Thursday 23 May 2013

Crates for charity...

An email came round from the PTA asking if anyone had a basket to use for a hamper for the school summer fair. Our class are to put together a gardening hamper.
I explained that I painted old crates to look like, erm, old crates and they were far too polite to refuse.

As luck would have it I had a large crate just sitting in the garage, thoroughly wood worm treated and ready to go.
Fancy that.

The colour was really quite uninspiring.


So I stained it darker...


 and gave it a colourwash for that 'trendy' grey weathered wood look... ta daa!


I also had a go at making a vintage sign with an old chopping board that was far too big to be practical and also split.

 
the darker one

We live opposite the rose field of Harkness Roses. We'd have a fabulous view of all the rose bushes if it weren't for a tall hedgerow that surrounds them.

According to the neighbours, our house also stands on land that was owned by Harkness Roses. (Another neighbour claims the land was a pig farm. Slightly less romantic. I choose not to believe in that one.)

Another neighbour, (ex S.A.S.) claims that everyone round here used to wait until dark and break through the hedge to get their roses in the sixties. I like to imagine him doing that with his balaclava on. 

So I thought I'd try to make a sign that looked old, perhaps something I might be lucky enough to find at the flea market. A genuine old sign that was meaningful because of our location.

I don't like how it turned out at all. I wasn't going to show you because it's not something I'm proud of but here goes...


You win some, you lose some...

I'm hard at work on my massive chest of drawers. There are piles of clothes EVERYWHERE and drawers being painted all over the landing. What my poor husband has to put up with eh?


19 comments:

  1. Why on earth don't you like it, it's lovely and very professionally done. the crate looks brilliant too.

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    1. It's rubbish. I might sand it all off and start again but I'm onto the chest of drawers now...xx

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  2. Love the crate, it will look lovely as a garden hamper xx

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  3. I think you've done a great job, you are so hard on yourself! Go and get that massive chest of drawers sorted, I'm dying to see it finished! x

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    1. I've been at it all day, you'll be pleased to hear! Trouble is, now I need to repaint the mirror and the wall behind as they don't match... x

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  4. Both things look brilliant. Don't sand the sign away. If you really don't like it, I reckon you should sell it on Etsy and make your fortune! :) xx

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    1. Thank you Katie. I've been wondering what to put in my empty Etsy shop! xx

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  5. I'm loving what you have done with that!!

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  6. Ooh, I bet you are a perfectionist, aren't you?! I reckon you get an image in your head of how you want something to look, and if it isn't quite like that when you've done, you're not happy. The rest of us just see a lovely thing!
    Both the crate and the sign are fab, and I am so looking forward to seeing that chest of drawers all paintified up and gorgeous. xxxx

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    1. Thank you, I am a perfectionist.
      The pressure is building over the chest of drawers now! Eek! xxx

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  7. OMG I love your sign its truly beautiful why on earth don't you like it? Its so sweet love the rose addition. The crate looks fab to you are one very clever lady, dee xx

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  8. Thanks Dee. It's not half as good I was aiming for. It won't be in my gallery wall! xx

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  9. I love both of them and whoever wins the gardening hamper will be one lucky person! I agree you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, but I'm just the same and never think my projects are good enough. Good luck with the chest of drawers! Gill x

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  10. OK Emma, so what am I missing? Do I need new glasses? I'm looking at a very pretty sign with roses and some words on, did you post the wrong picture?

    OR .............

    Is it you? Have you lost your marbles?

    The thing is ........... I think your sign is fabulous!! So what is it that you don't like?

    Judi

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