I Am Trying My Luck Making Boxes . . . Again

A few years ago, I made alot of boxes that I took to some craft shows. The shows I picked were not good ones, so I didn't sell many boxes. I haven't given up, though. I am thinking about selling boxes again. I made the box above over the weekend. I borrowed the picture idea from Donna Dewberry. I am going to practice some of her ideas until I get better at making pictures, and then I will do my own compositions. The photo above is a little blurry, I know. My camera does a terrible job on close ups. The box still needs to have the hardware installed and a lining put inside, but I wanted to post it anyways. I'll be interested in comments on it.

2 x 4 Furniture Can Be Fun!!!

I didn't design this bench. It is a pattern from a 2 x 4 furniture book that I bought at the local co op for a couple dollars. 2 x 4 furniture is simple furniture you build using standard lumber dimensions. I didn't build it to impress anyone, but to sell. I made another one just like it that I left the hearts off of, and put the two benches out by the road to see if they sell. I have had some people stop and price them already. I am asking $60 for this bench, and $55 for the one without hearts. I didn't think that was very much money, but a few people gagged at the prices. There is a danger when you put stuff out by the road in that people tend to think the stuff should be sold at yard sale prices. Not everyone acts that way, but alot of people do. I also designed, built and painted a coffee table to go with the round red table below that has roses painted on it. It didn't turn out very good, so I broke it up and put it in the garbage.

A Country Inspired Bench . . .

I made this bench a few weeks ago. I gave it a weathered look, because I couldn't think of anything else to do to it. If I painted it in colors it would tend to look kind of circusy rather than country. My daughter put the seal coat on it and she said she didn't care for the bench. Oh well, you cannot satisfy everyone.

Finally . . . I got the round table painted . . .

I finally got this table painted in a pleasing manor. I painted it three times before this. I figured out how to do simple roses and decided to put them on the top of the table. I think it came out ok. I will be anxious to hear what my daughter has to say when she sees it. Below is a picture of the top of the cabinet. I am almost done, except for some touching up and a seal coat.

A Country Bench . . .

I haven't made anything but stuff for around the house over the last couple months except this country bench. I finished it up yesterday. Thanks alot to my daughter Valerie for painting the black part of the bench . . . she is a very neat painter and does a good job. I still need to put a sealer on it, but other than that it is done. The scene I painted on the back isn't as light as it appears in the photo . . . that is the best shot I could get of the bench with my camera. At least you can kind of get the idea of what it looks like from the picture. I don't care if this bench sells right away or not . . . I had fun making it and that is what counts, having fun doing it. I am presently working on a round lamp table and will post that as soon as I get it finished.

Something Different . . .

I had some difficulty getting a photo of this bench. Since it is black, the details tend to disappear. The style is a little different than I have done for this piece in the past, but I think it turned out kind of nice. I am trying to concentrate more on the overall design of the decoration than on technically perfect painting. The idea for this came to me in a dream. I decided not to cover the whole piece in leaves, but just do a couple selected areas. The design seemed to need the black spaces.

A Shelf for Joel...

A friend of mine asked me if I could make him a small shelf in the shape of the Chevrolet Bow Tie Logo and this is what I came up with for him. He said he would paint it if I made it, so it is shown here unpainted. It is just big enough for him to put a few Matchbox cars on the level areas. I had fun making it for him, but the angles to cut the wood were really difficult to figure out. He wants me to make a few more things for him and I will post them when I have them completd.

Another Recipe Box . . .

I am really enjoying this style of painting. It is fun to think up different motifs to paint.

The other day I decided to make things from now on that I like to make and not worry about selling them. I want to have fun, instead of always thinking of a way to make a buck.

Here's a couple more views of the box above:

A Really Wild Recipe Box!!!

Here is a pic of the Recipe Box I just finished painting. The photo is a little dark, but it kind of gives an idea of what it looks like. I really had fun painting this box. I have one more that I made last summer that I am going to paint next.

Below is a pic of the inside of the box. I painted it up as well. I hope to take this box to a craft show soon and see if it sells.

Finally Made the Move -- Farewell Co op!!!

Well, last Saturday my daughter and I moved my stuff out of the Co op and brought it home to my house. I hemmed and hawed for many months as to whether I should stay or leave. I would change my mind 20 times a week. I finally made my decision last Friday, and made the move Saturday morning. Thanks Val for your help . . . I couldn't have pulled out without your help.

I will still make stuff to sell, but am going to try Craft Shows instead. Crafts didn't really sell all that well at the Co op, although I sold the black Kidney Shaped Bench and another brown bench last week. It seems that plain ones sell there real well -- the ones with painted flowers sit there for ages and ages.

I am working on a Recipe Box and hope to post that in a day or so. I made the box last summer and have finally got around to painting and finishing it.

Mary Engelbreit -- Eat Your Heart Out!

Here are two views of a small stool I made (only 6-1/2 inches high) and painted in the Mary Engelbreit style. I am going to try to sell it at the Co op -- yes, I decided to stay at the Co op a little longer. I really enjoy painting in this style and have a few more things I am going to do this way to see if they sell -- including a Recipe Box, my next project. I will be anxious to hear what my daughter and sister have to say about this project.

Well, I don't have any projects to report on that I have been working on lately. It seems like nothing I take to the Co op sells. I guess I'm feeling pretty discouraged. My daughter took the Latchmaker Table and put it in her living room -- I'm glad she likes it. We put two of the flower benches in the living room rather than give them to the Salvation Army.

I have decided to pull out of the Co op this week. We are just not making enough money at it to make it worthwhile. So, as soon as I make something I will post it on this blog. My daughter is the only one who reads it, so I guess I don't really need to hurry, as I can tell her on the phone what I am up to.