Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Friday, February 13, 2015

Goodwill Make-Overs

Do you remember the stool I bought at the Goodwill?

Before.

After.

I like it :)

I forgot to show you this find . . .
Goodwill $2.99
Before it had a wood grain back with brass hooks.
I was blessed in the fact that the little white knobs came off for painting.

Now it hangs in my mud-room/laundry-room . . .

To hold extra hangers.

 I've had time to work on my next quilt.

I'm doing what is called a quilt as you go.
They are great for doing freehand
stitching on regular sized machines:)
No need for a longarm machine.

Look at the robins sitting in our trees . . .
I've always heard that seeing robins 
means that Spring is right around the corner :)
~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~
 
Have a very Happy Day 
&
Keep Smiling.

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

 ~~~~~~~*****~~~~~~~



65 comments:

  1. Connie, your sewing room is great, love the view., Mine just looks over a very small courtyard with just a slice of the garden in sight. You have indeed made "A sik purse out of a sows ear" with your projects. I can see the potential in objects but am cack handed with a paintbrush. I can see more sewing with my Mr Muscles in payment for some handyman work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Pam, I haven't heard that expression in a very long time . . . thanks for visiting and for your sweet words :)

      Delete
  2. Your new quilt colours are beautiful, just right for a spring quilt. I was wondering how you would go about making a quilt as you go quilt? As always, your blog is totally lovely X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Kay, Quilt as you go is hard to explain, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Watch this You Tube video
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji8BLS2rNHA
      You might have to copy and paste it into your search engine, I'm not sure how to leave a link in a comment or reply.
      It is a very good video and she shows the process in very simple to understand steps. Much better than I could.
      This video is how I learned :)

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much Connie I can't wait to have a go :-)

      Delete
  3. You've been busy and to great effect! Love the stool!
    The colors of your latest quilt are perfect for spring!
    Many blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been busy, but it has been such enjoyable busy-ness . . . . just buzzing alone like a busy little bee :)

      Delete
  4. Dear Connie. Some fabulous makeovers there, they are excellent. It's lovely giving something old a new life. Your quilt looks beautiful. Have a great weekend dear friend. Hugs. Patricia x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Patricia. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Valentine's Day to you :)

      Delete
  5. Love your goodwill make-overs especially the stool. I have one sitting in my basement waiting for me to do something with it. I also like the look of the quilt your working on. The colors are great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ann, I love the colors in this quilt, too . . . they are much softer and calming colors than my last few quilts.
      I hope you have time to get down in the basement and make over your stool. I'd like to see what you do with it:)

      Delete
  6. I like your make-overs! Your quilt is looking very pretty. I agree that robins are a sign of spring - lucky you to have so many back. We saw one, just one, last week but not since - I think it was confused since we're back into the 'deep freeze' just now. Oh well, soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Kaye, I hope that this reply can bring with it a sunny and warm day for you. We are all ready for spring . . . me and the robins, LOL. Our winter started out very cold but then it mellowed out and was one of the mildest that we have even had around here. Happy Valentine's Day.

      Delete
  7. Love what you did with that stool.. And yes, Spring is just around the corner. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Becky. I'm delighted that you like it :)

      Delete
  8. love that stool, Connie, and what you did with the hooks. I didn't know you could paint brass.
    In Massachusetts, the robins now stay year round and can no longer be trusted as harbingers of spring [sigh]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Linda, When we moved into this house one of the first things that I threw out was an old brassy light fixer that was in the dining room. Since then I have seen where people have taken them down and spray painted them with a flat or satin black spray paint . . . instantly the brass is turned in a beautiful fixture. I couldn't see past all the brass . . . it is amazing sometimes want you can do with paint.

      Delete
  9. I'm loving that stool and the hooks as well! Fantasitc job on both! The quilt is going to be just beautiful...:) Love the color scheme! Have a blessed and beautiful Valentine's Day and weekend.

    Hugs, Vicky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HI Vicky, thank you so much and I hope that your Valentine's Day is a lovely one, too. Steve and I are going to work on a project in the living room, today. Then in the evening we are going to dinner at our friends home :)

      Delete
  10. I love what you did. Very creative and useful. I do love the colors too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your space for sewing looks really cute, Connie! I adore the windows, and it looks like you have a great view. I claimed the bedroom that is my craft-sewing room because it is the only one with a window facing the street. I love having the window open and hearing and watching the neighborhood kiddos playing outside or walking to and from school. I really like your quilting project and would love to see it when you are finished. I've only done one quilt-as-you-go, and really like the concept. I pretty much always do free-motion quilting, which is very tiring if the quilt size is any larger than a crib-size. I really need to find more of the quilt-as-you-go patterns!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carol, Thank you for all of your sweet and encouraging words. I love working where I can see outside. I just rearranged my sewing barn so that I could do that. Before I had short bookshelves along that wall under the windows. It looked pretty but wasn't as nice as sewing to a view. I've been quilting for only around a year and a half now, but when that quilting bug bit me . . . I was a goner, LOL. I haven't used a pattern, but enjoy making up my own patterns as I go. It's just that creative thing of liking to be free to explore my options. I certainly know what you mean about too much fabric under your machine to work with. It wears my arms, neck and shoulders out trying to quilt on the machine. That's the best thing about quilt as you go :)

