Right in Time for Basketball Season

Every so often the boy sends me some wall art he's found online, and it generally involves either Indiana University (his Alma mater), or the American flag. And I normally respond with something to the effect of, "Oh, I could make that." Of course, I never really get around to it. But this, my friends, is the story of a time that I finally did. Let's call it my own version of Young House Love's "Dude, Get On That Already" initiative.

This particular request involved making a pretty simple distressed wood sign that said "HOOSIERS" on it. Embarrassingly Fortunately, I already had everything I needed.

For the sign, I used scrap wood from the shelf for my dresser-turned-TV-stand. I sanded it with some 220 grit sandpaper, especially around the edges, and then sprayed a light layer of primer over it in my backyard. This step was probably unnecessary. Oh well.

Next, I painted the whole board red using a sample of red paint from Home Depot that I had from a Christmas project. I think I ended up painting about three coats, until I couldn't see through the red anymore. The paint was an eggshell finish (that's just what the samples come as), which isn't ideal for distressing. If I had started from scratch, I probably would've used chalk paint instead. I let the paint dry over night, and the next day got started on my lettering.

It would be awesome if I had a projector like Miss Mustard Seed does, but alas, I do not. I learned a while ago that painting over a stencil doesn't work nearly as well as just hand painting letters on, and since I was planning to distress this piece, I knew they didn't have to be perfect. I went online and downloaded a "Collegiate" free font and so that I could print out the letters and trace them onto the board.

Since I wasn't quite sure what size letters I needed, I used Photoshop Elements to create a mock up of the sign. I measured the sign and created a new file to the same size. Then, I typed "HOOSIERS" and made note of what size the font needed to be. I also downloaded an IU logo and added it at the beginning. I used my guides to determine how tall that needed to be too. Oh, and the font comes with solid letters, but I used the outline letters so that I wouldn't use up so much ink when I printed them separately on white sheets of paper.

Once I knew how big the letters needed to be, I created individual 8.5 x 11 files, typed two letters per file, and printed them out. I also printed out the IU logo. Then I cut out the letters, used my T-square (hello, studio materials) to make sure they were basically spaced evenly and straight on the board. Once I got everything placed properly, I traced the letters and logo onto the red board with a mechanical pencil.

To apply the letters, I used a small, flat brush to fill in the letters with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White. I think I did about three layers. One thing I learned was that going slowly didn't help give me straight lines. It almost gave me more time to make an error. Having a little speed ensured that I made one swift motion. Again, because I planned to distress the letters, I could de-stress about making perfect (har har).

After the paint dried, I took the sign outside and started to distress it with some sandpaper...but that just wasn't getting the job done, so I took my power sander to it.

After sanding, I wiped down the sign to remove as much dust as possible and applied a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax. I let the wax dry for a while and then took it over to the boy's house to surprise him.

He was pretty pumped. We hung the sign in his room over his TV with 3M command strips...and that's the only portion of the picture below that I will claim responsibility for.

So there we go, I finally finished the project that I told the boy I'd make, oh, maybe a year ago? At least I got it done before the basketball season started. I guess now I have to make the American flag sign too.

P.S. Check out the last IU item I made for the boy's birthday last year. 

Linked to: The Vintage Farmhouse, The 36th Avenue, Domestically Speaking

A Few Things for Sale

I'm cleaning out my house and getting rid of a few things I've accumulated but never done anything with. Help me get them out of my house!

Framed print of Kate Greenaway's Alphabet. This would look great in a nursery or small child's bedroom. $20.

Unusual Antique Chair. This chair is really interesting, and I've had trouble finding a similar one online, so I don't know much about it. It has a needlepoint bottom, but looks like it was caned at one point in time. $125.

Both items are for local pickup only. Send me an email if you're interested in either item!

Happy Friday!

I can't believe the last time I talked to you guys was almost a month ago. I was overwhelmed by the positive encouragement I received through the blog and through facebook comments. It's so nice to know y'all are rooting for me! I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate it.

School has been going well. I'm in three classes: Intro to Interior Design, AutoCAD 1, and Color Theory (all of which anyone in the DC area can take through the Corcoran continuing education program, b-t-dubs). Intro to ID and AutoCAD haven't been tough so far, since my degree in urban planning gave me a little experience in drafting and learning different computer programs. Color Theory is on a whole different level, and I'm loving every minute of it. It's challenging me to think in ways I've never thought before and verbalize thought processes I've had but never really paid much attention to.

