Cinderella Bureau to Upcycled Shabby Chic Star

It does feel rather like being a Fairy Godmother when you up-cycle items. They are horrible, broken, ugly shapes, faded, veneer peeling, woodworm, or just plain forgotten in the corner. Then I wave my magic paint brush and izzy whizzy they are new and useful again. (Come on some of you must remember the phrase Izzy Whizzy Let's Get Busy?)

A wonderfully stylish bureau, but so damaged by damp and mis-use. Standing all alone in the outside auction, another bidder liked the look of her but I won. A lot of filling, sanding, painting waxing, more sanding, curses, sore fingers, sweat and tears and six weeks later she is transformed. Oh and to make her really pretty I used some gold leaf, first time I've done this and it is so easy. Expect gold bling on everything from now on!

I've left things like the marks on the drop down from the supports, years of use have left slight groves. Its part of the items history, so those had to stay, like wise the drawer that still sticks a bit. I sanded and sanded but it still sticks, almost like it contains a secret never to be let out.

She's now for sale on ebay. I will miss her it has been an emotional journey for us both. For her she never thought she would look so glamorous again, for me I never knew I could achieve something like this.

I'm onto chairs again and this one has been salvaged from a church or village hall. It has a number stamped at the back where the seat pad goes. Another dark treacly wood, brought back to life by Henrietta paint, some paper napkin decoupage and pretty script fabric. Still got the waxing to do and some more distressing.

Had a bit of deja view this week, there I was hammering tacks into a seat pad for a chair. When I was transported back to childhood and my hands became my Dad's hammering nails into shoes. I was back in his shed where he used to mend shoes to eek out our meager income. I used to sit on a high stool watching him. Really knocked the wind out of my sails and I had to have a good cry. I really still miss my Dad he died when I was nine, I'm sixty one now. In those few short years he taught me so much, how to garden, make and med things, to love and respect others, but most of all how to cope with adversity in life and just get on and keep on going. You just never stop missing loved ones do you?

Molly has been under the weather with colitis. Its an inflamed large bowl, making her have an awful upset tummy. But worst of all is the foul wind. She can't even stand it herself. Yesterday we were driving back and she was sitting in the front seat, foul smell arrives and Molly exits right to the back of my large estate car. I mean right to the back as the seats were down. Not only that she gave me the most awful look as if to say "Did you do that?" She's on a diet of chicken and rice, with horrible bitter tasting pills from the vet.

Answer:- It was Sooty.

Big thank you to all of you who leave lovely comments. It means a lot to have your love and support. 

Now what have you all been doing this week.?