Aging Gracefully

We built this table about 5 months ago. You can read about it here. We built it out of a picnic table that came with the house. And had been sitting outside for a long time.

I loved the grey patina, but since I wanted a long table, we added some large end pieces that we had laying around. We were waiting for the weather to do it's job and "weather" it. But that didn't work. Five months later and it still looked like this:

I've seen people aging wood on pinterest and stuff, but usually it was for a stand alone piece. This was matching! I wanted it to look the same!

I used the trusty method of soaking steel wool in apple cider vinegar. Not overnight, just for a few minutes. Then I rubbed the steel wool on the wood. Here it is in mid application, just wet:

Close up of the knots, that weren't fond of the stuff:

It took about 15 minutes to dry in the hot sun, and this is what I got:

Perfectly matching grey wood! We were shocked and awed!

I used this tutorial, because she also didn't have time for it to soak overnight...

Now I just need an umbrella to better enjoy my old/new/old table!

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The Table Guy

 

John and I finally finished our table! We started it a month ago maybe? I don't remember. It seems like forever ago. 

We used our old picnic table and old redwood studs we removed during our kitchen redo. I tried to find a pic of the old table and discovered some awesome stuff.

Cousin Jessica carving pumpkins! We totally miss you, Jess!!

After a hail storm:

Before the raised bed and miniaturized:

Baby Bee!!

So, we took that table and cut it crosswise giving us the pieces for the top. The legs are two actual 2 x 4's screwed together. 

 Now I just have to find chairs...or talk John into building a bench. John sure is lookin' handsome these days!

Pattern

 

I found this soap dish at Home Goods. And I stared at it for a long time because I think it may be the basis for my little side table. It was $6.99 and I was about to buy it when I remembered I had my camera with me. 

The edge is a pretty spring green and the red is a little richer. But I mostly just wanted the pattern. 

I also bought chocolate. Which I needed to get my kids to leave. They had giant stuffed puppy dogs. And they wanted to play. Or so I was told.

Table scape

 

John got me this table from an old job. It was a cast-off set dressing piece that was headed for

the trash. He knew I would like something like this if only for the possibilities. It's been sitting in my living room for almost three years untouched. I usually just throw a tapestry over it. 

But now I'm waiting for escrow to close before I can do anything to my new/old house and I'm bored! So I took it to the barn for a redo.

I have lots of ideas including rosemaling, decoupaging (again!), and tiling. The rosemaling was actually going to involve decoupaging and the decoupaging was going to include Ukrainian folk art. I have a Cost Plus World Market vibe goin' in my living room, so those seemed to fit in.

Any ideas? I could use some. Here it is after I sanded the crap out of it and applied a thin coat of primer:

Please help! I've been staring at it for three years and could use some fresh perspective!



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