This was my homework. How cool is that?

Over the course of the semester I'm going to try and give you some tidbits that I've learned. Of course I have to be careful not to divulge the whole course to you, but I think it will help me grasp concepts better when I force myself to explain some of them to you.

Hmmm....what else is there to tell you?

Oh yes, I am continuing to work while I'm in school, but I'm only doing 30 hours instead of 40. It's a bit of a financial strain, but it's also a huge relief to have my Fridays off to get school work done and run errands, since I am working and in class from 9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday.

I'm hoping that having an entire day off in combination with fall setting in (which is the best painting weather) will also allow me to crank out some more furniture projects, so look for those in my shop soon.

So there's a little update for you. I'm working on two little projects today, which I hope to write about this evening and hopefully post over the weekend or sometime next week. What's new with you guys? Any other savvy young somethings taking the plunge into a different field? Starting school? Making major life changes?

And totally unrelated, have you seen the amazing tumblr #myfriendsaremarried? It's AWESOME. And so accurate. Don't worry, even if you're in a long term relationship/engaged/married, you will find plenty to relate to. It will make your Friday. This one is one of my favorites.

Reorienting

Friends, it's finally time for the big announcement that I promised you all a few weeks ago.

   Source: chibijeebs.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Three years ago in May, I graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in urban planning. In the three years since I graduated, I've learned quite a bit about myself.

During college, I did an internship with the local housing department and became very interested in affordable housing and community development. As an urban planning major, housing fit my interests in both social responsibility and spatial planning. I continued down that path, writing papers about things like affordable housing located near public transportation and using my study abroad opportunity to study health in low income communities.

When I graduated from college, I did a few internships, got my first job, and six months later got my second job, where I've been ever since. My work right now primarily focuses on homelessness. While I remain interested in affordable housing and homelessness and love the people I work with, I have come to the realization that the work I do day-in and day-out is not the best fit for me.

As a kid, I was always interested in interior design. My parents literally had to hide packing materials from me because I would try to make something out of them. In elementary and middle school I drew pictures of the way I wanted my room to look and told my mom that I wished my furniture was light wood instead of dark (my-oh-my, how my tastes have changed). As a teenager I took on many DIY projects for my room, and happily went antiquing and furniture shopping with my mom. At thirteen I ordered college brochures from Parsons and RISD (nerd alert).

Then it came time to apply to college. I never took an art class in high school, and my knowledge of design only extended as far as my yearbook editor role. I had grown up pegged as one of the smart kids, and at the time it seemed silly for me to pursue a degree that would allow me to decorate someone's house. A few additional voices encouraged me to pursue more "serious" business than interior design, and I listened, deciding to pursue urban planning instead--still design related, but with deep roots in public policy.

                                                                     Source: milkandhoneyhome.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Fast forward to last February when I decided to start selling my refinished and refreshed furniture, using the Lucketts Spring Market as a jumping off point. Participating in the Lucketts market was a really good thing for me because I gained confidence, and suddenly a career in design or something related seemed not only possible but well within my reach.

In the past, multiple friends made comments about needing design help. "I'm not a designer," I always insisted, thinking back to the countless times I put something on the wall and hated the way it looked there, or the even more frequent times that I would paint or refinish a piece for a specific spot in my house only to realize it was totally out of proportion when I put it there. Hell, I still feel like our living room looks ridiculous. But at the same time, I would continue conversations with those friends, rattling off sources to look for coffee tables or ideas for inexpensive artwork, giving my opinions on color, and swooning over magazine and catalog photos. 

                                                                         Source: creativationspace.com via Sarah on Pinterest

It was around the time of the Lucketts Market that I started to be a lot more honest with myself in terms of what I really wanted, and what I pursued because I thought it was what people with degrees from prestigious universities who were "smarts kids" all their lives were supposed to be doing at age 25. I knew I wouldn't be happy staying on my current path, but the idea of getting a new job in the same field didn't really appeal to me either. It was kind of like this:



OK, maybe not quite that dramatic.

