Can you say love?

I had the BEST light shopping day yesterday!  I came across not one, but TWO fabulous sets of lights!  I cleaned them up and rewired them... They are totally different in style, but I love them both!!  They are sooooo wonderful!  I just had to share them with you.  All of them will be listed in my Etsy shop. 

Going green... and salty!

My love for old things has left its mark on my kitchen counters.  I had a metal bucket with flowers sitting in the corner (actually trying to cover a stain that was there when we moved in) and when I moved it, there was a terrible rust ring on my counter.  Eeeeeeek!!  I tried to scrub it off but it was NOT coming off!  So, what did I do?  I put an old lamp over it!  Problem solved... or was it?!?! When I moved the lamp to clean under it, there was yet another rust ring!  Geeeez!  

 

I tried cleaning it with CLR, bleach (not together), soft scrub... you name it. NOTHING would save my poor counters. They would be permanently scared.   :-(  I sadly admitted defeat...   

Well... I was surfing today (on the computer, not the water... that's sooo not something anyone wants to see me try!) Anyway, I came across some great sites that listed a bunch of "green recipes". One in particular called EarthEasy caught my eye. Make my own laundry soap for pennies? Heck yea! Carpet cleaner without chemicals... I'm in! As my eyes scrolled down, there it was... RUST REMOVER! Could it be???? 


What magic potion is this? Reading... reading... "Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours." That's it? Salt and lime juice??!! No way that would work... would it?  I HAD to try!   

 







I pulled out my salt and lime...

  


 

I sprinkled on a thick layer of salt and then squeezed every bit of juice that lime had out.  Unhappy with it, I got out my "fake lime" juice and gave it another squirt.  Then some more salt.

I waited about an hour and had to see what was going on.  I could scrub some off!!!  I quickly covered it back up with the magic potion and let it set another 45 minutes or so.  After a little scrubbing... Ta-da!!!!  It's gone!  

You can still see a faint bit of color here and there, but for the most part, it's gone! The stain that was there... STILL THERE!  Darn it!  At least it looks better than it did! 

So, if you have a rusty stain (I can't be the only one!!), bust out the lime and salt!



Have a fabulous day!

Vintage Drexel Chairs Makeover

I came across two fabulous chairs and the ideas started flowing.  They have a very retro design... straight lines and very clean.  They would look so wonderful painted a bright red and covered with playful fabric.  BUT, the wood is soooo beautiful... I couldn't do it!

I went all over the place looking for the perfect fabric.  At first I purchased some cream colored fabric with a simple raised design.  It just didn't "do it" for me though.  Then I found IT!  A turquoise blue and off white fabric that looked retro, but still modern.  I've only covered one chair so far... I'll see what everyone thinks before I do the other.

I have no idea what this is... but I LOVE it!

I just finished creating a very unique light and I had to share it with you!  Why is it so unique?  I have no idea what it's made of!  I found this "cage thing" at Canton and fell in love with the shape and the fact that it is covered in lovely rust.  At first I thought it was an old bingo ball cage, but it looks like they were all round.  Anyway, I made it into a pendant light and I think it's fabulous!

 What do you think??  Any idea what it is?  I have it listed in my Etsy shop... can't wait to see how it goes over!

Loaf Pan Organizer - MY version

Good morning to you!!... or good evening if it's already night time!

A few weeks ago I came across a picture of a tin loaf pan organizer and fell in love!  After tracking it down, it looks like it actually came from www.ReadyMade.com, which is fabulous! There are two versions posted on their site.  One was posted by Lisa Gerber and the other, a remake by ReadyMade.

Well... I just HAD to have one, but I wanted a few modifications.  I added a little wooden shelf that I made from a piece of fence panel.  I think it turned out adorable! What do you think? 

 

How to make

Supplies:
- 3 old metal loaf pans
- 2 equal lengths of chain
- 6 S hooks
- 2 pieces of wood, equal in length (equal to or greater than the length of your pans)
- drill w/ 1/4" drill bit and screw bit
- 2 90 degree angle brackets
- 6 short screws (1/2")
- 4 long screws (1")
- Paint: color of your choice (optional)
- Paint brush (optional)

Directions
- Paint your wood pieces now if you plan on painting them.
- Attach the two pieces of wood together using your brackets and small screws.
- Drill two holes, one on each side of the pan, 1" from the edge of the tin and close to the top edge.
- Measure the distance between these two holes and repeat on each tin.
- Attach the chain to the shelf using small screws. Chains should be spaced apart the same size as the holes in your tins.
- Attach the pans to the chains using your S hooks.

Tips:
- It's easier to make if you mount the shelf to the wall after you make it and then attach everything.
- If you want to secure your pans to the wall (I did), use a screw in the bottom curve of the pan.
- If you want more security, you can always screw the bottom of the chains to the wall.


If you would like to make one of these and need any help, just send me an email with any questions.  If you do make one, I would LOVE to see it!

Have a fabulous day!!!

Blog Hop Time!!

It's time for the FOLLOW ME BY FRIDAY blog hop! Click on my froggy friend below to participate!

