Vintage Bird Cage Turned Light

Welcome. I'm Audrey one of the R.0.C.C gals (and guys). I'm super excited to share some of my projects with you all! The first one I would like to share is dear to my heart. I think everyone has a certain piece(s) of family history hanging around grandma's house or garage. Last summer while visiting my sweet grandmother I spied something in her garage that caught my eye...It was a vintage bird cage stand. It had been in the garage for at least 40 years and was many years older than that as it was my great grandmothers stand. My grandma began to smile from ear to ear and tell me about her step mother would talk to the little birds she would keep in this cage. She went on about how she could make sounds just like the birds and the birds would talk back to her. I instantly loved the bird cage even more than I did before. The story my grandmother told me was of a fond memory of her mother. A year passed by and I asked my grandmother again about the bird cage stand. I wondered if I could take it home with me, I had the perfect idea and place for this to go in my home!

First thing that needed to be done was to clean it up, no more dust and spider webs for this cage!

After a good clean up I started to spray paint. I chose Krylon for metal and other surfaces spray paint. I also love these nifty nozzles you can buy to make spray painting smoother and easier on your trigger finger. :)

A few spray painting tips: 1-Don't spray paint in the wind (this really does NOT work)
2-Chose the right spray paint for the type of surface you are painting
3-Let each coat dry before spraying another one (patience is not my virtue)
4-Remember, its just paint so if you don't like it you can repaint it!
Alright, after a couple coats of white Krylon satin spray paint..it was ready for a little light distressing. I didn't want it to look "too new" so I took some steal wool to it in certain places to add character.

The idea I had in my mind was to hang a chandelier from the cage. I was searching online to try & find a chandelier that would fit & be the right style but was not having any luck. Until a few weeks ago I was shopping at one of my favorite stores, Hobby Lobby and ran ac crossed this- I knew it was PERFECT and I bought it right away!

This is my favorite thing in my home. Every time I look at the soft warm light this bird cage & the fabulous story of my great grandmother "the bird whisperer"

Do you have a family heirloom you display in your home-or maybe something in grandma's garage you could turn into something usable and lovable in your home? Please share with me if you do!

P.S. I need to buy some twist ties to hold back the chord out of sight..:)

Thanks for coming! Audrey "The HassleFreeChick

All the right stuff

I picked up this darling end table from a neighbor for just a few bucks. It was in sad shape but I knew how pretty it could be. This table had all the right stuff...solid wood construction & sexy legs. That is always a winning combination in my book. I love the way it turned out!

One BIG hot mess!

Do you ever feel like your life is one "Big hot mess?" Our life has literally been crazy for months and it has finally started to slow down now that we are moved into our new home and getting things settled with the family. I still have allot of unpacking to do but I am grateful to be moved into our new home. One new thing I wanted to share with everyone that is very exciting to me is being invited to join a group of VERY talented gals in Utah http://reclaim-ologistandothercraftychicks.blogspot.com/

This group of exceptional people create and up cycle beautiful home decor items. This has been a dream come true to be in such great company! I am going to commit to blogging more often and also will be a writer for the reclaimologist blog as well.  I have been climbing the DIY furniture ladder in more ways than one. My hubby and I have also been building these really cute ladders for displaying blankets or hanging on the wall with frames. Life is crazy but life is good!

Be My Valentine

This is my last minute Valentine's decor. We are moving and most of what we own is in boxes but having this small bit of Valentine Love in the room makes me quite happy indeed. The picture isn't the best quality but it is quite cute if I do say so myself. :) The numbers are spray painted a wonderful red with red firey glitter all a glow. The cute little mail box next to it is metal and has a little sign that is "Overnight Delivery" it caught my eye sitting on a shelf at Hobby Lobby and snatchedd it right up for my home. I try to decorate for as many Holidays as I can, it is quite a passion of mine. Is it yours?

 

 

 

http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-95.html

 

http://designdininganddiapers.com/

Drop Cloth Slip Cover Couch

I would like to kiss whoever invented slip covers! It had to be a busy mom with at least a dozen kids & a dog or two running around the house.
We have the most comfortable couch..I know what you are thinking comfy= ugly. You would be right,it is. or was :)  I don't have any plans to get rid of the couch any time soon, I just keep sewing slip covers when I tire of the other.The latest cover was made from drop cloths purchased from Home Depot (The hubbs thought I had lost my mind but he came around) and FYI I am NO expert seamstress  but I figure that I am the only who would notice any imperfections so I just let it go & get it done. Remember the Nester's mo to "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" doesn't that quote just set you free? It  does me.

