I push and pull the block of sandpaper back and forth across the surface of the old filing cabinet, excited about its future.
I pay special attention to the bottom edges where it had chipped over time and to the top where it’s rusted a bit.
A once-over, a small amount of painters’ tape on the front and then the real fun begins. I open and shake the paint primer and start spraying, taking care that errant paint doesn’t end up on tomorrow’s newsprint.
With more than two sides done, I run out of primer and have to make a run to the store. I’m new to this whole process and I’m certain I used too much. Oh well. On the trip to the store and then back to the News-Banner, I am able to visualize a plan for what comes after the spray paint.
That vision, I hope, is what the community will see when I’m done with the Little Free Library I’ve been working on for the News-Banner foyer. I first wrote about the project in September on this page. After that column, I received many generous donations to stock the drawers of the cabinet, which I hope to organize by genres.
I am most thrilled by all the children’s book donations I received from a couple of particular supporters (you know who you are and thank you again). I am pretty sure I have enough children’s books to fill at least two drawers of the cabinet, and I’ll put them on the bottom so they are easy to reach by little hands.
I like tackling crafty projects like this but it becomes a challenge to make the time for them. Last year I stained a small wooden step stool gray (again, I’m certain I used too much stain — I sense a theme forming). In the fall of 2020, I took a “coffee and calligraphy” class at Crimson House to learn fancy handwriting. I bought extra supplies and how-to books but haven’t touched them in months. I hope that changes soon.
I plan to get into needlepoint soon, and I’m excited to see what I can do with that skill. I just remember making countless friendship bracelets with all the thread I found around the house as a child. If you have any needlepoint tips, send them my way.
Calligraphy and needlepoint have to be less messy than spray painting and staining — although I’m proud to report that both of the latter projects could have gone a lot worse.
Soon, you’ll be able to see my best attempt at painting and decorating the filing cabinet. Just don’t judge the lack of artistic skills. It’s all a work in progress.
jessica@news-banner.com