Finally, I decided to stop fighting my urge to look at design blogs all the time and the giddiness I feel when I see a beautiful piece of furniture, and I applied to interior design school. Tomorrow I will attend orientation as a student in the Corcoran College of Art and Design's Master of Arts in Interior Design Program. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Yes, I'm a little terrified. OK, I'm really terrified. Not only is this an expensive endeavor, I can't seem to stop second guessing my own abilities. What if it turns out that I'm really not very good at this? What if I can't find a job or I suck at owning my own business? What if all the other girls are cooler and prettier than me? I won't be able to afford the coolest clothes!

That terror is countered by thoughts like this: What if I get to shop for gorgeous furniture and get PAID to do it?!

And slightly more serious thoughts like this: Wouldn't it be cool if I could help people in need take some kind of ownership over their spaces? Wouldn't it be neat to create spaces that make people happier and healthier?

                                                                      Source: helloyouhellome.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I'm simultaneously terrified and thrilled. This is the biggest risk I've ever taken, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Let this adventure begin!

Gray Herringbone End Table for Sale

Hi friends! I realize it's been a long time since we caught up, and I'm planning a post to show you what I've been up to over the past month or two. I also have some pretty big news to tell you about. Until then, I wanted to let everyone know that my gray herringbone table I did a while ago is now in the shop.

If you follow me on Instagram (@sbridga), you may have seen her replacement this weekend. I bought this beauty at Home Goods in Tysons Corner and she. is. gorgeous. There was also a similar sofa table and smaller end table with a small chip in the mirrored top if you're in the DC area and share my love of geometric metallic goodness.

I still love the shape of my little gray table, but I just don't have another place for her right now and need to let go. Can't wait to send her off to a new home!

Update: This table has been sold. 

Beautiful Blue Chairs

Happy Saturday everyone! When I picked up this pair of chairs, the finish was poor and they had cracked cane seats. I really liked the scale of them and how skinny the spindles were, so I knew they were a good candidate for a re-do. I painted them in Benjamin Moor Advance Satin Marine blue, applied some upholstery webbing over the cane just for extra support, and padded them with batting. Then I used bold fabric from Premier Prints over the batting, and trimmed it out with white trim tape.

This pretty pair of chairs is now available in my shop. I can picture them at a little cafe table in the corner of an apartment. Have a great weekend!

Linked: Miss Mustard Seed, My Repurposed Life, Primitive & Proper, Redoux, Doodles & Stitches

Hinged-Top Waterfall Dresser

When I see a beautiful piece of unpainted furniture, I am often torn between wanting to keep the original wood, and wanting to paint it. Sometimes I make my decision based on the style of furniture. For example, something that screams 1970s is the worst of ways might look fresh and modern with a clean, glossy coat of paint. Other times, I find pieces that are so hopelessly beat up that only people who enjoy cruel and unusual punishment would attempt to refinish the wood.

That’s what happened when I stumbled upon this waterfall dresser on craigslist. It needed some serious help. Veneer was missing all over the place, the top had something crusted onto it, and a piece of the frame was missing between the top drawer and top of the dresser.

It was actually that missing piece that sold me. Seeing that 2 inch gap between the uppermost drawer and the dresser top made me realize just how much wasted space was in there. “I could do something with that space,” I thought to myself. So I went and picked her up in my trusty little Fiona Fit.

At first I planned to chip off all the veneer from the drawers and the top. That proved to be nearly impossible, even when I used vinegar mixes that were supposed to loosen the adhesive.  I ended up sanding the veneer off the drawers. Underneath the veneer was some kind of porous wood that had holes all over it (not just grain, but real holes). I filled the holes with wood filler, sanded them, and repeated the process. I also used some wood glue and clamps to tighten the drawer joints a bit.

After tackling the drawers, I got to work on the frame. The first thing I did was remove the top by unscrewing all the places it was connected to the frame and using a rubber mallet to gently loosen any areas that were glued down. Because so much of the veneer was left on the top that I couldn’t chip off, I sanded it down with my power sander as much as possible and then used wood filler to level out the places where the veneer was missing. This took a lot of layers of wood filler and sanding to get a good smooth finish. I used a sanding wedge to try and get a level surface.

Once I had tackled the top, I got to work on constructing the replacement piece for the frame. I couldn’t find 2 inch molding in the style I needed, so I glued two pieces of small dental molding and a couple pieces of wood from Home Depot together to make the top piece. Then I drilled a pocket hole with my mini kreg jig on either side so that I could attach the new piece to the frame. I also filled any cracks in my puzzle of molding to make it look like one piece. I used Kregg screws to attach the piece to the frame.

Then came the fancy part. I decided to build a shelf in the top of the dresser to utilize all that dead space at the top.  To do this, I had pieces of wood cut the size of the inside of the frame, drilled pocket holes in the them, and screwed them into the frame. Then I had a piece of higher-quality plywood cut to slightly smaller than the inside of the frame. When I got home, I used my Dremel Multimax saw attachment to cut out corners in the shelf to accommodate the four corners of the frame. To hide the gaps between the frame and the shelf, I cut small pieces of molding and glued them along the frame. It was a process, but it was oh-so-satisfying once I finished. Unfortunately I was so focused on building that I did not take a single picture of the process. Fail.

Once I built the frame, it was finally time to start painting. At first I primed everything with Zinsser Cover Stain, which I had read from various sources was the best primer to use. But the wood grain on the drawers was SO pronounced, and you could see where it was interrupted by the wood filler spots, so I did some research and found that if you really want to seal wood grain, you should use Zinsser BIN, which is shellac-based. So I used two coats of Zinsser BIN primer over the drawers and the whole frame to seal the wood. Shortly after, I purchased my Benjamin Moore Advance paint and read that it should only be painted over oil-based primers, not shellac-based primers or “undercoaters”. Whoops. So I sanded the surfaces with 220-grit sandpaper and applied a final coat of primer, this time using Zinsser Cover Stain. I sanded the surface again when I was done, and then got to the real paint.

Prior to applying the actual paint color, I made sure that the top actually fit on the frame. It’s a good thing I did, because the top wasn’t having it. When I attached the new portion of the frame, I inadvertently narrowed the space at the top of the dresser. No worries! I just sanded the sides of the top quite a bit, recoated with primer, and was ready to paint again.

I used Benjamin Moore Advance Satin paint in “Once Upon a Time”. It took three coats and some touch ups to get this baby covered.

After letting the paint cure for a loooonnnng time, I attached the hardware that would allow the top of the dresser to open up and allow access to the new shelf. I used regular brass hinges on the back of the dresser and a lid support on the inside. As I experienced with my TV cabinetdresser retro-fit, this took a few tries.

To give the dresser a finishing touch, I used Brasso and the rough side of a kitchen sponge to remove some of the tarnish that had built up on the original hardware. The hardware was REALLY tarnished, and I didn’t have the patience to remove all the tarnish, so I got it to a point where it looked a little tarnished but not dirty. I actually think that look works well with this dresser.

So there you have it, the story of rebuilding/enhancing this art deco relic. This girl came to the Lucketts Market with me, got a million compliments, but didn’t leave with a new owner. I think she is pretty taste specific, but I can picture her in a bedroom with her top shelf full of pretty little china saucers and teacups full of earrings and necklaces and bracelets and other pretty things. I also think she’d look really pretty with a mirror on that underside.

Update: I realized that I didn't bother to record that this dresser has a paper label on the back with a that shows that it was manufactured by Johnson Carper Furniture Company in Roanoke, Virginia, and that it was shipped to John Bujewicz in South River, New Jersey. It looks like the company started around 1927 and manufactured furniture through the 1930s, which confirms that this is an authentic art deco piece. Maybe someone will be looking up their family and read this blog and recognize the dresser or know how it ended up in this neck of the woods. Wouldn't that be cool? If you are a Bujewicz and you are around my age, this might have belonged to your great grandfather or uncle, or maybe it belonged to your grandmother. I got it from a family in Alexandria (maybe they are Bujewiczes too?). Anyway, let the powers of the interweb bring us together.

Linked to: Miss Mustard Seed, Primitive and Proper, Simple Home Life, Southern Lovely, Rolled Up Pretty, Embracing Change, Trendy Treehouse, Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue, 504 Main, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Shabby Nest, Common Ground, Redoux, Somewhat Simple, My Repurposed Life, Domestically Speaking, Primp, 52 Mantels, Tatertots and Jello

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