Between closing out my books yesterday, church this morning, 2 meetings afterwards, and a birthday picnic for our pastor this evening, I haven’t had much time to do anything but breathe! I decided I would share a project I just finished up last week, but one I started last summer.
I found this old TV (from probably the 50’s or 60’s) at a yard sale last summer. It was $6.00, but when the lady saw me looking at it and said, “You can have it for $5.00! It had a broken leg and was pretty scratched up, but I saw the hardware on it and said yes, before I even asked my hubby. WOW…a treasure to make my own for only $5.00! I remember being so careful with this battered, unloved piece as we put it in the back of the truck. We had to stop at a farm store on the way home and as we were walking into the store, my hubby sensed I was uneasy about something. He asked me what was wrong, and I said, “What if someone takes my TV out of the truck?” My hubby said, “Honey, it’s a $5.00 piece of junk to everyone else but you…I think it will be fine.” …and it was! When we came back out to the parking lot it was still there. WHEW!
On the way home I told my hubby how I was going to take the insides of it and turn it into a little bookshelf type piece of furniture. I didn’t know where I was going to use it, but it would be grande!
[If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.]
When we got home, I didn’t say a word, but my hubby got his tools and began taking the guts out of it…there were knobs and tubes and lots of meshy screen stuff…
It was kind of a pain, I know, but he didn’t say much. He fixed the poor little broken leg and pretty soon I had this blank shell of a piece just ready for me to do something with. My favorite part of the whole piece was the hardware closure in the front. It was absolutely beautiful to me… If you don’t like this kind of stuff…sorry… Look at this!
I decided I wanted to paint it a sort of duck egg blue and then stencil something on the front. I painted it and even painted over the hardware. But then I used a sand block and sanded lots of it off for a rough sort of look. It just glistened in some parts.
*sigh*
I went to Hobby Lobby and found 3 different stencils… 2 different birds and a leafy vine kind of stencil. I turned it one way then the opposite to get it the way it looks. Then I stenciled the birds on the branches… I’m no expert, but I just did what I thought looked best. I tried to make the sides symmetrical as best I could.
Here’s a close up…
Well… after I got it all done, and sort of distressed it, I couldn’t find any place to put it…It was 30″ by 30″ and pretty bulky. It was just too fat to use against a wall and was almost like a small refrigerator…
So in my sweetest voice possible, I asked my hubby if he could cut the piece in half and then add a shelf inside for me…which meant moving the legs in closer and more work for him… He must love me lots, because he did it. He marked it all across the top and down each side. Then it was jigsaw time and he cut that baby in half lickity split! He had to fashion a back for it, and now I had a piece that I could use somewhere. He messed up the sides so I had to repaint it. I decided the front was a little too distressed and evened that out some…
Here’s the inside after I painted it white…and you can also see the size of it now… half of what it was…
Right now I have it in my sewing room and have some laces stored in it. I need to get the rest of my laces sorted out and put in here, but it’s pretty nice now.
Now that “The Amateur Hour” is over, let me present my sister, Cindy, “My Favorite Painter Extraordinaire!” Seriously, she would probably be humble and say she’s not, but she is the wisest and most talented person I know and whenever I have a paint question, guess who I call. A while back I asked her to send me some of her “before and after” pictures of some of her pieces of furniture. She has an antique booth in PA and sells a lot of what she paints…
(Once again I was having troubles with the pictures being sideways.. I’ve worked for over 2 hours and the pics are right side up on my computer, but on my phone and ipad they are sideways… GGRRR!!! Could someone who reads this early, please let me know if these pictures are right side up on whatever you’re viewing them on? Obviously I need some “professional” help in the area of picture posting! Thanks!
Here is a piece she found at a yard sale for $1.00. It needed a top and some major work, but I think it’s one of her favorite pieces…she kept it…
Here’ a little nightstand I think she did for Hannah…
This buffet was in pretty rough condition too, but she transformed it and kept it too…
No before pictures of this pretty chest she painted but stained the drawers.
Here’s a table she did and has in her family room…
This dresser is up in her bedroom…
Here’s one last dresser she’s painted…
Isn’t she talented? When I grow up I want to paint like my sister!
