Last updated June 24, 2018
Hi, I’m Gail Wilson from My Repurposed Life
Gail Wilson My Repurposed Life
As I say in my profile I am a mom, grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin and friend to many. I am in the process of repurposing my life, after many life changing incidents. I love to look for trash to turn into treasures! It is what makes me happy, and keeps me busy. I was a pre-kindergarten teacher for 19 years. The only reason I am no longer teaching is because the school closed. I am now a full time DIY Blogger.
My regular readers know I have one daughter, Jamie. She is my best friend. Jamie moved to Nashville after she graduated from Depauw University. I miss her terribly, but Nashville is the best place for her. It’s less than three hours from Louisville, so we make do.
I also have a great niece and nephew who are like my own children.
This is the three of them a few years ago at Christmas. Bubba, Missy and Jamie.
This is Jamie and her husband Andy.
4.30.11
jamie and gail Christmas 2011
Andy, Jamie, Gail Christmas 2013
Mops and Eli June 22, 2018
Aunt Gail and Shelby
The furbabies. That would be Kitty on the left, Louie in the middle and Matt on the right. Louie is the grand-dog.
My fish—who have been very busy producing offspring! These four fish have blessed me with about 10 babies.
Here are four of the babies, many of them are still brown and difficult to see.As you probably know, I live in Louisville, KY. I’ve lived here all my life, and have lived in the same house for the last 41 years.
This is my house. Ignore the huge bushes please. I was finally able to get them all removed! The fish pond is right beyond the jockey, and tipsy pots.
I love that this is home. It’s my home. It’s not the best, nor the worst home, but it’s home to me!
Updated!!
I spent 8 months building and painting a new DIY Picket Fence Finished in the spring of 2016
It’s hard to say which room is my favorite. I suppose I would have to say the living room, because that is where I gather with the kids! I did a makeover on my living room and that included a fireplace makeover in early 2010.
Recently there were lots of posts about “where I blog”. I didn’t join in because it wasn’t worth doing an entire post about my little corner of the couch.
My favorite thing to do DIY wise is to repurpose every day items that are headed for the garbage/landfill.
I also like making benches out of headboards.
Something you may not know about me is I used to DIY when Jamie was small. However, being a wife, mom and teacher, made my DIY take a hiatus.
I made a Cookie Monster bean bag toss. I ended up using this in my class until the very end.
Why I love to blog:
While surfing the internet for inspiration on some of my finds I ran across blogland. It really is a wonderful place. There are blogs on any and every subject you can imagine. In July 2009 I started writing this blog. It became a journal of all of my re-claimed, re-purposed treasures.
Blogging has become a huge part of my life. I am not sure whether I work on projects so that I can blog, or if I blog so I can work on my many projects. It’s not a huge blog, with tons of followers, but it is MY blog. My life now has a purpose. I don’t expect to blog for the rest of my life, but it has certainly helped me get through a very difficult time in my life. My readers are very supportive, although I don’t know them personally, I feel an attachment toward them. People who write blogs, or follow blogs will understand the kinship you feel toward these people who are total strangers. I have prayed for them, cried for their loss of loved ones, celebrated graduations, weddings, and births. That is why I blog.
You can check out an interview at ML Gardner Blog
So, there you have it, probably more information than you needed to know. But, if you still have “inquiring minds” feel free to ask me anything in a comment below.
I’m not sure where you and your crazy impressive website have been my whole life, but I’m OBSESSED! I had the great fortune to discover your site when Dr. Danielle Jones, AKA: Mama Doctor Jones linked it on a DIY project she was inspired recreate. This comment has 2 purposes… 1) You’re amazing! 2) I was wondering if you knew of any person(s) or companies that are in the Northern Virginia area (between DC and Richmond ) that does the same kind of repurposing/upcycling that you do? I’ve done all the regular Google sesrches, but I’ve often found asking professionals for referrals gives much better outcomes. I hope that made sense… 😂
Wow! So happy you found me! Thanks so much for the nicest comment.
Sorry to say, I can’t be of any help hooking you up with anyone in your area. If you have any questions, just google your project with the phrase My Repurposed Life. Chances are, I have done SOMETHING that would help you be inspired by your NEXT project. I’ve been doing this 11 years, and still love it just as much. However, I’m on light duty now while I work on healing a wrist injury. So, I’ve been enjoying my other favorite past-time, camping!
