Even though my slipcovers turned out cute, (as long as you didn’t look closely at the seams and corners!!) I still hate to sew.
But vintage sewing stuff is so cool. I love the color of the satin on this sewing box, and it is also a music box!
I listed it on Ebay yesterday after filling it with pretties. I know I will NEVER use it if I keep it around.
I try to tell myself that I can’t keep everything. That also goes along with the rule "you can’t buy everything" when you are at a flea market.
Luckily there is Etsy too. I have sincerely loved this venue. I don’t sell a ton of stuff, but enough to justify making more!
I would say that for me, Etsy is about the equivalent of a small art and craft show once a month. Without leaving my cottage!
I made two more button jars to list on Etsy yesterday, one full of blue buttons, with a blue lid, the other red.
But I didn’t make much yesterday, I felt like the day was a mishmash and nothing really got accomplished. I did clean house, babysit and go to the gym and that was a chunk of daylight right there.
I also re-did this cabinet, chest of drawers thing from a garage sale ($25).
It was grey to start with, I lightly sanded and primed it.
I used Zinzer Bullseye spray bonding primer. The only place I can ever find that product (best primer on the planet!!!) is Home Depot.
I always take the drawers out to paint them. And I do paint INSIDE the drawers of old pieces, so they are nice and clean and fresh. I rarely prime the interior, it doesn’t seem to need priming.
Never paint the outside of a drawer, though, that will make it hard to pull in and out. 
And of course, it is good to have company while you are working. 
I use a small, flat, wheeled square thing that I got at a garage sale for 50 cents to move my furniture. It is easier than maneuvering a dolly. I have built bigger ones like this with a piece of wood covered in carpet remnants and wheels from the hardware store to handle larger pieces of furniture.
I like being able to move almost any piece by myself without asking for help. So all the little tricks and tools I can get, I’m happy to use.
I debated how much time to put into this piece. I know it would have looked great with trim added to the top and the handles removed,their holes filled in with putty, and then glass knobs added.
But, I don’t sell furniture full time now like I used to, and I have few markets for the piece. I am having a sale in December, but if it doesn’t sell then, I’ll be keeping it.
So, I kept the project simple, and primed and painted over the existing handles. I think they have kind of a rustic charm about them.
I lined the inside of the opening with some of my favorite vintage wallpaper. It hurt me a little bit to cut so much off the roll! I usually am making smaller projects with it.
I know it would look great to line the drawers with wallpaper too, but I was being practical with this one. Fresh paint was good enough. Sometimes good enough is OK.
Hmm, if this piece doesn’t sell, I think it will make a pretty backdrop for photographing items I have to sell.
But these are not for sale- the book "Foof of Life" and a handmade bookmark with a tiny painted rose on it will be your prize for my 200th posting!
Today is #197, so check back and enter by leaving a comment on the day of my 200th.
Every comment you leave on any post enters you into my October giveaway, which will be your choice of a Cottage Collage Kit, or else something I have made from one, if you are not a crafter.
Last night, I went to a talk given by a good friend of mine, Louis Copt. He is an amazing artist and does paintings of Kansas landscapes that are so beautiful, you almost think Kansas would be a cool place to live.
Here is his website, take a look at his Prairie Fire series!!!
You are absolutely amazing. You get more done in one day than I do all week!! Oh the shame of it…….
I love the inside lining of the opening on the chest. Just lovely.
That book looks sooo good! Can’t wait for your 200th post!
Thanks for the painting tips! Your cupboard turned out beautifully. The wallpaper sacrifice was worth it! LOL.
I’m looking forward to your 200th post, as I have that book on my Amazon wish list and would love to win it!
Louis is very good. Thanks for the link! I enjoyed looking at his paintings.
Craig came home yesterday and said, “Why don’t we wait a bit” with Ellie. Of course the kids don’t know and were loving on her all evening. I have a feeling he could change his mind!
