Flynn & Malone Blanket Chest

This isn't a post about the process and products used for painting an old pine box and turning it into a blanket chest - if you want the how-to details about paint, wax and wood pieces to make one yourself, you'll have to stop back next time.

Nope, this post is about something more........

Once upon a time in sunny Southern California there were two Irish lassies.

There were talks of going to Ireland someday.

A little something green was always wore on St. Patrick's Day.

And I think they were both plenty full of blarney.

Still are.

Then in the blink of an eye they had 11 kids between them, lived 2000 miles apart, and the only memory that comes to mind about shoes was a time after they hit 30 years old when a pair was thrown-up on after consuming far too much home made Long Island ice tea.

Má tá tú ag lorg cara gan locht, béidh tú gan cara go deo.

So to honor those once young girls I redid this old pine chest I picked up at a garage sale.

I don't remember how much it was, I think $7.00, not more than $10.00 and I saw potential, I just needed inspiration.

Last summer when we sent all my loosely termed *treasures* to the back shed to await their turn at a painted revival, I asked for that chest to be left out, proudly declaring "I'm gonna work on it".

Work on it I did - I sanded down the top and then slid it back in the garage for the winter.

The work might have taken me 9 months to get back too, but I birthed a blanket chest at the foot of my bed this week.

When everyone else looks at this painted chest, they see graphics and lettering.

Not me.

In those two names I see a story from the past that really only matters much to me.

I could write a book on that story, but again, there would probably only be two people interested in reading it, and there are far too many secrets that really should stay that way.

So why Irish shoes you ask?

The shoe part means nothing - there is no hidden meaning for Flynn & Malone.

I wanted to make it an Irish linen ad, but I also wanted to use this idea I had to attach shoes made out of wood, so presto - the linens turned into shoes.

Before and After

To my knowledge the Irish are not known for drinking Long Island ice tea, so I didn't include that.  Besides, a shoe ad for drinking and puking just didn't seem right for the foot of my bed.

And just what does the Irish saying at the bottom written in Gaelic say?

"If you're looking for a friend without a fault, you will be without a friend forever".

You can't know someone for 40 years and also not know their faults. 

I'm so happy I have one who loves me with all of mine.

 Paint and build details for the Flynn & Malone blanket chest {here}

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