Reloved Window

I’ve always had a thing for old windows.  Years ago I dragged my dad out with his pick-up truck when a local nursery had changed out their windows and there was a stack of the oldies outside.  He was always game for my nonsense and we loaded up his truck.  I hoped to one day make a greenhouse with them but dad is now gone so…. so is that dream. 

I’ve since dug into the stash and done some upcycling.  You can see some of those projects here. 

My latest project is similar to this one that I have over my bed….

I did this one for the shop……

I used waistband elastic to hold the pictures in place.  I glued two strands across each pane on the sides (you can see them below) so that the pics can be easily changed out.

NEXT!

Weathered Window & Wire

While I’m in window mode….why not do another.   I did this one a few days ago.  

The glass was intact so it was perfect for adding my flower pics to.  The next one was a little rougher.  No glass.  (Although they both had the same fuzzies and could have used a shave!)

Chicken wire to the rescue!

 

I didn't have a D-ring to hang it so I improvised.

I used a pop tab from a soda can and voila!

A new place to hang keys, the dog leash, etc.

Installed and ready to use. 

P.S.  If you’ve never used chicken wire, beware… it bites!

Flowers & Weathered Wood

 Two of my favorite things!   As a matter of fact I was supposed to be outside planting flowers this weekend but Mother Nature had other ideas.  So instead I spent my time inside…. printing flowers.

I needed some wall décor for my freshly painted breezeway  /mudroom so I pulled out an old window that I cleaned up earlier.

There was an odd ‘fuzziness’ on parts of it –probably from being out in the rain.

See?  I sanded it off as best I could but it was tough to get at without breaking any glass.

I dry-brushed the paint on and lightly sanded with a sanding block.  That took care of the fuzzies pretty well.  Then I chose the photos for the frames.

I wanted the pics to be removable so that I could change them out seasonally so I added 2 bands of elastic to the back to hold the pics tightly to the glass.    They are  easily removable when I want to change them up.

And this is the final result!  

Easy…and free!
I'm linking up to Catch as Catch Can hosted @ My Repurposed Life

Bigger Isn't Better–OOK Picture Hangers

This post is less about what I did and more about what I found.  So no “before” just an “after” pic.

I painted this huge chalkboard over a month ago and it has been sitting in my garage ever since.


It’s big and heavy and I was worried about hanging it on the drywall in the shop for fear that it would come crashing down.   I finally decided that I was being silly.  First of all, it wasn’t going to sell sitting in the garage and, secondly, I was getting tired of moving it around when I worked on other projects! 

So off to the hardware store I went.    Looking for industrial sized picture hanging ‘equipment’.  Bigger is better, right?  

Since I prefer the local mom & pop stores that's where I headed.  I was greeted by a very helpful guy when I arrived.  I told him what I was looking for.   Already knowing in my head that what I needed were some big honkin’ wall plugs,  screws, etc…..a drill, hammer….    He suggested that I try these.

He told me that they are much easier to use and only require a hammer to install.  They hold up to 100 lbs.  No drilling for wall plugs, etc.  I was hesitant but he seemed to know what he was talking about.   Well let’s just say that it pays to ask questions.    I had the chalkboard hanging on the wall in less than a minute.

Lessons learned?   Use the local stores whenever possible.   Ask questions.  (That’s what they’re there for.)  I might still be standing in the aisle of the big box store with a blank look on my face.

Antique Chandelier–Part 2 – Rewiring, etc.

After the task of dismantling and cleaning the chandelier (posted here), it was on to the task of rewiring and putting it back together.

First up. Opening the bottom to pull out the old wiring.   The old wiring that went into each of the “arms” was left alone since it looked “healthy”.     So I just pulled the main wire and connected a new one through the center.  I simply unscrewed the electrical connectors (black doodads).

I intended on using a kit with an inline switch but because it was an older chandelier, the new wiring was too chunky to go through the narrow pipe.   I called a friend who has supplies (and skills) for virtually every project.

Since she never disappoints, she had a smaller old electric cord and showed me how to install an inline switch.   Yahoo!  New skill acquired.

Although my drawing skills might be lacking, this diagram helped me to put it all back together.

As I started to put it back together I felt that the old gold’ish color was not really giving it what it was worthy of .  So.  I.  painted. it.

Sacrilegious?  Perhaps.  But so much better!

Still a work in progress but the full reveal is coming soon.