And a good Lenten season to you

Because I am one of the ancients now, I think I no longer have to hold with all the Lenten rules.  I just read something that said that bacon bits over lettuce and chicken broth are not verboten. And to think of all the times as a kid of forgetting and spitting things out when I remembered.

I'm hoping in the next 40 days to work on my f o r g i v e n e s s issues.  Not a lot, just enough. I'm also hoping to complete and post a project a day.  Seems ambitious, but when I work it feels prayerful, and I can always use more of that.

Here is today's offering as a before.  Not bad, but, this piece really wanted a makeover.

It's a really well built piece and had only surface scratches on top.

The new color is a sapphire and is a color I used on my tool box for the cover of my blog.  This picture is not a true representation.  It is magnificent.

It distressed nicely and luckily had good character lines.

The hardware was in mint condition, but I think I will oil it just for a richer caste.

This will be posted on Craigslist. [No longer available]

~,~,~,~,~,~

I found a bench for the waterfall vanity and just refinished it to match - even though someone already snatched it up.  [More on that later]

Here is the before:

Very good shape, but old plastic-y covering, actually part of a sewing machine combo.

I went through the same process of colors so it would look the same distressed.

One of my JA fabric remnants worked really well for the upholstery.

Not a very good close-up.  Could use a photography class.

Still the Tiffany box look. [No longer available]

This really counts as two projects today, so I could skip tomorrow.  I hear it is some sort of a holiday where you overspend. I'm betting they are going to be disappointed whatever they get, so get restored furniture instead.  At least one of us will be happy<3!

Sleep well,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Love is patient, Love is kind

...was the reading tonight at church.  I had so many songs in my head, I couldn't pick just one to share with you.  Jazzing on our way out to God has Chosen Me, with bongo drums, horns, violins, guitar and piano, it felt like a concert, even without the full weight of the usual choir.  I guess people had other things to do-some sort of sporting event, or something.  Not sure, because I had no skin in the game.  I got to thinking about this reading that everyone uses for their wedding.."Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But, where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; the we shall see our God, face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain; faith, hope and love.  But , the greatest of these is love."

The song that most comes to mind at weddings is Wherever You Go, by David Haas [one of my favorite contemporary liturgical composers].  It really hits home about the marriage 'contract' of "Wherever you go, I will go, Your people will be my people. Wherever you lie, I'll lie there beside you, Wherever you go, I'll be there."

Here is a rendition of it that is pretty good, but the singers seem a little nervous.  Shut your eyes so you won't be distracted by the movement and you will get the jist of it. Play it a couple of times and listen carefully to the pact in the making.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz0TjkmTGM0

Why I think of this tonight is, our little Jacob is in the hospital and had surgery today.  I think about his folks who take turns staying with him, praying, and hoping for a healthy outcome.  In the course of marriage, if you think everyday about the ties that bind you, and the serious events that could break you, it never hurts to dust off the old commitment promise and give it a re-run.

~.~.~.~.~

One of my sister's heifer's calved tonight in West Virginia.  Last I heard, they were trying to get the baby to stand.  The sex has yet to be determined, but the name in play was Raven.  Being that it's feast of St. Blase, (the patron saint of throats), I think it should be Blazin Raven.  Good thing it's not the feast of St. Francis(co).

Be well,

La Verne

hope&salvage

The forwarder I go, the behinder I get

There are probably 14 projects started in my studio (dining room) right now, in addition to the permanent furniture that inhabits it.  Not much room to walk, still less to roll, as my computer chair is usually how I get around in there. That way I can pivot from task to task without wasted time and the least wear and tear on my knees.  I know that one of my New Year's Resolutions was to finish things (and I fully intend to), but I had in mind that it be before I start something new. I finished 2 items tonight-not great pics, because not much room to stage!

Here are some quick before's.... and afters.

Mustard to....

Black!  Already has a new home.

~.~.~.~.

Abandoned farm table that landed in front of my garage.

The side extensions were strong enough but dated.

Linoleum squares were glued to the top which I removed.

I stripped the top.

Added some wood strips for better definition.

Painted, stained, glazed the table.

Voila!  New life.  Will be listed on Craigslist for sale. [Update: No longer available]

Will keep plugging away as I am able.  I love what I do. Eventually, my dining room will empty out and be just like everyone else's.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage

Win by a hair, lose by a hair

The end was in my cross'hairs', but alas, one was also embedded in the top of the nightstand. DO-over!  I had to strip the top and take it back to the beginning.

I tried to just sand and steel wool it out, but no success, the hair stuck

My 'go-to' stripper (makes a pretty good hair remover for legs and underarms if you can stand the pain)

I was quite happy that most of the previous stains had disappeared

Tip for working with a sander: Always apply duct tape to the back of the sandpaper before you use.  It will extend the use of your sandpaper a hundred times, especially if you are a rough handler.  

Here is the nightstand before the top re-do.  Waaaaay too much sheen for me-will try and tone it down.  It is nothing like my usual Minwax poly coat.  Although it says satin, if I were to lay it down, the reflection could see up someone's skirt. I just used up a gallon, and its satin was satin.  I feel a letter coming.  Dear Minwax:

This piece distressed nicely just with a damp paint rag.  I just wanted a subtle look, along with highlighting the crevices with a deeper shade.  I mix my own colors so I could give an approximation of what I used, but I am not the chemist who could decipher exactly.  More later...

~.~.~.~.~.~

I got through 1 disk of Eudora Welty's unabridged (probably will not go to disk 2) and am switching it up to Elizabeth Laban's The Tragedy Paper.  Will let you know if it keeps me good company, along with my chicken rice soup that has been simmering all morning.

As ever,

La Verne

hope&salvage  

PS  Next project is a set of dining room arm chairs, followed by 2 coffee tables, the checkerboard table (Rule #3), followed by the farm house table.  BTW, still no information on where it came from. I did rule out one source though. So far, I stripped off the tiles and lightly sanded the adhesive (will need some 'hair' remover to get it all), and took off the flaps.  I have to cork a hole in the top and add some molding strips before I can get to the fun stuff.  It looks like oak, and is shorter than a regular table.