Now that the warmer weather is here my mind is starting to think about summer decor.
I have been seeing lots of painted oars in the catalogs this season
image from Pottery Barn
Completely Coastal has a post on decorating with oars
During my treasure hunting I am always on the lookout for old wooden oars. Sometimes I luck out and discover them in wonderful condition - all they need is a good cleaning and they look great.
other times this is what I get
I do not let the condition discourage me.
Giving the oars a "make-over" is fun, creative and cheap.
Here are the steps in giving your old oars that are in poor condition a re-do
1. wipe them down and sand the rough edges ( I use one of those sanding sponge blocks )
2. if there are any large cracks you can fill them with wood filler
3. give the oar a quick coat of paint - I use what ever I have left over
4. have fun taping off the sections that you want to add stripes and paint using fun summer colors
4. you can add a number or a letter with a stencil if you want
5. when you are finished and the paint is dry - take your sand paper or sanding sponge and distress the oar
I like to really give the oars a good distressing to make them look like they have been sitting in a boat yard for years
this project is fast and fun
image from Coastal Living
Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend, Lori