Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Who Needs Directions?

I never would have thought putting four legs on a small table would be difficult. After all, there are four legs and four places to put the legs. I attached one leg, OK, attached another leg, didn't fit so well. Tried another leg, still had problems, started cursing seller for taking off the legs.

I took a good look at the table and what do my wandering eyes should appear? One tiny hole between the two nail holes here.
And two tiny holes between the nail holes here.
Mmmmmmm . . . I wonder if there are corresponding holes on the legs. Tada!!!! There are matching holes on the legs. The person who made this table is leagues ahead of IKEA.
Voila! Here is the roll top sewing table fully assembled.
And here is the sewing table when it's open. Those containers slide and come out to reveal more storage space below.
The owner of the table also included this basket . . .
Filled with these old notions.
So here's my question of the day - is there anyway to rid of the dusty, musty, smokey smell of the wood and the basket? I'm assuming there's not much I can do about the notions. All suggestions are welcomed.

Sweet P

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bring it to my house and it won't bother you any more !!!! Works for me.
Marcia

Maura & Tony Pinnavaia said...

tis gorgeous. I would have been thrilled to assemble it for you!
Maura

Anonymous said...

I read one time to put a scented dryer sheet in musty sewing machine cases, that might work. I've never used Febreze, the spray stuff but perhaps it would help. It sure is a neat looking table. I don't believe I've ever seen anything like it.

Paula, the quilter said...

Find yourself the biggest, and I mean biggest, plastic garbage bag you can. Put the item in it, place a small opened container of baking soda in there with the item and close the bag. Wait about a week. Don't peek because the baking soda absorbs the odors inside the bag. If it still reeks after a week, do it again with a new container of baking soda and a new bag. I have been slowly working my way through a doll collection that smells of moth balls.

AverettLadyNana said...

That is one wonderful table.
Smoke in wood...my daugher and I inherited several pieces of furniture which reeked from smoke. She and I poured Clorox in a glass dishes with some cotton balls and placed it carefully not to spill it in drawers, behind doors, etc. Now, I did it in every closed area I could and left it. When it dried up I'd refreshen it. Saw that on Martha Stewart years ago to remove musty odors in wood. I also, sprayed Oust (sp?)and Lysol the unsented type around the back of the furniture, underneath, etc.

It took several applications. And it was still a little odor. I then bought some Odor Ban in a gallon jug from either Costco or Sam's Club and I poured it in the dishes with cotton balls and sprayed back and underneath with it a few times and I FINALLY got rid of the smokey odor!!!

Aileen said...

Drooling here! My first thought was lemon oil, which will condition the wood at the same time. I figure lemon gets rid of the fishy smell on your hands, so why not smoke?

Anonymous said...

This has been a discussion on another group I am in and someone suggested putting plain charcoal( not with starter fluid) in an open container inside the cabinet. I don't know what to do about the outside unless you could wrap it in with the charcoal also. Lovely piece.

Candace said...

Some of the people on the Featherweight group swear by putting a bar of safegaurd soup inside the cases. You might try that.

Candace said...

I typed too fast. Putting a bar of safeguard soap inside not safegaurd soup.

Nancy said...

Unwrap a bar of Safe Guard soap and put it in the cabinet. After a few days, you might need to scrap the outside of the bar to freshen the scent. Most odors will be gone within a week.

Elaine Adair said...

No suggestions, except to bring it to me, not Marcia's, and I will keep it here! LOL

It was interesting reading the suggestions.

What a great table!

Libby said...

Try wadding up newspaper and loosely stuffing it inside. Change the paper every day or so . . . if you can set it in the sun for a few hours a day that will probably help, too. Good luck.

Helen said...

That is one nice sewing table.

Anonymous said...

I'm with Libby...was going to suggest the sun and maybe a wipe over with a damp cloth with vanilla or lavender oil.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Wow some great suggestions...I was going to say the same as Paula and if not I was going to suggest the dryer sheet...I used one of those inside my old Bernina sewing machine case and it worked really well.

Anonymous said...

A good cleaning with Old English and then sitting out in the sun for several hours.

Spray the basket with Oust and sit in the sun.

Place the notions in a plastic ziplock bag. Put some fish tank charcoal in a muslin bag and put in with the notions. Seal and let sit for several days.

LOVE the table. I would share it with you. I'll use it for 20 years and then you can use it. :wink:

Teresa said...

An interesting piece of furniture. I don't have any suggestions other that what others have already said, but I sure enjoyed reading all the comments and getting some good ideas. Good luck!

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

what a wonderful find!

my DS's used baby furniture was smoky smelling so we wiped it down with lemon pledge and left it in the garage to air out...

Brenda said...

The table is stunning! I have found that if you put vinegar in the wash water it removes the smoke smell from fabrics...I wonder if it would help absorb the smell from wood. Love all the suggestions; tell us which one works!

Nancy said...

There is something for you on my blog....go check it out..

Greenmare said...

wow you lucky lucky girl!!! how cool is this???

Katie said...

Love your goodies. I have used most all of these suggestions for my home in FL. I keep bars of soap in my dresser drawers. Yes the aquarium charcoal is best. Baking soda and sunshine too. Check the notions and if some really have a moldy smell, separate them to treat them or maybe discard them. Keep all parts open to air for a while after your treatments.

Katie said...

Love your goodies. I have used most all of these suggestions for my home in FL. I keep bars of soap in my dresser drawers. Yes the aquarium charcoal is best. Baking soda and sunshine too. Check the notions and if some really have a moldy smell, separate them to treat them or maybe discard them. Keep all parts open to air for a while after your treatments.

Katie said...

I have no idea why it said my comment did not post and then when I did it again it has already posted. I guess I should have checked. Sorry.

ranette said...

I think I see a pair of DOVO scissors in that pile of notions. Don't chuck those, they're great little scissors.

swooze said...

A bar of dial soap closed up inside the furniture. Maybe the same with the basket but put it in a big plastic bag.

Carole said...

Lovely! Those gel packs that you find in medicine and whatever that are used to keep moisture from things comes to mind! Hugs!