A Clock Transformation

he other week at Goodwill, I spied a clock in the glass case up front while standing in the checkout line. I asked the cashier if he could take it out for me. "You mean the one with the elephant on it?" the cashier asked me. I told him yes - that was the one. I had been looking to buy a clock for my studio and had even seen one or two at Hobby Lobby that I liked but held off buying. The cashier brought the clock out and handed it to me, assuring me that it was a really nice clock. It was. It was very heavy and I really liked its shape and oil rubbed bronze finish. But then there was the elephant.

I'm sure this elephant would look smashing in someone else's home, a home decorated with a safari or world travel theme. But for my studio, it just wouldn't work. I needed a clock with color, old-fashioned charm, and whimsy.

I wanted to make sure the clock would easily come apart before I bought it and I fiddled around with it a bit at the counter. I'm sure the cashier was wondering what in the world I was doing - dismantling the really nice clock he just handed me, so I asked him where he supposed the battery was hidden. We were both perplexed for a bit and then I finally figured where and how the battery was hidden. But I wanted to make sure that I could get to the clock face and though I wasn't going to try and take it all apart right there on the spot, I casually said to the cashier that I was interested in redoing the clock face and was just examining the clock to see how easy {or difficult} it would be.



He looked at me as if I were out of my mind.

"You mean you're getting rid of the elephant?", he said in a disgusted and disappointed tone.

I almost felt too ashamed to answer.

"Yes. It doesn't quite go with my decor. I need something a little more old fashioned or French looking." I was hoping to get at least an "Ah. I see." or "Well, have fun with that."

But I got nothing. Who knows what he was thinking and I was afraid to even look at him to read his face.

I fidgeted with the clock for a few more seconds and then said, "I'll take it." though what I really wanted to say was, "I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. You should really have the clock."

After a couple of days, however, there was no sign of the elephant to be found.



I was originally going to leave the oil-rubbed bronze finish, but I decided that the clock would be really pretty red and it would work well with my studio color theme. I sprayed it Colonial Red {it's an old Rustoleum American Accents shade that I can't find anymore - arghhh!}




I sanded the clock a bit, added some antiquing glaze, and of course, altered the face of the clock. I wanted to add numbers by using those neat rub on transfers, but I couldn't get them to stick to the old sheet music I used for the background. So I just used some little stickers for the quarter marks. I noticed after I took these photos that the top sticker is a little crooked - and now it's driving me batty. I'll have to fix that and maybe I'll also add some minute tick marks as well. {But maybe I won't. Does one really need to know the exact minute of the day while working in their studio?}



On a whim, I added some sparkle to the center of the clock with some of Martha Stewart's antique silver glitter. I also spray painted the hands brown but painted the circle on the second hand red to tie everything together.




I didn't realize it, but the square floral piece I put in the center turns when the hands move....





I really like this clock's curves...



Ooh, la la!



Another whimsical touch might be to add letters to a clock instead of numbers. Today I shall take a nap at quarter past "B".



I don't know if the Goodwill cashier would be happy with this transformation, but I'm pleased with how it turned out. And it still works despite my taking it apart!



Now, along with looking for gaudy art to turn into chalkboards, I'm going to be on the lookout for more clocks to transform! {But I won't tell anyone at Goodwill that...}

I'd love to hear some of the comments you've received while out thrifting. It's always an adventure, isn't it?!

While you're out visiting in our blogging neighborhood today, be sure to pay a visit to a talented blogger who just "moved in" around the corner. I knew her as "Paintlady" on the HGTV message boards when I frequented there in the past but you'll come to know her as Country Lady of At Home With a Country Lady.

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Blogged for these fun link events going on for Monday- Check them all out!: Make Your Monday {Week 3} at Twice Remembered, Second Time Around Tuesday at A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words,
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, and Today's Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality, and Kimba's DIY Thursday at A Soft Place to Land! Check them out for lots of wonderful inspirations!