by EverydayJill
Once upon a time, a fair maiden was given a cedar chest. This was quite common in her day. It was popularly called a “hope chest”, as it was meant to items of hopes and dreams for the future. And it did just that.
Love, marriage, a home, and children came. Time passed and the hope chest became “the chest”. It still had value, and was loved, but it’s purpose changed. It now held shoes and gloves and toys… the things of everyday life.
Then the addition to the family, a puppy named Bear. Appropriately named, as he quickly grew, was burly and did resemble a bear! He did what puppies do. He began to chew. “The chest” was discovered by Bear. He left his marks….
Time again has passed. The family grew, left home, and the dog left too. The chest now had memories of life. And Bear left some memories too!
The chest had lived a good life. Life’s accumulation of stuff send the chest to a new home- “the garage of misfit furniture “. Here the chest was cleaned, sanded, repaired, stained, painted and loved. Given a new life! “The chest” was given to a new home, to EverydayJill’s daughter, Sarah, a home where there is lots of life and lots of children! But NO puppies…🤭. The chest once again had purpose, as a coffee table, extra seating, storage for blankets, games and a hiding place for stuff when company comes!
PROCESS
“The garage of misfit furniture “ usually accepts all free furniture. This is great for beginner painter and very cost effective for resale. Plus an opportunity to learn and develop skills. Enter first time using Bondo. A learning experience, but easy to work with. You have to work quickly, as Bondo has a short molding time before it sets up. Channeling grade school modeling clay skills was enjoyable. If you make a mistake, you can sand that “opps” right off. Learning skill.
I added a gel stain to the top, and the Bondo accepted it well enough. The body was painted in the color “Regal” (HTP paint). I enjoyed transforming this piece to a new life and to a new home!
PRODUCTS USED:
Bondo wood filler: https://amzn.to/46Aigps
Heirloom Traditions Paint (HTP) “Regal”: https://amzn.to/46lOmWn
Dixie Belle No Paint Gell Stain “Espresso “: https://amzn.to/3ZSbQQv
DeWalt Orbital Sander 5 inch: https://amzn.to/3thiR0R