Would You Like To Be A Contributing Writer?

Would you like to be a contributing author for Tools Are For Women Too? That is the question I am throwing out there today.

I am currently looking to expand the scope of the site and offer a few of you an opportunity to be a regular, weekly, contributing author. My goal is to bring in a few people, who are experts in their particular field. Are you great at jewelry making, quilting, sewing, sculpting, painting, doll making, or ? Are you able to write tutorials? Can you contribute 1 post per week, every week? Are you possibly wonderful at designing buttons and web graphics? If you are, this might be a nice opportunity for you.

I know that some of you out there are incredibly talented, but are struggling with your sites and stores. This is another way I am "paying it forward" and am allowing a few select people to get some much needed exposure on my growing site.

Here is what to do if you are interested....

1.) Drop me an email. Tell me about your current site or sites.

toolsr4women2@gmail.com

2.) Tell me why you would like to be a regular contributing author for Tools.

3.) Tell me what your specialty is and what you have to offer our readers.

4.) Be prepared to write a trial guest post with photos.

That's all there is to it.

Good luck!

Dresser Makeover By Guest Contributor Beverly from Green Gracie Home

I would like to introduce all of you to a friend of mine. She is Beverly from Green Gracie Home and it is my pleasure to have her here today as a guest contributor. One of the things that impresses me with this fine craftswoman is that she is not afraid think outside the traditional painting box. Her project today is an example of that.

And, here she is........

I want to thank Rory for allowing me to share my little makeover with you. But also for his belief in every woman's ability to use tools and imparting a little "know how" to us.

This dresser was tired and its yellow color was no longer bright and lemony, but instead looked just plain dirty. But the legs called to me and the pure size. Then I opened the drawers and this beauty was solid and well made. The tag inside said American of Martinsville. I had to dig, but originally it was a company of Amish furniture builders. No wonder it was heavy. So, I bought it and brought it home to my garage until I could find it a home.

It found its home in a master bedroom makeover. The walls in this room are BLUE and to temper it, silvers, taupes and grays are coming in.

The dresser began like this:

So, I used TSP and a liquid deglosser.

The wall paint was Behr Premium that has primer in it. I wanted the same blue to come through in the end, so I used it as my base coat.

Next, I silver leafed all of the drawers and the two doors:

I let a little of the blue "peek" through as I was leafing.

I did not leaf the body of the dresser or the interior drawers. I painted those with Benjamin Moore silver metallic paint. I wanted a very subtle variation in color:

Then a final antique glaze over the entire thing:

Detail shot:

Dresser now that it is done:

I love the knobs the owner selected. They are different than what I had originally envisioned, but they help the dresser bridge the gap between antique and modern.

I hope you enjoyed my little makeover.

Beverly

Beverly, thank you for your great post today. I really enjoyed seeing someone use silver leaf in furniture project. It is one of those techniques that I think every faux finisher should take the time to learn.

To all of my readers:

Please stop by Green Gracie Home and say hello to Beverly. It because of craftswomen and bloggers like her, that Tools Are For Women Too is so relevant and successful.

Here is her link.

http://greengraciehome.blogspot.com/

By the way, If you would like to become a guest contributor for Tools Are For Women Too! like Beverly did, drop me a line. I would love to chat with you about it.

toolsr4women2@gmail.com

Are You Interested In Guest Posting?

Would you like to be a guest contributor on Tools Are For Women Too! ? If so, contact me. I am currently making room for about a craftswoman guest post per week.

Do you want to show off a tutorial? Do you have a new blog that needs a jump start? Do you just want to share your latest project with Tools Are For Women Too readers and followers?

Whatever the reason is, you may want to get on my contributors list.

Email me at toolsr4women2@gmail.com or leave a comment and let me know what kind of post you would like to write.

I can't wait to hear from you.

