8.03.2011

The Delicious Card Catalog - Before & After

These just do not come around enough. They are very difficult to find which is amazing because think of all of the libraries in all those cities who no longer use these wonderful cabinets. There must be a card catalog grave yard somewhere but I have yet to find it. But we would love to get our hands on a few more of these babies.This particular one has been painted in a creamy white with a hint of a green hue. It makes for a beautiful dirty white.
We refinished this piece for a good friend who has an amazing studio in her home. She is a professional scrapbooker and also an amazing home maker. I know that this piece will be loved and well used!

Last night just before the sun went down I heard the sound of rain and then the sound of wind. Next came the beating of hail and I ran to the window to see the beginnings of a huge summer storm. It came quickly as only a few hours before I was following our little one around on her bike with the summer sun feeling very hot. And then what seemed like an instant the clouds rolled in and the house got dark and then the rains came. Tears from heaven I think. I will be attending a viewing tonight for a friend's fifteen year old son who lost his life Saturday evening. My heart aches for all involved. My thoughts have been of their family these past few days and just cannot imagine how they are coping. Perhaps with friends sharing in their grief it lifts their burdens a bit. One can only hope.


47 comments:

Be Colorful Coastal said...

All those drawers? Now that took some time but it was well worth it. Now I want one too. :)
Pam

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your friend's son passing away. My heart breaks for them.
I know you were glad to get the rain storm. It's so hot and dry here.
Now, that library cabinet looks wonderful. I wish I had one!
Looks beautiful in white, too.
be a sweetie
Shelia ;)

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

Love those card catalogs! This one is lovely. My sympathies on the loss of your friend's son.

Carole said...

I have been wanting to paint my printers cabinet. When I showed everyone they thought I should keep it as is. I may have to go against popular opinion after seeing yours....I mean you friends.

Sorry about your friend losing their child....so young.

x
Carole

AllisonK said...

This is so HAPPY!!!! Thank you!!! I love just looking at it.

michelle said...

This is gorgeous and definitely a great piece for a scrapbooker.
I am so sorry about your friends loss, I can't even imagine and I hope they do find some comfort among friends.
xo

Allison said...

It looks beautiful in the white. It's perfect for a scrapbooker or I was thinking as I was reading maybe even a seamstress, to keep all of her threads organized. I am so sorry about the loss of your friend's son.

The Painted Parlor said...

Where did you manage to find one of these?! Love it!!! So sad to hear of your friend's loss. I can't even imagine how hard it would be to lose a child, something I hope to never endure. My heart goes out.

Julie

Beverly@southernhomesweethome said...

Saw you on a friend of a friends blog. That is a great piece. I would love to get my hands on one also. What a sad thing for your friend to lose her child. I think that is one of life's worse tragedies to endure. I will pary for her and her family!

Lisa said...

I have loved card catalogs since the 5th grade when I had a leg injury and Mrs Brumbaugh sent me to the library to help during gym. All those drawers and the dewey decimal system makes my heart beat a little faster. Please I know it may be when I am old but if you come across one again.. "I need it!!" Really!!It's speaks to my little organized heart and my love of all things library (even those metal book ends!!
Today I paused and texted my own children and told them I loved them. Also asked God to comfort your friend.

Inspired by you said...

Love your catalog! I wish I could find one!

Sommer said...

Ahhhh I was squirming before I even opened the blog post! It's beautiful! I so want one of these, so so so bad. more than air! Okay maybe not that bad. You get the point. I LOVE IT! I hope you will come share this at my VIP party today. http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/08/vip-party-22.html

Liz Ekstrom said...

Beautiful! I have been looking for a card catalog everywhere!

WhyCuzICan said...

I've been thinking the same thing-- since card catalogs aren't "the thing" any more, then there must be a graveyard someplace I don't know about!"

Nice job!

Visiting from Miss Mustard Seed's Linky Party tonight,

~Suzanne in IL

Lori said...

I stay on the lookout for these! My mother in law has one in her craft room and mentioned getting rid of it a few weeks ago! I told her not to dare! I wanted it. But I think she has since decided to keep it. Boo!!!
Yours looks great all painted out!