Thanks Cindy,
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I guess I am that certain “someone” who reads your blog early, and I can attest to the fact that the pictures are right side up, at least for me! My gosh, what talent Cindy has! She must have a large home, because she has so many different pieces of furniture! Isn’t she all filled up by now?
You did a great job on your new “treasure”! That stenciling job is perfect! That was a great idea to cut it to make it fit more places you may have for it. it would even look good in a bathroom for towels if you have the room.
Yes, Linda my house is all FULL!!!?
Some ladies like & collect dolls and some like & collect (and rescue) furniture. Thanks Jeanne ( my pics were sideways) can’t wait to come see you and do a project together! I’m going to finish painting the tall jewelry chest today so I can take to the booth. I thought about using a stencil on it too.
HI Cindy,
It was fun to showcase some of your work today! I hope it blessed you and I hope you enjoyed the comments. I can’t wait to do another project with you too…
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Linda,
It was nice that my sister chimed in to your question about her house. She has a pretty big house but like she said, it’s full… But not cluttered. When she find something she likes better than what she has, she trades up and sells what she had. It’s a great business to be in.
My little cabinet would make a great one for a bathroom. Thank you so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I have to stay away from sales – or I’d be bringing things like this home. ….and I *absolutely* don’t have room for any more! Your refurbishings are wonderful! .. I never would have thought to cut something in half, tho! smart thinking and good execution of that thought!
Hi Mary,
I have to watch what I bring home too, as my attic can only hold so much…
I think this was our first “cut in half” project, but it worked!
Thanks,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m on a PC and the pictures are perfect…no sideways. Loved the furniture, such inspiration.
Have a great day!
Hi Jane,
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing the furniture fixes today instead of dolly dresses.
Blessings, Jeanne
Great job on your cabinet, Jeanne. The stencil choice is marvelous in my opinion…and…you did a very nice job on it too!
Yes, Cindy’s work is amazing…so fun to look at the photos and the restorations. Thanks for the restoration inspiration.
Take care.
Thank you Becky,
My cabinet did turn out pretty well for what all it went through to become what it is now!
I’m glad you enjoyed my sisters furniture make overs… Isn’t she good?
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
On my computer, all the pictures are right side up — and inspirational. I have a chest of drawers that needs work. Cindy has certainly provided some great ideas.
I love the hardware on your new cabinet. It was worth buying just for that. Between you and George, you did a great job with it.
Hi Marilyn,
I’m gad most everyone got to see the pictures right side up. I decided since most people were seeing them the right way, to just leave them alone.
Thanks for your compliments to my sister and to me. She is eons beyond me as far as talent goes and it’s fun to learn from her.
I hope you do something special with your chest…
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, Jeanne, I was going to say how much I LOVED your cabinet. It’s Beautiful!!! I love the color and the stenciling. Then, you go and show us what your sister, Cindy, can do… Geez, you two… I am gobsmacked! I don’t know what else to say. I love it all! What talented sisters you both are!
Thank you Cindy,
I’m so glad you liked today’s post about redoing furniture. I like your word “gobsmacked!”
We do have fun when we get together. I just wish we lived closer together…. :o(
Thank you Cindy,
Blessings, Jeanne
You and your sister have an eagle eye for furniture possibilities. Love, love, love antiques, but prefer that they are already finished. However, you both have given me inspiration to try the paint route. The pieces are absolutely lovely!
A lot of the photos of Cindy’s furniture were sideways. This is after I clicked on the blue header that takes me to your blog. However, in the email body itself, they are all right side up. Go figure!
Hi Karen,
Painting furniture can be something as small as a picture frame or a little stool. It doesn’t have to be a dresser or a table…
I don’t know why the picture go all haywire when I post them but since most people were seeing them right side up, I decided to leave them alone.
I’m glad you enjoyed today’s post.
Blessings, Jeanne
All photos are correct here.
Love your tv cabinet rescue. The stenciling is a lovely touch.
