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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Vintage Washboard Repurposed

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Our laundry room got a fresh coat of paint yesterday! The same favorite, lovely grey I had done in our bedroom. :) I thought it would be a good time to give it some fresh decor, too. I picked up this damaged washboard in the auction leftovers a couple of weeks ago. I cut out a piece of cork shelf liner to fit the top part and hot glued it into place. Now I have a spot to display my vintage sterling silver nautical-themed brooch collection. Hey, how did that bird get there? ha ha.
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I have custom-made white painted shelves in the attic that used to be in my dining room. I'm hoping to sweet-talk The Mister into putting them above the washer and dryer for me. If he scowls, I'm getting out my girlie tools and doing it myself! I hurt my wrist last week, so maybe he'll have pity on me and help. :) More of the laundry room redo to come soon!

40 comments:

  1. What a great look. I love that old thing!

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  2. And guard those silver brooches! Prices are down, but still, they're valuable!

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  3. Pretty cool washboard. I have been trying to do some clean up/organization during our break. I don't like doing it, but I like the results. I really do like the grey you are using on the walls.

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  4. Oh I bet you know how to woo that Mister...How could he resist anything you ask of him???

    Love, Love, love your Vintage Washboard, and the unique collection of brooches. I have a small washboard in my laundry room, but my mom called it a "rub" board.

    I Can't wait to see the final Laundry room.

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  5. Silver ~ well, look at you! :)

    Farmchick ~ good for you getting organized! I have quite a few plans for that as soon as the boys get back to school. My whole house needs organized! ha.

    Wanda ~ he already said he would do it on Friday. :) And I was folding laundry today looking at that washboard and thinking "Oh my...I'm so glad I'm not washing clothes on that thing!" haha.

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  6. ah you always want be the first silver, I love vintage washboard
    Betsy:)

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  7. Thanks, Gloria! Looks like Silver beat you tonight! ha.

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  8. that is really cool betsy...like the look of the old washboard...we have on out in the garage....

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  9. Very cute Betsy!! I have a washboard on my laundry room wall too!! My advice on sweet talking is feed him something yummy first. LOL

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  10. Oh duh! I just read your comments and realized your sweet talking already worked. :)

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  11. Rebecca ~ yep, it worked. Must have been the chicken parmesan. lol....

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  12. Very nice!

    I also have a repurposed washboard. It once had a glass "board" which, unfortunately, broke. When I took a decorative painting class, it became a class project. My husband replaced the broken glass with a board and I painted a nice winter scene.

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  13. Martha ~ that sounds really cute! I'm glad I rescued this one from the trash pile! I think it has a copper board. I used a little CLR on it just to get the grime off of it and some of the green patina turned shiny copper, like a new penny. I should look them up and see what they were made of...that company specifically.

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  14. that looks lovely, what a great mix

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  15. I love how you take things that seem useless and turn it into an object of art or into something very useful to give it another life. I can just imagine the things singing to theirselves about how happy they are to be loved and treasured again and saying "Free at last".

    God bless.

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  16. Isn't that a feat
    Once more turning auction leftovers into something neat
    I noticed the bird right off too
    Becoming very customary of you..haha

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  17. Yep...they were made from glass or zinc and more rarely brass or copper. Too bad mine had that broken part..it could have been worth something! I suppose I could polish it up, but I think I like the patina on it. :) Most are dated in the late 1800's. Interesting!

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  18. Aw, thanks MrsU ~ it's one of my favorite things to do! And finding things for free at the auctions has just made it even more fun. I have a friend who is going to open a shop featuring repurposed items and she's asked me to put some things in it on consignment. How fun! She opens next fall, so I have time to work on some goodies. :)

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  19. Pat ~ yes, that's me.
    I collect stray kittens and trash, you see.
    Give them a new home here with Betsy.

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  20. And that's quite the collection of both you have too
    When spring has sprung one of those collections could muliply by two..haha

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  21. Pat ~ oh that would be crazy, too!
    I have enough animals at my zoo!
    The ones that are staying will have to visit the vet.
    Hope spring isn't too late, but I'm not going to bet!
    If they doubled
    I'd be in trouble.
    lol...

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  22. Before long, your entire house will be decorated in auction leftovers...not that that's a bad thing...

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  23. KathyG ~ I'm going to have to be careful not to clutter up my house too much! Selling the stuff after repurposing sounds a little better! I'll have to only keep the things I really love.

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  24. Hmph! Everybody knows the only rational repurposing for a washboard is to turn it into percussion for a jug band or Zydeco band. Etoile!

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  25. haha...Roy...when I was doing a Google search for copper washboards, I saw a link to "How to play a washboard"!! So, do you play? ;)

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  26. That is going to be a fun place to do laundry, Betsy!! Love that washboard and the gray paint! You are busy and getting ready to start 2012 with a fresh slate! blessings ~ tanna

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  27. I remember when I was a little kid, my mom had a washboard. I haven't seen one since. I never thought something like that could be so artistic... you have quite a touch, Betsy.

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  28. I love how you 'dress up' everything...best keep away from doing that with your boys though huh? haha

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  29. How clever you are! I must confess when I read the words 'vintage washboard' and can still see my mother using hers ... I felt kind of vintage myself. Happy New Year to you and your five men.

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  30. Awww hope the Mister does this for you!!

    And yay for your washboard re-do! Fantastic! Take care
    x

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  31. OH! The Mister better get on that...OR...there might be a sweet man next door that would do it for you...if you give him a cookie! :)

    Super cute wash board!

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  32. Jill ~ that sweet man next door made the shelves! ha.

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  33. Betsy I finish my post of panacotta strawberries if you eant to sse and I linked to your post of Christmas angel (lol)
    Hope you feeling OK

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  34. Gloria ~ oh how fun! Thank you! I'll come take a look.
    Feeling so much better today! Two day migraine...yuck. I was ready to be done with it!

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  35. Sometimes I had and is horrible.
    Take it easy today and rest a little:))

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  36. Oh my, your laundry room is going to turn out smarter than my sitting room!

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  37. Gloria ~ that's how it is here, too. The parents like seafood the most. :)

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