Piece of Work Wednesday Furniture Link Party Number 72!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Happy POWW!  I have a fun little piece to share with you today, that was inspired by one of your links!  But before I get to that I want to tell you a little feel good story!

Last night, Emmy had dance class.  it was so foggy and visibility was very low... a bad night for driving.  I actually passed the dance studio because it is in a house and I could barely see the house from the road. I had both kids with me, and Chris was working late and planned to be home after midnight.  We headed into class and Sawyer and I sat and watched while Emmy did her "Lyrical" class and then her "Acro" class.  An hour later we headed back to the car, and I saw I had left my fog lights on.  D'oh!  We had been the last ones to leave the class as Emmy was slow to get her boots on, so no one else was left in the parking lot.  There were still cars there though from the class that started after ours. I got the kids buckled up, sat  down in the drivers seat, turned the ignition... and nothing.  Deader than dead.  I told the kids to wait a minute (this house is out in the country, it's not a huge shopping center, so don't worry!) and I ran inside to ask any of the parents of the next class if they might be able to give me a jump start.  One of the dads volunteered to help me and another lady.  She pulled up her car to mine, we hooked up the cables, and nothing happened still- even after several tries.  At this point, I was starting to wonder how we'd get home, but tried not to panic.  The dad offered to give us a ride home even though it was completely out of his way.  I told him I would try calling my neighbors and let him know if that failed.  I called them, but there was no answer.  We just moved here in October, so my list of possible people to call in an emergency is still rather short!  I ran back in and asked if he wouldn't mind giving us a ride home.

I put the carseats in his car, and we headed to my house.  He drove in an area he wasn't familiar with through horrible fog to get us home.  On the way home, I asked him about his family and made friendly conversation.  He told me that their daughter was 10 years old and had been adopted from birth.  He and his wife met later in life and married and tried to have children.  She miscarried 3 times, and they of course were heartbroken.  They both were school teachers, and she was a special ed teacher.  One of her students became pregnant, and the opportunity for them to adopt the baby from birth arose.  They were thrilled and so in love.  It turns out that the wife's student since then has had 8 more babies.  Last year the student's mother called these wonderful people and told them there was an opportunity for a baby boy.  They were elated... their 9 year old daughter was thrilled at the thought of having a baby brother.  They had already gotten rid of all their baby things because they were sure that they would have just the daughter.  So they had to purchase all new items, set up a nursery, but it was worth it.  Their family was on cloud 9.    They were in the room when the baby was born, and when their hearts were broken by the birth father, who would not sign the adoption papers.  All the planning, shopping, dreaming had led to this moment of heartbreak.  They spent the summer in funk, and very sad.  They have since recovered and don't feel that vid they did at first.
Why am I telling you this story?  I don't really know.  I just wanted to share it because I feel like sometimes people come into your lives at different times, and it can be very brief, but they touch you.  And this gentleman and his story just got to me.  The kindness of strangers is sometimes the best gift we can receive, and paying it forward is the best gift we can give.

Ok, and now to the furniture and party!  A couple of months ago, my furniture-revampin' friend Ann Marie at Twice Lovely shared this amazing herringbone desk, that was so amazing that it was featured all over the blogworld, and even on design sponge!  Get outta here!  For real!  Check it out so you can see its awesomeness for yourself...
P1070553
Ah, yes, it still makes my heart skip a beat!  LOVE it.

Well recently I found a sad little mid century table at Goodwill for $5.  It wasn't so sad really, but it had a hard laminate top.... YUCK.  And I can't seem to find my before picture... um.... oops.  So imagine it was a warm maple color and the top was fake hard warm maple.... Can you picture it?

I gave it a good sanding, primed it, and painted it with two coats of Dutch Boy's Lake Champlain, the color I used on my sideboard.  After it was dry, I wanted to add some sort of detail to it to give it a little "oomph".  I knew Ann Marie's treatment was perfect for this so I whipped out a paint pen and got to work drawing a herringbone pattern on the drawer.  Here it is now!  I like its fun mod look!




So what have you worked on this week?  I am looking forward to another week of the best links on the block!

RULES:
1. Must be a follower to party here.
2. Must be a complete FURNITURE redo or new build.... NO crafts!
3. Must place my button or a text link in your post or sidebar.
4. Must be a NEW LINK HERE.  If I have seen at at my party before, I don't want to see it again.
5. Leave others some comment lovin'!
Sharing here:
{Primp}DomesticallySpeakingPhotobucketSaved by SuzyFurniture Feature FridaysRedoux

33 comments:

Suzy www.savedbysuzy.blogspot.com January 24, 2012 4:05 PM  

It's so nice to know there are truly good samaritans out there. I remember that herringbone desk...so cool. Your little piece turned out great too!

Katie @ Wildwood Creek January 24, 2012 4:06 PM  

Love the color and fun herringbone design!

Sarah AKA The Thriftress January 24, 2012 4:22 PM  

I love how you can freehand the design and the imperfections are what make it PERFECT!

Kate January 24, 2012 4:25 PM  

Oh, I LOVE the little blue table!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. January 24, 2012 4:27 PM  

The herringbone design is adorable on your little mid-century piece! And a good find too! Our Goodwill has become so outrageously priced that I can't even shop there anymore. And Craigslist is not very popular in this area and again everything is overpriced. It's becoming a problem! ... And wow, I feel so sad for that family - how disappointing to get all the way to the delivery room and then have the father change his mind! And clearly he was a good guy to get you all home safely in the fog - whew!

