Gel stain makes everything better

Last week, on one of my "thrifting" adventures, I found this candlestick for $1.98.
I liked the shape, but not the finish.

After rubbing it with some sandpaper, I spray painted it with black paint and a few sprays of bronze. I liked the color, but not the sheen. I wanted it to match a candle holder I had gotten on clearance at Pottery Barn. Solution - I brushed on some of my favorite Minwax Gel Stain in Brazilian Rosewood. It was just the right touch! I love my gel stain. It is my solution for just about every problem I have with an item's finish. I wish they made it for hair, 'cuz the humidity is making mine crazy!!!

The round boxes were origionally used by DH's grandma to store Baking Soda and Corn meal in her pantry. I love them. I store matchbooks in one and antique buttons in the other.

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How To Make Your Own Exercise Bike For Next To Nothing

Remember back in April when I had a kidney transplant? Well, the kidney is doing great (thanks, Cathy , for taking such good care of it when you owned it). There was one little glitch, however. During surgery, the retractors they used caused some nerve damage in my right leg. When I woke up from surgery, I couldn't move or feel my leg. The docs felt like the feeling would come back but the paralysis had them stumped. A visit to a neurologist ruled out a stroke and a CT scan showed some fluid which was pressing on L4 and L5 (medical talk which means I couldn't feel or move part of my leg). The prognosis is good and I'm recovering pretty quickly. In fact, I've left my cane behind and I'm walking freestyle without falling. My next goal is to be able to drive. I've been itching to get back to exercising (physical therapy doesn't count) because my medication causes me to gain weight and I need to burn some calories. Running? - n...

A Designer's Secret For A Taller Bed

Several years ago Hubs and I spent almost a year looking for a bedroom set that we both loved. He wanted clean lines and dark wood. I wanted curves and a "tall" bed. Of course, there was no perfect bedroom set but we were able to compromise on a set that we both liked. My main wish was for a bed that I could "climb up into". The problem with that wish was that most of the "tall" beds were four poster beds and Hubs was not in the mood for that. We found a Thomasville bed on display at a local furniture store and it fit the clean lines that Hubs wanted and it was "tall" enough to suit me. The problem was that once we received the bed we ordered in our home, it wasn't as tall as I had remembered it being. My heart sunk! I went back to the furniture store to look at the display. Their bed was much taller than our bed. Hmmm. . . what was different? I got nosey and lifted up the comforter on the ...

Plans For A DIY Exercise Bike Stand

Thank you to so many of you who emailed me about plans for the DIY Exercise Bike Stand . I apologize that it has taken me so long to get the measurements to you, but they are finally here! The wood was purchased at Home Depot and the bike pegs were purchased at Walmart in the bike section. The bike we used for this project is a 24" 12 speed bike (I'm a shorty). I used the hardest gear while riding, but this set-up does not allow you to really get much resistance (for building muscle). It was great for getting my legs moving after some nerve damage. I also wanted to burn calories and get my heart rate up and this did the trick. If you have any questions, just shoot me an email.

Tidy Brown Wren, bringing order to your nest

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