I’m here if you have any questions!
gail
thanks for the reply, Gail. i guess that’s the Super Finish Max. unfortunately, it seems sold out pretty much across the board. i guess lots of people are doing projects right about now! i’ll keep looking and maybe i’ll get lucky. Thanks again!
I found it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3dcumJy (my affiliate link)
I think a LOT of people are DIY’ing it right now!
gail
hi! I’ve been following your blog for several years, and really enjoy the projects. I’ve definitely gotten some inspiration from you, and a growing collection of Ryobi One to show for it!
here’s my question – I’ve been thinking about buying a HR Finish Max sprayer for a while now, to use with furniture flipping. On top of that, i’m going to use some of this quarantine time to re-stain my large, 2-story deck.
i typically do that with a stain pad on the horizontals every few years, but haven’t refreshed the spindles in much longer. i’d like to try a sprayer this time, to cut down on time and aches. (I’d backbrush the horizontals to work the stain in). BUT – my stain is oil based, Should i just buy a cheaper airless or HVLP sprayer specifically for this project (and maybe the fence as well), rather than the Finish Max Pro? i’m wondering if i’d ever be able to clean the stain out well enough from the Pro to ever use it again for painting,
Thanks for your help, and for sharing your wisdom on-line!
Lynn
Thanks for reaching out and being a long time friend of MRL!
I would easily recommend the Finish Max Extra because of the wide variety of tip. It comes with two with more tips optional. There aren’t so many working parts to make it difficult to clean. I have a great post about cleaning oil based products. https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/finish-max-paint-spraying-101/
Honestly, I rarely use my finish max pro.
Homeright does have some great products for staining by hand, pads etc.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.
gail
I literallystumbled across your page through pinterest and the first page ended up on talked about the Glendale crossing festival. Which is crazy because I live here locally in etown! Iwill bsetting up at the festival this year myself!
Awesome Skylar! Good luck to you this year at Glendale! It’s such a really great show for me. Rain is my only enemy. I’ll take the heat, snow, cold, but not downpours of rain. 🙂
gail
Hi Tracy,
I just wanted to let you know that I featured you in a recent article named:
Top 100 Women Bloggers Into Power Tools
Here’s a link to the article:
https://toolscritic.com/top-women-bloggers-into-power-tools/
I’ve also made a special badge for you here:
https://toolscritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/POWER-TOOLS-badge-300×253.png
Feel free to download and use it anywhere you wish!
I hope your inclusion in the list drives some new readers to your blog and I look forward to staying connected!
Regards,
Vera
Thank you Vera! I’m honored that you included me in such an awesome list!
I have shared the post on Pinterest, and will share on my other social channels as well.
gail
I just started checking out your blog and in love with it. First let me say I cried over your pets and the one left behind. My daughters and I take care of ferrel cats about 15 and five house cats indoors. I feel your loss…
Women like you are an inspiration to me and wish I would have followed my dream of redoing stuff years ago before I got to old (56) your work is awesome and I will spend hours looking over what you have done. Keep up the good work!
Bonnie
Welcome to My Repurposed Life! Hey! I just turned 60 in March, so anything is possible. It’s never too late to get started. 🙂 I’m always here if you ever have any questions. You can leave a comment, shoot me an email, or press the purple QUESTIONS button.
gail
60 seems to be a good age for me as well. It sounds so ancient, but I’ve found that I am willing to let go of many anxieties of my past self and just BE. Our boys are almost 21 and 20 now… beginning lives on their own with college and work. They are both still at home, but it’s more like 4 adults living here instead of being Mom and Dad to the boys.
I’ve enjoyed your many projects Gail.. keep up the inspiring posts!
One last question in that you mention trying to work before the sun comes up in order to deal with the heat. Where do you live?
I’m in Southern California and manage a company fleet of vehicles in the desert and mountain areas so I try to do all my inspections and outside work in the morning as well. Nothing like climbing into a truck at 2pm when the temperature is hitting 106 degrees.
Thanks
Cindy,
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave such a nice comment! Hmmmm not sure when I said “before the sun comes up”. I’m generally a late morning starter. But I do work early in the morning as it gets hot and HUMID here in the Ohio valley (Louisville KY). We are suppose to enjoy a nice break in the humidity this weekend, and I look forward to catching up on some projects.
