Impromptu Photo Shoot

I walked into my dining room this morning and the light was perfect for a little impromptu photo shoot on the buffet.  I grabbed some random objects that were on the buffet (at the moment the buffet is nothing more than a storage surface) and started shooting.

And just in case you were curious, this is how random the buffet looks at the moment.

I found the old wood piece at an antique store and paid $2.00 for it.  I'm pretty sure they thought I was crazy but I think it makes a perfect backdrop for photos.

Happy Leap Year Day!

Jane

One More Wood and Ironstone Display

I really didn't set out to make this "wood and ironstone" month on my blog but looking back at my posts this month, that definitely seemed to be the recurring theme.

So bear with me as I post one more wood and white project.

I found these old, wood tools a couple of weeks ago.  Two t-squares and a piece that I'm not familiar with.

I got the bundle of 3 for $5.00.

 For today's project I used the tool piece I'm not familiar with.

It measures approximately 33" in length, with metal on both ends and a metal rod that runs the length of the wood.

 My first thought was to simply hang the tool on the wall and clip photos to the metal rod but I ran into a small problem.  On the back side of the piece was a piece of metal which stuck out and prohibited the wood from laying flat against the wall.

So my next idea was to use the tool as a shelf facing.

Using a 1" x 2" stained piece of wood for the shelf, I glued the 1" x 2" to the back side of the tool (you can see the 1" x 2" extends past the protruding metal piece that kept me from just hanging it on the wall).

 After attaching some picture hangers on the back of the shelf, I hung it in my dining room.  The 1" x 2" is just deep enough to hold some of my platters and the tool facing piece extends about 1/4" above the 1" x 2" so the plates won't slide off.

 I think the best feature of this old tool is the metal rod.  

I didn't want that feature to go to waste, so I hung a vintage linen and a doily over the rod.

Now that this project is finished, I promise to make March a "wood and ironstone" free month.

Actually, I have been contemplating painting the dining room and may make that my big project for March.  The dining room has not been painted in over 10 years and I'm thinking it's time for a change.  I'm not sure what color....something neutral.  If any of you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!

Have a great week.

Jane

Tennis Racquet Press - Flea Market Style Inspiration

If you love to repurpose "junk" items, it's hard not to be inspired by the projects in Flea Market Style Magazine.

There were so many awesome projects in the magazine and one that really caught my eye was the tennis racquet presses repurposed into snack trays.

How cool are these?

(Flea Market Style)

I had a racquet press in my studio and I started playing around with it.

I didn't have any wood slats available for the base of the tray so I looked around the house and found a simple white plate that was a good fit.

I just sandwiched the plate between the two wood pieces of the press.

It's a simple interpretation of the Flea Market Style snack tray (and forgive my lack of "plate styling".....the only snack I had in my pantry was crackers).

Then I thought.....what if I used the press as a plate hanger?

I turned the plate around, screwed a cup hook on top for a cup and hung the press on the wall.

I love it!

And I think the screws on the bottom of the press would be perfect to hang an apron or some pot holders.

So what started as an attempt to make a snack tray ended up as a fun plate hanger for my kitchen.  Thanks Flea Market Style!

Jane

Ironstone Pedestal Bowl

A quick post today to show you a couple of thrift store finds I purchased over the weekend.

I couldn't believe my eyes when saw this Alfred Meakin ironstone pedestal bowl sitting on the shelf at one of my local thrifts.

This is one of the largest ironstone pieces I've come across.

It measures almost 7" tall and 10.5" across the rim.

To give you a size perspective, here's a photo of it sitting where I took my picture.

I think the bowl is a keeper for awhile.

The cubby piece the bowl is sitting on is a thrift store find too.  

My plan for it is to add a beadboard backing, paint, add a metal label holder to each cubby space and then hang for a display piece.  Sounds like a good weekend project.

I'm linking this with Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.

Have a great day.

Antique/Old Tools

I was very happy to see the theme for this weeks Saturday Nite Special party, hosted by Donna @ Funky Junk Interiors, is Antique/Old Tools.

I love old tools and really enjoy repurposing them into something new.

I have posted several tool projects over the past couple of years and thought I would repost some of the pictures for tonight's party.

One of my earliest tool projects was this photo frame holder made from an old screwdriver (it makes a great paper towel holder too).

Old wire brushes......

make great photo holders.

Muffler clamps......

are perfect to hold pictures or postcards.

Old oil cans.......

are repurposed into, yes......more picture holders!

Folding rulers.....

become Christmas ornaments,

and jewelry.

An old trowel......

makes a great hook for scarves.

Old yardsticks......

find a new life as a tray,

and a decorative star.

"C" clamps......

make great photo stands.

And one of my most recent posts, a vintage miter box......

is updated into a kitchen display.

When I go to an estate sale one of the first places I shop is the garage......gotta love the old tools!

Jane

Flea Market Style Oil Can Project

Have you found your copy of the Spring/Summer 2012 Flea Market Style Magazine yet?  I received mine today and I can't wait to sit down and read it from cover to cover.  It truly is the best magazine published for all of us junkers, antiquers and lovers of all things vintage. 

I did find a minute to do a quick flip through the pages because I was looking for one thing in particular.

There she was....page 6....my oil can jewelry tree!!

The title "Strike It Rich" is so fitting because I felt like I was the one who stroke it rich when I was contacted by the magazine last October asking if I would be interested in submitting a project for this issue.  To say I was ecstatic when I got the green light for this oil can jewelry tree project would be an understatement.  It was hard keeping it quiet these past few months but well worth the wait.

Here's the picture I submitted to the magazine.

And here's her supermodel shot!

All the details on making this simple project are in the magazine.
If you make one, let me know!

I want to thank Ki, Christine, Stacey and everyone involved with the magazine for this wonderful opportunity.  Seeing this in print has been the high point of my month.

Enjoy your weekend.

Jane