Furniture Refinish Part 2

Well these were a pain in the BLEEP but I am very proud and happy with the way they turned out.
Lets start with the dresser

BEFORE: 

This was in bad need of a re-do you can see it here but the finished looked like mustard was smeared all over it.  Then to top it off white spray paint was sprayed on the top and spattered all over the mirror.  It took many scrapings and tedious sanding but I got the top nice and smooth.

AFTER:

I wish the lighting was better, but this is a nice warm pink.  IT is hard to find a warm soft pink but I did it and I am very pleased with it.  The white spray paint came off the mirror with a razor blade and my needle work looks great above it.  The white frame (and the gold one you can see reflected in the dresser mirror) is next to be re-finished.







Now onto the Desk and Hutch, I drove by this on the side of the road on my way to take Trinity to Gymnastics.  I liked the feminine shape.

BEFORE:

My Son thought I was crazy when I asked him to help me load this on the truck.  But it had nice lines and was in good shape.  Not as well made ad I would have liked but I could make this work.

AFTER:

As you can see it fits in perfectly in my girly Rose room.  I decided to make this a creamy antique white, not wanting to go pink and make everything too matchy, matchy.  I am on the hunt for drawer pulls.  Originally on the hutch drawers were two nobs and plastic pulls on the desk drawers.  I didn't like them at all.  The trouble is the holes on the hutch are closer than the drawers on the desk.  I also need to raise the hutch as it is too low for a computer.  I have an idea in mind that I think will look great.

Furniture Refinish

I have been busy, busy, busy.  In-between everything I am working on my bedroom furniture.  The bedroom suit is very old and out-dated. At one point someone took a can of white spray paint and sprayed the top of the dresser and side table, not even bothering to try not to get it on the mirror.  Well, it was free.

The side table use to look like the dresser...YUCK! You can kind of see the white paint on the mirror.
  Being as chicken as I am I started with the side table to see if I could live with the pink.

I couldn't get the dresser out in the garage fast enough after I saw how the side table turned out.  The paint was Glidden Barely Blush in an Eggshell finish.  I then topped it off with several coats of a Semi-Gloss shellac.
On my way to taking Trinity to Brownies I saw this sitting out front of a Thrift store

It is not as well made as the bedroom suit but it had the soft shape I wanted.  The structure is sound but it was not well taken care of...someone taped the drawers shut, Sam carved and wrote their name several places on it.  But I am thinking a nice Antique Cream color...I don't want to go with the soft pink...way too matchy matchy for me.

The bed to the suite is OK the mattress slides down from the headboard then my pillow slides down between the mattress and the headboard...total pain. Besides you really cant even see it, its in the first photo.  I have another bed in the basement...solid wood.  Once I have everything finished and my back stops hurting and I can walk again after sanding and painting the rest of the furniture I am going to tackle it.

WIP - Blue Wave Poncho

The Knitting:

I know its hard to see my poncho it really looks like an afghan gone terribly wrong.  You knit one side then put half on  a holder.  Knit the front..put it on the holder...go back to the other holder and kit the back...knit the front and back together finishing up on the other side.  It is very easy just seems hard.  Once finished I will share the pattern and a photo that doesn't look like a blob.

The books:

Book on CD:  Seer of Shadows

By: AVI

The Author also wrote the Poppy series that my children and I enjoyed very much.    Though this book was in the childrens section I would not advise that children listen to it.  To me this was more a Teen story.  It was well written but not one of my favorites...still I enjoy books on CD while knitting at night in bed before going to sleep.

The Seer of ShadowsThe time is 1872. The place is New York City. Horace Carpetine has been raised to believe in science and rationality. So as apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer, he thinks of his trade as a scientific art. But when wealthy society matron Mrs. Frederick Von Macht orders a photographic portrait, strange things begin to happen. Horace's first real photographs reveal a frightful likeness: it's the image of the Von Machts' dead daughter, Eleanora. Pegg, the Von Machts' black servant girl, then leads him to the truth about who Eleanora really was and how she actually died. Joined in friendship, Pegg and Horace soon realize that his photographs are evoking both Eleanora's image and her ghost. Eleanora returns, a vengeful wraith intent on punishing those who abused her.

