Just Another Workday Heist

The hardware on the discarded armoire I spotted on my way to work is what caught my eye and tempted me to commit highway (actually byway) robbery. My heart beat fast at the sight of the jewels (hardware) daring me to come and take them. 

The uninspiring door almost didn't make it home with me. It wasn't even attached to the armoire anymore, yet I almost drove away before I caught myself and said, "Wait, grab that ugly door too!" Despite the fact that it's made of mdf, it was suddenly obvious it would make a great message center.

The hardware was the true prize, so my trusty tools came out of the glove compartment and I started prying while my car idled as if it was manned by an invisible getaway driver on high alert in the midst of a bank heist. 

Furtive glances, darting eyes and rapid heartbeat were my accomplices as I made quick work pilfering the armoire's gems. It was nothing more than unwanted trash to its owner, but even so, junking leaves me trying to avoid detection like a criminal on the lam. 

Fast and furious did I pry.

You see, salvaging hardware leaves a junker vulnerable to prying eyes way more so than grabbing a piece and making a run for it.

The decorative pieces that became my spoils are cheap baubles indeed, made of rubber and painted to look antiqued, but in the world of up-done junk, so be it. It's the style that counts. The whole armoire was less than stellar quality... 

...however, the sum of it's parts was certainly greater than the whole. 

This cabinet door handle was the prize of the loot.

And look at all the drawer pulls. They screamed "potential!" They rode home attached to the drawers to save some time.

The door sat around a few weeks in it's ugly state. Doors are good projects to hang onto for those days when you can't decide what to do because of the overwhelming number of things crying out for mercy, begging to be set free from the prison of junk. 

Since cabinet or armoire doors are usually destined to get some chalkboard paint around here, they make an easy pick-up project. Knowing what to do is 3/4 of the battle. Color choices are a nailbiter for me, and sometimes when I haven't a clue who a piece will end up with, I just go with what's available and easy. 

This time it was blue chalk paint with some white and green blended in which is hard to make out in these pictures because they got washed out. The black/blue contrast with the shabby white accents is a pleasing combo and made this a fun project to work on.

Of course I had my signature share of trouble, as always, and spent a number of Saturdays on the hunt for a cup pull to use to hold the chalk, after first attempting to put knobs there on that bottom part. I did it wrong twice, only to have to patch the holes and repaint. I hate making dumb moves and redoing. You think I'd learn.

You'd think wrong. 

This cutie kept me going.

One cutie attracts others of like kind, and soon this little treasure joined us. I never scored a cup pull at a garage sale, so I broke down and bought one that seemed to have a complimentary style.

The matching hooks were found at a yard sale for about 30¢ each and the other hardware was part of the goods I lifted off the door before I decided to bring it home.

 Everything got painted and distressed a bit so that the darker and golden finishes could shine through.

It's a heavy thing so it's gonna need a couple hangers on the back. Surely I have some of those lying around, I thought, but so far they are no where to be found. Typical.

Today it's been raining cats, dogs and lizards all day, and I was on the road for about three hours of it, which had my nerves frazzled. Boy was I glad to get home, sweet home.

I'm dreaming of a day when I can lie around in the sun like this cute little lady I found for 50¢ at a yard sale on Saturday. Not that I seem to understand how to do such a thing, nor is Sunny South Florida living up to its name today, but it's fun to think about. 

She inspires me to relax. 

Well, she inspires me to be inspired anyway. 

A girl's gotta start somewhere though, right?

Relaxing just doesn't seem to be in my DNA, but then, maybe that's why I sleep so well at night... Perhaps that's how it's supposed to be.

Hope you get a break and enjoy a few good blogs this week. You can find them at these sweet link parties: