DIY Sewing Cabinet

  The transformation of this antique french armoire into a sewing cabinet has been months and months in the making but I think it's the best dang (math) project  I've ever done.

Not that I'm mathematically challenged.  I just don't challenge myself mathematically -- that's all.  But for this one, I had to rip out the old count-u-la-tor and a few extra brain cells to get what I wanted. 

The "fit" had to be exact and I'm not sure how, but I got it on the first try -- but just barely.  The problem was I needed the table to be as large as possible but still fit inside the cabinet.  Oh, and I wanted the doors to close, too.  Pesky doors. 

I wish I had some really great tutorial to add here but everyone's armoire and measurements would be different so that won't really work.  I can post a boat load of pictures so you can see just how it works.  Here you go...

Little Miss Plain Jane...

 I used just one sheet of birch plywood, three piano hinges and drop leaf table hardware I found on the internet.

I had to lift up the back end so the height was right.

I added a yardstick to the front edge for convenience.

 And then I added a few bells and whistles.

Hooks on the back wall hold templates.

I wanted hanging storage on the doors but the doors wouldn't close with it hanging there so...

I stitched them onto child sized hangers.  I flip the hangers to the back when they're hanging on the doors....

Then I hang them in the cabinet when I need to close the doors.

My sewing machine slips right into place...

The table folds up...

And my sweet little grandtwin's guest room is back in business...

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Dry Erase Calendar Wall Art

I made this cute little dry erase calendar for my friend

(and proofreader extraordinaire) Rosie.  

She's a wonderful friend.  I'd give her my left arm if she'd give me hers.

Every morning she stands, forever, staring at her calendar, thinking what, no one knows...

Maybe thinking that if she looks at it long enough -- it will change?

Hmmmm...

So how easy was this project?  Very.  I used a tightly woven burlap.  The writing and grid were done with a Sharpie and the monogram was cut from fabric and fused in place.  I used a Sharpie instead of a dry erase pen to add the month and days.  I just liked it better.  

That's it.

Rosie, I know you're reading this, for free, so I just
wanted to say "thanks"!

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Make a French Style Storage Basket

I needed a tall basket to fill in the space above my frig.  I'd looked for a while before finding this homely little laundry basket that was the perfect size -- if not the perfect anything else.  

Before the redo but after the darker stain was added.

I wanted to give it a little personality (make it look like a French storage basket) so I went to town, literally, and found these brass house numbers at Restore for cheap.

After

It's been a long "work in progress".

The original basket with it's natural color was way too light so I sprayed the basket with this...

...months ago.  I love the new color but it took forever to dry.

The house numbers, which were brass and not black like I wanted, were only $1.19 each so I bought them and sprayed them black. 

They did not go on as easy as I thought.  The screws were way too short so I poked a nail through instead and used a gob of hot glue to hold them in place.  It feels pretty tight so I think it will work -- until it doesn't -- and then I'll try something else.

 I tore the old lining into strips, gave them a tea bath, and used them to tie the lid shut.

 

I love the new (old) look and the whole project was under $15.

BTW, does anyone know what the wire flower looking thing is on the door?  I found it at GW.  It looks the same on the front and back and it's magnetic.  Just wondering...

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