thrift project

i know i haven't updated in forever, so i thought i'd post this little tidbit:

picked up a wastebasket at Goodwill for $1.99.

hated the colour, loved the shape.  picked up some Krylon  Fusion black spray paint for plastic surfaces for around $5.  a few coats and hours of drying time, and now i've got a really classy wastebasket for my room.

i'm not sure if i should spray it with a top coat of anything.  it seems to be doing fine so » READ MORE

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February 29, 2008
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1 comment

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my closet has curtains!

rich, chocolatey velvet ones!  with grommets!

and my walls are lavender, rather than bright blue (painted when i was 12!).  don't worry, the blue carpet is coming out this weekend :D

the curtains i got here (and need to be steamed); the wraparound curtain rod i got here (and it's totally sexy btw).

some inspiration sites are here and here

i'm just happy to not be looking at all the junk in my closet anymore! it's also great to have a » READ MORE

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October 25, 2007
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desk refinishing part four (CONCLUSION)

...continued from this post

it started with this:

and now it looks like this:

and the inside drawers:

(that's just lace fabric, not lingerie!)

so as you can see, i acquired some sheets of acrylic, which turned out to be more expensive than i predicted.  however, i am very pleased with the finished product.  i had the corners on desktop sheet rounded so they fit seamlessly with the wood.  the inner-drawer sheets fit over some cute r » READ MORE

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October 21, 2007
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desk refinishing part three

...continuing from this post

so i finally finished all the painting and today i finished the desk with Minwax Polycrylic Spray Protective Finish.  that totally took away the tackiness, but it smelled like ant poison.  now my desk pretty much looks done at this point, and is usable, but i have more tricks up my sleeve :)

i staged the desk with accessories :) as you can see, i've got my drawer pulls installed!

they are blinged-out an » READ MORE

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October 07, 2007
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desk refinishing questions part two

so, you may have seen my first post here

well, i got this desk exactly one month ago, and i'm still working on it.  my creative intentions are beginning to be realized!

as you can see, i chose a colour!  the pull-out wooden tablet is missing from the photo--it's off getting painted.  i've given the rest of the desk a few coats, and i've ordered pulls for the drawers!  they are 6" rectangular pulls from the "mosaic" collection by Siro, and ho » READ MORE

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September 19, 2007
1048 views

2 comments

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desk refinishing questions

ok so i got this desk for free off a curb (thanks to craigslist) in Menlo Park.  i think it's completely awesome.

i patched, sanded, and primed it and now it looks like this:

(i still have to prime a little bit of the inside) as you can see, it's got a cool pull-out tablet.

1) what should i do to the tablet?  i'm thinking a sand and a stain, since painting it would probably interfere with its usefulness.

2) what colours should i paint t » READ MORE

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September 04, 2007
2251 views

5 comments

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goodbye, Delaware

so my boyfriend and i are finally getting out of this dreadful state.  we're packing up all of our things, but i have a new green friend that cannot be packed along with my other belongings.

i got this "pot" at a local garden shop.  it's carved volcanic rock, from what i can tell.  it's even got three little legs carved out of the bottom.  i thought it would be perfect to grow my moss in (and hopefully on!) because it's porous.  so tonight, » READ MORE

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July 31, 2007
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i'm a poacher, lulz

okay so don't tell my landlord, but i poached some moss from the trunk of an oak tree on the property.  i was inspired--no, driven--to start trying to grow my own moss from this Pottery Barn catalog photo:

then i remembered this estate that my dad's business partner owned.  it had hills in the backyard that were completely covered in moss.  i remember how beautiful i thought it was, like nature's carpet.  so i've started my own moss garden: » READ MORE

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July 22, 2007
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the fountain

the planter i bought to make the fountain.  it's got a cool grey stony glaze with this dripping metallic pewter-looking glaze around the lip





i started by using my mould-making platinum cure silicone to fill the bottom of the planter, after attempting to use duct tape and insulating foam and failing.  i threaded the cords for the egglight (with dichroic lens!) and pump through a hole in the bottom of the planter.





i bought huge chunks of light blue » READ MORE

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July 03, 2007
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new take on magnetic spice rack

so i don't cook, but i do craft!  and i have a crafting desk specifically for my hobby.  i've always heard that if you don't have much living space, go vertical!  i've loved magnetic spice racks since i first saw them, so i decided to put a new twist on the original idea.

my messy workstation:

i don't have enough room, as you can see, and i already installed a shelf above the desk.

i went to the Home Depot and bought a 12"x12" square of 2 » READ MORE

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April 07, 2007
1067 views

3 comments

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