greetings! today's post highlights an item re-purposed from a thrift store discovery. originally my thrifty features were to be off the "dollar menu". but it seems i am having a tough time hitting that dollar mark often enough so i am expanding my horizons to include a "value meal" price point...thus giving me a few more dollars to work with!
i happened on a table in the not so distant past that had clean lines + just the right amount of rust on it's industrial-like steel frame. so for less than the price of a fast-food value meal...i had me a project in the making! here is where i started {below}...not terribly exciting with it's ho-hum "faux" wood features. but those legs...they have potential!
out comes the bucket of vintage yardsticks {below}. and i honestly mean a bucket-full! i have collected them for years for various projects. and it was time for something different!
next - the layout. should i run them all in one direction? maybe a collage? what shade works off that one? blonde...dark...honey...highlights of red? i sat for a L O N G time contemplating. after the wheels of invention turned for awhile i got out my arsenal of trusty power tools & went to work. and the end result can be seen {below}. are you loving it as much as i??
a bird's eye view of the assemblage {below}
i will have a hard time parting with this creation. but my house is pert near full. i did shuffle things around a bit to stage a little photo op for you all so you could see it in a home setting {below}.
now those of you who have bought vintage yardsticks know that they can well reach beyond "value menu"...but the foundation was a bargain & inspired me to create this one of kind work of art! a fine unit of measure if i do say so myself! i hope i have sparked you to scour a favorite thrift store in search of your own item of value to put a spin on!
go forth and create & make it a great day!
loving it!!! gorgeous.
Posted by: ludid | July 15, 2010 at 02:42 PM
Wow, that looks amazing.
Posted by: Kathryn | July 15, 2010 at 02:45 PM
Your table is amazing, the layout is fantastic and I love the little pops of red!
Posted by: Tamara | July 15, 2010 at 04:02 PM
That's Sooooo Great!!
Posted by: Tammy Dellinger | July 15, 2010 at 08:13 PM
oh thank you girls! i am tickled to get your feedback! i am really excited about this one! there's just something about warm wood tones and numerical accents that inspire me!
thanks for stopping!
beth
Posted by: show & TELL . . . | July 16, 2010 at 08:31 AM
Hi Beth-
I love projects like this that re-purpose items in such clever and decorative ways. I would not be able to part with it either.
Diane
Posted by: Diane @ InMyOwnStyle | July 16, 2010 at 03:34 PM
I would not be able to part with it either. It is so darn adorable.
Posted by: Karen | July 16, 2010 at 03:57 PM
That Work of Art Table is Incredible.... I certainly would have a hard time parting with it~
Posted by: Cheryl~Zanymayd | July 17, 2010 at 09:42 AM
It's adorable!
Posted by: Amber | July 19, 2010 at 07:49 AM
I love the change! I think that table would look great in my living room! :)
Posted by: Ginger | July 19, 2010 at 01:39 PM
LOVE it-I've been collecting yard sticks also(hoping for a wainscoting project but who am I kidding?)..this is so much more do-able!Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: mary w | July 20, 2010 at 03:51 AM
LOVE it-I've been collecting yard sticks also(hoping for a wainscoting project but who am I kidding?)..this is so much more do-able!Thanks so much for sharing!
Posted by: mary w | July 20, 2010 at 03:52 AM
I love this so much and have wanted to do something similar--never find the yardsticks though! I would be thrilled if you would link this up to my Under $100 Linky Party
Posted by: Becky | July 21, 2010 at 08:57 PM
love, love, love it !!1 (i also have a bucket of yardsticks !!)
Posted by: jeanne | July 25, 2010 at 07:25 AM
What an awesome idea! I don't have an extensive collection of yardsticks, but maybe now I have a reason to! Thanks for sharing such a fantastic idea!
Posted by: Lynnet | July 26, 2010 at 02:01 PM
Love it! Yardsticks are getting harder to find. I'm a teacher, and all I have in the classroom are meter sticks.
Posted by: Daisy | June 15, 2011 at 08:59 AM
um, this is amazing! i love it.
Posted by: elisabeth | June 15, 2011 at 09:11 AM
LOVE THIS , GORGEOUS, ID LOVE TO FEATURE IT ON MY NEXT REVIVAL MONDAY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE OK WITH YOU
LAUREN
Posted by: west furniture revival | July 21, 2011 at 06:37 PM
hey lauren!
thanks for the note! i did try and send a reply thru the email you sent to my direct account so i am sorry if that didnt come thru!
i am tickled you like the ruler table and yes...that is just super that you want to feature it! i look forward to visiting your fun and upbeat blog again! :)
beth
Posted by: show & TELL . . . | July 22, 2011 at 03:59 AM
I love this idea and have a small stockpile of rulers. What is the best way to attach the sticks?
Posted by: sherry | September 03, 2011 at 01:33 PM
Your tabletop is just too cool - love it!! I linked this to my yardsticks post today too, for inspiration!
Posted by: Inspire Me Heather | September 06, 2011 at 05:05 AM
So do you plan to sell it? Seemed like you hinted at that in your post...but I surely understand if you can't part with it. If you're selling it, I'd like a chance to buy it. Thanks.
Posted by: Kady Danner | September 13, 2011 at 12:12 PM
wicked cool!
Posted by: Walter Silva | October 13, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Danielle Hatfield | November 18, 2011 at 05:11 PM
Awesome idea!!!
Posted by: Kathy Dickinson | January 16, 2012 at 04:55 PM