a pair of library chairs.

Published on by Quandie

To all of my American readers, Happy almost 4th of July!  I can always tell when this holiday is coming because I don’t get any sleep.  The 11 p.m. fireworks keep me up at night, plus I’m getting up at 6 a.m. to get some painting in before the day heats up too much.  So I think it’s fair to say that this is not really one of my favorite holidays.  Regardless, I’m going to celebrate with a giveaway at the end of this post, so be sure to read all the way to the bottom!

When I said I was going to post every day this week, I hope you guys realized that I meant just the weekdays.  Which brings me to the final post of the week.

I brought home a pair of library chairs from a garage sale a couple of weeks ago.

When you get up close and personal, you can see that the finish on the chairs was pretty tired.

But that was a pretty quick fix using some paint.

I cleaned the chairs using some TSP substitute, then I brushed on two coats of Dixie Belle’s Caviar.  Once dry, I sanded to distress the edges and then added a small section from a stencil to the chair back.

I’m always amazed by how much character such a simple detail can add.

I added a topcoat of clear wax to protect the finish and to give them that perfect subtle glow that comes from waxing.

This pair of chairs is no longer tired looking, and they are ready to head to a new home.  So if any of you locals are in need of a pair of library chairs, be sure to check out my available for local sale page.

So tell me, which garage sale makeover from this week was your favorite?

The button box …

The bird cage …

One of the buckets …

Bessie the cow …

The shoe forms …

Or the library chairs …

Let me know which one you liked the best!

And just to make it more fun, and because I haven’t done a giveaway in a while, today I’ll draw a name from all of those who leave a comment here on today’s blog post and the winner will receive a red, white & blue themed prize.

Included is 16 oz of Honky Tonk Red, Antebellum Blue and Fluff (white), plus one of my favorite decorating books, American Style by Country Living.

Thank you to Dixie Belle for providing the paint I’m giving away today!

The rules:  to be eligible to win today’s prize leave a comment on this blog post.  If you can’t think of anything to say, just let me know which of my garage sale makeovers was your favorite.  Your comment must be left on the blog, not on Facebook or Instagram.

I will randomly draw the name of a winner for today’s prize from all of the comments left on this post by Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at the stroke of midnight (U.S. Central time).

The fine print: no purchase necessary, you must be 18 years of age or older to win, void where prohibited by law, the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning, approximate retail value of prize is $90 if the prize is not claimed by Friday, July 10, another name will be drawn at random to win, blah, blah, blah.

P.S.  You do not have to be an American to win my Independence Day themed prize!  I have no idea if they are letting packages across the borders these days, but I’m willing to give it a shot.

Good luck!

188 thoughts on “a pair of library chairs.”

  1. I love everything you do, so it’s impossible to choose just one! The birdcage is pretty awesome, as are the shoe stretchers (now I have to look for THOSE to upcycle when I go garage-saling!). I also always wonder how you get so much done…do you have an assistant (besides Handyman Ken) who helps you prep/paint? I would love to know your production secrets. Keep the ideas coming!

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    1. What I need is an intern that will work for free! But no, I do all the prepping and painting myself. It gives me something to do besides binge watch Outlander.

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  2. I think they are all pretty cool, but my favorite might be the bird cage … or the chairs.
    Thanks for the week of projects. Happy 4th to you, too.

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  4. I vote for the cage, cow and shoe forms! Love how white paint and transfer transformed them! Thank you for sharing every day Linda – it was a treat!

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  5. I love all of the above, but the cow wins my heart. I was raised on a farm and it has never left my heart.

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  7. Love them all. We have the same taste in vintage finds.
    Galvanized buckets-check
    Cage-check
    Sewing 🧵 Center-check
    Shoe stretchers-check. We use those everyday as do my grown kids. I keep them supplied
    Chairs- check. (Sorry I missed those i was in the market for extra seating)
    All fun stuff. Thanks for sharing your talents.

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  8. My favorites are buckets, shoe tree, & chairs!!! I really love all your work no matter what it is😍

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  9. Linda,

    I love it all, but the buckets are what I plan on doing myself as soon as the Prima Marketing transfers arrive that I
    ordered this week. I love the bird cage so much as well!

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  10. I have enjoyed your week of posts. My favorites were the button box as well as the birdcage. Fire works aren’t my favorite thing about the holiday either. Getting together with family is the best part. Take care.

