Hidden Potential

There is a flea market/craft fair in Texas called First Monday in Canton. I love it! And I don't mean I love it because all the things you can buy, but I love it because I feel inspired when I walk around and look at all the beautiful things people have created. Call me corny, but I love handmade things. Always have and now that I have found the courage to step out and become part of that world, I couldn't be happier. 

I went on my first girls trip ever with some sweet friends from church to Canton last weekend. I headed straight to the open-air vendors to find some treasures. One of my friends I was with just purchased a fantastic new house and needs help furnishing it. She told me while I was shopping to keep my eye out for nightstands. So I did! I found a vendor who had fantastic furniture at their booth. All of their pieces were $10 a piece! I bought 6 pieces there and I will post more on the others later. 

I spotted these 

Up close. 

They are base cabinets without a top. Each has three drawers and I immediately thought nightstand! If you notice in the second picture the bottom drawer is a little 'imperfect'. I love that and I was relieved that my friend loved it too! 

My friend decided that she would part handles on later and that she didn't  like the ones the cabinets came with. So I filled in the holes. 

Then I put on the first coat of paint. I love the paneling on the side! 

I purchased a 2x4 piece of birch wood. I wanted to make sure there was a pretty grain in the wood that would show when I stained it.

Then I routed the edges. 

I stained the top. I only put on one coat because I like how the grain showed. I was afraid of losing that if there was too much stain on the wood. These pieces are refurbished, not perfect. So, I figured one coat was fine, even though everything out there says to do more than one coat. Right now I have a Fleetwood Mac running in the back of my head... "You can go your own way!"

Up close and personal with the routing, stain, paint and the little distressing my friend wanted.

The finished product! I can't wait to see what she picks for the hardware and when she does, I will definitely post on here and show it off! 

I am so proud of these. The English teacher in me is appreciating the metaphor of these pieces being a  diamond in the rough and finding a new life. That is so parallel to my life. Maybe that is why these pieces were so special to me.