Trash to Treasure

This summer has been the "summer of projects" around here. It has really helped to salvage the bit of sanity that yet remains.... I caught the bug of furniture re-do and became a monster. So, I thought I'd share my work as of late.....love it or leave it. ;)

This was one of my roadside rescues. When I brought this home, Chris started laughing hysterically. He began to explain that he had proceeded to pass by this chest 2 days in a row going to work and then here I was bringing it home. Of course, I looked at him like he was crazy for not picking it up 2 days EARLIER!

This adorable cabinet-around 4 and a half feet tall- was a WHOPPING $3.00 at a garage sale. Yes, $3.00, NOT $30............

After I sanded-primed-painted-and added new hardware-the 2 together became......

THIS! I had the primer and sand paper on hand. So, the paint+ cost of the cabinet makes this a $20 piece of furniture! 3 cheers for cheap "Hip Hip......" you get the point, but it sure makes me giddy!

Okay, this next piece only has 2 "after" pics and no "before"s
soooo just close your eyes and attempt to picture what you've read of it's description. Got it?!

The bottom drawers was a roadside rescue! I'd had it for 2 years "as is" in the basement with a TV on it. I was waiting to decide what to do with it. It was white with a bit of gold trim....ugly, but had potential!

Then I stumbled upon the top hutch on craig's list! $40 for this antique hutch! I fell in love and there was no turning back. I knew in my heart I wanted a giant piece of furniture painted apple green, so I made it happen.!

Lots of sanding on the bottom part-Chris stepped in with his power sander....then he quickly stepped out...;) I primed-painted-added new hardware on the drawers and birthed the following.....

It's my MOST favorite piece of furniture to date! The top ($40)+ paint ($30) makes this a $70 giant apple green piece of furniture! Although, to me it's PRICELESS!!!!

I have no before pics of this either.....the top cabinet was white and I'd had it for several years. This came out of my mom's house in Homer, La. The bottom was also a hand me down from Chris' grandmother many years ago! Lots of elbow grease required on this buffet. I painted it robin's egg blue and added large, handpainted, red knobs from Hobby Lobby. Love the way it all looks now and really brightens up this room! Can't recall the cost of the knobs, but the paint was around $20.

Chris built this awesome loft bed for Jack! It was truly a labor of love. Took us a WEEK to paint this thing-then Chris had to seal it twice and voil' la----a loft bed was born! I also painted his room this lime green too. Not the best of pictures, but here it is nonethelesssss.

Okay-this is just a few--there are others...like several....I TOLD you I became a monster, but it has been SOOOO much fun! There were many mornings that we'd jump in the car and the boys would get out to help me grab some "trash" and bring it home!!! Nothing like the thrill of the hunt, making it a diamond in the rough, and saving TONS of money in the process!! I might post more pics later...but I'm all done...for now....

The Ice-cream Man...

or in this case...the ice cream lady. So, today it finally rained after weeks without it! For some crazy reason the ice cream truck was overheard making it's way through our hood. The boys immediately wanted money and were willing to stand in the rain for overpriced and not that great icecream. They didn't whisper their desire, they yelled it, and when they did Margaret heard it. She was jumping up and down "ice cweam! ice cweam!"

We ALL ended up outside under the tree waiting for the truck of frozen dreams to drive down our street. After a good 30 minutes....the song grew louder and louder until we could see the hot pink truck turn in our direction. I don't think I've seen Margaret get as giggly and excited as she did in those forever minutes it took to get down our street.

This particular icecream vendor is a woman. One side of her face is a little drooped. She'll start smiling if you get her talking, but she's a little reserved. She has a cup on the window for tips with a sign reading "Quarters please." I don't always think to have extra for her, but today I did. Margaret got hers and then the boys. The neighbor girl was with us too and since she's all of 4, she was too nervous to order. I helped her out. Turned out she needed 50 more cents. I had put the rest of my quarters in the tip jar, so I was about to run back in the house for more $. The lady stopped me and said "didn't you just put some quarters in the tip jar?" I said "yes." She said "then it's covered. That's what I use the tips for anyway. For kids who don't have money or enough money."

Here's this lady, with a slight deformity, doesn't have much, drives around in a hot pink truck with the most annoying loud tune playing over and over and over.......She could easily take those tips for herself and rightly so, but she uses them to help others. I was humbled. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this lady. I have a cup full of quarters just waiting for her return. She scooped out way more than icecream for my kids today.

Finally Inspired.....

It took long enough, but I'm happy to report that I've been inspired.
I wrote a Facebook Status today that spoke to me. I'm not being vain....maybe I should have said "God spoke to me through it" because He did. My status was "I have decided to accept the fact that I will never understand some people." I have to say that I include myself in that status. I don't fully grasp or understand who I am either, but I don't think I'm supposed to.

I LOVE art. I collect art books and I have always loved Renoir, Mary Cassat, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and then even Norman Rockwell. He wasn't an Impressionist, but his paintings are so incredibly lifelike and I love them. I have such an appreciation for both types of work! Then there are other types of art out there that I don't love....never loved Andy Warhol and his soup cans, or Picasso and the nude women who had their parts painted in the wrong places. I have an appreciation because they were someone's artwork, but I don't understand them. I also wouldn't take my eraser to the Lourve and try to change someone else's work.

So, when I wrote that status this morning it all totally made sense to me when I said I don't understand some people....I don't understand because I'm not the creator. The only one who truly understands a piece of art is the creator. When my children draw a picture and show it to me, sometimes I'm confused as to what it is, but they explain it to me. The drawing doesn't come to life and explain why it was drawn. Spectators (siblings) in the room may have their theories, but the only one who knows the art is the child who drew it.

God is our Creator. Some deny Him and try to theorize their life and purpose, but the truth is only God knows our life and purpose. We are His art. His craftsmanship. Just like I wouldn't dream of taking an eraser to someone else's artwork to change it (no matter how tempting), I can't change people either. It's not my job or my right because I'm not their Creator. I birthed my 3 lovely kids, but God still created them. Can't change them either.

So, all in all, it's a relief. I don't have to understand myself or other people. I'll leave that to the Creator. Loving them is hard enough, but I will always have an appreciation for art...especially an art that only God can create.