I experimented with a skirt around the bottom of the couch and I also added cording to the design. I was a little nervous about adding the cording as I had only added it to one other project. (I will share that another day) I love the cording, it is not hard to do & really finishes off the couch. I have to say this was a low budget wonderful transformation. Sorry for the glare, one day I am going to take a photography class & purchase a real camera but I'd rather spend my money on my home. :)

Oh, I made the pillows the fabric was purchased online at Tonic Living  they have the most wonderful fabric styles & it always arrives so fast! The curtain fabric is also from Tonic & I no sewed them myself as well. I will share better photos of them later.

Thanks for joining me today at our hassle free home!

Peek A Boo Bench

The latest project here at the hassle free home was a queen bed frame turned bench. The bed frame was purchased from  a yard sale. It was in good shape and solid oak & a good candidate for the project. I snatched it right up, stuffed it in the mini van and drove home to show the hubs what a wonderful thing I had found.  I don't think he shared my same excitement but none the less he was a trooper and helped with the build.

The next weekend there was a quick trip to Home Depot for a few boards & supplies for the project. My hubby is a professional carpenter by trade (I am spoiled I know) I can usually show him a photo of something similar I like & he can figure out the best way to build.The hubbs had it done in no time at all & then the fun starts for me! Lately I have been curious about chalk paint & I really wanted to try it on a project but the ASC paint is so not in the budget so I took to searching pinterest for a diy chalk paint recipe. The winning recipe was 1 cup latex paint 2 tbs Paris Plaster and 1/2 cup water.
The first layer of paint was a lovely creamy yellow- Sherwin Williams White Raisin mixed with the above chalk recipe. After a few hours of drying time I then painted over the yellow with a custom blue mixed chalk paint. I let this layer dry over night. The next day I could hardly wait to break out the sander to distress the bench enough to see the peek a boo yellow under neath the blue. I was right, it was gorgeous AND the chalk paint distressed so easily, I think I am hooked. I'm sure more projects are going to get this same dose of diy chalk paint. The very final step was to rub some paste wax.
I know you are all waiting on pins and needles to see the final project :) so here it is!

This one is my favorite photo-we got our chihuahua Roxey to pose on the bench with the bribery of cheese!

Don't you love the zebra pillows? I made those for about $5 bucks and minimal sewing because that is how I roll.

I had the hubbs make the seat wider than a normal bench. I wanted to be able to have comfy pillows on the bench & still be able to sit on it without playing musical pillows & move them around.

This bench was going to have a home on our deck BUT it is so cute I can't bare to put it outside in the weather & it is too big to fit in the entry way. Huge bummer for me,however could be good for someone else as I am putting this baby for sale on a local site. www.ksl.com  classifieds. We will see if I get any bites but honestly it won't hurt my feelings if it takes awhile to sell as I love looking at it in our hassle free home.

Because I am a party gal I am linking up to a few fun parties today: www.thriftydecorchick.com *

http://classyclutter.blogspot.com/ *  home stories from AtoZ * Tip Junkie*
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/*  DIY Show Off* Tater Tots & Jello* shabby nest

DIY Pottery Barn Desk with BookCase

I saw this gorgeous solid wood desk on KSL awhile ago. It had so much potential....I had to have it! Plus it was a great deal. Once the deal was done and the desk was delivered I started with paint. Martha StewartsWinters Day. It is a lovely blue grey color. After a coat of paint I added Martha Stewart glaze Black Coffee to the small grooves in the bead board with q-tips to get the right amount of glaze until perfect. I then added new knobs from Hobby Lobby. I had plans to sand down the top and re stain but never got that far. Next I painted a bookcase I had in the girls room to match and moved it into my office. For the final touch I painted and antique window and hung my DIY book page wreath over the window. I work from home and this was a great place to retreat and get some work done. .P.S. I am a painter and NOT a photographer :)