New Look for Our Old Gutted Player Piano

Our old piano has been around our house for years.   At one time it was a player piano built in the 1920s, but since then it has been used, abused and gutted.

I could never afford to have it refurbished—that’s over a thousand dollars, sometimes almost two.

But what I could do, and did, was refinish the outside after I found this great idea on Pinterest.  The white looks lovely in our living room. 

I started by sanding the rough spots and years of abuse away.   Then I added the beautiful wood  applique from Lowe’s.

It took days to paint and repaint; the natural wood was so dark.  The most difficult thing was getting it moved upstairs from the basement, but luckily, family was visiting, so it was sons and sons-in-law to the recue!  I enjoy having it upstairs where I play it more often and teach piano.  And I just love the way it looks!

Hunger Games Inspiration

The Hunger Games trilogy is one of my all time favorite young adult series.  I just had to read it all twice, and I know I’ll read each book again before the movie comes out.

Although my book club, The Reading Ladies, didn’t choose it for a monthly pick, we still discussed each book in the series not long after its publication.  

 

Here is the bracelet I made for my sweet grand-daughter, Jordan who gave up her room for me when we stayed in Washington, let me read her great YA books, and introduced me to Tehereh Mafi, author of Shatter Me, who has such a unique writing style you won’t forget it.

The bracelet is made with one of my road trip treasures (the old leather band.  Remember, I told you to watch for it?), bits and pieces of antique brass jump rings, the Mocking Jay medallion from my DVD set, and a Hunger Games key chain I purchased at Wal-Mart.

Night Circus Creation

Have you had the chance to read Night Circus, yet? 

This is another enchanting book that my granddaughter Jordan introduced to me.  It’s about a mysterious circus that magically appears just at midnight and disappears at dawn.

In the book, everything is black and white—the circus tents, the chalked designs swirled on the footpaths, even the clothes the circus performers wear.

My book club read Night Circus in October—we always try to read a mysterious, or just plain scary, book during the month of ghosts, goblins and ghouls.

I am inspired to create this mixed media piece after reading the book.  In it, the magician keeps a journal with a tree that dominates the pages with branches trailing across page after page. 

I use postmark stamps to indicate the circus travels across countries and continents.  I collage the taro card since it is integral to the story and the clock rubbing for the same reason.  There are drawings that show important places in the story, as well as some of my favorite quotes.

I am lucky to find this great antique frame on a 50% off sale at Hobby Lobby.  It is the only one, and I’ve never found another one like it.

I love the beautiful scroll work that is stenciled in black right on the glass.  It’s like this frame was made exclusively for my art work!

Road Trip to the Pacific Northwest

I love taking road trips because we always go somewhere  enjoyable, and we brake for flea markets, antique shops and thrift stores.

Leaving Utah always goes by quickly, and soon we come to this border sign.   Here things start to slow down a bit… that is, until we find a thrift store. 

The roads are long, and the scenery pretty much the same along I 84.

We keep  rolling along and arrive to more of the same only with hill, after hill, after hill….you get the picture?

This sign is the greenest thing we see here in the summer time.  There are great finds for us here, though!

 

I love this state!  Six of my children live here, so it’s always our summer vacation place.  This year we have a wedding!  And as ever, there are trashy treasures where ever we go.  Here is a peak at some of them.

      

Remember these watch bands…I have fabulous plans for them!

  Here are things with bling!  

I love these vintage jewelry boxes and gorgeous plates.  Oh, and the vintage linens… I found several.

 

 

 

 

More glitter and shine.  I’m collecting old salt & pepper shakers and cruets to put my craft glitter and teeny, tiny beads in.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with the trays—there’s no room on my working surfaces, but like a magpie, I had to pick them up.

Are you jealous yet?  Next time, come flea with me!