      Delete
  12. Is that quilt for me? It has my favorite colors and Paris! :) The stool turned out great, I am working on one now but yours has was better curves. Did you paint the in Cloudless? That is my go-to color for anything I want painted aqua or Tiffany blue. Happy Valentine's Day!

    ~Trisha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Trisha, sorry about the quilt but I think I'm going to keep this one, LOL I'm not sure what you mean by the cloudless, but if it is the way the old stools wood shows through the stool, I did that by doing two coats of dry brushing. I wanted it to look old and worn. After painting I sanded the edges for more effect. I'm not into a brand new look around here. Maybe it's my age . . . if I've got to age, so does everything around me, LOL. Have a Happy Valentine's Day.

      Delete
  13. Great job on the stool. I love it. I really adore your laundry room girl. You are so talented!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Nancy, that means a lot coming from someone as talented as you. Happy Valentine's Day :)

      Delete
  14. All totally lovely and beautiful! Great make over on the stool and hooks. Your sewing room is so inviting and that quilt is gorgeous!!!! I always look forward to seeing the first robin. Today all I can see is white. A pure white out.. I'm so sick of winter!
    Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so sorry for you. We have been having weather that is more like April. The only thing bad about it, is that I hope the trees don't bloom too early and then get struck with a blast of cold weather. It could do a job on our Washington fruit crops.

      Delete
  15. I love how you painted that Goodwill stool! I have 4 old, ugly, brown brown stools downstairs around an l-shaped bar (guy who first lived here put the bar in - the stools were his, too) and I always say that "someday" I'm going to re-do those stools, but there are so many other pieces of furniture here that I want to paint first! Can't wait until our weather is nice enough where I can be painting outdoors again. Your quilt is beautiful...I love the colors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I wish I lived close to you. It would be fun to have a painting party and make over your bar and stools :)
      Happy Valentine's Day

      Delete
  16. I LOVE your stool, Connie. You did a great job. Your craft room is so bright to work in. It is just wonderful. Loving the quilt, too. Happy Valentine's Day- xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diana, I've been thinking of you today and hoping that you are feeling better. Thanks for your sweet words. I love seeing the "almost instant" transformation that a coat of paint can make. It's the cheapest and the quickest redo . . . got to love paint :) Happy Valentine's Day

      Delete
  17. You did a great job with that stool, I think I have a coat hanger like that, may have to think about redoing it :) I saw a youtube on quilt as you go to make a tote bag, thinking about giving it a try :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Connie, I would be interested in watching that video if you remember the address to get to it. I'm enjoying getting a few of the fun jobs done around here . . . it won't be long before there is lots of yard work to do again. Not that I don't enjoy that too, because I do, but it takes time away from sewing and crafting. There is always something to do . . . and that's the way I like it. When I don't have projects I cook and eat, LOL.

      Delete
  18. Love the stool makeover...it's very pretty!! We've seen a few robins in our backyard this past week...then the snow and bitter temperatures came back today. I sure hope that Spring is coming early.
    ~Cindy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cindy, I like living in an area where we have the four different seasons, but winter is the one I always wish was the shortest, LOL I would gladly shorten winter and fall to two months each, if we could have a four month spring and a four month summer :)

      Delete
  19. your stool turned out so cute, connie! and be sure to show your french quilt when it's finished:) we just saw a couple of robins in our yard, too--hope that does mean spring is right around the corner!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Lynn, thank you for your kind words. I will be sure and show you my quilt when it is finish. "Spring" . . . doesn't that sound wonderful! I love watching the world wake up, when the weather starts getting warm . . . my tulips are just starting to pop through the earth and it excites me :)

      Delete
  20. Connie, if - or when, we ever leave our lovely little cottage and move somewhere new, I want you to come and live with me and help me revamp some lovely items which we will, of course, buy at knock-down prices when out for a junk-shop browse together! I love what you do, you're very talented! Lxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynne, I can not think of anything that would be more fun than spending a few days with you. After we got your new cottage revamped and just the way you want it . . . we could take off to one of your festivals for a weekend of music and dancing. When you call me talented . . . well that is the pot calling the kettle black. I adore the stitch work that you do and would love to hear you and your friends playing your music.

      Delete