Karla, you are so funny. I love that you said that you didn’t get much done yesterday and then went on to list a bunch of things you did do. I’m like that too. I always wish I could get more done than I do. Your cabinet is just perfect and I like your wheel moving thingy. I need to make one like that, I know it would come in handy with all the schleping of furniture I do. I’m not to shy to tell you I would love to win one of your giveaways. You have the coolest stuff! Count me in, okay?!
Lisa
Your blog is always so interesting to read. You have fabulous ideas and suggestions. I appreciate all that you do.
It’s always nice to see what you’ve been up to!
🙂
Karla…that cupboard turned out so beautiful!!!!!! LOVE it!
Karla…
I love the the chest, see I would just keep it! I have a hard time letting go…
The wallpaper does it for me…
Priscilla
Love the cabinet. I plan to be the first person in the door at your sale, so it can become MINE! And I LOVE the wallpaper you used, too!
Karkiejo, I am always amazed at what you do, girl! Just stupendous. And I LOVE “foof”, “frou frou-y” and “girly girl” stuff and I think you just might be the “Queen”, honey!! LOL
Connie
oh i love the shelf!! great find on those yard sale items!!! me and you would be great bargain hunters! i always find great deals haha! thanks for stoping by my blog! its awesome to know i dont ust write this stuff for me to get it out! haha i like the fact that some ppl do notice me! haha well have a great day!!!
If that was a “not get anything done day”, I’m going to have to sit down to listen to what you accomplish on a GOOD day. Sheesh!
Good enough is sometimes the best plan. What’s the old saying “Finished is better than perfect”. What a cute helper you have. I was putting photo albums and boxes away in a cabinet the other day, moving them from another room and it was take out cat, put in albums, go get more and return, take out cat, put in albums, go get more, take out cat… repeat half a dozen times.
You get more painting done than anyone I know! I love the chest of drawers, it looks great! That little smiling puppy of yours makes me smile, it looks like she is smiling too:>) What a cutie!
I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and have had the treat of my life. Your painting just blows me a way,beautiful tags,the glazed wall in your living room and that super cabinet with the pretty paper!!Oh yes,I love your yorkies too.
Love the piece and all the FOOF you did to it!
go figure…lol…we are heading out on vacation tommorrow nite for a week…so i will for sure miss that 200th post…will try to check in…love that cabinet!
p.s. i gave you an award on my blog too…
Karla,
OOH! Yay I want that book! I will be sure to comment on the 200 th post. Great cupboard too!
great job on the cabinet. No wonder it was so hard to use ALL that vintage wall paper on the cabinet opening but it does look fantastic.
Alison
That came up well, dosen’t the wallpaper just finish it. Is your primer a spray on one? Will be back, that Foof book as my name on it! Bye – Rachael – xo
Unbelievable!!!
Love what you did with the wallpaper!!!
I heard a tip on drawers too ~ also not painting the outside of them so they don’t get stuck, but the guy on Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic show, Mark who fixes up all her things (she calls him her “associate” (LOL), ), says not to paint the inside of drawers and cupboards because the paint smell will never leave with them being closed all the time. So I scrub hard and rather than the drawer being ‘old’ inside, I line it with wallpaper, sometimes scented drawer liners. Something different anyway!!!
Hi Karla,
I like the bulls eye primer too. Last weekend my husband took apart the 1970’s tble I thrifted. He primed and sanded. He then put a coat of behr paint on it. He spent soooo long on this project. I felt kinda bad when I told him “really, please don’t make it perfect! I’m going to shab it up” I can just see his face when I start sanding all the edges and legs! Love the cabinet and the wallpaper is so pretty in there! I’m sending you an email on a funny thing that happened to me at the grocery store!
You didn’t get much accomplished!?
LOL
You got about 2X more done than most people.
Wow! Great give away for your 200th post.
