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Procurement of Style: Maybe you noticed the mysterious little blue tags on items that read “Procurement” while shopping at Ourtowns Re...

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Look at your old stuff with a new light....

This past summer, my husband and I have been remodeling my grandmother's kitchen for her in Charleston, WV. She has lived in her home for over 35 years and with the exception of changing the flooring 15 years ago, replacing her appliances over time, and a few hundred coats of paint and wallpaper, the kitchen has never been changed. So when she would express the desire for certain things along the course of the project, we would always try to ensure that those things were included. However, my grandparents are and always have been very hardworking people and believe that they have to pay for it all and will not accept anything as a gift. Being that they are both retired and still raising my teenaged cousin who started college this year, I am we'll aware of the fact that they still are operating on a tight budget. This scenario has really challenged me to not only giving her a professionally remodeled kitchen, but keeping it as cheap as humanly possible.

This weekend's challenge was the light over the kitchen sink.....

While shopping at a major national hardware store, her and I stopped and looked at the light fixtures. She had mentioned how much she really liked the Edison Bulbs and the fixtures for sale now that were designed to show off the bulb. Then she found one that she really liked and wanted and had made her mind up to come back when she had some extra cash and spend the $65 on it (pictured below). (Yes, I did offer to pay for it myself and was quickly struck down) 
                                   
So after A LOT of staring blankly at this photo and flipping through all my mental images of things on hand that could be used to construct something similar, I looked up at the wall behind my grandma's couch and inspiration hit me....
It just so happened that my grandmother had another one of these wall sconce candle holders in a box of things in storage that she didn't have use for and the deconstruction began. The glass bell was held in place with a screw and washer, which was easily removed to reveal (to my excitement) that the bottom of the glass was an open hole. We then cut the the metal bell that held the glass off at the stem. After rummaging around my grandpa's garage filled with random items and pieces of things that he may have found during his years working for West Virginia State Road or hunting in the middle of nowhere, I was able to collect the other bits and pieces I needed. An old porch light, some rusty washers, chain, and a light canopy kit that I happened to have in my car. (Yes, I travel around with crazy stuff in my car. You never know when a project may appear.) 
Using a drill, I bored out a hole in the metal bell large enough for the threaded light fixture rod to pass through. I then screwed the lamp holder (the part the light bulb screws into) to back into the threaded rod, pulled the electrical wires through it and, placed a washer large enough not to pass though the hole of the glass bell and bolt right after it. I pushed the rod though the hole in the glass bell and placed a rubber washer and metal washer on it and bolted it down so then the lamp holder and rod were then securely in place. The next hour or so was simply spent stacking and unstacking different washers, bolts, lamp parts, etc. until I got the overall shape I desired and bolted it tightly together and finished it off with a chain holder loop bolt. I painted all the parts with copper leafing paint and after drying I added black acrylic paint to give it an aged, hammered copper look. 
                                    
I attached the chain and wove the wires through it. My husband, a licensed electrician, then mounted the brace, ceiling canopy, and wired the light up.                                                               *Not only have I managed to give my grandmother the light fixture she wanted without spending a dollar (with the exception of $8 for the bulb) and make her super happy, but I think I really impressed my grandpa too.  


                      Here is a side by side look of the retail fixture and my recycled fixture.   










   
    

Monday, September 23, 2013

Spray Paint Can Storage Solution

I have been diligently working to turn my garage into a studio for my projects for months. As a mother of a very active 4 year old boy, co-owner of an electrical company, part time duck rescuer, Habitat Restore Blogger, and a BeautiControl Sales Consultant (I seriously love that stuff and getting a consultant discount is a major bonus), it's clear to see that having things quickly accessible for use is a must. Spray paint cans have been my biggest storage with "grab and go capability" that I have been struggling with. If you haven't already gathered, I am a avid spray painter with an inventory and color selection that may rival a small hardware store. Lining them up on a bookshelf wasn't really working (mostly due to the fact that I always end up losing the cap that tells me what the color is), putting them in cardboard 6 pack beer holders took way too much room and still didn't provide me with the ease I was looking for, and the price of a PVC pipe large enough for the can to fit inside is a little absurd, not to mention the fact that it would then have to be cut and mounted which just sounds way too time consuming. I have tried just about every affordable way I could think of or find on Pinterest to no avail, which brings me to my latest midnight brainchild....


I had picked up a sleeve of 20 of these large plastic cups for $.50 back in February from my local Habitat Restore thinking that I may have use for them in the wedding decorations that I was working on for my brother-in-laws upcoming wedding. (needless to say that I did not end up using them for that but) While trying to select a color off the shelf I have caused yet another landslide of spray paint sending cans all over the place and one ended up landing inside of one of these cups. It was at that time I discovered that the bottom of the cup perfectly held the spray paint can and I could lay it on it's side and even stack the cups!

