Tag Archives: Side-table

Juggling the junk we call life…

Posted on by

0

NPR wrote a story about the additional 9+ million people who are currently underemployed. That’d be me. As a contract writer who didn’t pay into unemployment benefits, my “situation” has not been counted into the government’s numbers of those looking for work. I count, dammit. Admittedly “Gadora Wilder“ first came alive as a result of the “restructuring” of my last good gig, and now I find myself grateful. I am juggling. Looking for work. Sometimes I cry. I celebrate little victories. And work to market myself. Still without a full-time gig, opportunities are presenting themselves and Gadora is poised to take full, and appreciated, advantage of them all.

After organizing a very immediate To-Do list last night, Gadora googled “Circus 2010″ and Anthropologie’s latest catalog queued up. I’m juggling schedules, projects, friends, skating and The Squeeze. I’m quite inspired by it all. 2010 I’VE GOT YOUR NUMBER. And yes, you will be mine.

Anthropologie's Circus

An admission: instead of the ultra chic Anthro girl—clad in dainty dresses and über chic shoes—Gadora often feels a lil like this frizzy-headed girl masquerading in elf slippers (yes, I do own a felted pair with an up-turned toe).

Circus Girl

Circus Girl by Monjojo

Continue reading →

Thursdays in Austin…

Posted on by

0

It’s January in Texas. Winter. Yesterday was a sunny 75º so Gadora and AJ got out in it. Seems every creature around this house (including the humans… the count is 6) has been suffering from cabin fever (and Cedar fever, but that’s a different story altogether). MAKES US BONKERS. After some minor finagling with the fence out back, that partially blew down after the last arctic winds, Gadora slung open the back door and every one happily filed out. AJ and I made our way to the front, suited up, and got to work.

Gadora and AJ in the shop

Gadora has a few projects up her sleeve. There’s the pair of dainty dressing vanity tables (separated from their middle) that I intend to revive, the set of 4 ladder-back chairs whose caning needs tightening, the awesome antique dresser that wants a new-car shine, and a few smaller pieces almost complete. Oh but wait ’til you see the wire planter basket Gadora turned into a hanging lamp!

Thank YOU Texas for giving this girl a reprieve from summer’s heat, staving off the cold, and the good company with which to get it done.

Scouting Austin…

Posted on by

2

Gadora and the girls went out Saturday with a mission. Seek out Austin’s most touted furniture stores for an exploratory Gadora meet-and-greet. First stop, Threshold ~ furniture and design studio. More great photos on their blog of witty living rooms layered in rich texture, I could have stayed at Threshold for hours.

Gadora's reflection at Threshold

Gadora's mercury reflection at Threshold

An airy loft space with interesting vignettes, Threshold pairs Lawson-Fenning seating (see Sandra below) with rugged, wheeled coffee tables atop O’Hare and D’Jafer rugs.

Sandra's seat.

Sandra's seat.

Continue reading →

Gadora’s TO-DO list…

Posted on by

2

Lest you think the Animal Print business has kept Gadora from scouring the streets of Austin for goodies, think again folks! While I’m happily, superbly, unbelievably busy with the Animal Prints (DAILYCANDY you ARE totally my new BFF), I have one eye on the workshop with its growing reminder of things wanting attention…

• • •

Remember that “tie-one-on” post? Let me refresh you… and as luck would have it, some nice folks placed this chair on their sidewalk just for Gadora!!! I’m gathering my ties, all in a similar color scheme, and plan to pick my seat (teehee), then make it happen.

Seatless Chair

Seatless Chair

Found two killer lamps (not even needing restringing) at an estate sale. Unfortunately, the family of 27 children who hit the sale moments prior to my arrival liked this lamp too, and tore into the shade. No worries people, Gadora and her muse have some CLEAR plans for this one!

Retro Lamp

Retro Lamp

Continue reading →

24″ round table

Posted on by

2

At the risk of aging myself, today’s project conjured up a long-ago song that was Gadora’s favorite. (It shared top billing with Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” but I prefer YOU NOT ask!) I’d spin my Lionel Richie album, paying particular attention to “Round and Round.” Yeah, yeah, yeah! Oooooh baby!

Side table - BEFORE

Side table - BEFORE

It’s hotter than a witch’s teet here in Texas, AJ’s feeling it too. But he wouldn’t dare NOT accompany me in the workshop. It’s just too fun.

At almost the halfway point, I’ve applied wood-glue to the inside joints, sanded the entire surface, and painted the undercoat with a great red.

Table - part deaux

Table - part 2

Next? Top coat of Behr’s butterscotch-colored latex, a light sanding, perhaps some deeper brown detailing, then a top coat. Then… you’ll see the big reveal.


Life in the slow Lane…

Posted on by

8

Yesterday was the 3-month anniversary of carting home the Lane Acclaim series side-table. In need of work, ours has been a love-hate relationship ever since. Well, at least until today! Below: the car ride home…

Lane - BEFORE

Lane - BEFORE

What Gadora imagined might be a brilliant and expeditious reno, was actually a laborious lesson in patience and how to best overcome over-simplified project expectations. The original oven-baked lacquer finish had at some point been coated with a shiny lacquer.

