I Hit That Nail Right On The Head....Of The Table?

Well hello there!  So Glad you you could stop by for a few minutes to see what I am up to!

I decided that it has been a while since I gave myself a paint hangover, and thought I would maybe work on a project or two while the kids are away for the weekend.   Not to mention that I found a new color of stain that I have never used and am just dying to try it out!  It is called Brazilian Rosewood...and I think it could be fun!

Since I haven’t been out junkin’ in ages, my selection here is down to the slimmest of pickin’s.   My choice for today’s project is going to be the coffee table for the family room downstairs.  I have been slowly but surely getting that room all set up and cozy…it is taking a while, but it is starting to come together.  The new coffee table really needed some help…



Told ya it needed help.   This is definitely NOT a Tootsie style piece of furniture!
Please try not to notice the ick behind the table...it is a mish mash of cords and stuff that I need to properly place in this room...
...hey...I'm workin' on it...I am only one girl...and my imagination sometimes sleeps a bit! :)




It is boring and plain, and kinda beat up. It came to us with that Cowboy I talk about all the time.



I am sure that with a little imagination and some elbow grease, this table will be Tootsiefied in no time!
Lets get to work!



I layed out my painting tarp…since I don’t have a garage yet, I still am forced to do all the dirty work in the house…so I need to protect the floor.  
I sanded it lightly to help remove any of the “shiny” that would deter the new finish from sticking.
Next….I primed it out.



I didn’t prime the entire piece…Only the part I wanted to use a lighter color of paint on.  I plan to leave the base and legs black…I will simply use a high gloss oil based paint on them so I need not worry about the paint sticking.



Once the primer was nice and dry, I grabbed a couple of cans of stain and got to work!  
My first color was Brazilian Rosewood.  It is pretty but left me with a little hint of purple/mauve almost…so I did what any good Tootsie would do…I grabbed the Dark Walnut and went right over it!  



It turns out that the two colors together make for a very nice effect!  See???   Those are the happy accidents that a one of a kind piece of furniture is made of!  :) 

Next…I needed to add a little “map” that will guide me in my finishing of this table.  I used a ruler and I drew myself a little border all the way around the table.



There’s a close up of my edge guide line.   I just know you are wondering WHAT on earth I am going to do with an ugly line….  Aren’t ya?  



I am going to use upholstery nails!   I need the guide line to help make sure I get them as straight as I possibly can!



I nailed and nailed and nailed…and let me just add, it is NOT easy to put upholstery nails in a straight line…when the stain isn’t dry yet!   Yes…I got impatient and excited…and I struggled more than just a little to get them in place…but it got done and now…



…now... I think...
I think it needs something more!   That one skinny little line is simply not enough.  It needs more bulk…and perhaps a little motion…don’t you think?



Ya…I agree…it needs MORE NAILS!



This is “okay”… but Tootsie doesn’t settle for “okay”…HEY…I am no minimalist in any way shape or form…it is all the way…more is more…go big or go home…
So, I set to work laying out nails in different patterns, standing back and looking …



…at them and finally I settled on a plan for the table. 



AHHH….now that’s much better!



What do you think?   I like it.  I think the adding of the shapes gives it some motion…some “curves”…some FUN!



I considered adding some of the upholstery nails to the center of the table as well…but then decided against it…just in case we play a game on here or something like that…the kids like to build puzzles and things down here…



… I DO plan to put some ornament of some kind on it once the paint is 100 % cured! When have you EVER seen this Tootsie leave a table empty!?! Ya…
…you know exactly what I am talking about. :)



I am loving the new look for this old table.   It doesn’t look like a mass production plain Jane table anymore.



It no longer looks like a boring, typical, inexpensive space filler…left over from the living room of a bachelor…(sorry Cowboy…but your table…was a little too boring for this gal)



…now it has some personality…style and one of a kind pizazz!



What do you think?



I think I like it…for now…ha ha…and I also think that the Cowboy better not try to take it back if he knows what’s good for him!   This table is now property of…TOOTISE.  (at least till I get sick of it)  :)



Well kids…that’s all for me for today.  I did what I set out to do…I took and evening, did up a project, I gave myself a HUGE paint hangover, and I shared it all with you!  
What did you do last night?

Until Next Time, Happy Decorating / Designing / Junkin’/ painting!

*)*)*)  I am strong .. because I've been weak ... I am fearless .. because I've been afraid ... I am wise .. because I've been foolish ...

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com

I am linking in with Share your Cup Thursday today!  

The Red Queen Chair…Starts A Change…In Time For Spring!

Just a few weeks before Christmas, I was out and about doing a little gift shopping, and found a gift just for ME!



I was in one of my favorite antique shops that is in an old creamery in a small town in central Alberta, when I happened upon this baby.  I fell in love almost immediately.  When I first spotted this chair, there was a sign sitting on it that said “Queen”.   And thus this chair is called the Red Queen Chair.



At first I wasn’t really all that crazy about the red/pink upholstery…but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it…and soon, I was crazy about it!
 


I asked how much she was…and was totally blown away to hear that it was less than $100!  SOLD!



I could hardly wait to get home and put this lovely old chair into my living room!   Did I mention that this chair is BIG?  Ya…Big…and very comfy.  When you sit in it, you almost bounce…the original springs are still in great working order…and this chair is super cozy!



Well…I brought my wonderful Red Queen Chair home…and set her in the corner by the fireplace.  I like it there…but I am not crazy about the rest of the room.   It just NEEDS something!  Since it is almost spring, I figure now is as good a time as any to get a few spring changes made and clean it all really well!



