Getting Started with Lolo and Sonny
So, I found myself tinkering in the garage again the other weekend. Had this old wooden box, kind of beat up, reminded me of something my own grandpa, my lolo, used to have. Decided to fix it up. That became project ‘Lolo’.
Working on Lolo
First thing, I sanded the whole thing down. Took ages, you know, getting into all the corners. Used plain old sandpaper, nothing fancy. Then I got some wood stain, a classic dark oak color. Slapped that on.
- Sanding the old paint off.
- Applying the dark stain.
- Finding some old brass hinges to replace the rusty ones.
It looked okay, sturdy, reliable. Felt familiar, you know? Like things used to be made. Solid. That’s Lolo for you.
Then Came Sonny
But while I was working on Lolo, my kid – Sonny, well, that’s what I call him sometimes – he came around asking what I was doing. He’s all into bright colors and modern stuff. He wasn’t too impressed with Lolo’s dark look. Said it looked ‘boring’. Kids, right?
So, that got me thinking. Maybe I could try something different. Found another smaller, simpler box. Decided this one would be ‘Sonny’. Something brighter, maybe a bit experimental.
The Sonny Experiment
For Sonny, I didn’t want that heavy, old feel. I grabbed some spray paint this time. Much quicker than staining! Went for a bright blue. Risky, I thought, but why not?
Instead of old brass, I used some simple, clean-looking nickel hinges I picked up cheap. I even tried adding a little stencil pattern on the lid, just a simple star. It was definitely faster to put together.
- Quick sanding (didn’t need much).
- Spray painting it bright blue.
- Adding shiny new hinges.
- Trying out a stencil.
Honestly, spraying was messy. Got paint everywhere. And the stencil wasn’t perfect. But it was… fun. Different.
Lolo vs Sonny: The Verdict?
So now I have these two boxes. Lolo sits there looking all serious and dependable. It feels timeless. Sonny is loud, bright, definitely more eye-catching, maybe a bit rough around the edges where my stencil slipped.
Which one is ‘better’? Neither, really. They’re just different. Lolo is about restoration, patience, the old ways. Sonny is about trying something new, being quick, maybe a bit imperfect but cheerful. Sonny the kid actually preferred the blue one, no surprise there. Me? I kind of like having both. Shows you can appreciate the old and still have a go at the new stuff. Just depends on what you’re aiming for, I guess. That was my weekend with Lolo and Sonny.
