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The Makerista

I'm Gwen, a modern traditionalist who isn't afraid of color. Kansas City.

Projects, Contests, and My “Luck of the Irish” Find

No, I’m not Irish, but I do have a redheaded son, so maybe he was my lucky charm yesterday? More on that in a minute.

I’ve been holding out on you all, but I’m finally allowed to divulge some of the things I’ve been working on behind the scenes.  Micah and I spent the weekend covered in dust and thin set, as we started work on our master bathroom makeover.

I can’t wait to share all of the details with you, but until the big reveal I’ll do my best to give you little sneak peeks along the way.
It was announced yesterday that I am one of 12 contestants for Creating with the Stars!  This month-long competition pairs 12 new bloggers with 12 seasoned bloggers to compete in 4 challenges, leaving one winner standing at the end.  The first round is the “knock off” round and my mentor and I are already diving in!  I am incredibly honored to be paired with Michael from Inspired by Charm!  His talent and knowledge are incomparable, and his style is simply beautiful.  Plus he can cook.  Maybe he can mentor me in the kitchen when the competition comes to an end?  

Every Monday our projects will be posted on East Coast Creative’s site and people will vote for their favorites.  The stickler is, it’s all anonymous, so I won’t be able to tell you which one is mine!  The first round will be posted next Monday, the 24th and voting will run through Tuesday evening.  I’m so excited for this opportunity and chance to further my DIY skills.  


If that wasn’t enough going on, I popped into my local Red Racks yesterday for their St. Paddy’s Day sale.  50% off everything means lots of chaos and a very picked over store.  I decided to head to the furniture section first and all I saw left was the typical particle board TV stands and sorely abused recliners.  I turned around and almost ran into these chairs…
I had three kids with me (my own and my nephew), but I quickly grabbed the two chairs and claimed my stake.  A man that worked there asked if I needed help getting them to the front and before I could answer I heard from behind me “Hey, I was just looking at those!”  Um.  “I turned around to look at this table and turned back and you have them!”  Sorry?  I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about this scenario, but this is the first time I’ve had that happen personally, and I’m happy to report it didn’t escalate any further.
Isn’t the pattern on the chairs amazing?  Unfortunately it’s in nasty shape (literally) and has some stains I’m terrified to even touch.  I’ve done some upholstering myself, but these chairs are a bit above my skill level.  They’re a classic and I hope to have them for a very long time, so I think investing in some professional upholstering is a good idea.  Velvet would be my first choice, and leopard is a big contender – a bold neutral that hides wear and tear and will always be in style – but I’m also looking at some saturated, solid colors too. 
Have you ever been caught in a thrifting face-off?  Did you end up with the goods, or get left in the dust?

Can anyone recommend a great upholsterer in the Kansas City area?  




Keep on reading...
Starting with Art: Designing a Boy’s Room
A Pre-Pinterest Wedding: The Unconventionally Classic Affair
The Makings of a Fall Refresh

Comments

  3. Meagan Claire says

    A thrifting face-off JUST happened to me at Canton First Monday last month. I'm still reeling! My pregnant cousin and pregnant self were shopping for nursery furniture, and Imhappened upon a vintage Thomasville credenza/dresser. I talked to the vendor about it and then called my husband. As I was opening the drawers of the dresser, taking measurements, and on the phone with my husband, this woman came shrieking out of nowhere declaring her undying love for the piece. I was still standing there. She was with her husband and mother-in-law and one of the, verbally noted thatI was looking at it. They backed off, and I assumed they went away. When I went to the vendor to pay, much to my surprise, she said, "Oh, I think this gentleman just bought it." I looked right at him and asked, "Did you just buy that dresser out from under me?" Without any remorse, he replied, "Yes." … Thanks for letting me share my story. I was incensed! I opted not to throw a fit, but I do wonder if I could have made him back off. Two pregnant ladies for goodness sakes!

    • themakerista@gmail.com says

      Oh my goodness, that's terrible! I'm so sorry that happened to you! You totally should have gotten it in that case. But I hope this only means something much better will come along for you!

  4. Catherine Hansen Peart says

    I have never had that happen. But generally, I have always assumed the general rule of if that person doesn't have them in hand, then it is kind of a case of too bad. My daughter once left her favourite sweater sitting on a chair in the furniture section (she sat there while she was looking at some books) and we left without it. I rang back up when we got home and they had already tagged it and hung it up on a rack. They were kind enough to find it and keep it for me to pick it up though.

    • themakerista@gmail.com says

      That's very lucky that they still had it! I do think that's a good rule too. They actually told me I could finish looking around the store and they would take them to the front for me, but I didn't want to take any chances!

  9. Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says

    That's too funny, but if you snooze you loose! If she was even sorta interested, she shouldn't have turned away from them. 🙂 So excited to see your first project on CWTS, and your progress on your bathroom. And, how did I not realize you were in Kansas City? We're here right now for Spring Break! It's been lots of fun and we plan to spend a few hours around the Plaza tomorrow before we leave, and I wanted to try to stop in a few thrift stores too. That's where I like to shop for souvenirs!

  10. Autumn Beach says

    Gwen! This is all so exciting. Congratulations on this contest! Sounds like FUN. I will definitely be checking that out. AND…I'm excited to know you're working on your master bath! We are in the process of finishing up the kids' bath then on to ours. Cannot WAIT to see all of your fabulous choices. 🙂 As for show-downs at the thrift store, I can say that has never happened to me. But I'm also not a seasoned thrifter like yourself. It cracks me UP that it happened to you. Mainly because you're so sweet. So glad there was a peaceful resolution. Especially with kids in tow. Ha!

    • themakerista@gmail.com says

      I don't know that I'm seasoned at this point, but I enjoy it, and that's nice of you to say. I don't know how sweet I was at the moment though. I felt kind of bad, but there was no way I was giving those up when she was no where to be seen a few seconds earlier! 🙂

  11. Sara Lorton says

    Oh my gosh, I totally had this happen to me…except, I was scoping out the piece and this older woman came back and started talking to me and literally took it right in front of me, like she had already claimed it! She seriously conversed her way into taking it right from under me..or maybe I'm just a complete push over, but I was a little too stunned to say anything, I didn't know what to do! lol So glad you picked these up and ran!..next time I'm sure to do the same!

  15. pam {simple details} says

    Congrats, Gwen!! So exciting, can't wait to follow along with CWTS! Those chairs were a crazy good find, I vote leopard, I've had a leopard print chair for years and never tire of it!

  16. Haley says

    Congratulations on CWTS! One of the thrift stores I go to always has tags on the furniture so you just take that off to bring to the front. That is pretty much the only way you can 'claim' a piece. I can't wait to see all of the exciting things you have coming up.

  17. Dasha says

    Gwen, here is a link to an upholstery business in the Kansas City area – http://www.fortekc.com/. I have not used this company personally, but I have some friends in common with the owners, and I think they do an amazing job. Hope this helps!

  19. Joy says

    I'm new to your blog (found you on Vintage Revivals) and I'm already smitten! I giggle at your story. I've only had that happen once. I was in a store we used to have in my hometown that got leftovers from places like Target, Pier One, etc. I had been looking for a farm table and had decided I'd probably have to have one made and DIY it into the look I wanted. I ran into one, the ONLY one in the store as another lady was looking at it. She walked away and I LAYED ON THE TABLE while I sent my 8-year-old to find the manager so I could claim it! I didn't win "Mother of the Year" that year….but I got the table! 🙂

  21. Nancy says

    Accent Upholstery Design in Waldo! I can send you a great before and after pic of a $15 chair I got off Craigslist and paid like $50 to have recovered there a couple of months ago.