Monday, April 21, 2008

Getting there....

Okay - I missed my blog birthday. MaggieGraceCreates turned two on the 17th of April. I promise this will not be a year of terrible two temper tantrums. When I started this whole process, I had no idea where it would lead. But wow -- it led to all of you. My cheer leaders - encouragers - inspirers - conspirators - my friends. Thank you for every word you have shared here. For every kindness you have bestowed upon me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you.

Friday was a campus visit to Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. Beautiful campus - we liked it a lot - but financially, we cannot do this. It was a wonderful trip. We returned home around 3pm Saturday - took a nap - neither of us slept very well. Then I took off into MaggieGraceWorld.

I called Elizabeth - to see if she wanted to drop in. She came over and we had one of those first time visits that included fun conversation. Lots of stories - bet there will be lots more in the future. Thank you my dear new found friend for coming by. Maybe next time - I'll plan a little better and have some snacks available.

Anyway - one long old kitchen cabinet has now been transformed. It was dark and dismal inside and pretty grungy outside. Remember - this was also Mr Black Snake's home. Now at least I can see him if he chooses to return. One coat of Kilz primer brightens up the interior.


I painted the exterior this wonderful shade of almost turquoise blue. (I bought this as a miss mix at Lowes for 3.00) The beach shack feel is growing even more prevalent. I love it. I took the doors and hardware off and soaked them in paint remover. Then scrubbed and steel wooled the loosened paint.

Look at this 1940's hardware. cool huh. The red looks great against this blue. The hardware is worn - the metal is pitted and dulled - in places the red is faded. But I love it.

I some of the paint is already dinged. A little incident involving the ladder and these doors - happened when two of us were trying to work in a small area. I'm leaving the dings. I don't have a problem with them at all.


Yup - Missing some doors and a couple of the drawers. Fabric will substitute for the doors. One drawer will be covered - I had a brainstorm - I'll let you in on later. The other missing drawer will have a slide out tray made for it. (A drying tray - if you will)

The floor is a long way from finished too.

Now the drawers - I finished the inside of two of them. You know I recycle and repurpose. These are big - deep drawers. I know they will become junk drawers if I am not careful. I did not finish the bead drawer. Maybe later this week. But look - I have storage compartments already in place.


The one above is lined with styrofoam packing trays to catch bits and bobs and there was space left for rulers, stencils, templates.

The one below is my favorite storage idea so far.

Glass jelly jars - thrifted for a dime each and baby food jars - and because it worked out this way - one pyrex ramekin. But they banged and slid. I thought about gluing them down but I want them removable for work reasons. A recycled school project foamcore board. A box knife. Glue and pretty tissue paper ( saved from one of you). Ta-da a custom fitted storage drawer. The crate in the corner is a standard sized clementine crate for size comparison.

Doing the happy dance here.......

What cha think ladies?

Have a great Monday.



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Teresa, we really like what you're doing to our kitchen cabinet from our very first "old" house; who would have ever thought this cabinet would be of use to someone. And you used the original hardware!! Love, H & A.

Anonymous said...

Teresa, we really like what you're doing to our kitchen cabinet from our very first "old" house; who would have ever thought this cabinet would be of use to someone. And you used the original hardware!! Love, H & A.

Roxanne said...

Love the cabinet!! The hardware is awesome!! And your drawer organization is perfect. I LOVE this kind of stuff. It is so much more fun than going to the store to buy all their organizing stuff. Who needs them!? Not us!! :)

ellen said...

Fantastic!!! Your dream is coming true, it's coming faster and faster. I am so happy for you.

Vallen said...

I am really impressed...and more than a tad jealous.

Very Mary said...

OOOOH! I'm so excited for you! SO SO SO excited!

Darla said...

Good for you! It is all looking great and you have been so creative in putting it together. That old hardward is priceless!

Darla

Carrie said...

Your drawer ideas are wonderful. I can't wait to see the whole shebang!