UPcycling! *edited*

My happy place.

I've been "upcycling" furniture again.
It makes me happy... I realized that I don't have anything that I fixed up.. I either gave it away, or it was "sold" (taken, but "here's $20")
I cannot stand to see a piece of well built furniture go to waste. The stuff that is sold now-a-days is just crap. Particle board is the devil.. lol...
It makes me wince when I see people treating antiques like crap.
Cant deal!!!



This is a piece that I found this week.
There were a billion magazine racks at this shop, but they all looked plain.
I knew somebody was going to buy them! Borrrrrinnnggg!
THEN I saw this.. It was in the back corner, covered in dirt and dust.
It honestly looked like it might fall apart. Marked at $18 though, I was ok with that.
I LOVE the detail!
I brought it home and.....
1. cleaned it
2. tightened everything back up.
3. GENTLY tapped in the nails that were coming out..
4. Cleaned the detailing out with a TINY paintbrush and oil.
5. cleaned it again. (Warm water)
6. Polished it
7. Polished it some more.. lol!
I wish I would have taken a "before" picture!!! UGH!!! I got too excited and forgot..

I told the lady that was selling it that I was going to "try to bring it back to life" and she asked if I was going to paint it.
I don't usually paint anything that has that much detail.. I also don't like to PAINT antiques..
One thing that bugs me more than anything else... When I see a beautiful piece of antique furniture that's painted and "distressed",,,, NoOoOOoOo!!!.. "Its makes it look old!".... It freaking IS old, and should be respected.. Gah!
I don't bring out the paint unless its a newer beat-to-hell-but-has-potential piece..
I also don't believe in spray paint.. lol.. OK... Its alright for some things, but I try to avoid it when I'm painting furniture.

The next day, I went exploring.

The Corner Thrift Shop (with a green roof) was so much fun. It had holes in the floor, but whatever! I got the three smaller pictures from there. The owner was a character! He reminded me of somebody back in Newberry.
Huckleberry's was great.. The owner was awesome..  She gave me a lot of suggestions on where to go in downtown Fredericksburg. She also showed me the corner that she put all of HER unfinished projects in.. VERY cool... The huge picture with the blue around it caught my eye.
Children Playing at the Seashore.

Had to get it!

It's hanging over my fireplace right now.


My newest projects..
Yesterday, I went to a goodwill store.. I needed to drop a LOT of stuff off..
I found my 2 newest projects. I've almost finished one, but forgot the clear coat!! UGH! Gotta make another trip to home depot. *sigh*


*Edit*

Before and after. Not shown was the horrible bubbling in the wood.. That took a while to fix..