Project 2 and End of the Month

The end of June is here.  So is the first month of using the project list which I think has been a success.  I have finished 11 projects.  It's so much easier when I can focus on what I want to finish.

I have not finished much this week but I have been trying.  Here's an update.

Project 2 - Ebay June 2019 is complete.  I sold 12 items.  That sucks!  But on the positive side I have 12 less items to get rid of .

Project 4 - Livingroom Window.  Met with Pella.  I'm on the schedule.  Hopefully this will be complete Mid-July

Project 13 - Heart Shelf.  I need to put on backing, touch up paint, and decorate.  This has taken much longer than I thought it would.

Project 14 - Mill Hill Bucket.  Hopefully will finish stitching today.

Projects 15, 16, 17 and 18 have not been started.

Project 19 - Dresser.  The sanding of this has consumed most of the weekend.  The body of the dresser is ready for the final sand and stain.  I have 4 repairs to make on the dresser.  2 of the drawers need new bottoms.  Drawer fronts still need sanded.

That's the wrap up.  I feel like I have been very busy.  But it fells good.

Project 12 Zoo Animals

It's been several days since I finished anything.  I today I was determined to finish the Zoo Animals.

 

 

These are the sweetest animals.  I bought them at a sale to resale on Ebay.  Once at home I noticed two of the dowels were broken.  I dug them out yesterday. 

Today, a new one was cut and put in the elephant and giraffe. 

 

Very small finish but at least I finished something.

Project 8 Black Rocking Chair and Project 9 Rocking Chair

Project 9 is this little beauty.  Of course I don't have the original picture.  The chair was stained oak with the beautiful mauve seat.

 

 

I purchased this chair from craigslist for $12.  Sometimes you just have to see what it could be.   I started sanding last October.  Then as usual I put it aside and continued shopping and started filling the garage.

I finished sanding the chair over the past month.  I have been staining and spraying poly for the past week.

I recovered the seat this morning.

 

I have to say it turned out great.

 

So I cleaned up the deck.  Then worked on Project 8, the black rocking chair.  I bought this at a garage sale this spring.  I had originally planned to paint the chair but several people loved it right away.  I will be painting in the long run but for now it's been placed in it's new home and is out of the garage.

 

It's suppose to be about 100 degrees today.  This was all finished this morning before it got that hot.  These are 2 finishes I'm excited about.  The first rocking chair took awhile so I got behind on the furniture list.  Happy with the outcome though.

Project 11 Put Puzzle Together

Okay, I will admit that I have a puzzle problem.  During chemo and hospitals and hospice we were all doing puzzles.  I enjoyed them.  It was a problem you could solve and it took your mind off what was really happening for at least a minute.

 

After Kyle had passed I was at a thrift store looking for furniture, cross stitch or other wood things and I passed the puzzle section.  I bought a couple.  I mentioned it to a co-worker who brought me about 15 puzzles.  I bought more.  And you can see how the process works.  I have a tower stack of puzzles.



 

I'm pretty quick at putting them together so this was finished in 2 evenings.  It's Springbok Puzzle Knit Fit.  I think I might donate it to hospice.

 



 

Project 10 My Sister My Friend

This is a finish of a started project.  I have a bag of projects like this.  I am so excited to start new projects.  After that initial excitement wears off and I tire of what I'm doing and I start another new project.

Project 10 is by Shepherd's Bush: My Sister My Friend. 

 

 

I was making it for a friend to give to her sister.  She has moved and we don't talk any more.  I'm a only child.  This is going on ebay.

 

 

I'm very embarrassed to admit this.  I began this at least 5 years ago. It took less an 30 minutes to finish.   Really??  Yes, less than 30 minutes. 

Project 5 Blue Bird Alphabet

Somehow with all of the rain, heat and humidity this weekend I was able to pull out one more finish!  I ran and bought a frame from Dollartree at 7:30 on a Sunday. 

 

Lately I have had quite a love for samplers.  This one is by Just Nan.  It's small but was quick to stitch.  I love it!

Project 3 Ribbon Embroidery

I actually finished something else!  I'm so happy.  This was my first ribbon embroidery.  You iron on the transfer and then stitch.

 

I thought it was still dark enough so I ironed again and was able to make a second one. 

 

This one was make with my ribbon and material.  Cost $0.  I'm going to keep the red one and the pink one will be listed on ebay.

 

I don't count it as a finish until it's framed and hung.  I'm famous for never finishing any project 100%.  I have a whole bag of started projects and this is a start to finishing them.

Project 6 Night Stand

First I must apologize, when I started the night stand I was not thinking about blogging about it so unfortunately I do not have a before picture.  I bought this night stand at a thrift store for $4.99.  The top was cracked and peeling from water damage.  It had a cherry veneer that other than the top was in great shape.

 

I sanded and sanded but was having a horrible time getting that veneer off.  I finally gave up and in used a remover.  That took the majority off then sanding finished it up. 

 

It was stained with Miniwax Wood Stain Tinted to gray.  This is like a paint stain - much thicker than just gray stain.  A friend wanted this piece and it needed to match a dresser.  Gray but you can still see the wood grain.  Then a couple coats of poly were added.

 

I'm happy with the finished project but even happier that it is done and out of the garage.  Wasn't this a great buy at $4.99?  I could not pass it up.

Project 1 - Mill Hill Dragon Flies

Just one finish so far this week but aren't they cute?  I love Mill Hill kits. 

Its an obsession for me.  I stitched the one of blue paper for the kit and thought I had most of the beads to stitch another one.  I only had to buy 3 packages of beads for $2.00 each.  Still cheaper than a new kit.  Very happy with this finish!!

Project 7 Bird Cage Planter

This isn't the project I started with but one I finished this weekend. 

My friend needed help moving a piece of furniture that was purchased on craigslist.  I must have been the only person who answered the phone because I know I would not be first choice.  We pulled up to the apartments and by the trash can was this beauty.  I knew right away I had to have it. 

 

It has been sitting in the garage over 6 months so it made the project list.  First step I cleaned it up.
Second step paint.  I love birds outside but have never been a fan of caged birds.  I will try to describe what I did.  There was a metal wire sheet in the cage.  I would guess that fit above the bottom of the cage.  I took that wire sheet and zip tied it to the upper cage.  I caught both the sheet and the walls in the zip ties for added support.  It is so tall I wanted to create 2 levels.

 

Final Step: Plants.  I went to Lowe's to purchase the plants.  A very nice salesman was in charge of marking down plants.  He was making the best of standing in 90 + sun and was having fun.  Most of these plants were 50 cents.  I spend under $10 for everything.

 

The plants were planted directly in the birdcage on the bottom.  But for the top shelf I bought wire basket inserts from Dollartree.  I put 2 on the top shelf and planted the plants in those.

 

 

I'm very happy with the outcome and have marked one project off.

 

The cage was free, plants under $10, liners cost $2, table was from the back yard.

New Start New Life

I have a new and different life.  I lost my youngest son to cancer about a 1 1/2 years ago.  It's taken a toll on me, my oldest son, my family and my life.  I want to get organized, get rid of stuff and get a grip on this new life.

I have started with 10 projects.  I will be working on them and hopefully making some progress.  If anyone ever reads this you are welcome to come along on this journey with me.