Mumma Bear....

Recently I was involved with a recipe swap held over at  the Down T oEarth Forum. We were placed in a group of 4 or so people-and you then posted the same recipe to the other people in your group.

 

 I used two of the recipes I received over the weekend-as we had a houseful of people for a couple of birthdays. One was a recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes and the other was for a chocolate cake...nom,nom!

 

I *may* have turned 45.....5 years to go until 50! How did that happen?

 

We also had a friend's daughter staying whilst her parents were away and she happened to turn 13 whilst she was with us. I offered to bake her a cake & cook a roast lunch ( which ended up being for 14 of us!) and she promptly requested a chocolate teddy bear cake!

 

Ergo I give you Mumma Bear! :)

 

Sorry about the dark photo...and the fact that I haven't got step by step photos...because I just decided to wing it after she showed me a pic from the Net.

 

The eyes & nose are actually plastic teddy bear making supplies purchased really cheaply locally.

 

Oh...and I'm a little excited that one of my DIY projects has been featured over at Kammy's Korner.!

 

 

 

Cupboard love.....

At times in my life there has been an aching emptiness...something is missing and I cannot rest until the gaping hole is filled...dramatic, no?

Let's tone down the histrionics a tad-the reality is that I was looking for "something" to finish off our dining area. That something needed to fit with the vision I had; of being sturdy and useful, preferably with some age about it.....plus it needed to be cheap affordable!

One day whilst wandering aimlessly actively sourcing such a " something" my eye fell upon this:

 

I held my breath as I tried to locate a price tag-nothing! After seeing similar cupboards priced at $200+ I wasn't optimistic...... I hunted down a staff member and hopefully asked how much. " That old thing" she says... " if you really want it, you can have it for $75". SOLD!

 

I couldn't back the car up quick enough to load my new baby in- I was terrified that she would realise that it was actually $175!

 

Home we came, lovingly I unloaded this beautiful ( what -can't you see it's gorgeousness? Must be my photographic skills! ;) ) old piece of furniture. It's an old cupboard and appears to be locally made ( by the label on the back). I think it's either a gentleman's cupboard or a children's wardrobe by the hanging rail inside. At some point someone has cobbled together a shelf from recycled wood and installed it on the inside.

 

 

My plans for this baby did not include leaving it in it's original state-oh no. A bit of homemade chalk paint in a custom mix ( bits & bobs from our garage!) and two hours later we have this:

 

 

 

 

It's not weird to want to caress a cupboard is it?

 

Partying at: http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/feathered-nest-friday_9.html

 



Buffet: Battered to beautiful!

Remember this baby? Back in September I commence a little makeover on the first piece of furniture that His Lordship & I ever bought together (more than 20 years ago).

Lovely in her day, she became a little dated. Her orange based timber stain was like a middleaged woman who was still trying to wear the same makeup from her teenage years ( you all know what I mean right? ) and her gold/brass drawer pulls had seen better days.

She had been hidden away-kept from public view. Yes, I HAD become ashamed of her! Now-as I have grown to appreciate my own middle age I decided that I should bring her firmly into THIS century.

This is her now:

 

A coat or two of homemade chalk paint,a little wax, new drawer pulls and she's ready to strut her stuff!

 

 

We have had a wall pulled down to enlarge our dining area ( pictures of that process in another post) and she is now the star of the room!



 

How about you? Have you given any furniture a makeover and a new lease of life?

 

Oh-and apparently this is the 100th post on this blog!!!!!!!!

Linking up at:

and
Shabby Art Boutique

Thursday thrift...

Mother Nature has decided to have a bit of a tanty in our neck of the woods-and with wind speeds of up to 120km/hr being endured it is a good time to be indoors.

 

More than 20 years ago His Lordship & I bought a timber kitchen dresser and that dresser has travelled with us eversince. She is looking a tad older-and a bit worn around the edges ( yes,yes I am too!) and at times I have been close to rehoming her. However, she is still serviceable-and with a little facelift I'm sure that she will be attractive for years to come ( a facelift for her is cheaper than one for me-at least one of us should age gracefully!).

 

As I have meandered around the internet, stalking admiring various blogs and the talented people out there I have constantly read references to "chalk paint". This "chalk paint" had me intrigued-the finishes appearing on the projects I was stalking admiring resonated with me.

However living in a country town in Australia has meant that this "chalk paint" would not be easy to obtain..........so when I started to see upcycled furniture using homemade or DIY chalk paint I started looking at my kitchen dresser with desire.

 

 

I have to go to work in the afternoon, so I decided to remove the 3 glass doors and try the DIY chalk paint on them.

 

 

I had half a tin of white latex all in one primer and paint ( 500ml), so I gathered the rest of the supplies:

 

Painters tape ( scotch blue)

Paintbrushes ( use cheap ones to toss out if you like-this paint is STICKY!)

Old floral sheet  Drop cloth

Special paint stands Plastic cups

Baking soda/bicarb soda

Raw umber acrylic paint

special paint stirrer chopstick

 

 

 I stood the old door on the special paint stands plastic cups

 

and taped around the edge of the glass.

 

then added 1 cup baking soda/bicarb soda to the paint and using my special paint stirrer chopstick, stirred it until it was smooth. I also added a few blobs of Raw Umber paint to take the brightness off the white latex paint.

 

 

I applied one coat over the entire door ( chased the cat away), admiring it's rustic chalkiness and alluring farmhouse charm ( too far?) Have I mentioned that this stuff is STICKY?

 

Later on I added some fabric I had left over and hung my baby here:

 

This is me being impatient- I have yet to sand & wax the old door  new frame!

 

I can see those of you who already knew about the transforming powers of chalk paint sagely nodding your heads as you read this. Please don't judge me for coming late to the fold- I live in Australia...it sometimes takes us a little longer to learn about such things!