Several months ago, I walked in to my local Goodwill and spotted an old sewing table. It was missing some wood in the front, the sewing machine that used to reside inside was long gone and a few pieces of wood were nowhere to be found. No matter. At $12 it hit me as the perfect candidate for my next project.
When I unloaded it from my car, I think Mr. Longhorn thought I was a little nuts. He didn’t say anything but I could tell he wasn’t sold on my idea. However, he has learned not to say too much when I bring home beat up old furniture.
The thrift store table sat in the garage for months getting in our way whenever we opened the car door. When we cleaned the garage earlier this year, Mr. L asked if I wanted to donate it to Goodwill.
“What?!” I exclaimed. “Why would I do that? I bought it from there!”
I promptly moved my find to the back porch for safety where it sat until this week when I felt a little fire light under my rear end. Some blogging friends reminded me of their monthly furniture up-cycle project series where this month’s theme is “flowers. Did I have a project I might want to add to the mix?
Why, yes! Yes, it just so happens that I do!
Out came the paint, the jig saw and the remnant of drop cloth fabric I saved just for the occasion.
I couldn’t wait to get started.
It was the flip-top that sold me and got my wheels turning when I first spotted it at Goodwill all those months ago.
It occurred to me that if I could just find a bucket or a tray of some kind, it could easily be turned in to a useful table…a potting table
Tutorial:
Materials:
- galvanized bucket
- jig saw
- paint
- staple gun
- drop cloth fabric
- hooks
Directions:
1. Place tub/bucket upside down on the table where you’ll be making the cut and trace around the edge.
2. Using a jig saw cut about 1/4 inch inside the line you just traced.
(Because of the existing hole, my new whole was not a perfect circle. I had to carefully place my tub so that the extra open space would not affect the tub’s ability to stay in place when inserted in to the new, larger opening.)
3. Paint the table. I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Chateau Grey and gave it two coats of a matte finish varnish.
4. Make a skirt for the table — the skirt will enable you to hide your potting essentials like soil, pots, etc.
My skirt is no-sew. I measured the length of the fabric I would need and simple cut a hardware store drop cloth to the appropriate length, leaving 3 hemmed edges in tact, therefore, eliminating the need for any sewing.
(Tip: Using a quilting grid is fantastic for helping to cut straight lines while measuring.)
5. Affix skirt to table using a staple gun.
The big opening came in handy for attaching the skirt. I opened up the top and was able to work through the opening.
After the skirt was attached, I inserted the galvanized tub and I was done!
Because of the round tub and the old rectangular opening for the sewing machine, there are some open gaps, but the galvanized tub fits snugly and securely in to place.
It’s ready to catch dirt and debris when potting flowers.
I love it, and it is exactly how I had envisioned it. It’s so fun when that happens!
Oh…and I almost forgot to show you…I added some cute little dragonfly hooks on the side for tools or anything else that needs to be hung up.
Aren’t they cute? I found them at Hobby Lobby.
So, does my furniture transformation qualify for the flower furniture tour? I hope so! No flower stencils here, no floral fabric, just an old table turned functional for potting my favorite flowers. And, when it’s not in work mode, it can be styled with my favorite flower pots.
Thanks so much for stopping by today and, please, visit my very talented and creative friends to see how they made over their furniture finds using the theme, “flowers.”
Sharing at:
Jennifer Rizzo – Fabulous Creative Linky party
Miss Mustard Seed
What a fantastic way to repurpose that sewing machine table, Julie!! I love it! I might just have to borrow that idea now. Pinning for later
Thanks, Christy!
Julie, What a great idea. I have painted several sewing tables and never thought to do something like this. You’re a genius!
Well, I don’t know about the genius part, but I’m pretty happy with how my project turned out, too! Thanks, Kathy!
That is one of the most clever makeovers yet!!! I love it…and the dragonfly hooks are perfect! I love when a project comes out exactly how I imagined too!
Nancy
Thanks for the love, Nancy!
You are so clever to think of using a sewing table for a potting bench. I love the dragonfly hooks for tool storage. Now I need to keep my eye open for a sewing table when I’m out thrifing.
Thanks, Paula — I’m so happy with how it turned out!
Julie, I love it – what a genius idea! So happy you joined the furniture makeover day this month!
Thanks, Jen — me too! This was fun and I needed the motivation for sure!
It looks beautiful Julie! I love your vision. Love me a great Goodwill deal, that’s for sure! You have such great taste.
Thanks Meegan — you’re so sweet!
Oh my gosh Julie that’s such a cool idea! I love it. The dragonfly hooks are adorable too!
That’s adorable, Julie. What a creative idea!!
Thanks for your sweet comment on my new blog design. I’m really happy with it.
I love, love, love this! What a wonderful idea for a potting table. It turned out great.
Thanks for visiting my blog! Hope you visit again soon.
Penny
The Comforts of Home
What an incredible save on that sewing table. First time I’ve seen one used that way. I’ll be watching for one now so I can do something similar, you’re a genius girl. It’s so darned cute too. You did such a great job on it. Aren’t drop cloths handy for so many things? Love them.
Hope you’re enjoying the holiday weekend. Happy days Pinning
I think this is a brilliant use of an old sewing machine cabinet!!! I’m pretty sure there is one in my Mom’s basement so I’m going to check that out later today. Also I love the inlinkz collection at the bottom of your post… I’m browsing now.. Linda at Crafts a la Mode
PINNING>
What a great idea! That could also be used as an outdoor drink station. Fill the bucket w/ ice and soda! Pinning!
Great minds think alike, Stephanie! I was thinking of using it as a drink station as well! Right now, it’s tucked away on my porch functioning as an outdoor end table — so many uses for a whopping 12 bucks!
Julie,
This is so creative!!! I just love it. Beautiful color as well!!! ~Christy
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I LOVE! this idea. I would have never thought to use a sewing table for a potting bench, but it’s absolutely perfect! I may borrow this idea!
Clever beyond belief! How many of those sewing table have I passed by??? Great job!
Julie,
You are a genius. I love this idea and am going to share it on my website’s Facebook page. So inspiring. You have a new follower.
Hi Julie,
I Love your blog and have been subscribed to it for quite awhile…but I am no longer receiving it by email, in fact I lost over half of my blog subscriptions when AOL and Yahoo updated their systems to remove spam and such. I was told by other bloggers that I subscribe to that they are viewing the mass emails that go out to your subscribers as spam and it is kicked back. I am again receiving my email notifications from them because they were about to go in an adjust things somehow. I didn’t know if you were aware of this or not. I hope that you can fix this so I can again receive your posts by email…
Thanks so much,
Debbi
PS loved the potting bench!
Debbi, Thanks so much for letting me know! I was stumped as to how to change my feedburner settings (technical issues are not my forte!), but think I have figured it out. Would you please let me know if/when you receive an email update? I changed my settings this morning and am planning a short blog post so you should be getting something in your inbox within the next day or so. If you don’t receive anything can you let me know that, too?! I really appreciate you coming back here and giving me the heads up!
Julie
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