I've Been Waiting All Winter to Make This Bench

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Last year was a fairly busy year, plus I was injured, these two things kept me from creating some of the projects I have waiting for me. 

I've had this dresser for a few years and have moved it a couple of times. I've had this project in mind for some time now. I'll admit I saw this idea online, and now that I've finished this one I look forward to making another.

It started with this dresser.

I knocked apart what I no longer needed,

and added support for the seat, and the back and added some trim.

After sanding and paint (Annie Sloan, Provence).

I just went outside to go over to my shop and take a picture of the final product and this little guy was standing in the driveway looking at me.

 Then on to varnish, stain (Minwax, Ebony), varnish. I cut the top down to size to use for the seat, added a nice foam seat cushion, and here it is! Please excuse the background, I don't have the space or the muscles for nice staging.

So much fun!

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I'll Be Dreaming About Pallet Wood Tonight

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I decided it was time to get started on a project that's been waiting for me since last summer. I was asked to make a pallet bench in memory of a very special co-worker that passed away last summer.  He was a very special guy and certainly deserves something nicer than pallets, but at the same time I think he would appreciate the simplicity.  It's not quite finished, but I couldn't wait to share.  This one's for you Tommy!  If I had a can of Budweiser, and if I drank, I would raise a can right now.

Lots of sanding involved when working with pallets.

I was so pleased at how nicely this saw was working, that I chose to cut by hand rather than use the saw in the picture. Unfortunately I got in trouble with my son as it is his saw and he only uses it for drywall, oops, the tables have turned my friends.

This is how far I got on day 1, I was pretty pleased, as it came together pretty well.

Of course I couldn't leave it like that as it wouldn't be very comfortable. This is how it looked at the end of day 2.

So today I finished sanding and got it stained, Staining was very time consuming! I actually wasn't very happy with it when I was done, I think the stain is too dark, but I think it looks better in the picture than in person.  I'm going to paint a little something on it to dedicate it to Tommy.

So while that is drying I moved on to the next project. I've been trying to decide what to do with this wall with the window.  I know that I want to add a bench and some shelves, but couldn't decide between reclaimed wood (hoarding that, hate to use it up), faux ship lap (didn't want to pay for it), and pallet wood.

I finally decided to use pallet wood so I broke down the rest of the pallets that I had on hand.  I stained them...

and...I didn't like the look of the stain.  It's been a bad day for stain.  So I got out the white paint and dry brushed some white paint onto them.  When the paint mixed with the stain it turned gray, which I did like.

I did put up a few pieces on the wall but I forgot to take a picture, so I guess you will just have to wait.  This project has just begun.  

So I hope Sterling's not having a bonfire tonight, I noticed he has a nice collection of pallets up behind the garden, already got in trouble with one kid this week, hope I don't get in trouble again, but I guess I'm gonna risk it ;)

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Reclaimed Wood (and practically everything else) Bench

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I have a few drawers hanging around, and decided it was time to do something with them.  This is project #1.

This project is almost completely made out of salvaged materials.  I get great joy out of that, I know, I'm easy to please.  It all started with the drawer, given to me by my friend Laura.  The 2X4's are reclaimed.  The fabric is scraps that I patched together rather than throw them out.  The foam is from a mattress also from Laura (yes, she's good to me).  I even used a piece of the old mattress cover as the batting to wrap the foam.  The glue, polyurethane, drawer pulls and screws are new, that's it.  My Mom always says you should make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, this is my silk purse. 

It is quite comfy, I need to consider adding a foam back to future benches.  It is adult size although it looks short in stature.

The drawer is not functioning, but instead the seat is hinged so it lifts up to allow for storage underneath.

Now I have all kinds of ideas going through my head!  Next thing you know I will be out looking for more drawers, ha ha.

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Rusty Antique Wire Bed Frame Made Into a Bench

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Why oh why do I forget to take before pictures?  Not that there was much to this to begin with.  When I bought the log house from my brother this footboard (I still have the headboard) was in the bush in all of it's wonderful rusty beauty!  Johnny tried to throw it to the dump but I hid it away one day when he wasn't there.  Ha ha, he was pretty upset with me because I'm a "hoarder", no I'm not a hoarder, I am a junker, big difference!  Anyway, I figured out a way to attached the seat part to the footboard.  After that I used some old chair legs and some 2 X 4's to create this bench. 

I dry brushed the footboard to bring out the details, but left the rustic look of it.

I had no idea what I was going to use for fabric when I remembered that I had this piece.  The two just seem to make a wonderful marriage!  I love the modern bold print with the antique look of the bench.

It's a happy little piece isn't it?

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100th Post, Woo Hoo! Pallet Coffee Table and Yet Another Bench! Oh Yeah, and a run in with a moose :(

Pin It I can't believe it but this is my one hundredth post! I started this venture in June 2012, it was such a scary endeavour for me, I mean, really, I was slow even to join Facebook and didn't do it until the family pressure finally convinced me. After that I wanted to start a blog for quite a while before I finally did it, and now here we are 2 years and 100 posts later.   Honestly I can't believe you people are interested in what I do, but I am so thankful that you check out what I have worked on, and truly, truly love the comments you have written.  I was always afraid that my friends were just humouring me when they told me my projects were good, but when total strangers take the time to comment it makes me believe I do good work, so thank you to all that have left comments!  Except the spammers, I mean really, why do they do it, I just delete them anyway, and even if I didn't, what would they get out of it?  Do they really believe that someone coming to my site to look at furniture or baking is going to read their comment and go to their Viagra site, or whatever it may be? Seriously?

I need to update my information since I am now retired!  Selling a few pieces of furniture won't make up for the loss of a regular wage, but it gives me slightly more time to produce more furniture, and life is short people, go out there and enjoy it!

On to the main topic of the post, it's a double whammy today.  First up, another bench, are you all getting tired of seeing my benches?  Well, sorry about that if you are because I don't see myself stopping, ha ha.  I try to make each one different and creative so I hope I don't bore you.  I just never knew so many people needed benches, but I'm glad they do!
I don't have a before picture for this one because it would just be an old window, some scrap wood, and a couple of chair legs, so you will just have to picture that in your head, okay?

The second project is something I was considering since I had just obtained a couple of pallets that were heading for the dump, then a friend called and asked if I could make him one.  I asked so many questions about what he wanted that he finally told me he just wanted a coffee table made out of pallets and stained, the rest was up to me.  People don't realize how many options there are when working on a piece of furniture, which is why my preference is not to do commissioned work, it's just easier to suit myself, and if you like it, awesome.  But of course that doesn't stop me from taking commissions, hey, did I mention I have no income now, ha ha.  Anyway, no before photo on this one either as I'm sure you all know what a pallet and pile of wood looks like.

This picture was taken before I added the shelf.

Here is the finished product!

Oh, as a little side note, our daughter graduated Dental Hygiene, yay!  Unfortunately, on the way home from Thunder Bay we tangled with a moose on the highway!  Fortunately Johnny and I were unhurt, which is truly amazing, God is good people, God is very, very good!  Here are a couple of pictures of my poor car.

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Another Bench Made Out of Windows,

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Yesterday I showed you the bench I made out of old windows.  Well it was such a success that I decided to make her twin sister, as you can see they are fraternal twins, not identical twins.  On this one all the  window panes in the big window were intact, so I decided to leave the glass in it.  This one is a little taller,  a little darker (she was turquoise for a very short time, now there are just slight little hints showing through), and her fabric is a little bolder. 

Here is a pic of the first one just for comparison.

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