The before/after photos of the remakes by your sister are fabulous. I can’t pick a favorite, but the staging of each piece looks like a magazine photo shoot.
Hi Joy, thanks so much for your compliments on the furniture make overs. We both have fun doing what we do, and if you think my sisters photos were like something from a photo shoot, you should see her house… It is very nicely done, but still very much lived in!
Thank you so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love the stenciling on your cabinet, Jeanne. The little birds and vines are so sweet.
What a wonderful job Cindy does on fixing up furniture. It’s hard to believe they are the same pieces. I’m on a Mac and every single picture was right side up and perfect. I wouldn’t paint any antiques, but I am looking at vintage furniture differently when I go to the antique store. I am currently looking for another barrister bookcase like the one I have where I store my old books. It needs to be in pretty good shape because I don’t want to change the finish. I plan to use it as a dolly display cabinet so I can put my dolls and accessories out and keep them clean. I love how barristers let you open one section at a time.
Thank you Laura,
I’m glad you enjoyed today’s post. I know you aren’t a big fan of painted furniture so I’m glad you saw a few things that appealed to you.
I like barrister book cases too. They are so neat looking and keep things from getting dusty.
Thank you so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
On my HP laptop the pictures are fine. On my Verizon LG iPad thing, they are jumbled, some upright and some sideways. That kind of confirms my idea that it’s an interface problem between different camera programs and computers. Nothing we can fix!
You and your sisters are masters of refinishing. Things look better than when they were new. Great job on the TV cabinet. The painters trashed a table top and I’ve been given an estimate of $800 to have it redone. I may try it myself after seeing what you’ve done. As if . . . So glad the drawers on the Mower Parts were left au naturel. Amazing pieces.
I tried what Karen D did, scrolled down on the Verizon LG iPad without clicking on the blue heading and, sure enough, the pictures were right side up. When I clicked on the blue heading, they turned sideways. Not to worry about it, it’s called programming and we don’t do that!
Hi Susette,
I guess I worried about the pictures too much. I think you are right…it will be wrong for someone somewhere, so I’ll just make it right on my computer and hope it works for almost everyone else.
I think you should give the table top a try…You don’t have much to lose…
Blessings, Jeanne
On my tablet Cindy’s pics are sideways. I am a reader that would rather spruce up a wood piece of furniture and not paint.
We have three barristers , one floor to ceiling plus three bookcases. barristers are great for doll displays but we have many books too.
Several years ago .I asked my husband to donate all the many items in the garage that were stored to use on doll projects as I did not want to use anymore of his time on my wild ideas. If I cannot do it myself, I would not buy it.
Works for us.
Hi Jan,
Some people like stained wood and others like to paint it… Something for everyone!
Another lady who likes barrister bookcases… They are nice.
I’m glad you are happy to try things yourself…your hubby is probably the happiest…
Blessings, Jeanne
I don’t blame you for rescuing the TV cabinet. I like the hardware and also the graceful line of the legs. It must of been so elegant when it was new, and thanks to you and your hubby, it’s elegant again!
I agree your sister is quite talented and has a good eye for how to re-do furniture pieces. The coffee table is my favorite! How nice to take something many people would consider unusable and give it a new life.
Thank you Carolyn,
Yes, I’m sure the TV cabinet was a beauty in its day! I hope it likes its new home.
Yes, my sister is very good at finding old things to fix up. Today she was working on a jewelry chest and she sent pictures of it to me. It was beautiful!
Thank you,
blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I haven’t been able to visit in a few days so I had some catch up reading to do; but I so enjoy your blog. Love the dress you have up for auction, so pretty. Aren’t you clever making a purse out of a hat.
The chicks are really sprouting and still sooo cute.
Your daughters project looked so well put together, isn’t it awesome having what you need on hand? I too could open up my own craft store LOL.
It is fun to take a pre-loved piece and breathe new life into it. You and you sister are some very talented people!
Take care Jeanne
Ingrid
Thank you Ingrid,
I’m glad you came back to my blog posts and got all caught up on things. Things are always booming at my house, and my sister stays quite busy herself. She was working on a jewelry chest today and it turned out beautifully.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne