Come clean!

How do you get old knobs, pulls, handles, hinges (that are goopy, funky, gross, sticky, yucky from years of use, abuse, old paint, whatever could possibly be gunked in all the groves) clean? Or do you just replace them? That could get costly, and mess with the integrity of the piece... Do you paint over them? Leave them alone? What? Share with us!

Years ago, I came across an old gentleman at a Flea who sold hardware (huge amounts!).  Almost every piece was gross (all the words mentioned above).  His advice was to throw them in a pot of boiling sudsy water! Yes, you read correctly! He guaranteed all the funk, especially paint, would just come right off, and they would be just like new.  Hmmmm, well being respectful, yet skeptical, I bought a few pieces, all along thinking yeah right!  I never tried it, forgot about it or whatever, until the knobs on a piece I was redoing were perfect for it, but were gross.  So for whatever reason, I suddenly after like 8 years, remembered this gentleman/his advice (I know I'm weird, quirky - get used to it).

I remove the knobs, take them upstairs and yesireeee, I BOIL those babies!  What did I have to loose? Ok, ok the knobs that were perfect for the piece... but you know, sometimes ya just gotta GO FOR IT!  And you know what else?  I remembered to take pics to document whether it actually worked or not.  Usually I am so bad about that.  I was doing this stuff a looong time ago and hardly ever took a pic before or after, and certainly not step by step.  I was just getting the job done for a client or for the store. Never thought about blogging, or having a 'portfolio'.  (you are saying 'stupid head', I know, I know!)  Boy could I do a ton of posts if only I had a record of all those thing!!! (again, 'stupid head)

Take a look at what happened with the "BOILING" of the hardware:

BEFORE see the buildup? it isn't horrible, but not nice either...

almost to a boil..., maybe I didn't put enough dishsoap in...??

after I boiled them for about 1-2 minutes, the funk looked like w wax buildup, oh goodness!

what have I done?

so I grab my handy Bar Keepers Friend - this is what All-Clad recommends for cleaning their pots & pans, so I'm thinking it's gotta be ok for these knobs...

dab a bit on rub it in with my fingers

take my trusty scrub brush and hit 'em a few licks

PROGRESS! see the buildup of gunk coming off on the right side?!

WOW! really nice!

TA DA! they look brand spankin' new!

well, whaddaya know! I am not 'skeered' to boil hardware anymore!

Hope this will help you along the way in your DIY's!  Please share your tips and link back tot his post and we will have a handy little "helpful tips" list started...

Near the end of the page, you can find all the places I par-tay!  Be sure to take a look at these awesome sites!  Thank you for visiting and please come often!  It pickles me tink!

Jeep sandbox

As many have you may have read in an older post, I have been dabbling in DIY, paint, art, furniture, most things related for a loooong time.  I just never documented much of it.  I hate that, because some of my projects or attempts at projects would have made for great comedy!!  Sometimes things went great, and I just snapped a quick pic.

As is the case with this AWESOME sandbox I schemed in the middle of the night a few (maybe one day) days before little guy's 2nd birthday party (he's almost 4 now).  And it HAD to be built in time for the party!! DUH!  Hubs was astounded that I actually thought we could pull this off in the time frame, with everything else going on.  I didn't have a real blueprint, but in my mind I knew the look of it, the color, and the little details I wanted it to have.  I searched on line, & searched & searched for ideas, plans, instructions.  I can't recall what site I found (probably used 2 or 3) but this is a great one if you decide to do a fun project like we did.

With more pages printed out than you can imagine, I held my head high and marched right into Home Depot, a woman on a MISSION!  Oh the laughs those guys had at my big plans and my time line.  HMMMMPH!  I'll show them! and hubs!
Truck loaded down with wood, I made a quick stop at a parts store to get silver tape, 4x4 emblems, a rear view mirror and I was

headed out on the highway!
Get your motor runnin'!
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen!

And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen...

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild !
Born to be wild!

Did I just break into song?! Blue Oyster Cult at that! Hope you sang along, and didn't spill your coffee while laughing at me. I get these crazy ideas and think I am superwoman and can get a 3 day project done in less than a day or at least a day.  And I basically kill myself trying - but it is all fun.  If there were a camera crew following me sometimes, boy the out-takes there would be, and a lot of wet pants from laughing so hard.  It is all about fun, though, right?

