Friday's Finds #11 and Our Friday Feature

Good morning!  I know, I know...  Technically, it should be Saturday's Scores or something or other because I'm running a day late and a dollar short.  Sorry, y'all!  Eva's 7th birthday was yesterday and I ran, ran, ran all day long and didn't stop until around 10.  Whew!  Forgive me?

So, time to share my finds from the week and my Friday Feature Find from 2 weeks ago since I took last week off for Turkey Day....

Gonna try to keep it short and sweet!  (Yeah, I know I'm wordy!)

First up...

I found this awesome vintage egg basket still in mint condition and my new favorite find it spot.  Totally not giving this one's location away!  Its fantastic and a picker's dream!  Now this sucker was covered in some kind of tar-like goopy substance that had hardened.  I literally had to soak it in warm soapy for two days and keep coming back to it.  Finally, I used steel wool and that seemed to do the trick.  There's still a few places where I just couldn't get it off, but believe me, its much better!

$10.00

I actually stumbled upon the place when I went to pick up this little decorative ladder from our local Facebook For Sale Group:

$5.00

Still working on how to use them both for decorating, but this will do for now until I can figure something else out.

At my new picker's spot, the old man was fantastic!  We talked and shared (okay, I talked and he shared) about where to go for auctions, the best ones in the state, when there are flea malls open, etc.  He was wonderful!  In fact, I think I'm going to drive over and see him today.  I really enjoyed talking to him and listening...  He knows a lot!  In fact, while we were sitting there visiting, I pointed to a couple of rockers he had and said, if I had any idea how to reupholster I would totally take one of them off his hands.  And you know what he does?  He gives me one!  Now, granted this one was in terrible, terrible shape, but it was FREE!  Now I can practice on this one before I re-do the one in my living room.  How nice was that????

FREE!

  Okay...  I know its missing the ENTIRE bottom and the arm is coming off.  That's what wood glue, plywood, foam, and batting are for!  LOL!  ;)  Free is free!

Then, I went to my local thrift the other day and picked up a few things, like this vintage set encyclopedias - five volumes, a complete set including the index.  Copyrighted 1905, its actually called Teacher's and Pupil's Cyclopaedia.  They all are first editions.  I love vintage books.  I love looking through and thinking about the hands that have held them and the eyes that have read them from a time long past.  I love seeing the beautiful flowing script on the inside where names have been written, during a time when handwriting was an art.  And I love reading for the sheer joy of looking through the eyes of one who lived in that time and seeing how time and discoveries have changed opinions or proven wide-held thoughts to be wrong.  I especially adore any volume that has anything regarding American History.  What we were taught and what our children are being taught is quite a bit different from what was being taught back in the day.  I tend to believe that the old books are probably closer to the truth.

$15.00

The two pairs of glasses with a case, I got at my new picker's spot for a mere $10.00.

And then there was the lantern that I've already made over and revealed here.

$7.50

I got the lantern, along with this nativity...

$10.00

and this candle pillar:

$0.75

And this frame:

Add caption

Sooooooo...  That's all for this week.  I bought a few other things, but we'll save them for another time (Read: My camera battery is dead and I'm too lazy to get up and recharge to take pictures.  LOL!)

Now, onto my FRIDAY'S FINDS FAVORITE FEATURE....

Not too many uploads from two weeks ago to share, so since there are only 3, I'm going to feature each one because they are each great in their own way!

Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage never ceases to amaze me with how she can do so much with so little.  Stop by and check out tons of vintage Christmas items that she scored HERE.  WAY NEAT!  And I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with them too!

I need to go shopping with Shannon!  LOVE all the vintage goodies!

And there's Kammy from Kammy's Korner.  She uploaded two really awesome finds that she transformed into fantastic home decor.  One of which is probably some kind of salvage piece.  LOVE what she did with it! The story about the spanking paddle is hilarious.  I LOLed at that one.  Great finds, Kammy!  :D  You can read the stories on here finds  HERE and HERE!

How awesome is this????  Fantastic conversation piece too!