I hope you stay in touch, and enjoy my upcoming projects!
gail
Hi Gail:
You already know I love all your projects and wish I lived near you.
I want to thank you for the update on Lulu Mae . I had a pet that needed board certified docs and I know how hard this is for you. As long as she is not in a lot of pain, I think it is ok to wait. Did you know that you can give a fur baby a baby aspirin. It helps tremendously.
Anyway, I will keep her in my prayers to heal on her own.
Thank you so much Dee! I truly appreciate the good thoughts and prayers. She’s not in pain, and it’s getting less frequent. I’ll keep you posted.
take care!
gail
Hi Gail and a very Happy Birthday. I look forward to reading your blog for many years to come. Hope LuLu will not need surgery and that she heals fast.
Have a wonderful birthday weekend, and years filled with health and happiness.
You are one amazing women! would love to chat with you.
What a beautiful site! Glad I literally stumbled into it!
Your family, home, creativity is heartwarming!
I am always doing small craft projects with my three granddaughters …preteen ages and one teen.
Love all you recommendations and ideas…
I am a retired ESE teacher of over 32 years.
I live with 4 fur babies and love creating …
Karen,
I am so happy you stumbled upon my little corner of the big ole web! I’m here to help in anyway I can. I hope you find lots of projects to inspire you to “think outside the box”.
gail
I hope you can help me with a question. I have some unfinished cedar boards and I want to paint them white. What do you recommend using for a bonding paint?
hi, thanks for contacting me. The most important thing is to make sure any outdoor wood planks you paint are not wet with preservatives. I’ve not really used cedar, but I’m thinking that they aren’t generally treated wood.
I would use my diy chalky paint primer (mixed up with Plaster of Paris) as a primer, then use any white paint you choose. You can see they way I’ve used this paint here: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/category/chalk-paint/
good luck!
gail
Hi Gail,
So glad I found you through Pinterest (I’m pretty sure!). Love what you do. I’m a mixed media artist but just now delving into re-doing furniture. I have a question for you….I picked up an antique chair on the side of the road and it’s in really bad shape; figured I couldn’t make it any worse! It has beautifully ornate wooden trim (that’s what made me take it) above the upholstered back and below the upholstered seat, and of course the legs. The upholstery is badly mildewed, figure I’ll totally remove and replace with foam. The wood is also mildewed in many places but seems to be sound. I would paint the wood so I’m wondering if washing/scrubbing it with bleach water and letting it sunbathe will remove the mildew and odor. Have you got any experience with this or do you wisely walk away from something like this? Do you think I can make a go of this or should I put it out on my side of the road?!!
Thank you in advance for any advice you might have for me.
Be well,
Barbara
Barbara,
Did you see that smelly buffet I got out of a neighbor’s old shed? I’ve dragged some awful pieces home. You’re lucky that you can redo the upholstery. That’s not my thing.
I used Clorox spray cleaner on mine, but sure, bleach water should do the trick as well as the sunshine! I say go for it, what do you have to lose? 🙂
good luck, and keep me posted!
gail
Gail, I so enjoyed reading your story. My daughter, Sara is my best friend too (and I was my mom’s:)
Sara and I have been blogging partners just for fun for 2015 and we’ve decided to see if we can really make a go of it. We’re going to try to attend Haven this year and I see that you are on the mentor panel. I hope to get to meet you.
Pam,
I’m happy you stopped by My Repurposed Life! Yes, by all means find me at Haven. Please reference this comment because my brain is so jumbled. You are so fortunate to be working with your best friend, sometimes I think my daughter Jamie gets tired of hearing about MRL. 🙂
wishing you all the best!
gail
Hi, I loved your post about using the paint sprayer with ASCP! I’m getting ready to paint some dining chairs (going from medium brown to white) and will purchase the Home Right sprayer. You mentioned using a primer first. What type would you recommend? Thanks!
I use my own chalky paint primer on 90% of my projects.
https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/diy-chalky-paint-recipe-makes-a-great-primer/
HiGail,
Who won the recent Homeright sprayer and shelter in the givraway?
