Time Travel Thursday #23 - Diamond in the Rough

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories.
Some take us forward, they're called dreams."
~Jeremy Irons~

Welcome to the 23rd Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready to share your fondest memories, grandest dreams,

and most creative projects?

OK, here we go!

During one of our many junkin' jaunts—back in the 90s—the Yankee
and I stumbled upon a wonderful stash of antique stained-glass church
windows and empty sashes.

They were just too fabulous to pass up...
so we promptly bought
the entire lot!   ; )

One of the empty sashes was a large diamond-shaped piece—

probably a connector piece for two of the large windows—similar to the one 

surrounding the purple glass, in the image above.

We were never quite sure what to do with that particular architectural detail.

So it sat aimlessly in storage for years, with no particular destiny

 or purpose in sight, until...

we pulled all those wonderful beaded boards out of the old Victorian a few years ago.

I know I've told you many times before, but it's true, that bounty of vintage

beadboard has been the key that has unlocked the door

to numerous stalled projects.

For our little diamond in the rough, it was just a matter of

selecting the perfect board color from the pieces

 stored in the barn.

We were delighted with the results of our first project using those

salvaged boards—three fantastic wooden boxes—and decided

one of those colors would be just right for this piece.

After a bit of deliberation, we agreed that pink would be the perfect pairing

 for this pretty project.   ; )

Of course, no project is complete without the embellishments that make it unique—

like a stunning spindle part...

and a shimmering vintage glass doorknob.

And with the addition of a little ornate appliqué for the top...

and the bottom...

our once pleasant-but-plain window frame became a gorgeous...

one-of-a-kind...

sweet, sleek, shabby chic mirror.

It might have taken a few years for this diamond to shine,

but it sure sparkles now!   ; )

Linking to Leigh's Thrifty Thursday, Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday,

Gina's Transformation Thursday, Cindy's Show and Tell Friday,

Betty Bee's Buzz, Brag, and Bee Happy Friday,

Jane's Frugalicious Friday, Meg's Everything But the Kitchen Sink, 

Laura's Saturday is Crafty Day, Bev's Pink Saturday, 

and Susan's Metamorphosis Monday.

Time Travel Thursday #7 - Vintage Window Transformation

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories.
Some take us forward, they're called dreams."
~Jeremy Irons~



Welcome to the seventh Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage!
Are you ready to share your fondest memories, grandest dreams,
and most creative projects? Great!

Then let's do it!
 
Last night...

I took you through the steps I used to prepare an old window

for the latest cottage project.

Now tell the truth!

Have you grown weary of seeing this familiar scene? 

I sure hope not...because it will probably be quite some time before I

tire of using all that wonderful old beadboard we salvaged.

Of course, prior to the transformation, all the boards and the

window frame required a thorough cleaning, a few days of sun drying, 

and a good coat of Deft—to seal in

all that wonderful chippiness.

As I was laying out the configuration of the boards for the frame,

the Yankee asked if I had considered using metal anywhere in my design. 

I had not...but thought it was a great idea.

So...

out came some of our rusty, crusty vintage ceiling tins. 

We agreed that the larger rusted tin would add the best contrast

to the other materials being used.

We had found this antique leather pulley belt at our favorite junkin' spot

and had put it aside, not knowing when,

or how, we would use it. 

My brilliant Yankee came up with the perfect way

to incorporate it into my project.

The boards were cut and glued to the frame.  The corners of the ceiling tin

were cut and nailed in with decorative copper nails.  And the mirror

 was set in the special place created for it when

the muntins were rearranged. 

After the leather belt was scrubbed, rinsed, and thoroughly dried by the sun,

it was given a good coat of paste wax.  Strips of it were cut to frame in the

mirror.  Once again, the decorative copper nails came into play

 to attach the belt to the frame.

Then, more decorative nails were used to secure the part of the

pulley belt that encased the entire outside of the frame.

I love how this eighty-year-old window was

transformed into a one-of-a-kind mirror. 

How's that for a custom update?

I'll be linking this terrific transformation to Gina's Transformation Thursday,

Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday, Leigh's Thrifty Thursday, 

Becky's 100 Ideas Under $100.00, Allison's Hooking Up with HOH,

Carolyn's Make it Yours Day, Jane's Frugalicious Friday,

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday, and Rory's Tools Are For Women Too!

Time Travel Thursday #1 - Back to the Future

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories.

Some take us forward, they're called dreams."

~Jeremy Irons~



Welcome to the very first Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage!
Are you ready to share your fondest memories, grandest dreams,
and most creative projects? Great!

Then brace yourself, as we travel back in time and into the future with our
wonderfully creative projects!

I shared these cute little beadboard boxes with you before. 

The Yankee and I had removed a good supply of these beaded boards

 from an old Victorian that was being torn down

 in our town.

After making a number of boxes—like those above—

this is what we had leftover.

Should we have tossed them out?  Not a chance!

If you're a crafter of any sort, you probably do

as we do here at the cottage...

save everything! 

You just never know when you might need it.  Am I right?

Though we still had a pretty good stockpile of boards in one of the barns, we

knew those wonderful old chippy-paint beauties 

were hard to come by. 

And, we just weren't willing to waste one bit of that vintage charm.

So...

when we discovered this terrific old window sash,

we had an idea of how to bring the past into the future.

We pulled those bits and pieces of beadboard out of storage

and began creating a mosaic of sorts.

Of course, the board pieces had to be measured and cut

for this project.

Have you figured out where this is heading?

Yep...

right where you thought...

into the old window sash.

With the addition of a section of mirror—purchased from

 our local Lowe's—our Time Travel project was complete.

Our pretty time traveler rounded out this vignette perfectly—at a

recent antiques and collectibles show.

Next time you're tempted to toss those itty-bitty bits and pieces, remember...
waste not, want not!   ; )

I'll be linkin' up to these terrific parties, while you're linkin' up to mine:

Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday, Gina's Transformation Thursday,
Becky's Under $100.00, Maryann's Power of Paint,
Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays, Susan's Metamorphosis Monday,
Roeshel's DIY Showoff, Sally's  Blue Monday,

and Fawnda & Jeannine's Show Off Your Stuff.