Nothing says welcome like a little smack on the boo-tay!  ;)
Joking, Kammy!  Love this!  :D

Please go visit them both!  I'm sure you'll love them!

So....

Now about linky party for this week...  For some reason their showing that my payment for my linky tools subscription didn't go through, so I've got to sit down and figure that out.  G-R-E-A-T!  I have neither the time nor desire to sort it out right this minute, so we'll wait until next week.  ;)

Anyhoo...  I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!  This is the mess we have to look forward to...

We're right under the upper most Rain/Snow icon.  YUCK!

Rocking Chair Reveal

Today, I am rejoicing because for the first time in 3 weeks, I have accomplished something!  YAY ME!

You might remember this little rocking chair that I picked up from Craigslist for $30.00...

And it had this little issue with the back rest...

This little honey was definitely a labor of love.  All that lovely little detailing was frankly - a complete pain in the rear.

First I used Liquid Sander and Deglosser and then when that didn't do the trick, I sanded the heck out of it...

And then I covered the back rest with wood filler to even out where the veneer was chipping off...

(This is before I sanded it flat.)

And even with all that sanding, I still couldn't get off all the varnish and stain in all the crevices.  I'm sure I probably could have gotten it all off, but I'm not that patient.

So what did I do?

I primed the Sam Hill out of it too.  THREE COATS before the stain didn't seep through...

Finally, after a few coats of paint (seriously, I lost track - Note to self:  TINT THE PRIMER!) this is the final result...

For some reason, the true beauty of the paint doesn't really come through in these pictures.  Its "Sleepy Hollow" by Dutch Boy.  The green is actually a lot more muted and doesn't look as limey (Is that a word?).  It kind of reminds me of the vintage green paint I used to see in my Aunt Carrie's pre-War Between The States home and that's probably why I fell in love with it.  At $5.00 for a gallon in Menard's mis-tint section, it was an absolute steal and I plan on doing several pieces in this color - two of which are almost complete.


I think, as I go along, I'm going to learn so much.  I suppose much of painting furniture is trial and error.  I figured out, after the fact (of course) that I probably should have glazed the back to really bring out the detailing on the back rest.  I may do that yet.  But I'm also scared of really messing it up.  Distressing was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, coupled with the several coats of primer and paint I had to apply,  the sandpaper wanted to hit spots that I didn't necessarily want to distress - no matter how small I tore the pieces.  There has got to be a trick to it that I don't know.  And considering how little I know about rehabbing furniture, it wouldn't surprise me.  I guess its back to scourging blogland for some helpful hints.

All in all, I'm really pleased with how my first real attempt at a furniture rehab turned out.  Not too shabby! - Pun intended ;)

I've linked this post up to. . .

Altar'd Designs Makeover Mondays #5

Another Sweet Deal (or two!)

I think I've forgiven Craiglist for its betrayal from last week.  I was little soured on the whole deal, but today my online garage sale was redeemed!

I found this AWESOME solid oak rocking chair with the BEST detailing on the back.  Today, I picked it up for a song - $30.00!  It is going to be absolutely PERFECT in our bedroom!  And better yet, I picked up a gallon of the most gorgeous green paint that I'm going to paint it with.  I had originally thought that the color pallet for our bedroom was going to be gray and white with pops of turquoise, but when I saw this green eggshell paint in the mis-tint aisle at Menard's I KNEW that it was color I was going to go with!  At $5.00 a gallon, it was such a steal!  I am so glad I learned about mis-tinted cans through the amazing blogs I read!  So, the nightstands, and now this rocking chair are going to be green.  And if I get REALLY brave, I'm going to paint my vanity that color too!

So, here's the chair:

Is that not the most awesome thing EVER???

Here's a close-up of the carving on the back:

And the arms:

And another close-up of the little bit of veneer that is coming off the back.  This does give me some pause, as it seems to be REALLY thick veneer.  In fact, I'm not even sure it IS veneer.  It just seems a lot thicker than any veneer I've ever seen.