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    1. I agree. Last year we went out to visit family in South Dakota for the 4th and that was the best. Our cousin Trav has a big party on the old family farm. We will probably have to do that again next year.

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  11. I look forward to your blog in my inbox.
    I really like the chairs! They look great!
    All of the projects turned out great but those are my favorite.

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  13. I love the chairs! Your work is always inspiring. My favorite makeover of the week though is the birdcaeg. Oh, that fantastic birdcage. When I first saw it I thought it was wonderful and wondered how you could improve upon it. Then the closeups, then the redo, and, WOW. Perfection! Thank you for the giveaway! i hope you have a headache free, fantastic July 4th!

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    1. I survived our hot and humid 4th of July by watching Hamilton in sister’s cool air-conditioned house, which ended up working out perfectly 🙂

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  15. I loved them all, as usual, but must say the shoe forms are my very fave! I’m a “black &white” decor gal, so loved them a lot! Thanks for the posts all week! Looked forward to the daily fun!

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  16. Wow, thank you for a chance at winning such an awesome prize! Happy Independence Day to you as well. I cannot pick a favorite because I love all of your makeovers bit of I had to pick it would between Bessie and the chairs. I love those black chairs. Have a great weekend!

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  18. God’s blessings to you! I love all the fantastic things you recycle! There is too many beautiful things to choose from so anything would be a blessing! Since I am from a line of seamstresses the button box is the thing that sings to me! Teresa

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  19. WOW you really knocked this out of the park with this post! All of these projects are so great it’s hard to choose a favorite but if I’m forced to choose the patina and paint color on the library chairs is gorgeous and I’d choose the lovely birdcage a very pretty second. If I’m the lucky one picked for the prize I’d love an opportunity to try Dixie Belle paint on a makeover here in Pennsylvania and that Country Living book looks like a book I need in my library.
    I hope the fireworks are pretty, early and few and you have a wonderful Fourth of July !
    I look forward to all your inspiring posts !

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  20. I love them all but the birdcage is my absolute fave! The shoe stretchers and button box are right up there though too! Happy 4th of July!

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  23. Absolutely love those chairs. And yes the little details like the stencil are what sets them above

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  24. Love love the library chairs! I also really liked the bird cage! Made such a difference. Always enjoy your blog! Happy 4th

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  25. OMG! I can’t decide which makeover I like the best – you did such a great job on all of them! Well, ummm, if I have to pick one, I choose the button box. I’ve sewed my whole life, and it’s the one that clicked with me!! Happy 4th!

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  27. So difficult to choose, but I have to go with the chairs – I’m a chairs girl. They don’t sell too well in my booth, but personally I love them. They are so versatile for staging, decorating, etc and you can even SIT in them 😉 Then I love the button box, but everything really turned out so cute! Thanks for the giveaway and have a happy 4th!

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  28. I love all of your makeovers this week, but I think my favorite was the shoe forms. I would never have thought to do that!

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  29. I love the chairs(well, just eveything!) because you do such realistic distressing! It is always perfect! Thanks for posting everyday this week!

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  36. My favorite is the bird cage and I do like the button box too. As usual you always have creative transformations that bring your items new life!

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  39. Hard decision because they are ALL so cute! i guess i’d have to say Bessie, because she was the most “un-lovely” piece when you started!

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  40. Gosh, if I had to choose, I’d say the birdcage speaks to me the most. You had some wonderful finds for sure, and your transformations were spot on. I, too, like the daily posts! Little rays of sunshine amid all the gloom and sadness. Keep them coming, please. Stay safe!!

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  43. I love your blogs, the way you put them together and love how you shoot your work! I enjoyed the posts every day last week but I must say my favorite is the Button Box! Living in the Los Angeles area, it’s something I’ve never seen!😃
    Please continue posting, we really enjoy them.

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  44. My favorite is the chairs…the vision. The chairs are already a classic..good lines and quality. You just make them cool with a new look. I love them. My next favorite is the birdcage. I imagine it sitting in a sunroom or a porch. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  47. I love them all, but probably the shoe forms and birdcage are my favorites as I have these items in my stash awaiting a makeover and, as always, you have inspired me.

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  48. Sorry I’m a little late to respond, but been too busy to keep up over the holiday. I think the chairs are my favorite, but all of the projects are stinkin cute.

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