Country Boy & the Broken Bed

That's Alvin, owner of Country Boy my favorite antique store, attempting to find rails that fit this totally sweet bed that I've had my eye on for a while. See, the bed didn't have it's original rails but Alvin had a bunch of others in the back room so I asked him to try some of them to see if I could get an actual bed that works (I've bought a couple of others that were so pretty that I thought I could live with the fact that they didn't actually work as beds and required propping up against the wall, but I'm getting more finicky and actually want my furniture to function now). Well, to make a long story short, first the poor guy trying to find the right rails broke a rail while trying to hammer it into place. No biggy, Alvin takes this totally in stride though I'm already feeling guilty, and then while trying a different rail (apparently one size fits all wasn't the norm at the turn of the last century when I think the bed was made) the guy actually breaks the bed fitting with the hammer. OK, now I'm really, really feeling bad. So, what genius thing did I do? Of course I bought the broken bed that will never actually function as a bed cause I felt so bad about the whole thing. Alvin tried to talk me out of it but I insisted, "It's ok, I'll make it work" say I, Tim Gunn style, not wanting to leave him with a bed I caused him to break.

With my broken bed in tow, I start to drive home feeling a little sick that I'm going to have to explain to my husband why he's going to have to lug this heavy, iron, broken bed into the garage with the rest of my broken junk. I know he won't give me a hard time about it but the guilt (I have some sort of guilt complex which I'm working on) is weighing on me when lo and behold I see a bed store, you know the kind of store where you buy an actual new bed that works, which I've never done by the way. Anyway, not to drag it out, I think I've got a solution. I bought new rails that just get bolted on to the bed. I think this is going to work, just have to get the right drill bit and the right kind of bolts (the man at the bed store was very encouraging and supportive of my plan). Then I'll sand off as much of the rust and loose paint as I can and spray it white with metal paint. Hopefully, I'll have a really pretty after pic to show in the next few days. I think it will all be worth it in the end, the bed was $125.00 and the rails $30.00 and the other stuff will probably be another $20.00, I really love the bed so I think if it works out it was a really good deal, fingers crossed.

In other news, I finished revising my first round of strikeoffs in just 2 days and I have to say I'm really, really happy with this collection. Didn't even have time to take pics cause I had to get em back to the mill but I'm feeling really kind of great because I already see about 70% of the collection I dreamed about.

I've been busy sewing up projects for a couple of magazine articles that are coming up and just busy in general with some other projects--that's my excuse for not yet giving away a pattern for the Flea Market Bag to one of the members of the Barefoot Roses Flickr group, like I promised to. To make up for it, I'm going to give away 5 tomorrow and will announce the winners on Flickr. Still time to join if you're interested in the giveaway but I'll be giving these, and other patterns as they come out, on a regular basis to members of the group.

That's it for now, wish me luck on the bed. It's for Ava and I keep dreaming of her sleeping all angel like in her new old bed, cuddled up in her new Ava Rose quilt and Ava Rose pillow cases, ohh I'm gettin giddy just thinkin about it!!

Comments

[jerusalem]

Oh if you could see the pile of junk in our garage...so many dreams piled up in there! I believe your plan will work and that you will come out ahead like when Sweet Pea cut off her denim dress and voila! it worked!

[Tanya Whelan]

Oh, I love Sweet Pea!! I don't know she's just so sweet, maybe it's her name. Well, I loved that dress so fingers crossed the bed will turn out as well. Thanks for the encouragement!!

[pam]

Glad it worked out. Usually some carrige bolts and some new rails will take care of those things lickety split! What a great bed it will be.

[Natasha Burns]

Hi Tanya,
Oh I do love that old bed - your garage sounds like mine, glad to hear it's not just me getting more and more beautiful junk! I'm sure it will all work out. I love how you told the story though, I was chuckling away!
Gosh I haven't heard the term strike-off for a while now but you brought me back to my full time working days when we had prints done and had to approve strike offs! Great to hear the new range is fully underway, I am ITCHING to see it and can't wait to get some new fabric designs!!!

[Sarah]

As a woman who sleeps on a 100+ year old iron bed every night, I can help you, but it will cost money. LOL

First, do not drill holes in the bed! It will go badly.

You need a blacksmith. A real blacksmith.

If you still have the piece that got broken off, he can weld that piece back on. (And if you don't, call the guy you bought it from and make him find it!) Then, he can fashion you new rails. You would have at least needed to have the old rails lengthened anyway, as they would never have held a modern mattress in their original state.

It is also wise to have the smithy make you some rails that can go across the middle of the bed, as modern mattresses are heavy, and using side rails only will cause sag.

Once he makes those repairs for you, the bed will be good and sturdy. We have slept on ours nearly every night for almost 8 years now.

One other thing, you can never, ever use a regular metal hammer on cast iron. Use a rubber mallet only, and only in case of emergency. Cast iron is actually prone to shattering like that. (Which is why the drilling is not a good idea.)

There are photos of our much beloved old bed on my blog way back here: http://mamanjackjack.blogspot.com/2006/10/getting-to-know-you.html

[Periwinkle Vintage]

Tanya, thanks for your oh-so-nice comments on my blog! I'm sorry about your bed fiasco, but it will definitely be worth it in the end!
Cheryl

[Tanya Whelan]

Thank you for talking me out of the drilling Sarah. I'm going to take your advice and have the old fitting welded back on then I'm going to try to find a machine shop that will modify some old rails to make them fit. Turning into a project alright, but your beautiful bed is giving me hope.

[katie]

i can't wait to see it all done up! i love the bed, and i am so glad you found a way to make it work, i think older is better!

[Shelley]

Oh I have spent some money at Country Boy! I was always grateful that the piles of stuff didn't come crashing down on me! Oh - and there used to be a blacksmith shop somewhere on 35th street (maybe another number street closer to 21st st) between Colley Ave. and Hampton Blvd. I never went in there, but I always had visions of a custom fireplace screen. Maybe that will help!

[gabrielle]

well..I have a bed like you...you can see it on my blog under mi casa. I only had the head and foot board...after several months of looking for the rails to fit the cog...at antique stores..I went to ebay....and got them there....they had a bunch when I was looking..look under antique bed rails. good luck...I found a bed at a yard sale 2 weeks ago and I wanted just to want it...had no place for it..I also have a crib headboard in my garden...I love those beds...love them!@!

[Debbie]

I can't wait to see your new fabric collection. I've been checking your blog everyday to see if there are any sneak peeks. I'd love to win ANY fabric - we can never have enough, right!

[Firefly Hill]

I love the story about the bed! I have done things like that too and my husband just rolls his eyes. I bet it is going to look fab. Cant wait to see your new collection!

Annie

[Jan]

Can't wait to see the "new" bed. I love using your fabrics, am working on a quilt now to go with the nursery bedding I made. Jan

[Tanja]

I'm not so good with english, but I try to explain my idea. You can use the head of the bed as a decorative item for your garden. You can use like this:http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=4301608f8532f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
by hanging up. Or you can let it stand against a wall, hang some small and larger jars on it, use the smaller ones for tea lights and the larger ones to put flowers in it, decorate the frame with some ribbon and/or silk flowers.

Dont know if you like it, its just an idea.

Tanja.

[Toni]

Cool Bed.

I was wondering if you can help me get a copy of your pattern for the Fleamarket Bag.
I have ordered it 2 times and each time I get a reply that it is unavailable.

Thanks Toni

[Debe]

I am repainting my daughters room and had to move her old iron bed. It is so rickety I don't know how she slept in it. But it made it through her college days!! We have so many metal and wood braces between the rails but it is still wobbly. Guess I need a blacksmith!! Good luck with yours!! They are so pretty!

[happy zombie]

I love that bed, and I'm pretty sure you'll make it work in some other fantastic form!

I love Tim Gunn. Love him, love him, love him! I think he could walk into any world crisis with heads of states gathered... Let's make it work people, let's make it work. Sigh. I dream.

[allie]

Tanya, such a great bed. I can see why you fell in love with it and I can also see why you bought it despite being broken. I'm quite the same way - funny thing, guilt. I can't wait to see who it all turns out. Glad to hear you got through you work so quickly, and also glad to hear you really are liking how things are turning out. Talk to you soon.

[Lisa]

Now that's what you would call a "bed bummer". Hope it all comes together beautifully. I'll keep an eye out for a look at the how it's ultimately transformed.

Have a great weekend!

[lewlew]

Paint it?!!! Leave it rustic and the contrast with the crisp new bed fabric will be delicious!

[Glenda]

Hi
This is my first visit to your site. I think it really wonderful. I feel for you about the bed, but you sound like myself about trying to make it work and find a way to do, by hook or crook.
Good luck and I'll be adding you to my fav's.

Glenda

[Anary]

You are a very brave woman...don't give up on the dream bed...You will make this bed last for many years to come...and many little boys and gals will thank you for that!
Good luck on your new articles!

[Anary]

You are a very brave woman...don't give up on the dream bed...You will make this bed last for many years to come...and many little boys and gals will thank you for that!
Good luck on your new articles!

[carol Eldridge]

fun bed-vintage delight!

I am sure you will find some use for it..maybe use it in your studio and hang all your aprons and bags on the headboard as a display.

I am a designer as well...I paint and create products for manufacturers and license my artwork. Please stop by and say hello sometime!

best,
carol eldridge

[Sarah Moyar]

i would totally do the same thing...not only because i love the bed but because of the guilt. what is up with guilt complexes? i think...where there's a will there's a way! i'm hopeful for the finished project picture. :)