I CANNOT WAIT to try my first attempt at distressing and using finishing paste.  And the hubs has promised me that I can buy an electric hand sander since I hate sanding with a vengeance.  I am just so excited at the thought of it all!

I also went on a little buying mission at Menard's today.  I used to DESPISE going into that place!  The hubs would spend HOURS in there and I would be all antsy for him to get what he wanted and get out.  Now, I get downright excited to go into that store.  It's a restorer's heaven!

I think I'm getting a little ahead of myself though, with all my furniture purchases.  As of now, I have 4 nightstands to refinish (2 of which I already owned), the football player's chest of drawers, 2 twin headboards/footboards (we own those, as well), the rocking chair, and a buffet that I bought today.  I have now promised myself that I will purchase absolutely nothing until all those pieces are completed.  I won't even LOOK!

I also found an oak buffet yesterday on Craigslist.  Unfortunately, the one I REALLY wanted was almost 2 hours away and the hubs vetoed the idea of me driving that far north to buy it.  Sad thing is, it was definitely the era in which I was looking, had some minor veneer issues on the top, and was only $10!!!  DARN!

So, last night I called one that was for sale locally for $100.  The gentleman was a little ill-informed (not that I'm even close to an expert) and told me that the one he had for sale was built probably in the 1920s-1930s.  Supposedly the only thing that was wrong with it was one of the doors was off a hinge because the screw holes had been stripped out - an easy fix.   Well, I figured with an asking price of $100 bucks, it would probably be in pretty decent shape.

I was a little disappointed when I got there.  I had assumed from the way he made it sound, that the man just needed more space in his garage and wanted to get rid of it.  When I pulled up to the residence, it was obvious that the guy probably just needed money quick and this was one of the only things he had of value that he could sell for any decent amount of money.  The small one car garage was full of boxes and miscellaneous furniture.  The garage obviously wasn't  even remotely able to keep out the elements, so I knew I'd be dealing with some moisture damage.

She (I always refer to my furniture in the feminine, no clue why, just do - Heck, I might start naming it.  LOL) was in pretty rough shape and definitely had more going on than a door that was off.  Due to moisture, the veneer was buckling off in places on the front and on a few spots was peeling.  But the piece itself was actually a really solid piece of oak furniture.  I'm not sure if the knobs are original, they probably are since they match the wood drawers.  It even has the key that fits into the locks on the drawers.

The one good thing is it still had the dealer tag in the back.  It says it was made by Chittenden and Eastman from Burlington, Iowa and it has "Square Brand" on the tag, as well.

The company dates it's beginnings back to 1866.  Thanks to Google, I have seen some absolutely beautiful pieces by them from the 1920s.  They manufactured the Square Brand product from 1890 to the early 1970s, so I have a very broad range of years that this could be dated.  Something about it reminds me of furniture that came from my Dad's childhood home, so I'm thinking maybe 1940s or 1950s????

Given the nature of the work I was going to have to put into it, there was NO WAY I was paying the $100 asking price.  Its not like it was some kind of antique that needed the work and would be worth quite a bit when it was finished.  At best, it might be 40 years old.
I really didn't want to have wasted a 45 minute drive for nothing either.  When he saw me hemming and hawing and pointing out the issues it had, he said, "I'll make you a deal.  I'll take $80 for it."  That DID NOT impress me.  I looked at it some more, looked at the back again...  Stared at the front...  I already had an idea about what I would do with the veneer buckling off the drawers, but I knew it would be super-lots of work.  So, I offered him $60 and that was only because I knew that it was solid oak.  And he took the offering price.  Honestly, I feel like I should have only paid about $50 for it, but I didn't think he'd go half.  If it turns out the way I think it will, I will be satisfied in the end.  I just really wish there was a way to find out for sure how old it is.

ANYHOO...

Here she is in all her faded glory:

Looks like I've got a lot of work to do!  I probably won't post for a little while, while I work on the all the things I've acquired lately.  But when I do post again, hopefully I'll have lots of reveals to show you!

Until then, take care!  :)