a little change-up and an adventure in thrifting : gilded mirror

so i have this bench.  it's fine. nothing special,

but it's the perfect size for this weird nook by the stairs, and it's really well constructed.

and comfortable.

but it's all too much ho-hum,

if you ask me.

plus, a solid, light velvet shows all those 

curiously-placed sings of children,

like boogers and drool and snot and ear wax and jellied-fingers,

that a print hides so much better.

plus, it's a lot more boring.

and then there's this mirror.

scored at the g-dub.

i tried to talk them down, but they wouldn't budge on this one.

i think they could see it in my eyes, how i was going to buy it either way.

still, it's doesn't hurt to ask.  

only gives you more practice for when something really 

haggle-worthy comes along. 

but it was too much shimmer what with the gaudy gilded frame and the shiny mirror.  

i wanted to tone it down, and i didn't need another mirror.

so i turned it into a chalkboard.

why do i need a chalkboard?

i don't.  i just needed that frame on center stage, but not the mirror.

i brushed on about 4 coats of magnetic paint (right on top of the mirror.  not really the best, but i was too impatient to cut a piece of wood) and then a couple coats of chalkboard paint.

i wanted a really textured finish, so i used a brush, but use a roller if you want a smooth one.

exactly two seconds after i hung the mirror chalkboard,

a little devil thought it'd be great fun to scratch off the paint.

who was that?

i'll let you guess.

it's an easy one.

SHA-ZAM!!!

how you like me now?!

that's much, MUCH better, if i do say so myself.

i unscrewed the seat and did a quick re-cover.

i didn't remove the velvet, just stapled the ikat right over it.

that way it'll be easy to change when i get tired of it again.

and i will some day, i'm sure.

but right now i love it.

adventures in thrifting : 1

i have a problem.

an addiction, really.

i've come to terms with it and i'm ready to be out in the open about it.

i'm addicted to thrifting.

the thrill of the hunt.

the splendor of emerging victorious

holding bags of what others have deemed "junk" as my trophies.

i like stuff.

digging, scrounging, pilfering.

it's all a bit dirty

i go armed with germ-x and clorox wipes.

do i disgust you?

so what.

i'm not looking for rehabilitation.

just a place to share, or air, my latest best finds.

maybe that's my attempt to assign my "problem" some sort of validity

beyond the high i get.

whatever it is, here we go.

i actually really loved the gilt on this frame,

but the shape was too perfect for nikki's new room

and gold just didn't work in there.

so out came the can of pink spray paint.

i dare you to find a better mirror for a 7-year-old-girl's room.

(plus i talked them down ten bucks to fifteen)

yes, you can haggle at thrift stores.