We have half a dozen of these large spools.
We use this one for a garden worktable.
We have a couple of them down in the meadow bottom to set things on we need down there and another one out by the duck pond. Spools make great outdoor tables.
We use three of them–one large, one medium, and one small–in the goat yard as playground equipment. (A tip that was passed on to me–if you’re using spools for goats, cover up the holes on the top to prevent possible injury. They might catch their hoof in a hole.)
The medium spools also make a good height for chairs at a large spool table, and are handy as little side tables on the porch.
On the side of the house where the chicken yard is located, we have a firepit. We have one of the large spools out there.
I got a hankering to pretty it up this weekend. I like things to be cute. I’m not much of an artist, though, so I got out my usual source of inspiration. My nail art books. I have several nail art books that are handy when I can’t think how to paint something simple like a flower. I have no sense when it comes to painting. If I wanted to paint a straight line, I’d probably get out a nail art book to show me how.
I chose a sunflower design because this spool already had a green background. (Sometimes they come with green tops. I have no idea why.) This area is a nice place to sit and watch the chickens in the pen and the animals in the goat yard. The kids roast marshmallows in the firepit sometimes, and in the winter, it’s a nice place to hang around outdoors and enjoy the view by the heat of a fire. (We have plenty of free wood.) I can fit six of the medium-size spools around the large spool table for chairs.
What’s-his-face likes to watch me. See him?
He watched me the entire time I was painting the table yesterday.
The other animals came and went along the fenceline. But not Mean Rooster. He glued himself to the spot and stared. He’s obsessed with me! He’s creepy.
I feigned boldness. Stay back, Mean Rooster. Don’t make me hurt you.
Meanwhile, I kept my broom with me and had my escape route planned out in case he decided to come after me.
Then I got to painting. I brushed off the top of the table really well with the broom then made an outline of the flower petals (with paint).
I used a small brush to fill in the petals because it was from my craft supplies and I was too lazy to look for something bigger.
The green paint was very weathered, which is a look I like, and I didn’t want a really full coverage with what I was painting, so I painted pretty lightly.
I wanted the end result to look as if the paint I had used to make the flower had been there as long as the green background paint.
Guess who was still watching me?
I used a light yellow for the main petals and an orange-gold for the smaller ones. I painted the center of the flower a dark red.
And now we have a pretty outdoor table by the firepit–which cost NOTHING.
Other than some small risk to my life and limb, of course.
Because you KNOW he watched me the ENTIRE TIME.
P.S. Want spool tables? Look up electrical suppliers in your local phonebook. Call ’em up and see if they have spools to give away. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won’t, good luck!
Jenny says:
Mean Rooster is so pretty!
On July 13, 2009 at 3:13 am
Vonnie says:
I think you’ve got Mean Rooster all wrong. Those look like Lurvin’ Eyes and I think he just wants to be close to you. đź
On July 13, 2009 at 4:03 am
CindyP says:
Look at you, all creative! See, you just think you aren’t! Spools are great! And they go great in the country “motif” :purpleflower: Maybe I need to find some nail art books, I cannot paint a flower, would really love to :yes:
On July 13, 2009 at 4:57 am
Lynda Dunham-Watkins says:
Would never have thought of using a nail art book for designs! What a good idea and a neat looking table now.
On July 13, 2009 at 5:07 am
Diane says:
Mean Rooster must like you and can not control himself when he is around you. lol.
I like your table. You can put one of those big table unbrellas right in the midde hole to give you some shade.
We have a fire pit also. Or more like a big old tractor rim that we use as a pit. lol. Great for when a bunch of teens need a place to hang out for a few hours on a nice evening at the last moment. Which became a birthday party for my dd. That was the cheepest party I even threw. 14.00 is all I spent. Smores and hotdogs and pop is all they wanted. lol. And my dd was just happy to have friends here. No gift was required. lol. They all agreed that was just great. lol.
On July 13, 2009 at 5:36 am
Sandy says:
Folk art at its best. :sun:
On July 13, 2009 at 5:42 am
Jan Morrison says:
Love your table! So satisfying in every way.
Now about mean rooster – my mean rooster was dispatched last night. My sweet patootie did it and it was tough because he liked John Wayne. He was the only one who did and the only one JW didn’t try and attack. I still feel terrible but not as terrible as I would’ve felt had one of my grandchildren or neighbor kids been attacked by the bustard ( a bustard is a bird I believe!)… now we have mean rooster in our fridge but I’m a vegetarian and no way Sweet Patootie is going to eat him. This is one complicated simple life no?
