Thursday, May 27, 2010

My Favorite Things, Part 3


UPDATE: I'm reposting this entry because, well, I wanted to link it to a DIY Project at the CSIProject.com. The theme for this challenge was paint and I remembered my favorite painting project was the Tin Tin dresser. I have more updated projects (repainting my dining room hutch, reusing a craiglist dresser as a kitchen island) which I could post but am too busy with other projects to get the photos. So here's my favorite and here's the link to other CSI projects.

We're going to move through the laundry room, down the hall, into the boys room and back through the front hall. Stay close now so you don't get lost!

So hanging in our drab and dusty laundry room is this rug (?) from Afghanistan. Our best man gave this to us for a wedding present. I think it's suppose to sit on a horse. Not sure, really have no clue but I love the colors and texture, and again a good reminder to be praying for the people of Afghanistan.

Just outside the laundry room and facing our front door is another rug. We purchased this from the family whose home we were staying in in Tashkent. We were told it was over 100 years old. I don't know rugs but I love the color and was kind of desperate to bring home a rug from Central Asia.

Moving into the boys room is my second most favorite piece of furniture. This dresser was given to us before we moved to Colorado. It came with us to Canada and there it was transformed. Do you recognize the character? Tin Tin! While Ian met Tin Tin when we lived in Vancouver, I met Debbie Travis. Debbie had a decorating show on TV called The Painted House. Through her I learned about painting furniture. While we were living on 50 W. 37th I painted a mural on the basement wall and a rug going down the stairs. Ian drew Tin Tin and his dog Snowy on the dresser and I painted. I love this and even though it only cost us paint, this dresser is priceless!

Outside the boys room, first thing I see when I leave my room is this portrait of Emma. My brother-in-law, Tim Solliday is an artist (duh!). This sketch of Emma is when she was five.

In our front hall is this table I bought at our church's silent auction. If you are a wood-lover you would probably dis-inherit me for painting over this but the wood didn't thrill me, rather dark and dreary. I did the same technique as on the corner hutch in the kitchen, accept the base is the wood. I rubbed a candle over areas which would receive the most wear, painted the celery green and then sanded down to the wood where there was wax. I'm not completely satisfied with the piece. It will probably receive a transformation in the near future. Sitting on the table is a plate (from Uzbekistan) filled with rocks and shells Emma picked up while in Cyprus and rocks Dave picked up from Israel. There's also a Bible Emma received in Cyprus, (cover is made of cedar wood) and an icon of Mary (from Cyprus).

We'll move to the living room next.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Morning.....I can smell the coffee! Feel like I've just been there!

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

I LOVED The Painted House!! Love Debbie Travis! :)

Cassie Bustamante said...

hi barb! came by to answer your question about the saw. also, i remember the painted house, too! :) and your dresser is sooo cool! anyhow, as for the saw, i do not own any- i just use my dad's. i've use the jig saw, table saw, and circular saw, and the one i use the most for my projecs- i e cutting out seats for chairs, drawer bottoms, new tops, etc, is the circular saw. it is quick and easy to use. the jigsaw is great if you have more detailed work, so it really depends on what you plan to tackle. hope this helps!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Wonderful job!!!

Thanks so much for linking up to the CSI Project! We really appreciate it. I hope you will come back next week for our Hardware Store challenge!

XOXO
Jen

Anonymous said...

Love the little green table! So cute! I love painted wood.