I have just discovered your blog by sheer accident… accidents are great!!! Thank syou thank you thank you, Not only are your repurposed furniture amazing… I was inspired to read about you and your family too. Such a warmth doesnt usually come across on the internet. So.. hello from spain.. and again, thank you. My new home is going to be a very creative place. 🙂 Lou
Lou,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me such a nice comment. I appreciate that you enjoyed reading about my little family. I often wonder if this page is ever visited by my new friends. I’m so happy you found My Repurposed Life!
Enjoy looking around, and if you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me via a comment, email or Facebook!
gail
I tried crediting you with my recent purchase of my Home Right Finish Max on FB, but not sure if it makes a difference so I deleted it. Anyway, I was excited to find a prodoct with so many good reviews, I just received it yesterday (thank you Amazon!) and am eager to get started. I have so much respect for you and all the projects you do! Thank you!
Charlotte,
If you clicked through My Repurposed Life, then I probably got credit for the purchase. 🙂
Enjoy, and if you have any questions, just let me know.
gail
Do you know of anyone who would have use for thousands of trimmed, cancelled postage stamps
for a project? Can’t find any collectors and hate to throw them away.
Please see the post I shared today. https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2015/03/recent-finds-nashville-birthday-edition.html
It’s a great non-profit store that would love to have those stamps to help adults with intellectual disabilities. I would think you would be able to deduct your donation and postage for tax purposes.
gail
If anyone would like lots of cancelled stamps for collecting and/or craft projects
please email me @ Lemaire33@aol.com
Thank you
Gail…am sorry to bother you with this question, but do you still send your blog post to those who have subscribed to receive them? I ask this as I have not received any of the (if you do send them out…) blog posts since the middle of May. I was just wondering. Thank you for your time. Just so you know, I really enjoy the projects that you do and post about. Many blessings!!
Karl Micheal
Gail,
I stumbled across your blog I think through Pinterest {something I am new at}. I also blog and totally get the kinship a blogger feels with her readers. I have been so blessed by bloggy friends through seasons of much difficulty. I consider my blog my own “therapy” at times.
I am just beginning to DIY, but wanted to introduce myself {there is nothing more silly then people who stop by regularly a blog and never say “hi” – how weird is that?}. I also to thank you for all the bazillion of fun projects you have taken the time to blog about.
I have an old {mahogany} bed that is solid and was partially damaged in the fire that destroyed our home. I have been unable to part with it because of the sentiment attached. This old bed was one of the few things that came out of the fire, so even more sentiment attached!! Now that I have seen all the beautiful benches you have made I am in awe and inspired!! I think this old bed would be amazing as a bench!! Anyway, thank you so much!!
One last question- wanna come help me with it? haha.
I will stop back by as I am unable {I have a sweet pile of treasures at home, several special needs and one medically fragile} so I can only visit occasionally} but looking forward to it when I am able.
Bless you my new bloggy friend,
Linny
I’m so glad I found your blog! I have been looking through your site and I love it! I am trying to start a little furniture repurposing business and my favorite thing to do is benches. However, I am finding it hard to figure out all the measurements and such. My husband helps when he can but works a full time job and the last thing he wants to do when he gets home is build a project. 🙂 I have found your page VERY informative and helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Donna,
I’m so happy you found My Repurposed Life. I hope that you have seen this page: https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/bench-projects
First, you need to remember that every bed is different. although I try to stay with the same seat height and depth, I have changed up the last 2 and I love them also. 🙂 When I say the “same” I don’t even know what that is. Each time I build one, I just grab a chair and measure it. I believe it’s around 18″ off the floor and about 20″ deep.
The benches can be quite addicting. I took some time off from them for about 1 1/2 years, then I made one, and now I can’t stop again. LOL
I’m always here if you need any help.
gail
Good Afternoon,
I am on a committee collecting silent auction donations for the 14th Annual Hillbilly Outfield Derby Bash. Last year our donations were able to grant 3 wishes to children through the Make-A-Wish foundation. This year our goal is 4 or more! I understand you must receive requests on a daily basis, and they can’t all be granted, but I thought I would at least ask. I would love to answer any additional questions for you or provide you with donation instructions and a tax id number for your charitable donation. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to ask and have a wonderful day!
Sincerely,
Christina Jones
I am interested in a die cut machine. I want to be able to down load images such as those from the Graphics Fairy. Can you guide me on which one would be the best……Silouette or Cricut Expressions 2?
Thank you in advance for your information,
Tracy