I simply lined the cups up on a scrap piece of plywood and screwed them down using a small wood screw and a washer. These are pretty durable cups that don't crack when you squish them but I figured the washer would help disperse the weight more evenly across the bottom. I then mounted the board to the wall and filled the cups with spray paint cans and found that I could even fit a can in the dead space between each cup. Now I have I can quickly see my color choices and make a selection without the fear of breaking a toe! 

Friday, August 30, 2013

Playing With Sharp & Pointy Rusted Things....


This has to be one of my most favorite concoctions I have ever thrown together! Mostly because it is comprised of some very random items and they were all FREE!!!


My youngest sister and I both received metal detectors last Christmas and decided to for treasure hunting in the woods behind our parent's home in Welcome, NC. I am not sure exactly what sort of treasure we were thinking we were going to discover, but being as the town's history is composed of poor tobacco farmers, the odds of gold and riches were not high. But as the saying goes "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder," and perception makes all the difference. So when we discovered the old car that had been left in the woods to waste away under trees, dirt, and leaves, Kaitlyn felt that it was a treasure. It was pretty impressive that most of the chrome of this car was in impeccable condition (especially since the chrome on our 2000 Chevy Silverado is rusting and flaking)and wasn't extremely hard to pull off the brittle rusted body parts of the car. The down side is that it was incredibly heavy and I had to do most of the heavy lifting all the way back to the house. I am not going to lie to you when I say that at that time, I did not really see much more than more stuff to go to the recycling center and the only reason I was hauling this back home was to humor a 14 year old and let her believe she really did find something special. My mother wasn't extremely excited with the pile of car parts on her front porch, but smiled and said "wow, you really did find something there." I volunteered to take the parts back home being that we were planning to go to the scrap yard soon.  Long story short, the parts didn't get scrapped and I couldn't be happier because I got to take this:



And turn it into this!


I used the chrome from the car as the body, 2 light fixture mounts, some plumbing handles, and washers for the eyes and a conduit strap for the nose. And I can't wait to figure out what I will do with the rest of it!!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Guest blogger for My [re]claimed Home

 So I was asked to be asked to contribute to the Mooresville/Davidson Habitat for Humanity's Restore blog, My [re]claimed Home!! I feel extremely honored and super special to do something so cool. It gives me a sense of appreciation for my works and that there are other people out there that like what i do! (Or Amy is desperate for someone to fill some content space on the blog while she's on vacation) Either way, I will continue to feel extremely honored and super excited in my own little delusional world. I, along with some other EXTREMELY TALENTED designers such as Cyrstal (the weekend homemaker.com), will be posting "How To's" and progression of other projects construed from random items found at Restore on the third week of the month. (Or more if I feel a little saucy) Most of these items will be up for sale or auction at either the Mooresville or Davidson locations and all proceeds will go directly back to Habitat for Humanity. Which is an absurdly amazing charity doing great things or our community as well as globally, that I back 110%!! Don't believe me, ask my husband, he will show you our bank statements and exactly how many times a month I "donate" to Restore to replenish my craft/design hoard. Be sure to check out my latest post!! (and please excuse any typos you may find)

Wedding Toss








I had saw something similar to this while flipping through a magazine while standing in line waiting on my daily dose of coffee. The theme was what I recently recreated during my participation in the Habitat for Humanity's Restore Restyle Designer Challenge, of "Wedding on the Farm." Instead of bubbles, sparklers, or birdseed for the ceremonial toss as the bride and groom exit into matrimonial bliss, why not throw some raw oats? They had made cute little cones (much like the one pictured) but had used Vintage Farm Auction Slips. Since the challenge was to create a room space using only items we found at Habitat Restore, I had to get a little creative and found some old worn books with some cool pictures. I will say that the hardest part about this was that I had to tear out pages from something that was in pretty decent condition and I absolutely try to avoid destroying something useable to make something else. I was lucky enough to find a book about song birds and one about year long planting with 2 great black and white illustrations per page. I simply tore the pages out, rolled them into a cone and then cut them in half and used my most favorite thing in the whole world, glue tape, on the back side corner of the cone. Presto... super cute holder's for all kinds of neat stuff. I used it for the oat toss, but I think it would also make great candy/popcorn holders or even super cute bouquet wraps. And since they did turn out so nicely and can be used in several different applications, my guilt about the books was put to ease.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Mason Jar Light Fixtures






Ready to Light up your world....

Andrea Hartley May 2013

The most surprising part of my Restore Restyle Designer Challenge came the night of the event, where I discovered that I am not the only one that thinks Mason Jars are awesome and should be made into light fixtures. So I am happy to say that I have convinced my loving husband (and licensed electrician) to help me "en-lighten" (get it) the world one Mason Jar Light Fixture a time. We will be diligently working to get an inventory of several different styles to make available for purchase as well as fulfilling any custom orders received.
If you are interested in purchasing your vary own Mason Light, please send us a brief email with your contact info and include any specific dimensions, color, or any other preferences that you may have and we will contact you with a quote. (*Please Note that Mason Jar Fixtures are handcrafted, original designs and each one will be unique. Size, color, shape, and materials may vary)  




www.ezermesters.com