Pinterest: Challenge Accepted.

Hey there, Vamps!

I stumbled upon the 2011 Pinterest Challenge:  Fall Edition while checking out some plans for a kitchen island over at Ana-white.com and I was all over it.  If you're asking, "What in the Sam Hill is Pinterest?"  Then, please allow me to ask, "Where in the Sam Hill have you been?!"  If you're asking yourself, "What's the Pinterest Challenge?" Then, I'll just keep my smart comments to myself.

You know all those Pinterest pins you've been addictively pinning like they're going out of style?  The ones that you say "I can totally make that" and then they just sit there collecting internet dust?  Well, now's the time to roll up those sleeves, step away from the computer and get to work.

The Challenge, hosted by these amazingly talented ladies, asked fellow Pinners to pin it, make it, and share it on November 2nd. Simple enough, right?

Katie from Bower Power 

Sherry from Young House Love 

Ana from Ana-White.Com

and Erin from House of Earnest

With all my pins, the difficult part was in narrowing it down to just one project.  (Yes, I am totally addicted.)  And then, duh!,  it hit me. I've been eyeing a mason jar dish soap dispenser from Blissfully Content.  Its simple beauty sure beats those hideous plastic containers.  Plus, I had picked up a perfect vintage mason jar during last weekend's thrifting trip. (And let's be honest, it was a pretty low-energy project.  Perfect for this lazy weekend I'm enjoying.)

I won't get into each step of the project here.  You'll just have to check out Blissfully Content's tutorial for all the details.

But without further ado (because we all know I can't keep a surprise!), here it is, the finished 2011 Pinterest Challenge: Fall Edition project, in all its glory.  I am in love with it and am so stoked to be rid of that hideous plastic bottle.

Now to my next Pinterest project, homemade dish soap (goodbye forever plastic dish soap bottles!), from Gerbera Designs' craft blog, Tried and True.

So, what are you going to create?

Until next time,

Copycat: West Elm / Dwell Studio Papier-Mâché Animal Head

Hey there, Vamps!

I gotta tell you, this project was easy-peasy.  I was pretty intimidated at first, but once I got going things just seemed to work themselves out.  Here's my first attempt at the ever-popular mounted animal head ~ mini-style.

Supplies:

• copy paper
• scotch tape
• plaster
• round wood plaque
• liquid nails

Subject:

The awe-inspiring stag, of course.  Not only is this a beautiful creature, but I get brownie points from the hubs who is a Harvey Mudd grad.  (Go Stags!)  My choice for a mini-version was out of convenience (it would fit on our "control center" wall) and it would be less daunting than a lifesize version. 

Steps:

Nothing technical here.  I started by twisting paper into forms that semi-resembled a stag head and antlers, then I wrapped tape around the form to mold it into the shape I wanted.  Once, I was happy enough with the paper/tape creature I mixed some plaster and spread it on.  After drying, I forwent the sanding and left the plaster rough and glued it to the wood plaque with some good ol' Liquid Nails.  (Note to self:  invest in glue gun.)  I tried to leave the wood in its natural state, but it looked unfinished and boring.  So, I painted a coat of Behr "Glacier Blue" that I had left over from the family dresser project. Wow, does it make a difference.

While it is obviously more bovine in nature (with antlers), it still rocks as a first attempt and it gives me some much needed confidence to tackle this subject in non-mini form.  Next time, I think I'll try using newspaper.  The thinness of the newspaper should allow for more accuracy in sculpting, so no more bull-stag.

Ah, kids!  I was just about to take a photo of the finished product when Mr. Grabby-hands snagged it off the counter and threw it on the floor.  So, after cleaning it up and doing a few adjustments to the proportions, I applied a coat of plaster, let it dry, then glued it with my trusty Liquid Nails.  Deja Vu?

Did I mention it was a mini-version?  I think its just about time to start on a bigger one. 

What about you, do you have any DIY animal head projects? 

Until next time,

Homegirl: You rock!

Gina Bishop, with Homegirl, you are a lifesaver!  Thank you so much for letting me rack your brain and sharing your sage advice with this newbie. And in the words of the great Wayne Campbell, "I'm not worthy!"

Jump on over to Gina's site, Homegirlshop.com and check it out!  She has bi-annual homegoods sales that'll rock your socks off.  For those of you near Ohio, be sure to drop in at her next sale coming in the Spring, but go early, Homegirl sales are extremely popular!

Revamp someday?  A girl can dream...

Copycat Flashback: Van Gogh's The Starry Night

Hey there, Vamps!

This is a piece that I created a few years back.  Back before the creation of Revamp Homegoods, even before the creation of blogging.

Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night has had me mesmerized for as long as I can remember.  The deep colors and the night's energy are awe-inspiring.  Did you know that this was his view from his room in the sanatorium in Saint Remy and was painted just 13 months before his death.  He would stare at the view at night and then paint from memory in the morning.  I, too, could stare at it for hours. (Que sappy music.)

"The Starry Night" Vincent Van Gogh 1889

An extremely long time later...

Being one of the most replicated paintings of all time, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and create "The Starry Night" in glass mosaic form.  I made a trip out to Bullseye Glass, in Portland, Oregon, to pick up the supplies, which were:

• Glass cutter
• Sheets of colored glass

I picked up some craft glue at the local Joann's Craft store and borrowed some charcoal grout from my grandparents.

