Welcome to my happy place of DIY, homemade, homegrown, handmade, nourished & crafted, whole hearted living. Finding magic in the mundane & growing some roots in the process.
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Do y’all remember the darling little patina green writing desk I shared about 3 years back? Well, that little desk came back to see me for a fun little update. The owner of the desk is a friend of mine, and her daughter is getting married this spring. Mother and daughter are planning the most gorgeous backyard reception and wanted to use the writing desk as part of the decor. Makeover time!
I gave the writing desk a good sanding, primed, sanded again, and then sprayed 3 coats of white. White paint tends to need more coats in order to cover, even with primer, but especially when you are painting over a bright or dark color. When you are going for a more rustic look, you can often skimp on paint but my friends wanted a clean, fresh aesthetic so I made sure the piece was fully coated. When the paint dried, I applied several layers of top coat to seal.
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Now back to the post…
Working on pieces in the winter is a big struggle for me because my workspace is my freezing, kid toy filled garage. While the paint was drying, a passing dog or child knocked over the drawer, which had to be sanded and repainted. Then in my hurry to put the finish on the drawer, I failed to notice a drip until it dried and then had to sand and refinish. Someday I’ll have a shop… I just keep telling myself that. When the piece was fully dry, I reattached the glass knobs and she was done.
Here’s what the writing desk looked like before I started working on her back in 2015.
and here is what she looked like after her first makeover…
Now for the after-after. Haha! The 2nd after?
Anyway, here’s what that sweet little writing desk looks like now.
I have to tell you, my house is totally torn up right now. I’m in the middle of painting my daughter’s room so chaos is everywhere. I wanted to stage the desk in her room with the old pink walls before they are completely gone, but all the furniture is pulled in the center of that oddly shaped room and there was no way to get the desk near the window for light. My fabric photo backdrop clashed with the white paint so I had to get a little creative.
I pulled out my favorite quilt and hung it as a backdrop instead.
It’s kind of funny how things work out in ways we don’t expect it. I have wanted to take pictures of my quilt for months now, but have never taken the chance. Taking pics of a quilt may sound silly but if you know me, and my sentimentality, you get it.
I have had this tattered old quilt since I was 10 or 11 years old. One sunny summer day, my grandma took me to a reunion for her mother’s side of the family. Grandma’s great-grandparents, Isaak and Verena Losser, immigrated from Switzerland and settled in the Benjamin area of Utah County back in the 1800’s. At the family reunion, I won the quilt in a raffle. I remember being over the moon with excitement because I’d never won anything before. My grandma came from a long line of quilters, and this quilt represents a little piece of that family history to me.
Over the decades, it has decorated my bed, been snuggled in for movies, used as a prop in backyard plays, dried teenage tears, comforted through sick days, moved 5 times, covered many hand-me-down sofas, held newborn babies, and has silently partnered hundreds of afternoon naps and late night reading adventures. It’s been by my side, through good times and bad.
The years are showing, but I love it still. The juxtaposition of the fresh, newly painted desk against the old tattered quilt feels like a metaphor for life. The new and the old. May we always have the courage to move forward with grace, while remembering who we are and where we came from.
Roots and wings.
Anyhooo, this cute little desk is all cleaned up and ready for the wedding. One more item for my friends to check off their to-do list. I can’t wait to see it all decked out in wedding splendor! Somebody remind me to take a pic at the reception, because you know I’ll forget.
Do you have a favorite blanket?
Tell me about it in the comments below!