Vintage Stero Cabinet into Wine/ Coffee Bar

Cabinet Pre-Upcycle

My husband shares my love for vintage stuff and, being a guy, often has a different take on the creative process.  With the sudden surge of information about "upcycling" and "repurposing," it was only natural that he would find himself getting into it as a creative outlet of his own, outside of his passion for photography.  We often go thrifting together and he heads out sometimes on his own, and I always get a kick out of his excited phone calls about the latest treasure he has found.  When he called and said he had found an old console stereo he liked and wanted to do a project with I offered an encouraging word although I must admit I had some doubts.  He sent me a text with a picture of the console and it was admittedly a cool piece, but I sometimes have difficulty seeing what he sees.  But I put my faith in him, especially when he said he was going to build me a coffee/wine bar out of it.

Wine Racks replaced the
fabric covered speakers

So he went to work gutting the ten tons of electronic guts from the cabinet and cleared out the spiders and assorted critters that had come to call it home.  He removed the speakers and went to the process of sanding and prepping the wood.  He painted the piece inside and out, leaving me amazed at what he was able to do with spray-paint.  I never would have thought it could be used for a detailed project like this, but it performed remarkably well.  The top he finished with a gloss white enamel so it would be durable and bright, resistant to spills and stains. For the interior, he chopped and added some wine shelves he salvaged from a wine cabinet he got from a thrift store, and set in a hanging wine glass rack from Amazon.com.  



Once the piece was finished I was blown away.  Even my teenaged daughter raved about how awesome it was, and she doesn't get very excited about old furniture. When it was moved into place in the dining room, we moved all wine and coffee service items from our cabinets into the bar freeing up space for other things.

 


 So now every morning starts with a cup of Joe and my nights can end with a glass of vino courtesy of our favorite vintage restoration.



Storage includes wine glass rack
and plenty of space for
coffee and mugs


 

Completed Project...Coffee Anyone?!?






 

The Inevitable Visit from "Aunt Flo"

As a woman I am NOT accustomed to waiting with hopeful expectation for “Aunt Flo” to pay her monthly visit.  Like most women it is a most dreaded time and one of few times I don't like being a girl.  While I am attending to my monthly,  I would prefer to stay home for a couple of days dressed in old sweatpants eating dark chocolate & Cheetos and drinking wine to numb the pain.  About the only time most women find themselves eagerly awaiting the return of the monthly curse is to make sure there is not a bouncing oops-a-baby in the near future.

This, however, is not always the case with cosplay girls. 



WWII Bomber Pilot Robin

As I sit here writing, I am hyper-aware that today marks the 7 day countdown to a big Comic-con I am preparing to attend.  During this Con I will be debuting my latest and greatest design, an awesome WWII inspired Robin, along with my oldest daughter as my WWII Paratrooper Batman counterpart.  My costume features form fitting pants, red steel boned under bust corset, and an ammo belt which is to ride low on my hips.  Of course, the timing couldn't be any worse as I also begin to notice those little signs that my not-so-beloved Aunt may be on her way with her affection for puffiness, bloating, and bitchiness.  I cannot tell you how stressed I am about this as the days tick by.  The last thing I want is to prepare to wow the crowds as a smoking hot Robin and come off more like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

I work out regularly, but I am a woman in my 40s and can be very self-conscience about extra pounds showing up here and there.  Especially AFTER I spend months constructing a new costume.  Every event I attend, I find myself on the show floor in full costume alongside 20-somethings who are the picture of perfect health and physique.  I am not very easily intimidated but I am aware that I am not a spring chicken and have birthed a couple of children.  Ok, maybe I am easily intimidated, but you have to give me props that I can still do this at my age.    

Just for shits & giggles I decided to mention my dilemma to my daughter and her reaction was about the same…at first she laughed at me…then I could see reality set in on her face…she was counting days too. After all, there is that whole synchronized periods issue with women in the same house.  Don't hate me, but I had to smile to myself when I saw the realization come into her eyes.  At least I wouldn't be alone in my misery.

 

So for the rest of the week I will sit here with my fingers crossed praying that Aunt Flo shows up and leaves on time…and the rest of the week trying to count how many days I have left before I am and out of Puffiville.  But just in case, wish me luck that in all my suffering and impatience I do not choke out some 20 year-old skinnier-than-necessary Harley Quinn at the Con.  

My Confession

I have a confession to make …I cannot draw.  There I admit it.  My lack of art skills can from time to time make the creative process a bit complicated.   

Example:  I was recently in contact with a local F/X artist to discuss building a custom prosthetic facial appliance which is to accompany my latest steampunk dress design.   The dress, which is still in the VERY basic stages of construction, is a basic formal skirt and a corset top.  Looking at this piece now reminds me more of a prom dress than a steampunk creation.  So when the F/X artist asked me to send photos or drawings I was almost embarrassed to say “I don’t have either.” 

Like most of my designs, I have an image in my head.  I can attempt to explain my image however it can sound like someone reading technical instructions aloud.  Until I know I can realistically create the image that is in my head I won’t even discuss the design.    

My saving grace in the creative process is I make a lot of notes and I can doodle.  Wow that sounds awkward…I am a doodler!  I keep a journal on me at all times and at any given moment will make notes and childlike drawings of art projects, sewing projects or anything else I want to create.  In some cases my rudimentary drawings resemble stick figures with notes...A LOT of notes! 

Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about art and design.  The mention of a possible project and my mind starts the creative process immediately.  My lack of sketching skills, although hindering the process, does not stop the end results.  I guess I shouldn't feel so bad.  Every once in a while I will see a show like SyFy's Face Off and catch a glimpse of a sketch by a truly talented sculptor, that looks like it was rendered by a 3 year-old with crayons.  I see those and say to myself, "look, a kindred spirit!"



Seriously DO NOT LAUGH