Table Makeover

In December 2023 my cousin brought me an old disassembled MDF table that was no longer needed in her home. I asked her to save it for me thinking if nothing else, I could break it down and use the pieces in some artful way.

It sat in our garage for about 6 months until I decided I should look it over. I discovered not all the hardware was with it but also the legs had split where the connections to the base of the table would go. It's not easy to repair MDF once it's split. It will always split again at some point even if you don't use the original holes to put things back in place.

My father was a woodworker all my life and although he worked with actual wood and rarely with MDF the rules are basically the same. You can repair it but it might not look like it originally did especially with MDF pieces. He repaired antiques and you'd never know there was a crack or a leg missing once he finished his magic. MDF isn't wood and I'm not comparing what I did here with what he did. However, I felt his guidance from above as I worked. He was definitely helping me decide how to take what was and make it new once more. He passed in August of 2024 so didn't get to see the result of my labor but I know he was with me, just the same. And I feel he'd approve of my efforts.

I primed all the pieces in early 2024 and as I did, I thought I'd try to use the legs in a different way and put them on the base. I wasn't successful ... no matter how I thought they'd go, there was a gap or a tilt or a whole section of just basically air from point A to point B.

So ... it sat. And I stared at it and kept thinking.

 And it sat. And I thought some more.

The arrow is a reminder that the other side of this panel needed a hole fixed.

 

Until one day in September of 2024, I bought paint called Tibetan Turquoise made by Behr. In February 2025, I purchased hairpin legs through Amazon, making the decision to add new legs instead of trying to use the old ones. The old pieces shown in the photo above are in the mosaic pile to be used to make wall art. Like I always say, nothing goes to waste.

Eventually, I felt strong enough physically to paint and add the legs. Plus a little bit of mosaic magic to it. It felt great being in the Purple Palace again working on a small mosaic!

This is similar to what it looked like when it was brand new. Legs were on an angle and not straight up and down, but basically this is what it looked like.

Here it is primed with it's new legs.

 

Adding the paint was a true joy. To see it coming together was an amazing experience. I don't usually do makeovers like this. I definitely want to do something more at some point. It was fun!

Finishing mosaic touches make it truly my style.

 

I love how this turned out and will continue to be useful for years. Please think before you decide to toss out something. There's always a way to reuse or revamp so many things and save them from the landfill.

Thanks to my cousin, who used the original table from 2012 to 2023 and saved it for me, I was able to give it new life. Huzzah!!

What do you think? Leave a comment if you'd like and consider some inexpensive makeovers you can do. I'm no expert but if you have a questions about how to do something, please feel free to reach out. I'll help you if I'm able or direct you toward someone who can.

Until next time ... Enjoy the journey.

 Cindy aka EarthMotherMosaics

https://artbyearthmothermosaics.com

In The Studio - Wednesday

The fun continues with my "Mr Coffee Candle Holder" mosaic. It's been a slow process, maybe only working for 1/2 an hour in the morning and then after dinner about the same amount of time. I can work in the heat of the day if I wanted to, but I don't. And this piece is for me so it doesn't matter how long it takes. It is super fun to work on, though!

This was where I left off a few days ago.

I didn't get back to this one until yesterday, which means I had a 4 day break from it. That's why I didn't write a blog post on Friday. There really wasn't much to show or share.

Now there's only been a little more added but I'm going slowly and truly enjoying the journey on this mosaic. My breathing slows down as I concentrate on each piece in my hand and where it should be placed. I find listening to New Age music is good on some days, while Classic Rock music works on other days.

These were taken Tuesday afternoon. Hopefully I'll keep going and share the progress on Friday.

Meanwhile, I'm happy to report that I've made a few sales on Etsy and got a custom order from a good extended family member! Woo-hoo! Believe it or not the custom order is for Christmas presents! Yikes!! I can't believe how fast the major holidays are creeping up on us. While I listen to the grandbabies splashing around in the pool below me when I work at my table, it's hard to believe that the seasons will be changing again soon.

I finally packed up all the reward mosaics for the fundraiser (that debt has been completely paid off) and they are shipping out today! Yay!!

Such a pretty sight to me ... 3 mosaics lovingly packed and heading on out to the folks who donated to the fundraiser last year.

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

In The Studio - Wednesday

I've been working mornings before the heat of the day arrives in my room on this awesome mosaic. It was a coffee maker but is now going to be a candle holder. Oh the fun I'm having!!

One side, at this point when the photo was taken, is almost covered.

One side is covered. Time to get to work on the inside. This is where a self-contained candle will reside.

I'm adding mirror on the inside in a few varied colors to give reflective qualities when the candle is lit.

At the top on the inside, where the coffee used to drip through, I've put a circular mirror. This too will reflect the light from a candle.

I love recycling broken objects in this way. Isn't it cool so far?

Depending on how warm the next week will be will dictate how quickly I get this project completed. But it is so much fun to see it transforming from a dull, black broken machine into a useful piece of mosaic art. I am willing to watch it unfold slowly. I love what I do!

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics

In The Studio - Friday

It's been a really fun week here at the mosaic table!

The coffeepot now has beautiful dish shards, millefiori and 1/2 glass circles on it. I'm considering making it into an incense holder and putting a candle inside when it's not used for incense.

Moving on to the actual coffeemaker now. Again it might have a design on it or I might just continue with the fun randomness of the project.

This pot is now in the "to be grouted" pile.

Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!



Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Moments.
Cindy, Earth Mother Mosaics