Tuesday, May 11, 2010

measure twice...cut once!


When Top was a small boy
 he was given a box, 
very like this,
 for his toys
The main difference being

 that the lid was rounded at the corners in the front

                                                                                                                                                                                         here
  
Over the years 
it became rather battered
 and eventually 
it passed to our children, 
as their toy box.

But, as all children do,
 they grew up 
and didn't want, or need a toy box anymore.

So now we had a well worn but well loved box

What to do with it?

We stripped it....
we painted it white....
we painted it black...

It just didn't fit with the rest of the house.

  So

I painted it citrus yellow 
 and then aged it with burnt sienna

I removed the lid
and painted it with a scene from
the tapestry
the Lady and the Unicorn


This scene in fact.

I was absolutely thrilled with it
 it had taken me two weeks of painstaking work
note the detail in the background    

When we were sure it was dry Top very carefully screwed the 
lid back onto the box

 remember those rounded corners at the front!!!!!!!

I HAD PAINTED 
THE WHOLE THING
 UPSIDE DOWN 

Two days later,  it was sanded back, 
repainted yellow
 aged again with the burnt sienna

Two days later I had finished the top again
remember it took two weeks the first time!!

 and now it looks like this

  
Not quite as good as it had


and I realise now

 that when I started painting the first time 
I should have remembered that there is a reason that carpenters 

always measure twice and cut once!
  it saves a lot of costly mistakes

There's a little change here Kerry from
 http://tranquiltownhouse.blogspot.com    
suggested I  send this link to                                                                                                                  
for metamorphosis Monday 
don't know if it will work but I am going to give it a try.                                                                                            

19 comments:

  1. Have just had a panicked message from Kate...the toy box is not for sale!

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  2. Oh Julienne, that made my poor heart stop when I read you'd painted it upside down. What a stunning job you've done and I am so impressed that you did it again. It's beautiful and I'm not surprised to hear of Kate's panicked message. Who'd want that to be going anywhere...green with...!! Make sure you link it to some of those DIY party links so the world can see it!

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  3. Oh no Julienne! Sorry you had to paint it twice! But may I say it looks fabulous!! I can't draw or paint at all, so I am so in awe of the beautiful painting you have done!! I can see why it is not for sale, it is too beautiful :) Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday~ Tina xx

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  4. That's amazing and actually doubly amazing as you did it twice! I will not be trying that at home as I cannot draw to save myself... I hope it gives you many more years of joy around the house.

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  5. Julienne my friend
    you did a fabulous job, I love it !! Pity you had to do it twice but hey.. could have happened to all of us- me for sure!
    Your posts AND comments always cheer-me up alright :-))
    You're so cool girl !
    Hugs from me
    Flaviana

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  6. This looks fantastic. I can't even write my name in an attractive fashion, much less paint. What else have you got up your sleeves?

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  7. What a funny story..it looks great..Rachaelxx

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  8. Julienne, You have been holding out on us, I had no idea you were an artist!!This is amazing I love what you have done with your toy box. It is a piece of art, you are an amazing talent!! I also want to thank you for your fun comments on my post this morning. I just love to see your name there and thank you for always encouraging me. I wasn't sure about doing this post because it might bring up some controversary but I bit the bullet and did it anyhow. You are a wonderful bloggy buddy, Kathysue

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  9. OMG. I have a book on The Lady And The Unicorn and I so love it. Thanks for sharing this.

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  10. Hi, Julienne! I appreciate your comment. You must be added on my blog roll. Thank you so! :)

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  11. That is amazing! You are incredibly talented, and really, I applaud your patience for doing it twice! I have definitely made similar mistakes, we all have! Anyway, so happy to find your little world here, I'm your newest follower, and I can't wait to see more of your beautiful stuff! Cheers!

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  12. Wow Julienne, you did an absolutely amazing job, upside down or not! :-)

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Anne

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  13. Its beautiful Julienne. Amazing in fact ... you are very talented but I am so sorry you had to do it twice - that must have been 'one of those moments' when you discovered it was upside down! x

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  14. Thank you! You are always so nice.:-) Hug Stina

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  15. Oh, bless your heart. I would have loved to have seen your face and I wonder, did you laugh? Or cry?

    It is absolutely beautiful now, and you have a good story to tell about it for years to come!

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  16. This box is amazing and your painting is beautiful! I actually gasped when I read the part about the painting being wrong way about! But you did exactly what I would have done to make it right. Love this, just love this project.

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  17. This is fabulous! You have done a terrific job!
    Kathy visiting via Metamorhosis Monday

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  18. What a fantastic project! A truly neat metamorphosis.

    It took 23 years to complete my most recent project. Come take a peek.

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  19. Wow, this is so neat! What a cool heirloom to have for all of you!

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