Waxing No. 49

No this is not the 49th piece of furniture that I waxed.

It is just what was painted on this crate.

This fantastic old wooden box was given to me by a friend who was sure that I would know exactly what to do to make this a nice decorative piece.  It has so much character for an old crate/box.  Just look at the handles on the side, the two compartments on the inside, and the great stenciling which shows the original use for this box. 

 I decided to wax the box to bring out all of the amazing worn detail accrued over the many years of use.  First I lightly sanded it to get rid of any splintering edges and then vacuumed it out really well.  

Using Annie Sloan's Dark wax and a cheap $1 brush, I began to wax the piece.  I was so excited to wax over the stenciled part, because I was so sure it was just going to pop.  I even recorded it so that I could share the process.  

UNFORTUNATELY, I was so wrong!

Instead of popping, the stenciling disappeared.

So when waxing over old lettering be Cautious!

Here's the video:

Despite my huge mistake,
the wax really made this crate/box a beautiful piece!

I just feel terrible that the white lettering is gone.

Thank you my friend, you know who you are :)

Cookbook Holder Made from Cutting Board

It all started with this.

The lady informed me that this little metal stand was wide enough and would hold my cookbook. After all it was standing up in the store when it was stacked together with other metal stands of its kind.  When I came home it would not stand up on its own.  I then added the book and the book fell forward.....No support whatsoever.  

I was upset that I even put money into this.

 Then I remembered this little cutting board I found at the thrift store.

I thought it would make the perfect thing to mount my stand to.

I needed to add something to the board for support.

Perfect!

I knew I wanted to wax the cutting board to bring out all of the cool markings in the board.

Exactly the look I was going for! 

I love how worn it looks!

 I realize now that I am so happy it was a flop in the beginning.  

It's a true decorative and useful piece now. 

I believe the total cost for board and metal stand was $5.

Roadside Find (with a mystery) Makeover: Dovetail Blanket Chest

  I have been looking at these blanket chests in antique stores, not really caring to buy one.  I really didn't need another chest, but I loved the dovetails, key hole, and candle box inside.  

Free with a little bit of work was just the right price for me.  

What a neat roadside find!

There is an interesting mystery to me behind this little blanket chest find.

The first owners of our home were the Heiseys.

I found this chest at the other end of our small town.  When I opened the lid, there were two names written in child-like cursive writing, Dorothy and Beatrice Heisey.  I was curious to find out whether these two girls were related to the first owners of our home.  I believe they were from a Mennonite background, so I was actually able to match who I believe is the first owner of our home with two sisters named Dorothy and Beatrice.  Am I positive? no...but it is neat to think that the guy's sisters' hope chest is in a home that he once owned.

Here it is the day I picked it up.  Stained and broken, hubby was not very enthused.

I am not sure how old it is.

It was painted with a wood graining technique.

The wood that chipped off of the chest's lid where the hinges are was still in the trunk. 

 I had high hopes that I could fix this and actually use it.

I glued the wood pieces back on the lid and

 sanded it down to the natural poplar wood. 

It was beautiful just sanded.

I left the writing on the inside lid, but I don't think you can see it in the picture.

I used Annie Sloans' Dark wax to finish it.

It turned turned out beautiful, and the lid seems pretty solid.

Another Waxed Piece

This tool box was a gift from a friend many years ago.  For years I stored my plants in it and loved using it that way.  Now I am ready for a change.

There was a lot of water stains inside from all the years of watering my plants.

I was hoping the dark wax would hide that.  I decided to leave the paint blobs that were on it originally just because I liked the idea that at one time someone's dad used this at his job.

Here is how I am using the tool box today. 

I am sure the man that used this never thought I would store plants in it or collectibles.

I mean after all it is a tool box, right?!

Not today :)

Crate Find!

I can't believe it has been a whole year since we ventured out to Wisconsin to drop our son off for college.  

As we were on our way to drop him off at his dorm, I slammed on the brakes to have hubby go check out this crate that was out with garbage.

 To my surprise it had the name Glen Rock on it and Milwaukee, WI.  Now that might not seem like anything to you, but to this mama that just moved to a new home in a different county and was dropping off her first born in Wisconsin it had some sentimentality to it.  Where I took my son for his braces' appointment was in Glen Rock, PA (many trips back n forth).  Now I was leaving that boy young man in Wisconsin.  

Every time I saw it in our garage, it was a little reminder to me to pray for him.

 It sat in our garage for a whole year, until today.

So all the mildew looking wood was dry and there were no critters living in the wood ;)

I just wanted to warm that wood up a little, so I got out my Annie Sloans dark wax (which is pretty brown compared to the Jacobean wax I have from Fiddes and Sons)

It turned out incredible! 

 It made the lettering pop and the mildew stain look less frightening.

It is a great keepsake from his first year at college!

And Free :)