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The Gold Torrone TV Table
I am thrilled by this month's Making It project: I’ve always been the kind of person who loves hand-me-down furniture. I get a way bigger thrill when my Nonna calls and says, "I'm getting rid of the palm tree ottoman, do you want it?" than shopping at Pier 1. In my youth, my furniture choices were mostly guided by my lack of Benjamin Franklins; not that I ever minded. Getting my great grandfather's Pierino's office chairs was the thrill of '93 for me. I adored them, with their sloping chrome lines and deco bar cloth cushions. In the Bushwick Brooklyn apartment that my sister Tara and I shared, these chairs held court. We would sit in them nightly sucking on jolly ranchers and drinking cherry coke from the mini mart next door. Over the years, we filled that apartment with more hand-me-downs: a neighbor's 50's floral print sofa bed, a chrome kitchen table from a cousin, and even our childhood twin beds. Nothing matched and everything was in need of a little tightening, painting or gluing. I thought it was divine though — a virtual museum of our past. In fact, the only non-native sham-tiques in sight were two wooden Ikea tray tables, though in time they would come to look more authentic vintage than any other piece in the house. In fact, it is those two Ikea tray tables that inspired this month's Making It project. When the tables had traveled far enough down the path of destruction, I decided to give them a make over. I sanded, painted and jazzed those babies up with a Vegas inspired decoupage-esque technique. The project was such a success, now I have even more themed tables, including a horse table, a south western table and after today I will have a Torrone table! Torrone is my favorite treat. Made in Italy, you can only find Torrone at Italian specialty stores. Not only is this nougat candy DIVINE, it comes wrapped in packaging so beautiful you might think Da Vinci was behind it. Last week Helen and I were sitting in the yard watching the last of the grape leaves fall, sipping wine, and eating a box of Torrone. Helen remarked on how lovely the packaging was and that's when I had the idea for today's project. I am beyond excited as I anticipate being the first person on earth to make a Torrone table! By the end of this issue of Makin' It you'll learn how to re-make these tables in the style, color, and form of your fantasies! You can make tray tables, stools, chairs, or anything made of wood. I even re-make cigar boxes into designer storage boxes, great for giving as a gift. There are a few things, okay, maybe more than a few that you just can't shake from growing up Italian in New Jersey. Not that I want to shake any of them, trust me, I don't. But as I venture out in the world, I'm learning a thing or two from my non-I-ty friends. It turns out, for instance, that gold is not a primary color. People around the world recognize yellow, blue, and red as the source of our color scheme. I mention this because it's something you might want to take into consideration when gathering the supplies for this project. Where I come from, gold is THE primary color: mirrors are flecked with it; all hubcaps are made out of it; you wear it on every finger, around your neck, and hanging from your ears! Gold is my white. Whenever I’m faced with the choice of paint or fabric for drapes, bedspreads, or clothes, I go gold. But, this is your table and you should choose your own favorite materials and colors. Go find your gold! 
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