  21. What a wonderful makeover on that stool! Great color on the hooks too and perfect for your laundry room too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Betsy, it is so much fun finding something cheap and turning it into a piece that can be used and enjoyed for years to come :)

      Delete
  22. I love the stool and the hooks are wonderful too. I too love the aqua colour.
    Hopefully the robins are a sign of spring.
    I've recently bought some seed supposedly to attract robins in the garden, well I haven't seen any yet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Felicity, I'm sure that robins do eat seed but I think that their main food is earth worms and bugs. That's why you see them in the spring . . . when it rains the worms come to the surface and we all know that when it starts getting warm outside is when we start seeing bugs:)

      Delete
  23. I've heard that too about robins - spring is just around the corner. I love robins for that alone.
    This really IS a crafty home cottage. So much creativity and making and remaking going on here. I looove that. Keep on going!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Melanie, we each have our own thing going on . . . I think that maybe we have this admiration toward each other, my living a little bit through each others passions. I so much enjoy visiting your blog and seeing you strut your stuff. Style doesn't even come close to describing your flare for life.

      Delete
  24. I love that stool! You did a great job on it.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love your little makeover stool. Why the number 28? Did you make the darling little jumper too? I have copied instructions for quilting as you go but have not gotten brave enough to try it. Did you use instructions off the internet? Wrote you today. It will go out Tuesday! Have a great week! Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nancy, I'm happy that you like the stool. The number 28 is a personal thing . . . I'll tell you in my next letter. The little jumper is a pair of infant sized overalls that I up-cycled into a clothespin bag by stitching the legs closed and adding cotton lace. I think that they were something like $1.99 at the Goodwill :) Now as for quilt as you go . . . I watched this video on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji8BLS2rNHA
      If you will copy and paste that address into your search engine you can watch the video. It was very helpful.
      I'll be looking forward to your letter. Have a lovely day.
      Connie :)

      Delete
  26. I'm a regular shopper at the thrift stores. I buy for myself and resale. :) great stool!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Marie, Thrift stores are so much fun and yard sales . . . I'm looking forward to yard sale weather :) I don't do them all the time, but they are great fun for a spring or summer morning adventure. Some are junk and some are gold :)

      Delete
  27. The stool looks great, and very tall! The nicely shaped legs are really emphasized with the white paint. Nice change to the hooks as well. I'll have to check out the quilting as you go ... I see you added a link above for youtube. Enjoy your week!
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Wendy, that link is the video where I learned the "Quilt as You Go" method. it is very helpful if you are interested. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a lovely day :)

      Delete
  28. Connie, I luv your 'sew as you go' quilt!
    And luv how the stool turned out... I love Thrift finds,.. and a can of spray paint! lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paint is a wonderful thing. It's the cheapest way to restore just about anything:)
      I'll be posting my quilt as I have time to work on it. Thanks for your encouraging words :)

      Delete
  29. Those are cute finds. I love what you did with the stool. Any meaning to No. 28? I wish I could sew a quilt by hand. I'd get out there and find a bunch of travel patches and make a huge one. :

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Denise, Your idea for a quilt sounds wonderful and while you were curled up in it you could relive your travel memories:) The number 28 means freedom to me . . . it's a long hard story . . . I know that you like stories and mine plays out like a soap opera, but I'm not ready to share publicly. Here's wishing you a great day and time to do the things you love :)

      Delete
  30. Thanks again . . . you can see that I use Brother machines :) They are a very good machine and I can not see any reason to buy a more expensive machine, especially when Brother makes a great and very well built product. My Viking is on the shelf, just waiting to have a turn again, if my Brother ever gives me a problem and for when my granddaughters visit and want to sew:)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Connie, the picture of the robins is wonderful. I have been seeing robins around here a lot. I think they are very different than the other birds. They don't fly away when I get my camera out, they just stand tall and let me take their picture. They are brave little guys, that's for sure. You did a great job on your stool, it's so cute. :~)

    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much and thanks for stopping by, it was great visiting with you :)

      Delete
  32. I LOVE that little stool... it looks great! And that quilt as you go... genius! I made a quilt and struggled like crazy to try to quilt it on my machine--not a long arm machine. I guess I'll look for Youtube videos on how to do that. I refuse to pay the amount it takes to have a quilt professionally quilted. I can't afford the fabric AND the quilting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joy, I know what you mean. Quilting is not cheap; I refuse to have anyone else quilt mine for me either. Besides I want to be able to say that I made it all myself. I also enjoy quilting by hand, but it does take time and more than that it takes a lot of room to set up a frame. I do find it relaxing, once I have the fame all set up and the quilt in it thou :) I think you will like quilt as you go. Check out the You Tube that I mentioned above. The lady that does it is very easy to follow, I appreciate that :)

      Delete