Grammie and Grampie gave us these two occasional chairs for Christmas this year…and I think they are gorgeous, but just not right for the spot that I have them in…



The living room is just not “right”…something has got to change.  So…I sat and stared at it for a while…(that is how I get my best ideas—and it finally came to me)

I snagged the old window from behind the Red Queen Chair, and got to work.



I added three brackets as feet to the bottom of the window.  The reason I didn’t use four brackets will become clear soon…not to worry…there is a method to my madness!  :)



Once the feet were secured, I added an L bracket.  I attached the bracket to the wall and attached it to the top of the door with one screw.  (by adding only one screw to the top, I will be able to move it and adjust the angle I have it sitting at)



Ta-da!  We have a standing window!   Now…take a look…do you see the ‘feet’ we put on?   If I would have added the fourth one, I would forever be stubbing my toes on it as I walk past it!  That would NOT be a good thing.



So far… So good…right?



These guys think so!



By simply moving that window into the open, I defined the living room a little better, and added a room divider or sorts to the space.   It sounds funny to say this but by making the living room a little smaller, I actually created MORE space!



My little helper loves it in the living room when I am moving things around.  He likes to ride the chairs as I slide them from place to place…He helped me all evening!



This is just perfect!   I didn’t take down the plaque or the vines on this side…I figure it is a window working on both sides now, and the Lords Prayer is so pretty on there…It can stay!



I love this little resin plaque.  I actually bought several of them a few years back and gifted them to some special people in my life.



I shuffled things around and around and around…until I think I got it just right…at least for now.  I had to bring a bunch of plants in from the greenhouse this week, as it is planting season, and I am running out of space…so the tropicals have to move into the house for a few months…This is hard to deal with, as this house does not offer a lot of good lighting for plants.   They suffer just a little bit in here…but they bounce back right after I get them back out to the greenhouse…so I think I can stand to have them inside for a bit.



I brought the sea shell shaped chair back out to the living room…I had it in my bedroom for a few weeks…and I put one of the chairs from Grammie and Grampie in there instead.  



I placed the other occasional chair from Grammie and Grampie in the corner by the old stereo so that it is easy to access when we need extra seating for company.  I also re-arranged the plants a little bit.



I absolutely LOVE the way plants make a room feel.  They are my favorite thing, so I am a bit biased…but you must admit that they make a room feel just a bit more inviting.



A few accessories…and things are coming together.



I am not crazy about the two chairs together…but that’s life…I only have one of each of these…and they just happen to be my two favorite chairs …so I will live with it!  I have to go to storage and get the little table that I want to put between them tomorrow…so for now it will just sit empty. :) 

I adjusted the plants a little bit…and I think I like it.
  


My living room is tweeked!  I am happy with it for the most part…so it will stay this way.  I do have my eye on an antique sofa and love seat…lol…so you never know…you might be seeing my living room again soon! :) :)

Until Next Time…Happy Decorating!

*) *) *) To my favorite three…I love that you are still hanging on my every word…and to one of you in particular…Lying is the most personal act of cowardice there is.   You know who you are!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com
Today I am also linking this post to the parties at the following sites:
  Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen 
 From My Front Porch To Yours
 The Vintage Farmhouse
 The Brambleberry Cottage 
 Common Ground Rooted in Thyme 

A Day in Seattle at NWFGS ( DAY 1 )

Well hello there!   Thanks for stopping by today! 

As promised…I am sharing a few of the photos I have taken while at the North West Flower and Garden Show in Seattle Washington!

Yes…we did it!  My cowboy and I drove 2000 km to attend this annual event!



There are some very creative gardens displayed here…check out the dinosaur…



I liked this one because of the creative use of some cool junk…



My favorite part of this booth was the wire “purse” like basket all planted up!  Super Cute!



It seems that this show has a LOT of Orchid booths.   Every isle we went down had at least one or two beautiful displays of healthy blooming orchids.  Look at this one.   It has a huge bloom…Gorgeous!



I was loving some of the wonderful shapes that the orchid blooms have…the colors are fantastic too. 



As luck would have it, this is not just a flower and garden show…it turns out it is an antiques and vintage market too!   YAY!!!   I get to do a little junkin!  :)



There are some wonderful little nick knacks just waiting for a garden to call home.



Loving this creative little gravy spoon!!!



I have a few glass door knobs and I think I even have a tomato cage or two!!!!



  I think this is a fantastic use for them!  



Blown Glass flowers are a huge trend in this show…they are pretty aren’t they?  I could have picked several out to bring home…maybe I still will!!!  :)



Grammie and Grampie will be happy to know that the garden gnome lives on for 2013….there are gnomes in ANY size you would imagine…ANY Size…:)



THIS is my personal favorite…I fell desperately in love with the old shopping cart as soon as I saw it.  My cowboy laughed at me at first…but he soon saw how cute it is.  He likes it too…but would not allow me to purchase this lovely.   I even offered to push him around the show in it…but he stood his ground…(mean bugger)


Yep…I NEED a shopping cart….REALLY bad.  So…if anyone has one who lives in my area…I would be a very happy Tootsie to have it!   (Grampie…that is a hint for you…?????xoxo???? :)  okay?)



I am sure that we could cut a “Deal” for a shopping cart Grampie…maybe it would involve a gnome or sumthin…?

Well…that is it for today…I am on my way back to the garden show to take a bunch of wonderful photos to share! 

Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   "I'd rather stand up and be a fighter than lay down and be a victim"

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com