On July 13, 2009 at 6:28 am
Angie says:
Great idea with the table – You did a great job painting it!
That Mean Rooster is a little scary – LOL He does seem to have a thing for you – LOL
On July 13, 2009 at 6:45 am
Jenni in KS says:
I’ve been wanting a spool table and some chairs for outdoors, but I didn’t know how to find the spools. Thanks for the tip!
I’ve been wondering, too, why you keep goats. I know it isn’t just for eating cookies. Do you raise meat goats or milk goats or worthless buckers like our lone pygmy?
On July 13, 2009 at 7:19 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Clover and Nutmeg are Nigerian Dwarf goats–they are milk goats. I milked Clover last year–you can see a bunch of my milking posts from last year by clicking on the Barn page on the menu bar at the top and going to the goats page!
On July 13, 2009 at 7:27 am
Kacey says:
That is just so darling. And clever!! :yes:
On July 13, 2009 at 7:31 am
Nancy in Atlanta says:
Your table is delightful…I’ve never seen them used with smaller spools for chairs. What a great idea. As for Mean Rooster, I believe he thinks you are his toy to bat around and he doesn’t want you enjoying something without him!
On July 13, 2009 at 8:03 am
Christine says:
I love it! I used to have one back in college that I used as a coffee table. I wish I still had it.
I’m telling you, he’s a stalker. You might want to consider a restraining order.
On July 13, 2009 at 8:42 am
Bev says:
I love that table idea as much as Mean Rooster loves you. I mean seriously…he is obsessed with you. Give him another chance.
On July 13, 2009 at 8:44 am
Wheezay says:
I love that Ninja smiley ! Mean Rooster stories are always funny (to me,sorry)
On July 13, 2009 at 9:15 am
Ms E says:
Mean Rooster is quite entertaining, in a dark sort of way…but please be careful around him.
On July 13, 2009 at 9:32 am
Sheryl (Runningtrails) says:
Too cute! You did a great job!
On July 13, 2009 at 11:45 am
B. Ruth says:
Alright âWhatâs his faceâ, âMean Roosterâ, a.k.a. âcock- of-the-walkâ, listen up,
I know where youâre coming from, even though, I saw in photo seven that your head was ever so slightly tilted so you could hear her whisper that we needed to talk! You donât pay attention!
Your incessant gawking could possibly be your downfall!âŠ.Yes, I know you love art and the low vantage point was driving you crazyâŠbut just hop up on the hen house for a better viewâŠ! You know and I know you have an intimidating way about you, remember the chase around Grandmaâs barn! You incarnate buzzardâŠwe discussed this long agoâŠ
PSâŠ..otherwise you could possibly end up a taxidermist dream âŠâa sculptured weather vaneâ !
PS⊠I hear you! âŠIâd âcluckleâ (laugh) about going round and round if I were youâŠ..I still hear you!
On July 13, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Michele says:
Cool, should you put a protective coat of something on it maybe? I thought you did a good job painting it.
On July 13, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Estella says:
Your table has so much cuteness, Suzanne!
On July 13, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Amber says:
That turned out so cute! Is that Coco on the porch with a new haircut?
On July 13, 2009 at 3:15 pm
miss becky says:
yeah. no doubt about it. mean rooster is attached to you and expresses his love with a bit of aggressiveness. aren’t you the lucky one? :heart:
On July 13, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Deborah R says:
That’s not meanness in Mean Rooster’s eye – it’s longing.
He wants you to pet him and give him cookies, like you do for the other animals.
On July 13, 2009 at 9:16 pm
The Retired One says:
Wow…it sure was cute!
You hardly have time to breathe, taking care of all of those animals, and making delicious recipes…and now you are painting spool tables!!
Good Lord woman, when do you sleep?????
:-}
On July 14, 2009 at 5:12 pm
brenda harmon says:
Hello,
Just wanted to say I love your site, I find myself visiting everyday. I have to say what a great idea about the spool table. My husband and I own an electrical wholesale shop, so we have tons of wire reels. I asked him about why one end would be green and he said the only green ones he’s seen is because the wire was designated for the military or a power company, the ends are then painted green. Thanks for such a great idea.
On July 18, 2009 at 3:59 pm