Christmas Gifts for Mammi and Pappi

I love making things for gifts way more than I do trying to find the right thing to buy. My parents gave me the perfect outlet as they finished their property up North. As with many small back county roads, finding their specific property isn't as easy as it is downtown or in the suburbs. The property also had a nickname, and the idea was born to make a property name sign. 

We had some gorgeous cherry wood 2in thick slabs that would be perfect for an outdoor sturdy sign. 

The original plan was to cut through the board for letters, but the time involved vetoed that. 

So pre-cut wooden letters were purchased from the local craft store. I couldn't decide which size I liked better and to get all the letters I needed, I had to go to 2different stores. Having the 2 sizes worked out. The larger letters were decided for the main sign but extra stuff around the house and a full set of smaller letters lead to a 2nd idea. 

Next came the prep work. Using an enamel spray paint (awesome finish) the letters were coated. 

The main board was sanded smooth and lacquered. 

Such an awesome finish 

The smaller sign was also prepped with some sanding and stain. Some spare trim was cleaned up and some antique corner maple leaf molds were used. 

With the prep work done, assembly began. The smaller sign (which was a bonus project) took much longer. The thin base board used for weight to make hanging easier meant that we had to attach and secure everything from the back. With help from the hubby, and a few tries; it came out pretty amazing. 

The main sign allowed for simple drilling straight through and came together pretty quickly. 

I got a comment it was "too pretty" to hang outside. I just can't make things unless they are pretty. 

I think they look alright. 

Help me find cool items a home

This is where I'll post, and keep updated, some of the things that do not yet have a home or intended project. 

I take requests!! 

These solid iron legs are amazing

Got these from an old estate, solid wood pillars 

Hanging metal lighting that didn't get used for our kitchen remodel. 

Almost tortious shell coloring, really cool legs?

This was double sided, 3 panels on each side; 6 total. We cut the canvas off to save the maps. Map project?

Always adding more and making new things!

Lighting with style

Retro? Hip? 

I was loving these from the start but questioned for my taste. I was to prove the nay-sayers wrong. Plus, I had to save them from a dismal non-existence that would likely have ended in the trash. 

They were filthy, broken and didn't work. Some rewiring was first, then some new hardware and some fixes to the bases for stabilization; lights should work but typically are more appreciated when they sit straight. 

Since I couldn't find a shade that was matching my vision, I set out to make that too. 

The fabric is a brown burlap. 

Setting the mood

Found these at my favorite local sustainable home improvement store; Community Forlklift. I love the look, not so much the color or defective wiring. 

 

The sanding, staining and lacquering were the easy part, but they had the biggest effect. Though, without working wiring for lights, they have been completely ineffective. The rewiring took a lot of thinking and then thinking again. Eventually new wiring fit into the little space. Since where we needed them to go was plugged lighting, this is how they were rewired. The result was a huge improvement. 

The new wiring system

Once mounted, they make the perfect mood lighting and brighten up a wall that had zero lights. 

Little things

Sometimes a little clean up, refresh or TLC go a long way. 

Here's some small odds & ends that I've  taken time to make prettier. 

We picked this up in tatters from our local sustainable home improvement store; Community Forlklift. It needed new straps, refinishing of the wood, and a complete reconstruction. 

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I wasn't sure what these were on their own, but using wire from the baskets and some creative bending, now it's a jewelry holder...or something. 

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An outdoor vendor had this great brass platter hidden under years of grim and dirt and was selling it for a few bucks. It took several hours of cleaning and scrubbing but the after affect is a WOW. Amazing as a wall hanging. 

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These are Indonesian vases but when we found them, they were caked with dirt and grease. The detailed work could barely be seen and my judgement in paying for them was questioned. I got a "you were right" after they looked like this. 

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Repurposed this tea light wall sculpture. Looks much better this way. 

An in-expensive basic lazy-susan from ikea. Painted it red and modge-podged some old maps to the top then added a shiney coat of lacquer. Great gifts for the grandparents for Christmas! 

Kindle cover

I actually saw this idea elsewhere and decided to make my own. 

Took a great old book, one of my childhood favorite characters. 

The pages were removed. Hard cardboard covered with fabric was used as the new backing with elastic attached to the corners. 

The result is a custom kindle case that gets me comments all the time. 

Hang your jewelry here

Another friend, another bare wall, another idea. (Love that my friends indulge my passion to make stuff)

Everyone knows the standard dressing table mirrors combo. Antique ones can be elegant and timeless. But what to do when the mirror breaks and the dresser is sold without it? This is where I come to the rescue to save it. We got this from our local sustainable home improvement store; Community Forlklift. I cleaned it up and added a new layer of lacquer.  

Then keeping with the theme to reuse things, old knobs found their way into the project with a backing of some painted cork board. 

With the merger of the 2, the project was completed. 

Looks even better in use

From scratch

In efforts to get my work in every single one of my friends houses (truly selfish), I offered to make her anything she wanted. There was a bare wall, clean canvas and an idea. This is how the great ideas start; on the back of a receipt while out with good friends. 

We then went searching for what we would make it out of. As happens when great creative minds get together, the idea evolved. Raw wood was purchased and a few raw wooden dowels. The pieces were cut to size and sanded smooth. Then the fun part of cutting out the holes. 

Each hole was cut to angel on tilt. 

With the cuts made, the staining and lacquering began. 

Mid project the theory was tested

With excitement that the idea was coming together perfectly, the last piece was completed. Making them evenly placed and balanced was crucial. 

With all the pieces completed the install started on my friends bare wall. After figuring out the placement, drilling some holes and securing the Pelican brackets, the project was completed. 

Some close ups

She promises to fill up all the holes and always have a glass ready for visitors.