Mr. Kemp and Lucky checkin her out.

Mr. Kemp and Lucky sniff it out.

More than 11 hours after beginning, picking up and applying the first container of stripper… we have success!

Continue reading →

Saturday’s score…

Posted on by

3

Austin rocks. Besides the fact that it’s the music capital of these here United States, blah blah blah, just when Gadora thought scoring great finds at garage sales was futile… Austin delivers. Case in point…

24" round table with beveled top

24" round table with beveled top

And while the GS matron Maria and I visited amongst her things, her GS partner up-sold the early American mirror. “Ok, I’ll take it!”

Mirror and table - score!

Mirror and table - score!

More loot found on the way to check out a few furniture stores… practically free, Gadora scored a wicker/bamboo magazine rack (which Sandra suggested might suffice as a snazzy album holder!) and this twirly metal light fixture.

The Loot.

The Loot.

Though we weren’t in the market for a box of pigs, we stooped to get our hands on them. “There are 88 of ‘em in that box!!,” says the seller, propped in a garden lounger under the shade. He collected them for years. Was in some sort of secret swine society…

Piggy posse

Piggy posse

Oooooo-kay. But we’re still not paying $100 smackers for your silly sows, Mister. Even IF your cookie jar oinks!

Hog heaven...

Hog heaven...

Thanks Austin, for another great day! You do rock.

Lil side table with stripes

Posted on by

1

Rosie brought Gadora home a wee lil table. A dime-a-dozen side table often overlooked in homes decorated in the ’90s. Almost light lodge meets country charm… sans the charm. Gadora knew immediately it’d rock with the striped coffee table.

Side Table - BEFORE

Side Table - BEFORE

As such, it was painted one coat of light taupe, allowed to dry, then taped off. The top was painted in stripes. Once dry, Gadora painted black-gray latex on one section at a time then wiped off with a damp cloth. Once dry, a coat of poly was applied, then later a layer of furniture wax was applied and buffed off.

Side Table - w/ paint

In just two days of work (with only 3 hours between them), Gadora refashioned an otherwise so-so side table into something rather sweet. Starting this day a work is only truly complete when it’s been given its seal of approval. See?

Gadora Wilder was here.

Gadora Wilder was here.

Stripe

Side Table - AFTER

Side Table - AFTER

Sold

Big Deal ~ Sunday Estate Sales

Posted on by

7

Traci called a few weeks ago beaming about her new hobby. “Estate Sales,” she chirped, “I map them out and off we go.” Gadora invited herself out to see their loot and hoped in earnest to join their next run. Bright and early Sunday morning, we coffeed up and began our journey from Decatur, headed to Weatherford, then eventually towards Ft. Worth and finished in Arlington (And thanks Tim for driving).

My Own Sunday Loot

My Own Sunday Loot

Gadora was most successful at the first and crappiest Estate Sale. The only ones there, we had space to pilfer. A wall of coffee mugs and glassware could only mesmerize so long. I spied 4 dusty shell lamp bases, then another, then another. Somehow a dank hallway beckoned me, and led me straight to a cluttered side table. I coolly and casually made my offer and the estate company accepted without incident. Here is Gadora’s table.

Lane table

A gorgeous Lane side piece that had recently been abused by shellac, the dovetails exposed just enough. A website I found said to read the serial number backwards and so it is that 01.06.66 was when my table was produced.

Lane specifics

JetsetModern identified my table as part of the “Acclaim” series. “In addition to its physical virtues, the Acclaim line was uncommonly broad and deep.” Another site offered: “LANE ACCLAIM SERIES MODERN END TABLES (PAIR) Designed by Andre Bus,” but this I’ll have to confirm. The only thing I can find on ebay is for a console table with drawers for the “buy it now” price of $599. We’re not close, but we’re pretty darn.

Lane Acclaim

Lane Acclaim

We spent the rest of the afternoon shuffling around town with mostly the same people.  Traci and Tim had been to most on Saturday and had scoped out their half-priced Sunday treasures. Narrowly missing a pristine wheat-colored velvet sofa with mid-century lines, I sulked into another part of the house and took a moment to remember each home  was a preserved, but now-disheveled history of the lives that unfolded there. We three,  ready to pick up their pieces.

Tonight’s posting, and new category listing “On Becoming,” is an ode to Carl R. Rogers, “On Becoming A Person.” The good life is indeed a process… and Gadora is in the process of becoming, too. 

Parthenon Side Table

Posted on by

1

Rescued from a surprisingly interesting estate sale in Watauga, TX  last weekend “this find” showed signs of neglect. Shoppers passed it for brass candle holders and baby clothes and after a brisk and low-ball negotiation, Gadora dragged the table home.

Sofa-table - BEFORE

Sofa-table - BEFORE

Gadora set it outside and began the circling game, angling to uncover it’s hidden potential. What color did it want to be? Offer the doors new pulls? Did I really need to buy this? While it is true the marble top rocked and the decorative molding muffled a quiet spark… it’s luster lacked.

Detailing

Detailing

Continue reading →