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Happy Mother's Day!!

I wanted to wish all of you mothers out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!  I hope this special day brings you many smiles and great memories!

As my gift to  you, I'm running a 25% off sale today in my Etsy shop... www.coveyleelighting.etsy.com.

Smiles,
Jen

I don't know if I can part with it!!

I made a new chandelier for my Etsy shop and I have fallen in love with it!  I just don't know if I can part with it!  It's made with old metal tart pans.  Nothing fancy, but I love the way it looks in my dining room.  Sigh...

Here's to all the simple things that brighten your world!
Smiles,
Jen

Just a few items I've been working on...

I've been sick lately, so I haven't done much.  Here are a few repurposed / recycled item pieces I did get to work on...

Pendant light made from discarded galvanized duct. Very industrial look and feel!

Wall sconce made from a cabinet door, antique door hardware and a few other found pieces. Rustic but lovely!

SOLD - THANK YOU JAINA!

I just love making unique items like these!!!

Smiles,
Jen

Thought for the Day... 3/1/2011

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

~Alan Kay

... A very empowering thought! Going back even further... To invent something, you usually plan. You can only plan what you can imagine. So... if we can imagine our future... we can plan for it.  When we plan for it, we can invent it and make it so!  In short, our future is only restricted by what we can imagine!


Smiles,
Jen

My First Chair Makeover...

Well, I found it!  My first chair makeover victom  contestant!  One of my customers requested something special, so I headed to one of my favorite thrift stores to see what I could find.  I pull into the parking lot eager to see the furniture sitting outside (it's usually great deals).  A dresser and side table... not bad.  A folding table and chairs... no thanks.  An electric scooter... I actually laughed out loud at that one - ha!  And then I saw them... CHAIRS!  My eyes drifted from chair to chair unimpressed until... there she was! 

Such a sweet little chair.  All she needed was someone to take her home and give her some TLC.  Short on green and space, I told myself I would only get her if the price was REALLY right.  I asked the cashier how much she was.  Her reply?  Ready?  Drum roll......  ONE DOLLAR!  Yes, that's $1.00!  Holy cow!  So, needless to say, I took her, and a fabulous vintage lamp that I couldn't pass up, home with me!

The GOOD:

- Strong body

- Firm cushion

- Interesting design

- Casters - LOVE the casters!

The BAD:

- Nothing really, just a few splintering pieces on the woven part.

The UGLY:

- The fabric

- "Brass" strips down the legs and around body - ewwwww

- Outdated color

So, I'm thinking a new coat of white paint (I know, just what this world needs... another white chair - shhhh!) and some updated fabric.  One problem... I can't decide on the fabric!!! A shabby floral? Stripes? Polka dots? Yellow?  Green?  Blue?  Here are a few that I like... 

 Any thoughts? 

Stay tuned for updates!

Smiles,

Jen

UPDATE!!

Well, I finally finished it!  I think my $1.00 chair makeover turned out fabulous! 

The only thing I haven't done is screw the bottom cushion back on. I misplaced the screws and haven't been to the great Home Depot to get more... So, I figured I would show it as is... although the seat is sitting a bit crooked at the moment.

It's going to look lovely in my living room.  A great replacement for my old rocking chair!

Smiles,
Jen

Here it is!!! My new chandelier!

I finished it and snapped some pictures.  My new chandelier...  What do you think?  It's made out of a vintage colander some old chain and some mason jars!  I LOVE IT!!!

 Can't wait to see how it goes over...

Smiles,
Jen


SOLD! 
This chandelier was purchased on March 3rd.  Thank you Jodi!

My China Hutch Makeover

This china hutch was passed down from my father-in-law.  Nothing really special, but I wanted to keep it.  The problem? ... the color was very outdated.  So...  I grabbed the paint and off I went!

I can't find the before pictures, which kind of defeats the "before and after" aspect of this, but I wanted to post it anyway.

It use  to be that regular old brown wood with double doors on the front. I removed the doors and all of the glass, which I felt gave it a "Gone With the Wind" feeling... Don't ask me why I call it that, I don't know... romantic maybe???.  I beat the heck out of it with all kinds of torture devices, primed it and then painted it with a lovely green. After that...a creamy white. When it was almost dry, I started distressing it.  I love the way it distresses when the paint is still damp... gives it a REALLY old look, not just worn.  After it dried, I used sandpaper to it and finished it off with some Ralph Lauren faux glaze in tea stain. I just love how it turned out!

I had a great time with this piece.  Now I just have to fill it with all my pretties! 
Smiles,
Jen

UPDATE

I put some pretties in it... It's looking so good!

 
 

Another one of THOSE days...

Another lovely day in Texas... not!!!  It decided to snow/ice last night - again, so the boys are out of school and we're stuck in the house - again!  Can you actually get cabin fever if you're not in a cabin?  Two days ago we had on shorts... I guess this is one of the great joys of living in Texas.

I don't understand why anyone would live where it snows like this for months at a time.  How does your head not fall off and roll around on the floor?

Wish me luck!
Smiles,
Jen