It's Embarrassing

... what our dining set looked like until a week or so ago.  It really is.  It was bad.  It didn't start it off bad.  I'm fairly certain it's circa 1980-something based on the style and the fabric on the chair seats.  I got it from my parents when I moved to my first apartment in 2002; they purchased it for me secondhand.  It was actually in great condition at the time.  Not totally my style as furniture goes, but in my first apartment with a huge, empty eat-in kitchen, "free" and "gift" were very much my style.

Over the years, there was obviously some wear and tear, especially on the fabric.  Most happened in recent years, though, after Eric and I got married.  Having three cats who loved sleeping on the very nubby, very loose-knit fabric created a situation where I didn't want my guests sitting on the chairs, which had become completely interwoven with cat hair.  And then at some point, something spilled on a chair.

And we'd been using the table to make soap and candles, and the overspill of molten soap and essential oils had marred the surface.  Also at some point, someone (*cough* Eric) left something on the table that leaked and caused water damage to the wood.

I grew to hate that dining set.  Despise it.  It made me scowl every time I looked at it.  Scowling isn't a great look for me.  People get intimidated.

So it was long past time to refinish it.  Since both Eric and I pretty much hate painted wood, the natural solution was sand and stain.  Lots of sanding.  Using quite a few belts and even more squares of sandpaper.

Have I mentioned sanding kind of sucks?  Especially when the damned chairs don't come apart and they've got rounded bits and close-together bits and a bunch needs to be done by hand?  It took for-freaking-ever.

Boo for sanding.

On the other hand, yay for staining.  We decided to go with a much more modern and formal "Kona" stain that's not black, but a very, very dark brown, dark as night.

A good coat of polyurethane, and that was done!

In the meantime, at night when I couldn't be outside sanding due to chill and lack of light, I was inside reupholstering.  I've never reupholstered a single thing in my life before!  Had to make new cushions too.  Personally, I think I did a damned good job.  We chose an also formal fabric that we ordered from JoAnn.com.  They didn't carry this particular fabric in store, but did you know you can order a swatch of their online fabrics for $3?  We discovered it while fabric shopping, and it's a stellar idea.  In this particular instance, we discovered that we loved it even more in person than online.

Seats back on the chairs, and all done!  The set was all ready for our Kenucky Derby Party!

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Artist Spotlight: Part Ninety-Eight and Ninety-Nine

I have two amazing artists this time, neither of which you've seen here before.  First, Dyanne of Deeliteful Jewelry in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Dyanne is a self-described widow, mm, daughter, sister, aunt, fiancee, and friend.  In addition to her online presence, she's actually got a brick and mortar business, so kudos to her for taking that leap!

She was originally led to create exciting jewelry with beads, and lets her inner goddess guide her as to color, size, shape, and combinations.  Like me, she loves bright colors.

In 2012, she added creating lampwork beads of her own to her repertoire.

Her business is a one-woman operation, from creation to shipping.  Her jewelry is unique, and each piece is one of a kind.  She's definitely got an eye for design.

Even better, since her jewelry is inspired by her own dreams, you know you'll never find anyone else making or wearing the same pieces.  If you're anything like me, this is hugely appealing, since I love to stand out in a crowd.

To keep up with her, be sure to follow her blog.

The second artist I have for you is something entirely different, and I love it!  Check out ThinkEco2.

This stuff is just phenomenal!  Meet Brian Behncke and Jules Lavallee, of San Diego, CA, the founders of ThinkEco2 and the brains behind these gorgeous recycled wares.

Brian is a hardworking construction guy with a passion for building eco-chic cedar products.  He works with a crew to build the products, while he and Jules help the community by building jobs and donating many of their beautiful wine racks to help local charities and fundraisers.

I agree with them that it's important to be eco-conscious and to give back.  To that end, they use 100% reclaimed wood for their products and employ 100% US employees.  They refuse to harm additional trees to make their products.  And heck, they even add to the flora by making planters!

My favorite, though, is this amazing patio table.

You can keep up with them on their blog or feel free to contact them to discuss custom orders, which they're happy to fill.

Artist Spotlight: Part Seventy-Eight

You've met this very talented artist here before.

Although Janelle is no longer with us and able to create, her shop remains open, with the proceeds going to help her estate and family.  It's really worth taking a look, as her talent lives on.  Don't take my word for it, though.

Have a look.

Artist Spotlight: Part Seventy-Six

I've got a new one for you this time, Dee, of Southern Country Creations!  A teacher by day, she's been crafty since her youth, and you can tell.  The rest of us are really lucky that she recently decided to start making her creations available for sale!

She uses a ton of different methods and mediums, including crochet thread, beads, metal, wood, buttons, glass, gemstones, suede and leather.  Know what that means?  You could own several of her items and never look like you're wearing the same thing!

Artist Spotlight: Part Fifty-Eight

It's been a long time since you've seen anything from me about this shop, Jewelry by Janelle.  I did introduce you to her here and here, and tell you about my nifty hairsticks from her here.  Well, Janelle herself has left us, but her shop lives on, with all proceeds going to her estate, to help out her family.

There is still a wonderful selection of her work, showcasing her legacy of craftsmanship and care.

One of her signature pieces, this Zebrawood donut was made from one of Jan's favorite varieties of wood, one she considered to be most beautiful.  She hand shaped, sanded, and buffed it to a lovely shine, and then used a brown organza ribbon to finish it off.

This bracelet, made from Bloodwood and aluminum chainmaille, combines two of Jan's jewelrymaking talents.  The neat thing about this bracelet is that it could be unisex, and work for anyone.

This pendant, with its beautiful deco bail, is made from the same wood as my hairsticks - Pink Ivorywood.  I can attest from personal experience that it's just as gorgeous in person as it is in the photo.

Last, but certainly not least, this Madrone Burl wood necklace and earring set with its gold filigree bead spacers is polished to such a shine that it looks like it's got a clear poly coating... but it doesn't.

To see more photos of these and the other items in Janelle's shop, please go visit.