DIY Potting Bench From Rummage Sale Junk

Friday and Saturday one of our local churches had a rummage sale. My neighbor and I were having our own garage sale but we closed up shop on Friday because we had heard that this was a really good sale. Indeed it was!



This ugly, warped table was only a few dollars, (I think I paid $2.00). The top was in terrible condition but the base was solid wood and very sturdy. I have a thing for old tables, so I bought it.



This table is very unusual, I've never seen anything like it before. There is glass firmly attached to the wood as though they are one piece. At first I thought it was acrylic but I hit it with the hammer to make sure and it really is glass. For the glass and the wood to be so warped it must have been either outside or in storage for a long time.



I'm also a sucker for book shelves. This one was rickety and whoever made it was a bad shot with the hammer. Several nails had gone up through the wood and caused it to splinter. I bought it for $1.00 thinking I could use it for closet storage. I thought, if nothing else, I could put my shoes on it or possibly just use the wood for something. I wasn't passing up solid wood for $1.00.



































On Sunday night my husband and I were walking our dog when I noticed that one of the neighbors had placed a twin bed headboard, footboard, and wood frame with the slats attached. I told my husband that we needed to get the slats from the garbage. He thought I was nuts! It's one thing to pick up trash in a strange neighborhood and quite another where people know you. I spared him the embarrassment and we waited until dark. Thankfully they were still there.

I was brainstorming trying to figure out what to do with all of this newly acquired junk in my garage. I have always wanted a potting bench and since the stuff I had was so cheap and not in the best shape I though it would be a good time to make one.

The slats were the perfect size for the table and didn't have to be cut!

My original plan was to just add the slats to the table and be done, but then I thought the bookshelf would be perfect for additional storage.





Here she is all finished and decorated! Isn't she adorable? I had some white exterior paint but I didn't want it to be white. I started adding several different colors to get a color that I liked. Depending on the light, it looks kind of sage green, gray, or a pretty blue.

I turned the bookcase upside down because it added more stability to attach the flat end to the table. I also need the lip at the top so the space could be used and things wouldn't fall off.











































Here is the back. The only real cost was the $11.00 sheet of plywood that we had to buy. It just didn't look right without a back on the shelf and the plywood gave it additional stability.











































I added the corner decorative pieces so it wouldn't look as much like an upside down bookcase. I had them stored in a container my craft room. I bought them a few years ago on clearance for .62 each.




Almost every item on the potting table was purchased at garage sales or Goodwill. I love thritfy treasures!



I already had this little window box primed, but I didn't know what I was going to with it. It was a garage sale purchase from last year. I thought it would be a perfect addition to my potting table.



I am having difficulty with Blogger on this post. I hope the text is in the right place.



I wish you all a lovely and productive day! Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:

















http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/06/pottery-barn-bedford-office-addition.html?utm_source=feedburner

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/thrifty-finds-this-week-2/

http://www.thenester.com/2011/06/best-yard-sale-finds-ever.html

Hummingbird Wreath

This past winter I made wreaths for the birds and to brighten up an otherwise dull winter landscape. It worked beautifully and the birds kept me entertained through our long and harsh winter.



A few days ago I decided to make a summer wreath to decorate an otherwise ugly and faded hummingbird feeder.



The hummingbirds found it rather quickly and seemed to prefer it over the larger feeder that was hanging nearby.



My goal this summer is to master shutter speed and capture some decent hummingbird pictures that freeze the wings of these speedy little guys.



Here is a shot of a bird through the wreath. I think it is a female catbird since she was with the male all evening, but I'm not 100% certain.



I eased around the tree and quickly snapped better picture before she flew away. Does anyone know if this is indeed the female gray catbird?



Here is the gray catbird in the bird bath. We've had a pair of catbirds here for the last three summers. They are noisy but I love hearing them!



This robin is nesting in one of my trees. One of the four eggs had hatched as of yesterday when I checked. It has been sweet watching the male robin search for worms and take them to the female as she is sitting on her nest.

I have been busy working on a rain garden for one of the common areas of my neighborhood. I'll have to get some pictures of the project. Right now we are just digging up the "soil" that is either mud or like cement. It has turned into a much bigger project than I had imagined. Hopefully it will be worth it when we are finished.

I hope everyone has a great week!