It's magical to think about how objects can have permanence and meaning far beyond their intended use.
Everything, even the seemingly meaningless, has a story — like when this son refurbished his late father's table. In my opinion, the best DIY projects are the ones that breathe new life into an interesting and meaningful object that might just need a little love.
That's exactly what Gypsy Barn did when she found a William Gray and Sons carriage from the 1900s at an estate sale.
The sleigh was old, the wood was rotting away, and its stories were long forgotten. Who knows how many people rode in it, or how many children or families played in it?
But she was able to look beyond the dilapidated exterior, and she saw the potential for new life and new stories for the old sleigh.
Do you have any old objects that mean something to you? Let us know in the comments, and please SHARE!
When this crafter found an sleigh from 1903 at an estate sale, she immediately saw all its shimmering potential.
Although the base of the sled was rotted and crumbling away, she knew it just needed a little love and some spit shine to bring it to life again.
To remove the wood from the frame, she didn't need to use any tools; the wood just fell off in her hands.
To help stabilize the wooden frame underneath the rotted boards, she used Elmer's Wood Rot Stabilizer to strengthen it.
After letting the wood conditioner sit for a few days, she sanded down any rough parts of the wood. No splinters!
For the nails, she ventured to an old, unused barn. Here, she posed jokingly with her pickax — though, much care was taken in the nails' extractions.
Once she had a tin of old nails, she began to replace the boards that had rotten away.
She had her mom sew together the cover for the bed of the sleigh.
Her talented mother was able to do all of the sewing entirely by hand!
She chose this crisp red fabric for its antique look and for how soft it is.
She then used wax to treat the wood and bring out the deep red color.
When she was done, she had the perfect nook for a nice cup of coffee and a good book.
Would you like to have such a lovely piece of history in your backyard?
Please SHARE if you love restored antiques!
