Browsing Category

Make Something

In Make Something/ Makeover

Leave No One Behind

I have a problem.  I have an awful soft spot for butter knives.  When I go looking for spoons for making jewelry, I always find butter knives.  And I feel bad for them, no one uses butter knives anymore.  So they get left behind. Until I come along.  I take them home and add them to my collection of random silverware.

I mean, look at them!!  Look at the details on that one on the right!! So sweet!!

silverware

And then there were these itty bitty, teeny weeny ones.  I’ve never seen a fork so little!  And the design on the spoon, well, it had to come home, too!

silverware

And the pie lifters….I have a plan for those!!  They’ll be coming up for sale soon!!  But not as they are, of course!! 😉

silverware

This is the problem when looking for silverware – I just need spoons…..but then all these other goodies call my name and I’m a sucker for pretty silverware.  Sigh.

If I didn’t feel the need to make jewelry, I would set the prettiest of tables.  I’d look for pretty dishes and silverware and glasses.  I’d lay out the linens and light the candles.  But, alas, the call of the anvil, hammer and drill calls louder!!

To be continued,

Lori

 

In Make Something

Lookin’ Good Around Here

Every once in a while, I do something, blog about part of it, change something and never tell you what else I did.  Or fail miserably at a project, give up for a bit but then push on and succeed….sort of.

It’s probably no secret that I’m a fan of buntings.  I’m not sure if they are still ‘hip & cool’ but I love them regardless.  When I did over the old window frame my friend’s mom had given me, I certainly loved it.  But it lacked……something.  Hmmmm, a bunting would complete it.

My friend, Alena, crocheted a bunch of hearts for me to use on various projects { pillows and signs } and she had bits of yarn left over so she crocheted some tiny hearts for me. And I love love love them!!  I strung them on red thread and hung them across the frame.  Just what it needed!!!

Window framewindow frame

The other project that lingered around my workshop table for far too long, was the sign I wanted to make for the laundry area.  Remember my Pinterest Fail?  Well, it’s hung!!

laundry signlaundry sign

I ended up not painting over the the whole thing and removing the vinyl letters.  I got the letters placed and loved how it looked so I left it.

This covers the flue clean-out just perfectly.  And it is easily hung with 3M velcro strips so we can just pop it off whenever we need to access the clean-out.

There you go!! A few things looking better around here and a few things of my list!  Enjoy!!

To be continued,

Lori

 

In Make Something/ Makeover

A Few Finished Pieces

Stash

Well, I’ve been busy avoiding things like taxes and newsletters and managed to complete a few of the pieces from ‘the stash‘.  I’m trying to down size my stash of goodies by finishing things and putting them to use or for sale.

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to a few newly re-done pieces, fresh from the studio.

Teeny Tiny Stool

Milk Paint Stool

This stool has been kicking around for years.  It was wood, it was upholstered and now…..it’s been re-done with a few coats of Miss Mustard Seed’s Trophy Milk Paint and sealed with MMS Antiquing Wax.  It can be yours for $25!

Milk Paint Stool

Milk Paint Stool

Barn Window Frame

Barn Window

This old frame is from the barn that still is in use at my parent’s farm.  I cleaned it up, managed to get all the white wash and cow poop off it and then scrubbed it down.  Then it got finished with a coat of MMS Hemp Oil and I added chicken wire and hangers to it.  It still even has a piece of the original hardware on it, plus the rust marks from the hinges.  This one has seen some time!! It’s for sale for $35 (but really I think Dad’ll need a cut of this one! )  It measures 14″ wide by 36.25″ tall.

Barn WindowBarn WindowBarn Window

Chippy Window Frame

Window Frame

I have no idea where I acquired this beauty.  I love the weathered white, chippy paint.  I cleaned it up and then sealed all the chippy wonderfulness in with MMS Tough Coat.  I added chicken wire to it and wall hangers.  This beauty can be bought for $45. It measures 28.25″ wide by 24″ tall.

Window FrameWindow FrameButter Knife Shelf

Butter Knife Shelf

This is a curb-side find that I’ve been hanging onto for a few years now.  It had the spot for a little plaque and after it got it’s new milk paint colour Marzipan from MMS and a coat of MMS Hemp Oil, I added a little butter knife from my collection.  It was the perfect fit!  This shelf is for sale for $40. It measures 27″ wide by 13″ tall.

IMG_0192

Butter Knife ShelfButter Knife Shelf

I hope that these wonderful pieces find new homes where they are enjoyed and appreciated!  It has been my pleasure bringing them back to life!

