I love living in the country.
Seriously.
There are acres and acres of rolling hills covered in lush green grass and white fences dotting the country side. There are cows and sheep and horse barns and fresh eggs and hay bales and wide-open blue skies with fluffy white clouds…..
….and stacks and stacks of junk that no one wants.
Except me.
Yep.
I have all that junk to myself.
Shhhhh.
It’s the kind of junk you see on television.
You know….you’ve seen it before.
You’re watching a show and the designers are trying to figure out what they are going to make a coffee table out of and they find some old rusty tractor parts and weld them together and make this incredible table and everyone exclaims how it’s the finest piece of furniture they have ever seen and they all pat themselves on the back and exclaim how inexpensive the table was to make and that they were able to get the tractor parts for only $75.
Rusty tractor parts for only $75.00.
Wow.
What a bargain.
Unless you live in the country….
….and then they’re a dime a dozen. 🙂
There’s an auction down the road from my house where all the junk in the country gathers once a month and has a party.
I’m its favorite customer.
You can find almost everything at the auction.
They sell all the fancy stuff at the beginning when the bidding is fast and furious.
I just get a diet coke and wait….because after all the fancy stuff is gone….
….they start on the boxes in the back.
Boxes full of treasures.
Like vintage books and milk glass and silver plate and tobacco baskets and bingo cards and clock radios and velvet Elvis paintings and old house numbers.
Right out of an episode of American Pickers.
Good thing the auction only happens about once a month.
Good thing they know my number.
Good thing I have a storage building.
And good thing for the country that I arrived in town just in time…to give all that wonderful glorious junk…..
….a place to call home. 🙂
PS I made the table using metal and plastic house numbers and Elmer’s ProBond Advanced Glue.
It was such an easy project.
Find house numbers at your local home improvement store or yard sale or auction.
Lay them out in the pattern you want on an existing table.
Glue in place with Elmer’s ProBond Advanced Glue.
Let dry according to directions.
‘s
Have your local home improvement store cut a piece of acrylic for the tabletop to fit on top of the numbers.
Glue a metal nut to each corner of the wood table and the acrylic tabletop.
Easy simple project….
….and I finished just in time for next month’s auction. 🙂
PS Here are 21 ideas on how to decorate your coffee table once you’re done creating it.
How can I say this...I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this piece...it is totally and utterly amazing!!!! I love everything about it. How do I love it...LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hugs...applause and appaws!!!
I have to ask - Where? Google was no help. A junky auction could make the trip home this month go from, lord I hate the BG parkway to " I can't wait to get there!"
Actually, it's the 2 hours on the WK pkwy after the BG that drives me nuts!
You make living in the country sound so very appealing. Any time you mention country living, I picture you leaving Dallas and never looking back. This life really seems to suit you. And you make really cute coffee tables. XO
Do you have an open account there -- they KNOW where to find you? You're from Dallas? I didn't know that. Somehow I pictured you coming from New York or Chicago -- sophisticated and finding the country more to your liking. Not quite Green Acres but your own spin on City girl in Kentucky. You could do a series -- not realty you have too much talent for writing for that stuff. Love the table!! Hugs to You!! BTW, did you consider posting your speech for all of us unfortunates who weren't able or invited to go???
yes! I thought kari was from Chicago, too!
Such a darling little table! Love it!
You stinker! I was getting to do something just like this in my boys' room! :) Great minds think alike, right?!!!
Dang, I soooo need to move. I live in a town with a major university and we all know the havoc that college students wreak on/to dorm rooms! No glorious junque to be found at GW, on CL or by the side of the road and most auctions are for dead cars with a stained tea towel or two thrown in for good measure. I'M SO JEALOUS! Love the table!
I live in Kentucky and I NEED TO KNOW where that auction is! :)
You amaze me with your words and talent! So sorry to bug you with question .. But I am a pest. How do I send a comment privately? Do not worry all is well! Just wondering.. Thank you have a tremendous Thirsdsy!
My daughter and I just discovered the thrill of auctions last week when we went to our first one. It was SO entertaining!!! We must have a plethora of junk around here-- we have auctions twice a week! :-) I just need your vision, KariAnne, as to what to do with all of the stuff I see. Thanks for sharing your clever ideas!
Cute, cute table Kari!...Love auctions...they are quite addicting!...
