Sneak Peak...Updated!

Tables are done and DELIVERED!  Learned a lot during this project.  Circles, routers, attaching legs...all different when working in the round;)  These are not perfect but they were a great project and I really like the completed look.  I have learned we need a few more tools to really take flight with this project and a bigger budget.  Oh wait...more tools fall in to the budget category too huh? ;)  The lottery is still not working in our favor but maybe soon:)  Really I am trying to win the HGTV dream home and have been for years.  Come on HGTV I am LOYAL! ;)  And I ramble.  Not called "Babbling" Brooke for nothing;)  Anywho...here is the final look.  I will try and have the new owners send a picture over to post in the space they were made for.

Routed...not a perfect circle...but perfect is boring right?

Primed and ready for paint!  Excuse the sofa in the hallway...waiting for the truck to arrive to take it to its new home:)

And here it is.  One of two:)

What the Hutch?...

Last weekend we headed across the pass to our friends house.  They are pregnant with their third child so besides just wanting to see them we also were there to help out with projects around the house just to help with some of the load for a few days.  Well, one of the projects that was found was an old hutch just waiting for some much needed assistance:)  The house that this hutch resides in is over 100 years old and I believe this hutch has the same birthday;)  But like everything I love...the potential was just around the corner:)  Removal of old boards, a good cleaning, new trim, new paint and new hardware made this piece functional again.  And pretty darn cute.  With more time and resources, double doors could be added, more shelving and some decorative pieces (bigger hardware etc).  Plus I would like a large crown molding on the top.  Maybe some day I will sneak in and do these things;)  But for now it is adorable, usable and a fun little project!  

Before

Before

The back panel is covered in fabric for a softer and whimsical look:)  The door open is our favorite.

The side of the cabinet could some day hold a chalkboard, corkboard, maybe a hook etc:)  Possibilities are endless with this piece.

What have we learned?  Don't throw away pieces that seem like burning is the only option to make them work:)  Just get creative and allow the rustic beauty to shine:)

Homemade Soap Challenge...how do these suds bubble...

This was after the first cycle.  Both still have serious stains but the homemade soap has removed a better portion.  Note to self...DO NOT get mustard on clothes:)  In the end the homemade soap was the winner.  It came out soft and the stains were greatly decreased. 

A week or so ago a friend of mine posted (on Pinterest) a recipe for homemade laundry soap.  The claim was that it was easy to make, inexpensive, you needed very little for each load and it worked great.  Well, I just had to try it for myself!  And being the crazy person that I am I had to do a "controlled" study on the case.  I made the soap following this recipe.  I have to say that this was pretty fun to make and I was excited to see what happened!  Once the soap was made I put all sorts of stains on an old white shirt (it is the same shirt just split in half).  I let the stains dry before putting them in the wash.  And as we all know, you would normally use a stain remover (even with the best soap) before washing...but that was not what this study was about.  So one at a time I washed both the garments.  Both on cold.  I should mention that I have a front loader...don't know if this makes a difference or not.  In the end I washed each garment 4 times the final with a treatment for stains.  And in the end, and really from the beginning, the homemade soap WON!!! 

A few things to note:

1.  While the homemade soap smells nice while washing it does not leave an scent on the clothes after it is rinsed.  For some this is great as scent on clothing is not the best, for others who like scents I would suggest adding scent to the mix or maybe a fabric softener.

2.  These stains were crazy set in.  Normal everyday stains would (and do) wash out great with both products.

3.  The whole mix cost under $20 to make and you only need 2-3 TBS per load (it makes 4 gallons).  This will last a LONG time.

4.  Since this was an isolated study I do not know the long term effects on clothes or how it works day in day out.  I will report back on the findings there.

5.  For us who want to save a few bucks...this is a fun project and one that works!  Enjoy!!!