Anonymous said...

what a treasure! This one is absolutely lovely and I am sure it will look marvelous in your friend's home. Great job. Sending my condolences---

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

So sorry to hear about your friend's son. I'm sure you were a comfort to her.
I absolutely love your card catalog. I taught school for 31 years. I've always likes pieces of furniture with cubbies in them. I have always loved card catalogs and I wonder where they all are, too. When I see one, I'm going to snap it up and redo it just like yours!

Kate said...

I've been keeping my eye out for a card catalog forever! This looks great! love it!

Suzy www.savedbysuzy.blogspot.com said...

That turned out great! I would love to redo a card catalog someday. I would love to have you link this to my party on Thursdays.

Laurel@ChippingwithCharm said...

Such a great piece! Laurel@chippingwithcharm

andrea@townandprairie said...

You're right, they are extremely hard to find. BUT they ARE a treasure, especially this one. It looks incredible. Love the white finish on that. I would so buy it for my office. Regards, your newest follower- Andrea @ townandprairie Hope you will stop by!

Gail said...

Sorry about the passing of your friend's son.

Anonymous said...

What a fun piece of furniture to refinish! That turned out so nice! I can think of lots of things I would use it for!

Dana from Our Life's Legacy said...

Jealous! Wish I could get my hands on one of these beauties...

Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} said...

This is an absolutely stunning piece!! If I tell you I'm a scrapbooker (which I actually am) will you find one and give it a makeover for me, too? Pretty please! Love this!! :)

Julie said...

Ohhhh! I love this! So unique!

Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. said...

I love little cubbies! This is awesome!!!

Brooke said...

Oooo I've been wanting one of these! I love it in white!

www.inside-outdesign.blogspot.com

Erin said...

If you find that card catalog graveyard, let me know. I'd totally let one in my house. :)

What a tough thing for your friend's family. I'll be praying for peace for them.

BeingBrook said...

That is so sad about your friends son. So sorry.

Love the card catalog. I have been on the hunt for one to keep sewing stuff in.

WhyCuzICan said...

Caught ya again!! Another linky party and another visit from me, just 'cuz! Still loving it.

First from MMS party and nowwww from ShabbyNest linky party

~Suzanne

Becca Ross said...

Oh, how I'd love one of these! Beautiful job! I'd love it if you'd link this up to my Home and Family Friday linky party!

Becca
becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com

Casa De Luna said...

I would love to have a card catalog in my house. I can imagine all of the goodies I would hide in these drawers. Your transformation looks great!

Laura said...

Prayers for your friend. You write so poetically about the grief that I know you are a good friend, even if shared grief doesn't lessen it.

I dream of a card catalog like this. I've begged my librarian friends for one. I'm even going to library school to hunt down this mysterious card catalog graveyard. They are really quite amazing, but I haven't been able to convince my husband yet.

Anonymous said...

I am drooling over this!

Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia said...

I love this all painted and pretty!!!!
my prayers are with your friends family and you!
Hang in there!
XO

Mikey Fuller said...

Great project! I've come across these quite a bit in my dealings with antiques....I've always passed them up becaue I have nowhere to put one!

~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage
www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com

See my kitchen in Romantic Homes September 2011!

Lisa said...

It's gorgeous! You're so lucky to even have one! It's such a unique conversation piece!

Anonymous said...

I love card catalogs, you are so lucky to have found one- Come and share this with WorkShop Wednesday. I would love to feature it next week!

Shirley said...

It is stunning!

jandjhome said...

What a lucky friend you have. It's beautiful. I love the white and I can imagine how long this took.

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Even small card catalogs are hard to come by and when I do see them, they are outrageously expensive. This a real beauty. I'm sorry for the loss of such a young life. I pray you and others will find ways to comfort this grieving family.

DearHelenHartman said...

The library card file is gorgeous. Your story about your friend's great loss touched my heart.

Anonymous said...

I love this! I wish I could find one!! =)

TimeForLemonade said...

Oh, how I long to own a card catalog dresser! Love it.

Mariel@ www.sexymodeststyle.com said...

turned out stunning! lovely! i love dressers like this!



come share this over at woot woot wednesday!

www.thetootsiewootsie.com

Jane said...

That turned out beautiful. I found a smaller one a couple of weeks ago. It's in pretty bad shape....hoping I can make it look as gorgeous as yours!
Jane

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