Love! I live in the Country Too and We have great Farm Auctions. If I want great Tractor parts or this and thats, I go Pickin at My Sisters Farm..Whew $75... The Table is Amazing and now I know what to do with My little stash of numbers...Kari Thanks for the great Post and all the other You share! Your one of My Faves! Cindy Oh, did I mention all the great Deer Sheds I gather there too..Yippee
I've never been to an auction... I want to! Cute cute table! Let me count the ways..
Wow, that was easy. And, such a fun piece.
What an absolutely fabulous table! Such a unique conversation piece! I've not been to an auction in years ... now I do believe it time to visit one! Have a lovely Thursday!
You come up with the best ideas Karianne. But you need to quit holding out on me. Where is this auction? I'm going to show up and give you a run for your money!!
LOVE this!! You are so creative. I was wondering....and then I saw the photo of the nut-genius! Love it!!!!!
How creative! Can visualize using this design idea with different types of "found" elements, or perhaps a kids' table using alphabet letters! Thanks so much for sharing & for your inspiration
So very cool Karianne! Absolutely too cool!
CUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!! I feel left out here. The only auction I have ever been to are art auctions. Hmmm...I need to find me a junk auction! QUICK!
It turned out beautiful! I love the white with the pop of metallic.
Being a 'numbers' guy, this table is right up my
spreadsheetalley. Love it! And I love auctions too. But, about the time I bring home one more piece of junk, my wife will be trying to sell me. Hope all is well with you and your family. It's been too long since we've touched base. We should fix that!what a wonderful, fun table for the gatehouse! love the idea of the corner nuts...so simple. great job!
You are so good at creating! ! What a beautiful and unique table. Love your blog!
I love it...you can really come up with an idea for just about anything! Our lakehouse is surrounded by beautiful country. The path of The Worlds Longest Yard Sale goes right through our town. Dear God! It's my favorite time of year!! XO, Jane
What a great project - thanks for the DIY. The table looks wonderful. I sure wish I was back in VA living on a farm with no neighbors for a mile away. So I know exactly how your feel. For some reason I wasn't getting your posts so I signed up again. Happy weekend. Mary
I sure wished I lived near you. We would have such a great time. I look forward to your blog every day with a cup of coffee or a glass of ice tea, preferably on my back porch.
I adore this!!! I'd love to try it with side tables. It's time to hit the antique mall now!! ~Cheryl https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/
Love it. I have just the table now all I need are the numbers. Great idea.
Miss KariAnne, you are crazy in the very best of ways. Thank-you for sipping on that diet coke while patiently waiting for just the right junk to surface.... you make my blog all that much better! Featuring this one in this weekend's upcoming Party Junk. :)
Oh Girl, you get me everytime. I must say I think I love your stories more then your DIY projects. you are the BEST one out there. I too go to auctions, we have one every Monday night and every other Saturday. Just like you I wait for all the good junky stuff no one wants. It's the best time ever. Keep up the good work. You are who I want to be when I grow up :)
So cute! Love this!
Only you would come up with something this amazing! And LUCKY about the auction once a month down the road! :D
You are tremendously talented! I love this project. Have a questions though, what did you put on the table legs....the silver. I love it. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
Yep me too! I am the one who waits for the boxes of stuff towards the end of auctions also. I love farm auctions. Farmers and their wives keep everything, in the house, bArn, or out back in a pile. Score for us!
You make me want to move to the country! The rolling hills! The clouds! I think I am just desperate for some SPACE ! Great post :)
I've been to one auction & got so SCARED I'd either lose the items I'd picked to bid on, or spend WAY MORE $$$ than I had, that I asked my Uncle to bid for me! It was mid-range in co$t and everyone was really "serious." Didn't win my items, but I'd love to go to a country/farm/junk auction! (It's probably more my style anyway!) Your numbers table is brilliant, KariAnne! I love the silvery look on white ~ the pop of hot pink you added on the table legs, and w/the flower stem, is stunning! (from another Dallas gal who'd love to escape ~ at least occasionally!!!)
Love it! Pinned it! <3 Christina @ I Gotta Create! Wildly Original link party is open.
Ooooh!! Love this idea!!! I love the graphic look of all of those numbers popping off the white table!! Adorbs!!
Love this X's a million. Such a clever project.
You have NO idea how I love this table. It might have moved to the top of my copy cat list. To say I am pinning it just does not convey how freaking much I love it.
Such a creative wonderful awesome idea! I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams on Fridays :D Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party