The Wood Wizard

It's Friday!  Friiiday! Gotta get down on Friday!

I haven't inflicted that song on you for a while so I though I might as well.  Enjoy having the lyrics stuck in your head all day.  No need to thank me.

So anyway, if you've been reading this blog for longer than five seconds, you already know that I'm on the "do whatever the heck you want with your furniture" side of the "to paint or not to paint" wood debate. If you want to paint, go for it. Our furniture is supposed to make us happy, not the other way around.

But, that being said, there is something about an amazing restoration job that makes my heart go pitter-pat.  And these projects from Hank at Toshmahal are so absolutely remarkable, my chest might just explode from all the pitter-patting that is happening in there right now.  This guy is a true artist.

Check it out:

What?!  I know.  I would have thought that table was maybe salvageable with a good sanding and a coat of paint, but who knew such beautiful wood was lurking under there?  Not this girl.

Or this one:







Mind = blown.



This might be my favorite:

I must touch it.



Here's one for the woodpile, right?

Wrong-o!  Hank has perfected his stripping and staining technique to the point that it's almost eerie.  Like, does he have x-ray vision to know what is under there or is he as surprised to discover it as anyone else?

I don't even want to imagine how difficult it was to remove all the paint from the grooves of this dresser:

  

Worth it!



This table wasn't disgustingly horrendous or anything, but look what Hank uncovered:

 

Woah.  He's like ... the wood whisperer.  That is serious talent and skill, folks.  Check out much more from Hank on his gallery right HERE or check out his blog HERE.

Are you inspired to go refinish something now?  I am!  Maybe a table, a dresser, my leftover burrito in the fridge, who knows?

Have a great weekend friend!

 

---

---

Read more...

Not to freak you out but ... only 88 days til Christmas!

If you are one of those 'plan-ahead' types, then you are probably all set for the holidays. I'm all set for the holidays too.  I'm talking about the 4th of July holidays, of course.  We're gonna party like it's 2012.  Next year. Because that's what it says on our clearance rack shirts.

OK, so obviously I'm not a great planner-aheader.  But if you are, here are a few little ideas to get you started on some fun DIY gifts for the kids in your life.

Katy at Done Is Better Than Perfect isn't scared to shun gender stereotypes, so she bought this little stroller as a gift for her sons.  Still, she wasn't sure they'd appreciate the hot pink ballerina slippers and purple wheels, so she dolled it down with a graphic print and silver paint.

Vikki at The Quirky Quail transformed this sad weathered dresser into a perfectly playful place to put your pants.  Don't the handles look like candy wrappers?  This would totally get your kids excited about putting their clean clothes away.  Or get you excited about doing it for them.  (Which is what usually happens at our house).

And speaking of getting excited ... do you have a hard time getting your kids to do their homework?  Stop the battle! I bet they would flat-out volunteer to do it with a desk like this.  See more details (secret sequins!) from Jen at Altogether Persuaded.

And lastly, a classic gift, the kid kitchen.  Most of the kid kitchens I see are made out of old entertainment centers and nightstands, but this one appears to have actually been a kid-kitchen in its previous life.  Heavily used and slightly graffitied, at that. I'm so glad to see it back in fighting shape.

Take a look at Danielle's blog Minimoz to see more, I think there used to be working plumbing on this thing!

Hey, I'm so excited to share this great deal from one of my favorite clothing sites, eShakti.  $25 off your first purchase!

---

Read more...

From bad to Bad!

I agree with Michael Jackson ... this bedroom was Bad. No place for storage and the wall color was absolutely lifeless. So if you want to make your room a better place take a look at your stuff and make a change! Woooooo! Woooooo! Na na naa, na na naaa, na naaa naaa na ... make ... a ... chaaaaange.

I'm pretty sure this blog is 90% Michael Jackson lyrics.  Anyway.  Rebekah's sons were switching rooms, and with that switch came a little re-imagining and a lot of color. SO much happier in here now.  Even without MJ.  Her blog is called It Only Gets Better, and I have to agree!

---

Read more...

Swanky Squash

I hate the term 'girl-crush' almost as much as I do the word 'bromance,' but in this case, there's no better way to describe my feelings toward a certain someone.  That someone is Jaimee Rose.  Jaimee is a stellar writer, blogger, and cook (at least, judging from the recipes on her blog), a Phoenix-enthusiast, a fashionista extraordinaire; she oozes style, she would probably never use the word 'oozes,' and she is the only person I want to simultaneously be my best friend, big sister, personal shopper, and interior designer. She's like the Posh Spice version of Martha Stewart.

Am I coming off a little creepy?  I'll get to the point.  When Jaimee isn't busy painting her living room black or being invited to Prada store openings, she is giving glam makeovers to fake pumpkins. That's right. You wish she was your best friend too.

Here are a select few of her many squashy stylings:

Polka-dots are like, so in.  See her tips for getting such a realistic look from plastic pumpkins HERE. (Spoiler alert: she dries out real stems and saves them all year!)

This pair was inspired by a set of Jonathan Adler vases.  See them HERE. It's sad when a pumpkin is hipper than you are.

Metallic and color-blocked? Ack, so glam. These pumpkins could walk the runway.  Roll the runway? See them HERE.

And lastly, chevron pumpkins, because why not?  Actually, Jaimee calls them 'Missoni-inspired,' because she will always be cooler than me.  She even includes downloads to easily recreate this look yourself HERE. 

---

Read more...