The Middle Moffat

By Elanor Estes

I adore Elanor Estes home town style books, the Moffats are one of my favorite families and I am happy that there are several to read.  I like to read to my kids before bed (before I snuggle into a book on CD) and anything by Elanor Estes is always a popular choice in my house by both children. (13 & 8)  You are always left feeling good.

Who is Jane Moffat, anyway? She isn't the youngest in the family, and she isn't the oldest-she is always just Jane. How boring. So Jane decides to become a figure of mystery ... the mysterious "Middle Moffat." But being in the middle is a lot harder than it looks. 
In between not rescuing stray dogs, and losing and finding best friends, Jane must secretly look after the oldest inhabitant of Cranbury...so he can live to be one hundred. Between brushing her hair from her eyes and holding up her stockings, she has to help the girls' basketball team win the championship. And it falls to Jane-the only person in town with enough courage-to stand up to the frightful mechanical wizard, Wallie Bangs. 
Jane is so busy keeping Cranbury in order that she barely has time to be plain old Jane. Sometimes the middle is the most exciting place of all.

Propagation Update on Marigold Mondays

Hey all I wanted to share my propagation update with everyone.  Since I orrigonally posted it here I wanted to share the link of how my experiment is progressing.
I have successfully propagated a very expensive plant over and over again.  YEAH BABY!

MARIGOLD MONDAYS

The Grandfather Clock

I am so excited!This news had to be shared...
Almost Ten years ago my father gave me this Grandfather clock.  I could never get it to run...so it became a big beautiful non running decoration reminding me of a lovely childhood.

Last week we cleaned the carpets and moved furniture around and something tall needed to go in a particular narrow spot. Alex suggested the Grandfather clock...goodness it would look good and maybe it would work again...So we did and it started ticking!  Ever so gently the weights and the pendulum where hung.  I checked it for plum and adjusted it to be perfectly level... Holding my breath I nudge the pendulum into motion and it started humming. After I set the hours and moon dial I gave it a good polish.

But the best part of this clock is a plaque that rest inside.  See this clock was an anniversary gift that my parents (Stepfather and Mother) bought for each other on their first anniversary.  They are the only couple I have ever know that were truly in love with each other.  As a child I would wake to the chiming of the clock and hear its warm ticking sound.  Down the hall my parents would be laughing and chatting in the kitchen as they did their Sunday morning ritual....turn on the coffee pot, go for a stroll, make breakfast together then just sit and soak up the warmth of each others company.  Their love for each other extended to me and my sister, my childhood was full of hugs, kisses and laughter.

It is a privilege to have this in my home.

Washington Pie for Washingtons Birthday

I thought I would have some fun and celebrate the Birthday of our first president with some Washington Pie

As impressive and sexy as this cake looks it was a cinch to make.  It being so simple makes it a great show off cake, so I invited my girlfried over with her kids...she things I am a home making deva.  Shhhh don't tell her the truth.

Washington Pie
1 Stick of butter at room temp
1 Cup of Agave (or sugar)
2 large eggs
1 2/3 Cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Cup whole milk
4 T Kirschwasser
1 18oz jar raspberry preserves
Powdered sugar to decorate the top

Oven 350

Grease and flour two round cake pans.  Line the bottom with wax paper, be sure to flour and grease the wax paper as well.
Cream together the sugar and butter.  Add the eggs one at a time mixing well in between.
Mix the flour and the baking powder together.
Alternate adding the milk and the flour mixture to the butter and eggs.  Beginning and ending with the milk.  Beat until it is light and fluffy, this is a very thick batter.
Spoon batter into pans and spread out the best you can...it will spread some.
Bake for 20 minutes, the cake will pull away from the sides of the pan when it is done.
Let them rest for 10 minutes.
Invert onto cooling racks and peel the wax paper off and let cool completely.
In the meantime stir the raspberry jam and kirshwasser together.
Cut the cakes in half so you have four layers.
Place one layer on your cake plate and spread with jam mixture.  Repeat two more times then place the last layer on top and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  You can make the top pretty by cutting out a wax paper round like a snow flake or paper doily.