Potholes and Pantyhose Guest Post - Mod Tree Table

Ok, fasten your seat belts. Today, I have a guest host by the name of Rebekah Greiman, from Potholes and Pantyhose. Not too many people out there are bigger tool fans than me, but Rebekah might be close. This is a woman that has no fear of running a chain saw, or swinging a sledge hammer. Gotta love it! I was ecstatic when I read her blog. It is quirky, fun, and will make you laugh. She also happens to be pretty good at what she does. So, I knew she would make a great guest host. Enough from me. Here she is.....

I just love ‘Tools Are for Women Too’ and am so thrilled to be a guest blogger today! I’m Rebekah from http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/ and I blog about my life on the road with my musician hubby, my remodeling projects, my photography, and making arts and crap from cast-offs. And I try to maintain a somewhat normal life. However, normalcy keeps escaping me.

Mod Tree Table

Today we are going to make a very mod table out of a cross section of a tree. This table will be truly unique and is very simple to make.

While solving the world’s economic problems one day, I heard my neighbor outside revving up a chain saw. I poked my head outside to see him eagerly chopping down his very dead pine tree. Not wanting to see all of that beautiful wood go to waste and with the neighbor’s invitation, I hopped the fence and chose my victim carefully.

What you will need:

A cross section of a tree, metal legs, dowel rods, recycled legs from another table, or table legs from Lowe’s ($4-8 a piece), a belt sander with 40 & 80 Grit, a sandpaper drill and a drill bit slightly smaller than your lag screws. Lag screws should be appropriate to how thick the cross section is of your wood is (I used 1/4” x 2”). Small ‘set’ screws. Socket set (not pictured), level, Possibly scrap pieces of plywood & a jig saw if your wood isn’t level. Polyurethane-I chose Minwax Fast Drying. Brush to apply polyurethane (I buy disposable ‘foamy’ brushes)Rubber Gloves, Steel Wool.

Start sanding your cross section with a 40 grit sand paper on your belt sander. After you have taken off the bigger problem areas of the cross section, use your 80 grit sandpaper to smooth that sucker out even more.

Step 2. Next, test the level of your table by screwing in small screws (NOT your lag screws), to the legs. Flip the table over and set your level on top. If it isn’t level, begin to shim up the lowest leg with scrap plywood. When you are satisfied with it being level, measure how much plywood it took to shim it up. This is the amount you will need to cut out and attach to the underside of the table.Or, you can choose to make it level by sanding until your shoulder falls off.

Flip the table back over and before removing the small ‘set’ screws, mark where your table legs rest with a pencil. Remove the legs.



Using a jig saw, cut sections of plywood that make up the difference in your table being level.

Using a drill bit one size smaller, drill pilot holes for your lag screws or the screws attached to your pre-made legs. This will help your wood not to split when you muscle in your lag screws or your legs.

Use a socket set to insert your lag screws, if you have legs like mine (tee hee). If you have pre-made legs with the screw already sticking out of the end, just screw them into where you drilled your pilot holes and into your cross section.

Once your legs are attached, wipe your cross section down with a micro fiber cloth-get all the nooks and crannies.

Apply a coat of polyurethane while wearing gloves, or you’ll be sorry. Let the poly dry according to your manufacturer’s recommended time.

Once the cross section is dry, lightly buff the surface with a steel wool pad. Use your microfiber cloth again to remove all of the dust.

Add a second coat of poly to ensure you every little tiny bit has been covered.

What a wonderful table you have made! Grab a cup of coffee, a good book, or a great blog and snuggle up next to it this afternoon.

I would love to know how your log table has turned out. Come visit me at http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/ and tell me, or see some of my other crafts.

Rebekah Greiman

http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/

Rebekah, besides being a terrific craftswoman, is also as nice a person as you will ever run into. Please take the time to go visit her. Rory

Wanted: Craftswoman

What is your specialty? Is it doll making? quilts? repurposing? scrapbooking? Whatever your specialty is, I would like to know about it, and so would followers here, at Tools Are For Women Too! Being a craftsperson is not all about cordless drills and sawdust. Sometimes it's about Cricut machines and Mod Podge.

So, I am offering a few of you great craftswomen a chance to trade guest feature posts with Tools Are For Women Too! . Let me know if you are interested.