Decorative Wall Basket

I found three of these wall baskets at a yard sale a few weeks back and I wanted to try three different paint finishes on each of them.  This is the first of the three.  It started out as just a black frame with the basket filler in it.  I added some small scale poultry wire all the way around.  

Next I added one of my decorative wreaths with epoxy and clamps and clothespins to get it to adhere to the frame.  Then I sprayed the whole thing with primer gray.  I followed that with a coat of gesso that I quickly wiped back.  The next step was to dry brush with Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue.  I did go back and dry brush the wreath with some ivory, but now that I'm looking at the photos, I think I'll respray it with the gray and put it back to match the rest of the basket.  

Here is how we started.  Pretty ugly, huh?  I like my version a lot better.  I think this would be perfect with succulents and moss.

Here is the basket before painting and after the poultry wire was attached.  

One last thing before I leave you today.  I signed up for the Haven Conference and my husband surprised me with a fabulous Rhine River cruise and I have a conflict of dates.  If anyone out there would like to purchase my ticket, let me know.  My slot is now available.  You can email me using the button on my sidebar or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for visiting.


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Simple Economics

Last Saturday I went out to some local neighborhood sales and there wasn't much to be found.  I did, however, find an old treadle sewing machine that was on it's last legs.  It wasn't worth refinishing and really all I wanted was the drawers.

Then I looked at it a little closer.  The seller was asking $20 for the whole thing.  I thought the bottom metal was interesting and it had some nice detailed trim on it as well.  I also figured in the shape it was in, I could easily take it apart.  Here it is on the back of my truck bed.  It took me about an hour to unscrew everything, and I only had to discard about four of the wood pieces.

Here is the net effect of my find.  There were six drawers which I can sell for approximately $20 each.  People like to purchase the drawers.  The bottom metal part with the pedal will be turned into a coffee table or a bench.  Not sure which, but I can price that at at least $90.  I can sell the wheel for another $25, the carved pieces for probably $20 for all three of the pieces.  I also have three pieces of wood for sign painting and the very top with the opening for the machine will become a chalkboard with some hooks and some decorative molding applied which I will price around $49.  This makes this a fabulous interesting find.

A couple of months ago I found a stripped box spring with about 50 springs for $10.  That was more challenging to dismantle, but I have sold at least 10 of the individual springs for $5 each.  It did take a lot of elbow grease to dismantle that, but the end result was well worth it, and I still have plenty of springs left to sell.  Next time you come across some interesting pieces like these, think about what the parts can yield.  If you are a dealer like myself, people like the repurposed items.  I love them too.

Thanks for visiting.
I may be partying at...


    
                                    
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                     Common Ground