~elaine~
Hey! My friend Cindy from Yappin’ Cat turned me on to blogging! I am now addicted and am just a little ‘ol Kansas girl transplanted to Texas that checks your blog daily! I really enjoy all your goodies. And I think Kansas can be a beautiful place to live(in it’s own way! LOL!) Even though you are in Lawrence(gorgeous town!) I just have to say….go wildcats! But, not too loudly after the game last weekend.LOL Thanks for all your creative inspirations! Gorgeous work!!!! You are very talented
Hi Karla, found your gorgeous blog with the link from Natasha. Love your site! So many beautiful things to see and read!!
I love the cabinet. Great job
Karen
Bluemuf
Love the cabinet, and it was a pretty productive day for a non-productive day!
Hi Karla
I was so excited to see you left a comment as I love your Blog it is always about something different you are doing and boy can you spot a good bargain.
I need to go shopping with you, you sure can pick an item well and turn it into something special. I wish I could create like all you wonderful talented Woman can it must be a great feeling to achieve the end result you were aiming for from the start.
So keep doing what you do I really enjoy it
Thanks again
Always Wendy 🙂
Karla,
How did I miss this yesterday???? I have no idea. It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with blogs. I want to comment on everyone’s blog every day!! Sometimes I miss one…sigh
Anyway – GOODNESS is that gorgeous. I love the wallpaper in it. The drawers look pretty deep. Too bad I don’t have more room in my kitchen or I would snag it for keeping pots and pans.
Love,
Julie
I love what you did to that cupboard! I would never be able to part with it!
Like your idea too of the little dolly. I am so like you – I like to move furniture on my own and that looks really handy. 🙂
I LOVE the cupboard (I’m a cupboard-lovin’ gal anyhow)! lol I love leaving old keys dangling from old drawers. =)
Thanks for the good tip about the primer!
Love the cupboard! Really like the light paint over the handles – great idea….
MimiG
I thought you said you didn’t get much done – I would say redoing that chest was quite a project! It looks fabulous. I understand it must have pained you to cut the wallpaper but it looks so perfect!
Karla
Good gracious! That is a lot to accomplish! You are so motivating and here I am at work!
Wonderful job on the old cabinet! It is beautifully transformed. I love your blog – I noticed on an older post the picture of your cottage’s original front door. I have two doors like that on my carriage house! I bought them at a salvage yard and put them in our newly built (but with all old elements) carriage house and then I took all the salvage windows that we installed in the carriage house and added the colored glass to match the doors. It is so magical with all those colors shining in the sun! Thanks for sharing your projects – very inspiring!
Great job on the cabinet. I really like the idea of the wallpaper lining. I’ve missed reading my fav blogs lately and I’m home today trying to catch up…WOW what a job that is. Thanks as usual for the great tips and post.
Hi Karla,
I think this is my second comment on this post! I’m drooling over your give away also! I meant to tell you your dog looks so adorable sitting in the shelf!
i love to paint furniture…this looks really good…blessings, rebecca
THe cupboard looks great, very inspiring to get going on some of my projects! karen b…
Dear Karla,
I love, love, love the wall paper you used on your cupboard! I know what you mean about using soooo much on one thing. I do believe on using the things you love, but just a little bit at a time hurts less..
Joy !
Good idea ” never paint the outside of a drawer”. Usually I paint every where.
The cupboard went lovely. The wallpaper is so so nice. I understand why it hurts cutting in it. /linnea-maria
Goodness I had to fight a crowd to get in here! That cabinet is great. So is the little dorkie…when do we hear their names?
Try to get something accomplished today Karla Hehe 🙂
Girl you amaze me, where do you get all this energy from. I would be in a coma if I did half of what you do. You go girl. oxoxox Clarice
oh, I just love catching up with all your posts…love this cabinet, and that vintage wall paper.
Mostly, I am envious of your sugarwing. (I hope my kids read this!)
Lidy:)
Who but you & Sugarwings could look so adorable with your bed-head hairdos!!
Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents