The Clock Strikes Twelve...

I introduced you all to Cinderella a l-o-o-o-o-nn-n-ng time ago.

The last time you saw her she was in her "mouse dress."

It took me another l-o-o-o-o-o-o-on-n-g time to decide on a color. I thought about red, but a house can only handle one Scarlett. She doesn't share the limelight with anyone.

I wanted to do something bold and blue, but I wanted the flexibility to put Cindy whereever my mood strikes and blue felt a little limiting.

I thought about white or black but, as my oldest daughter says, I paint everything black or white. No, Cindy needed something less predictable.

I finally decided on a shade of black. (Way to go out on a limb Mols). It is a Benjamin Moore color called "Wrought Iron." It is almost navy and it going to look fab against my new living room color.

It hasn't been polyurethaned yet...

BONG!!!

BONG!!! Did you hear something?

BONG!!! There it is again...

BONG!!! Seriously that is getting annoying. Do you hear it?

I already have the spot all picked out in the house for it. It is going to look so amazing.

BONG!! Wait. What is that?

See those holes? What character it adds to Cindy.

BONG!!! Hold it. How did this get so dirty?

BONG!!! What is this?


Well, after several google searches, phone calls to local bug people, and emails to some people who I consider to be furniture experts I diagnosed Cindy to have "powderpost beetles."

BONG!!!


Yep folks. The clock has struck twelve and my poor Cindy is sitting all alone with nothing but the beetles to keep her company.

My research tells me that it is going to cost me three figures to get her clean. Granted I only paid $15 for her, but that price just isn't worth it.

I seriously thought about just throwing caution to the wind and putting her in the house anyway, but according to pest experts those little creatures can spread to other furniture and are impossible to kill without major fumigationm and expensive pesticides.

I thought maybe the paint would seal them in. I thought the hot summer heat would kill them. Nope. The sawdust says it all. Those little piles just appeared yesterday. So even if I do love her and I already have the space for her, she is going to the curb. It is going to kill me. I guess I am the wicked step-mother afterall.

WAHHHHH!!! (That's me crying.)

Entertainment Center---HELP!!

Installment #2 in "E" week of:

I sent out a plea about a month ago regarding my entertainment center. Several of you asked for pictures of the rest of the room. I have changed the room a little since I first asked for help, so I have some new (and additional pictures). Click here to see how the downstairs den looked before.

I have made some new curtains and found the perfect couch at the Salvation Army for $100. I couldn't believe it, but that is a post for another day. Anyway, I have an entertainment center that I really have never loved since I first got it. But when you spend alot of money for something, you don't really want to admit you made a mistake. But, 11 years later I have some to terms with it. And 11 years later I am a little less fearful (hmmmm, that may be a post idea for "F" week...) so I am willing to change it to suit me more.

Anyway, here is where you all come in. I am going to show you pictures of the room and the entertainment center and let me know what you think I should do with it. I open to suggestions: paint, glaze, whatever you creative people can think of.

Here is the room, starting from where you come down the steps:

Next you run into the back of the $100 Salvation Army couch:

Across from the couch, there she sits, the orangy-colored pine thing:

(Actually she doesn't look as bad with the black curtains, but I still want a little change)

Moving a little more down the wall, you can still see here sitting there, all unaware:


Finally, moving on around the room, we are back where we started:


Here are some closer pictures of the E.C.


Here are the bottom doors, notice the left door is a little different color than the right.

I put some glaze on it (yes the same glaze I have used here, here, and here-that stuff lasts forever). What do you think of the glaze? I have also considered white, black or red paint. What else can you all come up with? Maybe I am an approval addict, but I think I will ink up with Bec over at Beyond the Picket Fence. Technically, this could be a less than $100 project. I can use all the input I can get! Plus if it all goes bad, I can blame you all! I've made enough mistakes just picking this thing! (Did I tell you I picked it from a catalog? All I cared about at the time was that the top was flat so I could put cute stuff on top!)

Come back again! "F" week starts soon! I am thinking finials, fear, and maybe fireplace! Is that enough of a teaser to make you come back??

I'm linking up to Make Your Monday, and Decorating Dilemmas--show me and that orange thing some love!!

The End of an Ugly End Table

Hey ya'll! I hope ya'll aren't mad at me over the one big fat post for "D" week. I had some other ideas, but that fake snow day really got to me. Let's just say I was all about homemade chocolate chip cookies and dyeing (spelling anyone??) my hair. I guess I could have made that another "D" post, but you'll just have to picture me with brown hair all by yourself.

ANYHOO...Week 5, "E" week in:

I have at least 2 projects for you, one will require some help on your part, so check back often!!

I have a booth at a local "thrift store/antique mall" place in town. I am a little addicted and told the owners that I think I spend more there than I make, but that's okay. On one of my weekly "check on my booth, run through and see if there is anything I NEED" trips, I came across this little beast:

This time I got a little screwdriver happy before I took pictures. Still not used to showing befores AND afters. I'll get there, someday.

Anyway, I roughed it up a little (remember me, ADHD on decorating, little patience for prep work) and spray painted this little baby a really good shade of blue. After the paint was dry I lightly sanded the high spots then used some brownish glaze, like in some other projects (here and here), to brush in the crevices and help pull out some of the detail. I also put about 3 coats of polyurethane on it.

The end table was ugly brown 1970's with wire in the doors, but it had some great details and the glaze helped pull it all out. After I finished the painting, I stapled fabric in where the wire used to be. The fabric was actually my inspiration for the color. I spray painted the door pulls black and put it all back together.

Here she is again, before:

and her cutie patootie after:


I kind of started a thing with Scarlett (you can read about her here ), so I can't leave this little lovely without a name.

Hmmmm (thinking music)

Okay, I got it. Hence forth and forever more she will be Bluebell. She's ready for her close-up Mr. Deville

Bluebell's inspiration: the blue birds

(I know bad picture...sorry, teacher here, not a photographer nor a teacher of photography)

Oh and I forgot to tell you. She cost me almost three times as much as Scarlett. (To refresh your memory, Scarlett was $2, I must have loved Bluebell more, she was $5! Don't tell Scarlett though, she'll get a complex!)

Linking up with Miss Mustard Seed and SNS with Donna:

I've also joined into the "Power of Paint Party" at Domestically Speaking, I'm telling you a little can of paint can make a HUGE difference!

Have a great week! Come back and see me!