Rosemary@villabarnes January 24, 2012 4:32 PM  

Thanks for sharing your story Cassie. I've been touched by strangers as well. Many times. Thanks for hosting. I may be back later with a table.

Shari @ turnstylevogue.com January 24, 2012 4:40 PM  

Great story - and great table. So cool that you did it freehand. Very mid-mod "be free" charm.

Linda@Coastal Charm January 24, 2012 4:48 PM  

Thank you Cassie for hosting.

Blessings,
Linda

Katie January 24, 2012 4:48 PM  

Definately sounds like a nice fellow! So sad about the second child, but at least they were able to adobt the first! Probably the best thing that ever happened to the little girl! I LOVE your table!! Seriously! I'm gonna have to try that design, it's amazing! I love the inspiration desk too!

Kammy's Korner January 24, 2012 5:08 PM  

ahhhh such a CUTE table! Love paint pens - and LOVE your pattern! So Cassie... not sure if my bathtub is considered furniture or not??? If that's a nay, you can delete my clawfoot bathtub post!! No hard feelings. haha.

Korrie@RedHenHome January 24, 2012 5:12 PM  

Sounds like your experience with the stranger reminded you--and the rest of us--to count our many blessings! Glad you made it home safe, and the little table is adorable.

Jamie January 24, 2012 5:22 PM  

Oh my gosh, that guy (and his family) sound like amazing people! Thanks for sharing the story. And I was driving around Mt Airy yesterday and that fog was for realz!

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} January 24, 2012 5:43 PM  

I love that little design on there, it's so subtle, but fun! I know exactly what you mean about people leaving impressions on you...there are so many I can think of and as sad as this story is, I'm sure that family will be blessed in other ways...they sound like they are amazing people (c: I'm glad you shared that story...

Kara @ June & Bear January 24, 2012 6:07 PM  

oh my heart breaks for them. sounds like a great family. and i was thinking about doing the herringbone on my dresser. yours looks great.

Carrie @ lovely etc. January 24, 2012 6:14 PM  

I have loved the herringbone desk since I saw it and I love your little herringbone piece too. It turned out really great.

Anna@Directions Not Included January 24, 2012 6:37 PM  

I'll be thinking of them. How heartbreaking.

That little table is adorable. So adorable that I might be renting that truck sooner than I expected. I can't believe you did that freehand. Love it!

Ange January 24, 2012 7:11 PM  

What a sad/touching story. Thanks for sharing. Hope your car is working now. Love the desk, just beautiful and so is your little nightstand/table. Your friend with a blinking light. ;)

A place 2 call home January 24, 2012 7:40 PM  

Thanks for hosting! I wasnt really sure if my headboard counted as furntiure? Its really metal tin used as a headboard? Ahh I wasnt sure. Please delete it if you think it doesnt work for your link party. This little table is beautiful, and the inspiration picture is beautiful too. I have a plan in mind using herringbone, and I had no idea what to call that pattern until now! lol Beautiful job, its darling!

Chi-Chi Studio Designs January 24, 2012 7:53 PM  

SO happy to link up again (finally!) Thank you for hosting...love the herringbone!

Rita January 24, 2012 8:37 PM  

Cassie I love this piece!! I love that you did that design on it!! I really love that the smallest details can have the biggest impact and this one did just that!!

Amy of The Salvage Collection January 24, 2012 9:07 PM  

now that's a great post! a feel-good story about the kindness of strangers and a hot side table!!

love them both!!

Cyndi ✪ Blue Star January 24, 2012 9:18 PM  

Thanks for hosting! I've linked up!

17 Perth January 24, 2012 10:09 PM  

I love things like this story--okay, minus the car trouble. That is a bummer and I am so sorry. When it comes to simple life things, I think car trouble is the worst. Haha. But--I love this story--and his kindness to take you home. Thank you for sharing.

Carrie @ Hazardous Design January 24, 2012 10:13 PM  

I think that story is going to stick with me for a long time. Maybe he and his family didn't get what they wanted, but I hope they have found peace. In any case, he seems like a sweet man and I'm glad you got safely home!

Ali Richardson January 25, 2012 12:21 AM  

I definitely believe that kindness from strangers is one of the best things on earth. I have been a kind stranger before and it feels really realy great! I'm happy you and the kids weren't stranded in the middle of nowhere!!
LOVE that little table, great work as usual :) xoxo

Courtney January 25, 2012 6:02 AM  

A cool, simple design that works!! Paint pens sound like they could be fun!!
Thanks for hosting once again, Cassie!

Good Time Charlie January 25, 2012 5:03 PM  

Thanks as always for the party. There is some stiff competition this week. Wow, you have some very talented followers!

Catherine January 26, 2012 12:45 AM  

What a touching story - heartbreaking for that family, and yet the man was full of kindness.

I finally have something to share, thank you for hosting!

Julia @ 551Eastdesign January 26, 2012 5:37 PM  

Cassie...I'm going to feature your little herringbone table tomorrow as part of my favorite friday finds! I love it!

Erin January 27, 2012 12:10 AM  

I love that paint pen treatment! I might steal it. :) I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of your blog!

Vintage Home January 27, 2012 12:46 AM  

How brave of this gentleman to share his story with you. A kind man.
And your herringbone desk is great all kinds of storage & pretty !

Liz January 27, 2012 9:05 AM  

I love the subtleness of this. It's very cute and now I have to find a use for that random collection of paint pens that I own from way back.

Meg and Mum's January 27, 2012 9:09 PM  

Your table is adorable Cassie! Thanks for sharing at my party. I only just missed out on yours but will link up next week x

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