shops to inspire: wordantique

photo credit: wordantique
link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/wordantique

diy: angel door stopper upgrade (sold)

i decided to give one of my wooden angels from market square a much-needed upgrade with the help of black magic by nippon paint.  i tend to buy items in pairs or in multiples because it makes more sense to me.  one of these cute angels went to a relative-slash-customer of mine last december.

here is the before shot.

transformation process.

done!  door stopper or tabletop show stopper!

diy: clay pot desk organizer

hello, blog friends!

i picked this clay pot today for free, and i decided to turn it into a desk organizer because i badly needed one.   it will look really great filled with pens, post-its (yes, i'm old-fashioned like that), assorted candies, and i can even fit my ancient phone in there.  so, let's get started.

old clay pot.  i think it was used for cooking due to its charred bottom.  i'm not really sure though.

scrub-a-dub-dub.  pat with towels and dry.

paint as usual.  i used nippon paint in black magic.  it's not really a chalkboard paint per se, just your usual matte black paint.  it will do for now as an alternative since it's very difficult to look for chalkboard paint in my area.  wait to dry.

condition by applying chalk all over.  wipe and repeat.

done!  you could use it as mini-memo board, or just have fun and scribble anything on it!

diy: bed frame as bag storage system

the idea is pretty simple.  look for old bed frame made of wires and flip it so the headboard will serve as sturdy base.  also, you are going to need plenty of s-hooks to hang your many (but never too many) bags.  this storage system is perfect for small spaces because it can help utilize the height of room.  you can fit in as much as 20 plus bags in this, not to mention scarves and accessories.  the best part of all?  it's free!

old, rickety bed frame.

s-hooks.  black color will provide a more streamlined look.

done!  you can even use the back part for more storage!

thrifting: beaton 05/23/2015

oh boy, we were having erratic weather for the past few weeks!  one day it's scorching hot, the next day it's raining like crazy.  i hope the weather in your place is not as bad as mine.

the heavy rain didn't stop me from going to beaton ukay-ukay though.  and, thankfully i did, because i picked this vintage coach briefcase bag for only 1200 pesos.  i spent more than i intended for a leather bag.  however, the original new arrival price was at 4800 pesos, which i couldn't stomach by the way.

i luckily got it down to 1200 pesos because i'm one of their regular customers, and it had been weeks since the recent arrival of wares.  it's really a hit-or-miss shopping at beaton's near sm bacoor, therefore the trick is to visit often.  i would suggest twice or thrice a month.  lastly, never forget to haggle politely because a discount is a discount.

diy: decoupaged bench using elmer's glue-all

decoupaging is a very affordable way to instantly upgrade any piece of furniture, and made even more affordable with the use of elmer's glue-all.  i like using this brand because it is semi-permanent and pretty much resistant to water when applied in multiple coats.  you may still opt for mod podge though if that's what you have on hand.  regardless of your preferred medium, decoupaging is quite addictive!

gather your materials.  i used an old book because i love the character of it, the yellowed pages and random pencil marks.  your own modern podge with a watered down elmer's glue-all.  clear polyurethane to waterproof your finished project.  two paint brushes, one for glue and another disposable one for poly.

clean your chosen furniture.  spread your homemade mod podge generously.

next, on book pages.  lay flat.  smooth out wrinkles and bubbles.

spread a thin, even layer on the entire decoupaged surface.  dry for at least 6 hours or overnight.

apply two coats of polyurethane.  i used a fast-drying variety, which is actually a clear wood varnish.  it will change the color a little bit but i adore the aged effect.  you may use a water-based polyacrylic spray if you're working on something precious.  allow to dry completely.

done!  use it to display your collection of books, potted plants, or carefully curated vignette!

thrifting: japan surplus 05/20/2015

i scored these avant-garde vintage ceramic hand forms for only 25 pesos a piece at triams enterprises (japan, australia, and u.s.a. surplus shop) located near sm bacoor.  my heart skipped a beat, literally and figuratively, the moment i saw them.

guess what?  the clumsy in me accidentally dropped them moments ago, but surprisingly enough, there was zero crack to be found.

high five for spirit fingers!

diy: vintage-style bulb upgrade

i never had luck finding old incandescent bulbs at antique stores, so i decided to come up with this "brilliant" idea.  i'm taking this conventional blah bulb to vintage elegance territory with the help of kt gold effekt spray paint.

gather your materials.

masking tape.

spray paint.  use primer if you have one.

dry completely and peel off tape.

voila!