My apologies, Vamps, as I did not have the foresight to take photos of the steps.  But, it went a little something like this:  Cut glass. Glue glass. Spread grout.  Wipe clean.  Let dry.  Wipe clean, again.

And, low and behold, my very own "The Starry Night" copy.  The window is its new home.  I love how the light shines through and illuminates the sky, just like Van Gogh's.  It's old home, inlaid in a side table, did not do it any justice.

The Starry Night Copycat

So, what do you think?  What art inspires you?  Do you have a DIY copycat, another replica, or are you one of the lucky ones who own an original?

Until next time,

Salvage Tour ~ Nate Berkus

Hey there, Vamps!

The Nate Berkus Show is talking about salvage material stores, too!

 

How cool is The Loading Dock's paint program and Restoration Resources' repurposed creations?

So, what are your favorite re-use stores?

Until next time,

Salvaged Goods: Trash to Treasure (Literally!)

Hey there, Vamps!

Home Depot definitely has its allure as a one stop shop for home improvement, but are you guys familiar with salvage materials stores?   You can get salvaged furniture, homegoods and building materials, such as doors, windows, hardware, tile and tubs, at insane prices. You'd be amazed at what people throw out.

Rad Sign from Salvage Works, LLC

Wonderful salvaged wheels at Rejuvenation

The following is a list of local salvage stores to check out before you start your next project:

• Habitat for Humanity's ReStore (multiple locations)
• The Re-Store (a project of RE Sources for Sustainable Communities in Western Washington)
• The ReBuilding Center (Portland)
• Rejuvenation (Portland & Seattle)  
• Salvage Works (Portland)

And these are only a few. 

So, how many of you have used salvaged materials in your renovating or remodeling project? 

Until next time,

Guilt Ridden by Paint

Hey there, Vamps!

I don't know about you, but I always feel anxiety and guilt over painting a vintage piece of furniture or any piece of furniture, for that matter.  Right before I smear on the first coat my right eye starts to twitch, my forehead beads sweat and my whole body starts to shake.  I know that the paint will liven up the down-and-out piece, but it just seems so wrong to cover up the wood.

A past project had me all wrangled with guilt when I chose to paint (EEK!) my mom's childhood dresser. 

I think everyone in the family has used this dresser at one time or another.  But first, it was my lovely mother's. As a child, she saved up all her money to buy it and it's been around ever since. I know, what you're thinking...what child saves up to buy something so practical? That'd be my mom.

For nearly 40 years old (sorry, mom!), this dresser is in pretty good condition. It's still rolling around on its original wooden castors and only two pieces of its veneer had chipped off. But the wear and tear of being passed around was definitely showing and the old guy needed some TLC. Refinishing veneer can be quite the challenge, so I figured paint would be the way to go.  I rolled up my sleeves, plugged in the hand sander and got to work. Sanding and sanding and sanding until I had this:

And then I began sanding some more.  Grr...

The carpal tunnel inducing sanding, paid off.  It was looking so good that I felt my guilt start to rise with the thought of the first impending paint stroke. But, that one drawer with the chipped off veneer kept me from pulling the plug.  It would just have been too difficult to fix.  Plus, I bought a whole gallon of paint.  (Over estimation!)  And after what seemed like a hundred coats and just when my arm was about to fall off, I was finished. 

The old boy is the perfect bright blue dresser for the next recipient in the family line, my boy, Luke. Don't you just love how the color livens up the space?  (It's "Glacier Lake" by Behr Paint/Primer) I wish I had a before picture to show how much of a change it really is.

LOVE the detail on the bottom.

There's a few things that I'll try next time to get better results. 

1. Use a brush rather than sponge roller. It just doesn't have as smooth a finish as my perfectionist self would have liked. 
2. Sand between coats to, again, get just that much more of a smoother finish. (Yay, more sanding.) 
3. Don't leave the knobs out over night in the chance of rain, which can you really call it a chance of rain when you live on the Oregon coast? 
4. Run the paint job by my mother before it's already finished.  (Again...Sorry, mom!)

So, what about you?  Does painting furniture get you guilt-ridden like me or do you just say "Go for it!" and slap the paint right on?

Until next time,

Blast into the Past

Hey there, Vamps!

There's something about the combination of newspaper, papier-mâché, and animals that gets me all giddy. My most recent project sent me straight back to 1991 when I was in grade school and all about papier-mâché. I would even go so far as to say obsessed. Just saying the word, papier-mâché, is fun. Say it with me now, “pap-YAY muh-SHAY." Now wasn't that fun?

West Elm Papier-Mâché Animal Sculpture

Dwell Studio Papier-Mâché Animal Heads

I know you've seen these plastered (heh.) everywhere in blogs, magazines & catalogs. Are you as in love with them as I am? Stay tuned for my very own DIY mini animal head.

Until next time,

Introducing Revamp Homegoods

Hey there, Vamps!

How many of you can call yourselves a do-it-yourselfer? Better yet, how many of you WISH you could call yourself one? You see a project and think to yourself "I can totally do that!"? Only to find yourself elbow deep in sawdust and covered in primer, ready to throw in the towel and tramp out to the nearest homegoods boutique to replace that botched job with that beautiful, but OH SO EXPENSIVE, piece.

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Revamp Homegoods. I remake, revise, and reconstruct one man's junk into something spectacular. These treasures are made available to my Vamps in a seasonal shed sale, otherwise known as a Vamp Sale. Stay tuned for more information regarding the amazing transformations, as well as news of my very first Vamp Sale.


Until next time,