PIY Pointers: Got a screw loose?

Good morning all!  Every pick up a piece of perfectly awesome used furniture you'd love to paint - only to find a wobbly leg?  Don't throw it into the junkpile just yet, it may just be a case of having a screw loose!  J taught me this fantastic trick and it's revived a few pieces fro me.

First of all, check to make sure that's the problem.  Using a screwdriver, attempt to tighten the offending screw.  If it just keeps turning and never seems to tighten, unscrew the leg and try placing the screw into the hole.  Too big?  It's been stripped down to no man's land.  But not to worry, with some golfing savvy you can save this piece of furniture.

Golf you ask?  What the heck does that have to do with trying to fix and paint a piece of furniture? 

Well that very big and very important tool you'll need?  It's a golf tee!  Wooden of course.  Plus some heavy duty Carpenter's Glue, a hand saw and an electric drill.

Start by filling your screw hole with Carpenter's Glue. 

Then Insert your tee into the hole, pointy side first (this is a highly technical tutorial with highly technical lingo!).  Wipe off any excess glue.

Now you need to call on patience.  Allow the glue to dry completely, I like to let it sit overnight to make it extra sturdy.

Using a handsaw, slowly saw off the tip of the golf tee so that the inserted part is flush with the wood.

Now you have a solid wood leg again!  Pre-drill a small hole into the golf tee to ensure that when you put the screw back in it hits the exact right spot.

Now you are free to use your manual screwdriver or power drill to screw it back into it's original position and tighten it into a solid wood entry point.

Ta da! Now you have a super solid piece of furniture that's just waiting for you to put your magic painting touch onto it!

Well, another week gone by and it's time for the weekend!  I'll be alternating between painting furniture and relaxing.  What will you be up to my friends?

Thursday Blog Share: Creative Inc.

My books are here!  My books are here!  My heart goes pitter patter when I splurge on a Chapters order and yesterday was one of those special days. 

Normally I love the browse the shelves and pick out books in person but I was specifically looking for Meg Mateo Ilasco's books Creative Inc. and Craft Inc. and they weren't in stock locally.  Plus since I had to graciously bow out of my book club due to scheduling conflicts, a gal pal and I decided to do our own book thing over coffee and our chosen book Secret Daughter was on special sale online!

But back to Meg - she's the author of two books on owning your own creative business.  Craft Inc. is all about turning your homemade goods into profit and Creative Inc. is for creative freelancers looking for business advice.  With Lather Creations, I kind of fall into both camps since I do my own thing plus commissions.  I'm so jazzed to curl up with both these books and gobble up all the fantastic wisdom she has to share from turning her stationery-making skills into a full-fledged biz. 

You can check out Meg's site here and her blog here.  She is going on a blog tour, guest posting on a number of great sites so there's an opportunity to find even more great sharing blogs!  Hope you enjoy as much as I am!

Have a great Thursday friends!

Welcome Cozy

I love the changing of seasons.  I always have.  Even as a little girl I would get so excited at all the rituals that came with each one.  For me, fall was always about cozy warmth and the return to routine.

{Image via gracehesterdesigns}

J and I are quite ritualistic so we welcome many of the natural changes, like...

• swapping popsicles for hot cups of tea in the evening
• turning off the AC and snuggling under the duvet
• a return to comfort cooking like giant pots of soup, savoury stews and baked pastas smothered in piping hot cheese

I also eagerly await the slowing down of social activities like weddings, parties and weekends away to spend more time at home.  Not that I don't love all those things, but sometimes change is just want to need to refocus on all that fills your plate.  My plate has found itself very full lately, with so many rewarding creative things.  I hope to enjoy every moment and also balance summer's hectic pace with a more relaxed work/life balance in the fall.

1 great day job + a budding part-time business + daily blogging +  lots of DIY creativity + plenty of family time with J and Gus = fulfillment and joy

What are you most looking forward to for fall?  What are your routines as the weather cools and the seasons turn?