If you are interested in any of these pieces, please contact me via email at lori at farmfreshstyle dot ca

To be continued,

Lori

5 In Make Something

Using the Stash

I’ve set a goal for myself.  You can play, too, if you’d like.  It is kind of easy but kind of…..limiting, too.  If you are anything like me, you have a large stash of things tucked here, there and everywhere.  Things like chairs, wood, lights, bits and bobs, fabric and frames.  Please tell me I am not alone in this.  I have stuff stashed in my father’s machine shed, in my parents’ basement, the garage, the barn and the loft.  Plus all that I have stored away neatly in my studio.  There may also be some here in the house, although with the studio, usually only completed projects find their way into the house.  Except the hallway….it lives here, hanging over my head.

My goal is to make over the things I have, get them ready to use or to sell, without spending big $$$$ doing anything over.  I’m willing to spend money on Milk Paint, that doesn’t count in my books!!  I know yard sale season is coming and I know myself, I won’t be able to say no.  Things will call my name and presented themselves with a new vision of how they want to look.  And they will come home with me.  And they may or may not get worked on, in all honesty.  That’s how I find myself in the position I am in now – too much stuff!!

Stash

I brought some things home and have started working on getting things fixed up and made pretty again.  Everything is dirty and needs a good cleaning before I start doing anything to them.  Something need a lot of help, others. not as much.  I love getting to plot and plan and come up with a scheme for each item.  And of course I love being in the studio working on things, too.  Painting, sanding and gluing and waxing and whatever else I can do out there.

Stash

I’m hoping to be able to organize another market or two in the Spring (real Spring, not this snowy mess that is not really Spring.)  And then I’ll be able to sell some of my goodies there.  I may also have some other things up my sleeve, more on that at a later date.  But I will list the goodies that are for sale over on my Facebook Page, pop over to see what’s available, it’s listed in the album named Farm Fresh Market.  I’m thinking about an Etsy site, too.  Anyone have any great insight on that?

Anyway, back to the stash…. I know my friend, Alena, is working through her stash of yarn and making some awesome things with what she has on hand.  { I will also be doing a Creative Interview with her next week, too. } And my other friend, Catherine, has been working through her stash of unfinished projects and whipping things up, too!  It’s exciting to see others doing the same thing!

Alena's Cupboard

Alena’s Cupboard

Polar Bear Hat

$20-22 (depends on size)

Stash

Doll Hats $7

Is it that Spring is on it’s way?  Do we feel the need to shed the layers that hold us back?  Shed the things that we have hanging over our heads?  There is something so incredibly satisfying about taking something you’ve had, turning it into something else or making it more attractive and then putting it to use or moving it along.

So, hopefully over the next few weeks you will be seeing more and more things come across your screen from me.  Things that have taken on a new life and a new purpose. The one thing I’m finding is that even though I do things with the intention to sell them, I find that I want to keep it all!!

How about you?  Do you have a stash you are saving for a rainy day?  Do you hoard things because you just never know what you might need?  Are you in the process of clearing out your stash?  Please feel free to share your hoard or your results!  We’d love to see them!!

To be continued,

Lori

 

In Make Something

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Heart Door House $18

Heart Door House $18

Sometimes you just need some sunshine.  And sometimes you just need to make your own sunshine.  I was asked to present a project at a Ladies Potluck Breakfast at our church last weekend.  I wasn’t sure what to do, it had to be something fun to make but also fun for people to watch me make.  I had a few ideas in my head but wasn’t quite sure what to do.  Since I had just taken part in the Mail Me Art Swap, I had mixed media on the brain.  Once I had narrowed it down to that, I just needed to decide on a theme.  So, I went looking on Pinterest and decided on houses.  Seemed fitting to me…..

More Home Garden Patch House $18

More Home Garden Patch House $18

When I got working on the canvases, I thought it would be easier if I had canvases finished to different stages…..you know, like the cooking shows when they pull out a cooked chicken seconds after they stuck a raw one in the oven.  It took some thought and pre-planning but it was a great way to do it.

Teal Two-Storey House $18

Teal Two-Storey House $18

By doing it this way, it also meant I made { or at least started } a bunch of different canvases.  It’s fun to plot each house and plan each flower patch and build each fence.  Each one is a little different, there are a few different sayings, a few different styles of house and different patterns and paper.  I like how each one has it’s own personality.

Two Storey Heart House $18

Two Storey Heart House $18

When I was doing them, Mom had commented on how she loved these but that she would prefer a little camper on one.  So I did that for her.  She does so much for me, watches my kids without question, feeds us and just is there for whatever we need.  The least I can do is a make her a little gift now and again.  { I recently finished another project for her, too…..I have to install it and then I’ll show you what else I made for her…I may try to spoil her just a little, she is my Mom after all!! }

This is the Day Camper

This is the Day Camper

These little homes make me happy.  When I was presenting them at the breakfast, one lady had commented that she liked these homes because there was no snow…..I can relate!!  They bring me a little sunshine on my cloudy days!  I hope they do the same for you!

To be continued,

Lori

PS Fire off an email my way to lori (at) farmfreshstyle.ca if you are interested in purchasing one of these homes! There are more items for sale on the Farm Fresh Facebook Page, too!