Command Central: Perpetual Calendar

Awhile back I shared a picture of my 'dry-erase' perpetual calendar.  That calendar has been really great and I love it.  But, since then, I have come up with an even better perpetual calendar design.  And, amazingly, I was able to execute my idea with no major catastrophes or set-backs.



I really love this calendar because it is not only beautiful, but also extremely functional.  The calendar is magnetic and can also be written on using Chalk Ink Markers.  (They wipe off with a wet papertowel.  Read more about them here.)  Perfect for keeping up with a busy family's schedule. 

 I made magnets for each number 1 to 31 and magnets with the names of each month on them.  All the extra month magnets are easily stored on the back of the calendar.



(The September magnet is on the front currently).

Each month all you have to do is switch out the month name and move the number magnets into the correct position.  Then you can write in as many holidays, appointments, and reminders as you need to.  You can also stick invitations or other papers to the calendar with the number magnets.  Or any other cute magnets you happen to have on hand.

I currently have a white-framed version in my booth at Olde Salem Mercantile.  I am about to start another version with the metal painted with chalkboard paint before the calendar grid is painted on.  Still magnetic, still can write on it with ChalkInk markers, but a little more color contrast.  Can't wait to see how it turns out.

In other news, I am so excited to have 100 followers!  I try not to get too caught up in the number game but it is always nice to see there are people who are interested in my projects.  A big thanks to everyone who has encouraged me by following or subscribing to Lovely Etc. 

Linking up to these great parties.

I need a transfer

As promised, here is the info on the transfer technique I used for my french opera sidetable. 

This technique is not particularly fancy or amazing.  But it is very simple, requires no special equipment, and is very cheap. I actually discovered this technique back in middle school when I noticed my notes (and doodles) would transfer onto the next page when I wrote in pencil on both sides of the paper.  (I am certainly not the only one to use this method, that is just how I figured it out).


You will need your image or typography to be transfered, a pencil, something to transfer it onto, and some type of paint.  This works best for transferring onto fairly smooth surfaces like cardboard, paper, or wood.  It also works best with fairly simple designs. 

First you take whatever image or typography you want to transfer and turn it over.  On the back, scribble with your pencil.  Be sure to make a big enough scribble to cover the area of your image.  If your image is from a magazine or other source and you can't draw on the back, just do your scribbles on a separate piece of paper and place it face-down under your image.  

Place your image on top of the surface you want to transfer it to.  You might want to tape it to keep it from moving around.  Use a pen or pencil to trace around each part of your image.  You want to make sure to trace around each part.  Be sure to apply light pressure as you are tracing.  When you have traced everything, lift up the paper to see a faint transfer of whatever you just traced.

You can then go over the transfer with paint.  I typically use a Sharpie paint pen because that makes small details so much easier. 

If you are transferring onto wood that will be painted a light color, paint the wood before you do your transfer.  If you are transferring onto wood that will be stained, like my opera table, transfer the image and then stain.  It will still work if you stain the wood first, but it will be very hard to see the pencil lines.

That is it - super simple.  I have seen a similar method on Pinterest recently using newsprint instead of pencil lead as the 'transfer medium'.  I have tried it and didn't have a lot of luck personally.  Many of the details of my image were lost in translation.  But that is another possibility that is certainly a little faster.

In other news, summer really is ending.  Even though I love fall, I am sad to see it go.  Tomorrow, it is back to reality at my job as a school counselor.  And this weekend, yard sales were definitely not quite as plentiful.  Sad times.  But I did have an extremely awesome surprise this weekend.  My vanity to nightstands transformation was featured on Apartment Therapy!  I was so shocked and ecstatic when I saw it.  Defnitiely made up for the lame yard sales!

A scrap of French Opera

I absolutely adore how this end table turned out, but as usual no transformation is complete without some sad tale of woe.  I forgot to take a before picture, but this table had a very scuffed-up wood finish.  It also originally had a nice thick piece of beveled glass instead of a wooden tabletop.

I bought this table at the Goodwill, plopped it in the back of my SUV and headed home.  On my way home, another car abruptly cut me off and I had to slam on my brakes.  I avoided hitting the other car but the sudden stop caused my end table to flip over, sending the glass shattering all over me and the car.  I only had one very tiny cut but I was furious that my glass had been broken.  Now my table had a gaping hole in the top.

Well, the table sat in the basement for awhile.  At first I was planning to replace the glass, but I didn't want to just put a thin, cheap piece of glass on the table.  I also didn't want to spend a ton of money.  Finally inspiration struck.  I absolutely love Korrie at Red Hen Home's French Chocolate coffee table.



Red Hen Home

I've been waiting for the right piece to try something similar.  I finally realized this was it.  The hubs cut a nice piece of birch plywood to fit the hole on top of the table.  I stained it and headed over to the Graphics Fairy to find the perfect graphic.  I wanted to put my own spin on this project so instead of using a French label, I chose a scrap of old sheet music as my graphic. 

It was the perfect shape for my little tabletop.  I'll be sure to share my super simple transfer method soon.

I love the finished product.  And it looks really great next to my sweet little chair redo.  It is way more awesome than it would have been with just a fresh paint job and its old glass top.  (But I'm still not happy with that guy that cut me off!)


You can find the parties I link to here.

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This project was featured on
Tatertots and Jello
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

Sweet seat: a chair makeover

A few weeks ago I found a trio of lovely chairs at a local thrift store.  One of those lovely ladies has since undergone a major facelift.

This chair was in great shape, including the caning.  But the seat fabric was stained and I just didn't love the look.  Here she is now.

I painted it a very light blue, distressed it up, and recovered the seat with some lineny fabric.   Love it now. 

