... or any other thing) on the side of it.  To take care of that issue, I simply wrapped the foam and plywood base with a double layer of quilters batting around the peremeter. 

That took care of the sides, but I still needed a softer cushion for the top.  I bought a $5 18x18 pillow form from Walmart and put that on top. The additional inches (16 versus 18) allowed for the pillow to "smash down" onto the foam base without leaving a gap between the pillow and foam. Very important when it comes time to upholster.   The combination of the two made it perfect in overall height, and I wouldn't feel the plywood when I put my feet up. 



Another double layer of batting in both directions made sure the hard edges were taken care of, and turning it upside down I was able to put my weight onto the stool itself to make sure the pillow form was held down tight. 

At this point, it's simply a matter of adding your favorite fabric and you're done!  Considering the only things I had to buy were  the 18x18 pillow form and $8 package of foam, I basically have a beautiful, custom-made foot stool for right around $13.00.  Pretty cool- stool-  if you ask me!

This is also the start of the slow reveal of my winter/summer long bedroom renovation.  I'll be sharing all the parts each week, so I hope you'll check back often. 

And for those of us in the "tourism" industry (in whatever form.... retail, property rentals, or the food service industry) ... Chin up, friends.  Labor Day is just around the corner! It's been a long (and thankfully successful) summer.  Our thanks to those that continue to visit this little strip of the 'Banks!

A Most Welcome Place to Rest My Feet...

Okay... so if you were wondering what became of the feet to my old bed.... (posted here) take a look....

A set of "gams" to be proud of....( how many of you recognize the slang.... and how many of you are all "huh???").

If you're interested in how to make a "rest worthy" footstool of your own, I'll be posting the details on Monday.

But for now.... I'm grabbin' my Nook and puttin' my feet up!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

I'll leave this to your imagination....

Not that I'm a re-cycler by any great stretch.... but I cannot see letting a good piece of wood or parts of furniture go to waste.  Case in point.... this is the footboard to my old antique bed.

A bed I inherited from my sister over 25 years ago.  It's been through the ringer and I've recently completed a total transformation of my bedroom (including a "new to me" bed").  But, I love the shape of this piece... I love the legs and I love the detail in the whole piece.  Never mind that one of the rounded side pieces is missing....

Outside of the broken piece of wood that we've tackily taped to the front for further use or discard, I have a lot of plans for what remains.  Here's a sneak peak of "Project #1"...

I'll leave it to your imagination.... but just wait and see.  Trust me... you'll never throw out a beat up piece of furniture again!