Favorite Projects of 2014

As we sit here together post-Christmas, we're thinking about our favorite projects and upcoming plans for 2015.

Let's start with our 2014 list:

#1 The Paris Street Market
This was our first joint venture and it was a huge success despite lots of heavy lifting. We loved planning, displaying and selling. It was wonderful to see so many of our friends and followers come out for the event as well. View the posts about our goods and the market here, here, here, and here.

#2 Refreshing Kandy's Master Bedroom
This refresh included new bedding, new paint, new draperies and an overall lightening up of the décor.

#3 Creating a Funky Junk Mailbox
Dwight got involved in this DIY project---so much so that we call it "Dad's Project." The results are still holding strong! 

#4 DIY Penny Ball
Kandy and Dwight got creative with a bowling ball and lots and lots of pennies to create this unique yard art (which has now been moved inside).

#5 A New Old Farm Table
Kandy found and refinished an old farm table for Karli's new dining space. It made a huge difference in the transformation of the room!

#6 Giving an Old Christmas Village New Life
After years of storage in Kandy's barn, these ceramic houses got a new modern look. Karli is loving the finished product.

#7 Karli's Christmas Tree Makeover
After imagining a white, light tree Karli is thrilled with her new ornaments and tree elements.

#8 Painting the Front Door Black
Kandy painted her front door in May and hasn't looked back.

As we enter the New Year, we'll be sharing a few things we're excited to start, continue and/or finish in 2015. More to come!

We wish you all a safe and happy end of 2014.

Kandy and Karli

Painted Furniture Reveal

I spent the weekend painting, sanding, touching up, cleaning and finishing several more pieces of furniture. They'll be displayed in our booth at the Paris Street Market on August 2nd. If you see something you love, make sure to come see us!

Up first....do you remember those chairs I found a few months ago? They were covered with a blue pinstripe, so I reupholstered them in a lovely khaki linen. I seriously contemplated a large black number on each seat. I may offer that fun option if someone buys these.

 

Up next, take a look at how these tables turned out. They each needed some TLC and a more modern look. (See their original state here)

 

 

 

 

I also have this black dining table and four very sturdy black chairs. The chairs are really comfortable!

 

This large square black coffee table has great chunky legs.

This smaller square side table would be perfect next to a reading chair.

On Friday we're going to announce a wonderful surprise for our loyal blog readers who are able to come see us on Saturday. Stay tuned!

Karli

Engagement Party for the Future Weber's

Call me the matchmaker...

A few years ago I decided I wanted to set up one of Brent's best friends, Jeremy. And I don't want to give anything away, but by the title of this post, I think you have a pretty good guess how this ends.

I knew the right girl for him would have to exhibit certain unique qualities. She needed to be active, up for anything, easygoing and kind. She needed to be a loyal friend, understanding and compassionate. She had to be as beautiful inside as she was out. Most of all she had to have a passion for life and a contagious laugh.

I found that girl in my friend Tara's sister, Alise. I knew right off the bat that Jeremy would find her attractive---I mean come on. She's got big blue eyes, long thick blonde hair and an athletic petite body.

Fast forward a few years later and they're engaged! I couldn't be more excited for them. They seem to make one another so extremely happy. They build one another up and lift each other's spirits.

So this all called for a party!

Address and phone number blurred out on the image--I promise I didn't send out invitations with smudges on them :)

We sent out invitations---real paper invitations. I wanted it to feel special for all the guests that Alise and Jeremy chose.

For appetizers I made simple caprese skewers, prosciutto wrapped melon and these little bites...

 

 

 

I was inspired by some apple onion jam my friend Shelley gave me for Christmas. So I added a bit of goat cheese and a sliver of pear atop a simple cracker.



 



As always, my philosophy is that simple food is usually the most appealing and delicious. Caprese skewers could not be any easier to assemble.

The tables were set simply as well, with a mix of cloth napkins, our white plates and silver utensils. Because of the number of guests, I squeezed two dining tables into the room...with seating for 15. It was cozy but I think it worked fine.

 

We decided on one signature drink for the evening---sangria! Since the theme of the food was Italian, I wanted something that sort of went along. It was a HUGE hit and I plan to make it more often. We probably could have used two of these! 

 

 

Brent and our friend Tom enjoyed a few glasses in the backyard as the guys played cornhole. The girls stayed inside and shared funny stories around the dining table.

For dinner I made two different kinds of lasagna, salad and breadsticks. We were so busy having fun that I didn't take pics. Same story for dessert which included two different kinds of Salted Caramel Gelato Pie (one was coffee and one was vanilla).

 

Look at this sweet couple! They bless us with their friendship and kind hearts. This was the very least we could do for them.

But secretly I do love that I can say I set them up on a blind date :)

Love and blessings,
Karli

Karli's New, Old Farm Table

Karli's birthday is coming up soon.  Almost every year she gets something homemade or refinished from Mom and Dad.  I guess it is just important to me that her gift is something made or remade with love.  This year will be no exception. 


She is getting a New, Old Farm Table.  She has a dining table now.  In fact it is one I repainted for her ten ?? years ago.  It is black and still in good shape......she may be selling it.  She has been saying she wanted a larger one and she wants it to be white.  She also likes the look of distressed, recycled wood on top.  Great.....


I staged a house for resale last month and was partially paid with furniture.  One piece was an old farm table that had been in the owner's shed for years.  At one time the top
had been covered with oil cloth.  That had been removed, but the old tacks were still buried in the wood.  These had to be dug out.  And as if that wasn't bad enough, the top  had then been recovered with Contact Paper...........why do people do that?  The legs were dirty yellowed cream paint.  Other than that, it was in great shape.

I did not have great success trying to pull or scape off the old Contact Paper which had probably been on since the 1970's.  I ended up using the blow dryer to heat up the Contact Paper, making it pull up easier.  I still had to do quite a bit of scraping. 

Then I discovered underneath the Contact Paper that the top was painted the same yellowed cream.  Oh NO.....Karli wanted a dark wood top.  So out comes the stripper.
Did I mention that I love to STRIP!

This old table had been used for years as a "utility" table for craft projects, planting, and as a surface for small home repairs.  But, Karli said she wanted distressed.  Dwight kept asking when I was going to get out the big sander and wood putty.  I kept reminding him that this table had history and character, both of which would remain.  Karli and Brent wanted a table that could be abused, one that had that rustic feel, kind of a Pottery Barn look.


I did repaint the frame and old legs white, (Karli's choice now), but I distressed them. The top got stained dark, leaving some old paint down in the pits.  It then got 3 coats of Satin Polyurethane, (sanding with steel wool between coats.)   Here is what Karli's New Old Farm Table looks like now:

And here is Karli's New, Old Farm Table at her house.....
   

(She would like me to let you know that she'll do a full post with the final look of the room soon)
Happy Birthday Sweetheart!
Kandy