This was one of those simple but oh-so-satisying projects.  I'll be back tomorrow with another furniture makeover that I am super excited about.



linking up to these great parties

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This project was featured at:

Simple Home Life

Thrifty finds: Rusty Gold

Anyone else out there a fan of American Pickers?  They are always talking about looking for 'rusty gold'.  This weekend's thrifty finds are a little different from what I usually go for and they may not turn into much gold but they are definitely rocking some rust.

Here they are from the least rusty to the most:



This awesome red cart reminds me a lot of my map covered typewriter stand. I'm not sure what exactly I will do with it but I may just have to break out the resin again.

I've had my eye out for one of these stepladder/stools for awhile but they were always too expensive.  This one is perfect - just needs a good cleaning.



Now this chair is nothing like my usual style and my husband completely did not get why I bought it.  But that chippy paint was just calling to me.  The colors peeking through are amazing.  I am planning to seal it and leave it pretty much just like this.  Here is a close-up of the amazing patina.

And now for the rustiest of them all.

This old baby carriage frame.  An unusual purchase for sure but I just know there is a way to turn this into the most amazing little table. 

What do you think - do you see the awesomeness or just a lot of rusty junk?  Would you have bought any of this stuff?  Stay tuned because I have some great projects to share this week.

Linking up to Would you buy it Wednesday, Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures, and Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. 

A little furniture jewelry

Today I have a super simple furniture redo to share.  This little nightstand used to be in our bedroom before I made the 2 skinny nightstands. 

It has a super cute little shape but the finish was very waxy and flaky.  I sanded it down and primed it and then painted it Valspar's cooled lava (one of my current favorite colors).  My favorite part of this nightstand though is the hardware.  As I mentioned last week, there are not a plethora of cute hardware stores where I live.  So I got creative.

I picked up a huge pair of earrings at an estate sale last year with the intention of making them into shoe clips.  Instead I cut off the metal post from one of the earrings and attached it to a plain drawer pull with epoxy glue.  It is absolutely perfect on this nightstand. 

Now I have my eye out for the perfect piece to use the other earring on.  Incidentally, this piece was one of the very first things to sell from my little booth.


I also want to say thanks to a few great blogs that have featured my projects lately.  Beyond the Picket Fence featured my distressed gray table at her Under $100 linky party.  Simple Home Life also featured my table and my map-covered typewriter stand at her Simply Creations link party. And my typewriter stand was also featured over at the DIY Spot and on the Handmade Home.  Thanks ladies for the features!  These are some great websites and linky parties to check out if you are looking for a little inspiration.


I haven't been blogging very long but so far it has been a real joy for me.  I just wanted everyone who reads Lovely etc.  to know how much I appreciate every reader, follower, subscriber, and commenter.  It is always so great to get feedback about things I've created or found.  And it is especially great to get feedback from so many other creative people - so I am sending each of you a big fat thank you!

Linking up to these great parties.

Sweet finds at the Yard Crawl



These came from a huge box of vintage alphabet blocks I picked up.


So earlier this week I showed you some of the strange and unusual things I saw at the Yard Crawl.  Today I can't wait to show you some of the things that came home with me.  Now I bought a LOT of stuff - mostly for my booth.  So there is no way I am showing it all, but here are some of my favorite purchases.



3 old wooden ladders - might just have to keep one for myself.



I bought a bunch of little tables but these two are my favorite. 



Seven of these folding chairs from an old church choir loft came home with me.



Love this huge globe.



These two great finds were actually picked out by my husband.  He did a great job.  An old hitching post and a vintage laundry wringer.





Here is a close up on the hitching post - cracked but full of character.



And the washer - wouldn't this be awesome hung on the wall in a laundry room?

 

My first ironstone and my first fiesta ware. 



I love this old tool caddy but have no idea what these symbols are - anyone out there know what they might be? 

Like I said, this is only a fraction of what I bought.  I also bought a bunch of old soda crates, a big stack of frames, a bag full of old furniture hardware, and lots of other miscellaneous stuff.   Now I have a basement full of awesome junk waiting to be made over.  And I am counting down the days until next year's Yard Crawl. 

What about you - would you have bought this stuff?  And, seriously, any thoughts on those symbols?

Linking up to Junker Newbie's Would You Buy It Wednesday and Southern Hospitality.

Route 11 Yard Crawl: Yard Sale Nirvana

This weekend was the Route 11 yard crawl.  Forty-three miles of yard sales and flea markets along a two lane highway through small towns and farmland.  Hundreds and hundreds of yard sales and thousands of shoppers.  It doesn't get much better than that.  My husband likes to refer to this event as "my Superbowl."



Imagine this times about 1000.

I found so much amazing stuff - we completely packed our SUV and our pickup truck.  The yard crawl is an eclectic mix of locals getting rid of their household junk, pickers with whatever cool stuff they've found throughout the year, and antique dealers selling their wares.  There were a wide range of prices from furniture for one dollar to full-blown antique store prices. 


Many people laughed at us trying to squeeze in just one more thing.

I can't wait to show you some of my best finds but currently they are in a huge pile in my living room waiting to be sorted and cleaned and all that good stuff.  So for today, I thought I would showcase some of the crazier (and creepier) things I saw at the yard crawl. 



Time for a workout!



There were also goats and puppies for sale.



This section looked more like the scene of an accident than a yard sale.




Gross.  This was priced at $125.  When I passed by here later on, it appeared to have been bought.



And the award for creepiest sighting goes to the antique examining table with the stirrups and the babydolls.

I am still exhausted from all the shopping and driving and craziness.  But I am also already counting the days to next year's event.  Can't wait.  Anyone have any tips on other huge, awesome yard sale events?