Here a the only pics I have of this awesome project for my little guy...

 I wanted it to sort of look like an old jeep...

 the frame...

 the red barn paint...

 tape for the grill, mirrors for headlights, and the antique plate...

 4x4 emblem, steering wheel and rear view mirror

looks pretty good, huh?

 yes, we got more sand eventually...

 'hood' storage for all the toys

 the back end

and it stays parked near his clubhouse!


I had some of the wood, the paint, the hinges for the 'hood' storage, the steering wheel, and some of the sand.  I don't know exactly what it cost, but I would guess well under $75 (??).  I bought about 3 or 4 pieces of the large pieces (that you see on the sides and front) and the mirrors (like $4), 4x4 emblems (like $3), and tape.  We used a sheet of plywood for the bottom (which we also had).
But again, go HERE to see a good 'how to' if want to build one.  I did most of the work, except the heavy lifting, so I KNOW you can!  If you do it, please post pics!!

Have a great day and THANK YOU for being here! I really love you visiting with me!

Check PLACES I PARTY (near the bottom) to see where I link

Sunny Chair & Fabulous Frenchness

A few things were accomplished...and as I promised in my last post here are the AFTER shots!!  (I gotta get better at taking 'during' pics)

Here is a BEFORE of the sweet little chair:

 Unfortunately these pics make the yellow look a bit washed out... it's actually a bit brighter.  Well? what do ya think? does the yellow serve it well?  

I'm thinking a little pillow like this one above would help it POP some... I can just see it at a desk or as a side chair in a bedroom or any where really. Oh, it's for sale...so  let me know if you are interested.


And remember the french table?

It has a shelf, and it too, is painted fresh (duh! of course)

FRESH! huh?  As in {PAINTED FRESH} :)  I see this as a bedside table, perhaps between two chairs, lots of possibilities!  This too is for sale...

Check out PLACES I PARTY (near the bottom of the page) to see where I am linking up.  And, THANK YOU for being here!  I appreciate your support!  I would love it if you would "follow" this blog...just click over to the right under follow, easy peasy!

fabulous finds!

So, ya know how you find these great pieces at a yard sale, estate sale, on the curb, thrift store where ever you 'happen' to be, and they just beg to go home with you?? You know right?! Well, for me, I just can't walk away sometimes. Sad pieces with so much unrealized potential! Someone has to CARE!
So in my truck, packed like the Beverly Hillbillies, and home we go.  Hubby just scratches his head and helps me unload, mumbling under his breath the entire time, "I just wanted a garage, to actually park the cars.  I just wanted a clean, neat garage." Sorry hun, the cars are ok with rain, sun, sleet & snow - on the sales lot they aren't covered, so they feel more at home in the drive!! Ya think he buys it? yeah, NO! Bless his heart, to tolerate me & my shenanigans!

Ok, back to the PIECES... so you have 4 or 5 (10 or 12, who's counting, really?) and you have big plans, a time line, the perfect color, where it will go (if you are keeping it) and the price if you are selling it, yadda, yadda.  Something happens to throw you completely off getting them transformed into the beauties they are waiting to become.  But another yard sale is tomorrow and you still have that piece that the thrift store said they would hold for 4 days.  OH GOODNESS! The garage is slam packed full up can't even walk around!  YIKES!!! But I have more pieces that need to fit in here - some where!  And I'm sure there are sales I am missing today!

I could go on & on, but long story short, here are a few "inventory" pieces that are waiting on me.  SOON, very soon (the weather is warming up! YAY!) I will post the AFTER pics.  Don't you give up on me, now!! Stay with me!

hutch,

green barrel chairs

naked chair, sunny yellow?

3 drawer chest

french-ness

coffee table with the glass!

white with a bit of shabbyness??

very old with great bones - thinking red with a glaze??

can see in a foyer or used a petite desk...

two great cottage side tables

great little traditional side table

french beauty - well, soon to be

leather topped petite table

see the potential? green? blue? black?

buffet, white with a bit of distressing??

AND I would love your comments! At this point, I could use a boost! What colors, techniques do you see on some of these pieces?

thank you for being here!

I am linking up here:

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://www.iamalongfortheride.blogspot.com/

http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/2011/02/frugalicious-friday_17.html

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com

http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/

http://www.mybackyardeden.com/