I love taking junk and turning it into something useable.
I have no doubt that I inherited this characteristic from my father. Just this week, I walked into his garage and saw he had a shiny new trailer. “Where did you get that?” I asked. “I made it!” he said. Of course, he did. He had cobbled together parts: the steel sides of an old truck he had owned 30 years ago; the fenders he picked up at a flea market 10 years ago (“because I knew I’d use them for something!”); the axle off who-knows-what old car; the remaining tongue off a trailer he had built decades before. He welded it all together, painted it a shiny gray and black, and he has a trailer that will likely outlive us all.
A few weeks ago, I reinvigorated old flower pots with a coat of color-coordinating spray paint. Last summer, I ripped the rotted top off a perfectly wonderful farm table, painted the legs and replaced the top with lumber slats I had sitting around to make a great deck table. (And this summer, I think I’m going to go all Pinterest on it and add a beer trough.) An old side table someone gave to me is going to get a coat of paint in coming weeks to coordinate with my living room furniture. A metal footboard for a bed is serving dual purpose as a trellis and replacement section for a fence crushed in a storm.
I have never met yard sale furniture under $5 that I didn’t consider turning into something. Of course, there have been just as many (maybe more) failures than successes among those finds, but there is always a Plan B. A set of drawers I rescued from alongside the road a few years ago to serve as an art cubby for my daughter has done nothing but give us fits – drawers that won’t open right (I see now why it ended up alongside the road). But a fresh coat of bright paint and this summer, it’s going to be a planter. And if that fails, I always know people who need firewood.
I imagine myself to be one of those cool chicks who has all sorts of kitschy yard ornaments and funky furniture – a sort of PeeWee Herman meets Monica Geller vibe. I know the reality is far more Jed Clampett than I want to admit.
But that’s why my new venture will fit right in! A dirty ol’ camper sitting in my parents’ backyard is destined for Rosie greatness. I am thinking it is crying out for baby blue polka dots and floral bunting.
Stay tuned. And share your glamping pictures with me on Pinterest!
April 17, 2014
Loved the post and I too like to re-purpose perhaps more after creative than useful #AtoZchallenge ☮Peace ☮ ღ ONE ℒℴνℯ ღ ☼ Light ☼ visiting from http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
April 19, 2014
I always like the ideas of “useful junk”, and I have many. Just haven’t had the time to put them to good use. That’s a great idea for an old dresser, something I could have done with one that I found on a sidewalk. It sounds like you come from a line of great thinkers. 😀