Sneak peek!

Only 7 more sleeps until our first public sale! We'll be selling all sorts of re-newed furniture and home decor pieces next Saturday. Here are the details:

Warman Craft & Bake Sale

Legends Centre

Warman, SK

Saturday, November 16th

9am to 4:30 pm

If you've been watching our Facebook page, you will have seen a sneak peek of SOME of the pieces we'll be selling there. Starting tomorrow, we'll be taking pictures of individual pieces and posting them to the page, so if you haven't been watching it already, it's a good time to start! We'll try to get back to this blog to post some of this pictures too, though, for those of you who don't have Facebook. 

It has been an amazing year for re-new and we are so excited about the support we have received. Can't wait to meet many of you next weekend at our first sale!

~jade~

Loft Love ♥️

A project that has consumed my summer. Building garage with a small living space above. A bit of a retreat for us on a lakefront property. A getaway.

This isn't an old building. It was built new, but almost all of the interior furnishings were reNew projects for me.

This post is sweet, simple and to the point. Just as I want my time spent at the loft to be.

~T~

Little Red Dresser

Things behind the scenes at Re-new have been very busy lately!   We have been sanding, painting and planning in preparation for our upcoming sale.  We hope you will come and visit us at the Warman Craft Sale on November 16th where we will be sharing our collection of re-newed cuteness!  

This is a quick before and after of a retro style dresser that you will find at the sale.  I finished this piece in Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint.   There are so many beautiful colours and finishes that can be achieved with this paint, and it was very simple to use.  If you like a distressed or "chippy" finish then I would definitely recommend giving this product a try.   For this dresser I used two coats of Tricycle Red and finished it with Miss Mustard Seed's Hemp Oil.  If you are interested in trying this paint it is  retailed back in my hometown by the talented and creative Christa at Milk Crate Creations.  

I am going to have a hard time parting with this one...

BEFORE

AFTER

~A~

Take a load off

Quick before and after

I am working on a cabin loft project ... I'll leave you with a few pictures of projects I've got on the go for that right now.

~T~

Table talk

The task: A custom project for a coworker of mine. Her grandfathers dining room table was in need of TLC. She didn't need another dining table, but came up with the great idea of converting to a coffee table for their family room.

Process: Disassemble. Sand top. Cut legs down to a height of 18". Reassemble. Add brackets to sturdy. Stain and oil top. Tape and spray paint legs and apron a charcoal colour. Distress slightly. Seal project and deliver.

Outcome: I am thrilled with the outcome. It's a nice rustic, well worn looking family room coffee table that should hopefully add some charm and function for many more years to come.

Things I've learned: I could never be a surrogate. I fall in love with every Renew project that I complete. I struggle to cough up the finished product every time. My furniture, or others, and this piece was no exception.

A bit of dialogue, on the card catalogue

Close your eyes and think back to:
Using the library catalogue to look for a book
and the frustration of not finding the index card you were looking for.
Don't get me started about when the index book of the Britannica Encyclopedia series went missing...

Last fall, scrolling through Kijiji, a new ad posted with this card catalogue. I don't think it had been listed for 30 seconds when I called the number and begged the woman to hold this item ... No matter what! I would be there with my $200 ASAP. I know how hard these gems are to find, and I was scared someone would show up before me and sweep it from under me. 

I was a woman on a mission.

We retrieved this piece from a 'hoarderish' (if that's even a word) basement. Jade helped me load it in the back of my car. As the hatch closed, I blew a sigh of relief, this piece was coming home with me!

Then fall came, and winter, and it sat in my garage. Partly because finishing furniture in the winter can be a royal pain, partly because I wasn't quite sure how I was going to finish it. Put it on top of a cabinet? Place on a coffee table? Lay on the floor? It was an awkward height on its own, but I wasn't sure how to make it taller.

This summer, cruising Pinterest, I found some inspiration. I went straight to etsy.com and ordered these hairpin legs. They were going to make this piece, the perfect height.

I set to work sanding the outside. I used some oil stain to darken it up, and accentuate the flaws. This piece has a history, and I wasn't about to make it appear new. I left the drawers in original condition.

I painted those legs with Tremclad Flat Black metal paint, attached them to the bottom

The rest is history.

~T~

The Kid Keeper

It's no secret, life is busy. I am constantly feeling pulled between my jobs, kids, husband, home, activities, hobbies, etc...

One of my jobs allows me to work from my home office.
The pro: I get to be at home more with my children.
The con: often, my two young kids are home while I have to fit some office time in.

I struggle to find the balance to spend time with them, as well as encourage independent play so that I can concentrate on the task at hand. I want to do a good job of both. I try to make the most of my office time while they nap, but sometimes its inevitable that they will be awake. I feel like every time I sit down to do a quick office task I have two little ones hanging on my office chair, spinning me in circles and competing for my attention.

My goal for this: Create a small space in the office that accommodates their needs, can hold their attention for short periods, while I can complete my task efficiently.

Exhibit A:
Unused Office Closet + 2 free abandoned chairs + Creativity
= The Kid Keeper

There are built in shelves inside that you can't see to accommodate the monster collection of craft supplies. The two doors can be easily closed when not in used or I don't want to look at the monster mess to conceal the area.

~T~

Wax on, wax off

 This is self-explanatory, right?

I used a finishing wax instead of a poly finish on this piece, it was a new experience for me, but I love the result. Sheen-y instead of shiny. I think it suits this old piece. And the Heirloom White paint may be the most perfect neutral EVER.

See that LOVELY brass headboard peeking out from behind the dresser? That's another future re-new. Maybe. If I don't just toss it in the garbage when we move (in one week!). I like it but I don't love it. And I firmly believe you should LOVE anything you bring into your home. (not saying I always follow that rule, but I believe it.)

But these, I love. They are the star of this room-in-progress. Fabric in old thrift shop embroidery hoops. Couldn't be easier for a pop of colour.

And that headboard can use all the distraction it can get. 

 ~J

P.S. - Moving = purging and this dresser doesn't have a place in the new house. Interested in it for your home? I'll be selling it on our Facebook page.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Garage sale season is in full swing and we couldn't be more excited!  Here are some pictures from our adventures this far.  We have hauled home a few treasures, but are learning that with collecting comes responsibility.  Purchases must have a place and a purpose...or just be so awesome that sleep would be lost over leaving them.

                                      

(Terra struggled to leave this beauty behind, but she is a responsible collector)

Yes, some things are better left behind.

~A~