What to do with a burlap sack? Reupholstery, of course!

Most of you know I have a booth in an antique store 

in a little country town, Greenwood, VA.

Greenwood Antiques and Uniques

 While I was there recently, 

I purchased this old peanut burlap sack..

 And last week, I purchased this chair off Craig's List...

 Great lines, just like my sofa...just ugly...

with a cream and gold finish and

yellow and gold striped chenille.

Can you say 60's?

 I ripped off all the edging, 

and proceeded to paint the wood trim in 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Louis Blue....

Here it is with the base coat.

After adding some more paint layers in Old White

and Paris Grey, and waxing, 

it was ready for upholstering.

 I covered the front and seat in one of my favorite fabrics 

that looks like grain sack.

(You can see the layered paint finish better in this photo.)

Instead of using traditional trim or piping, 

I just folded over and glued the fabric edges, 

and then nailed in these galvanized

roofing nails...

On the back, yep, I used the burlap sack,

 and edged in coordinating gimp.

 Layered with a pillow I made from another feed sack,

my chair is perfectly shabby! 

But...

I need somewhere to rest me tootsies...

 And right in my car was this cast off foot stool 

I had purchased at a Goodwill...

 It had some serious frame issues...

 So I got out the old Keg, Jr., 

screwed, reglued and clamped the frame.

I painted the base in ASCP Old Ochre, 

added some stencilled stars....

And used the other side of the burlap sack to

cover the top.

 

Love this set, 

and for now, it's home.

Wilma already has her eye on that nice scratchy burlap.

Geez...

Jewelry Cabinet Redo: From Pepto Bismol Pink to Old World Elegance

I'm always looking for "diamonds in the rough."

Case in point:

One ugly Pepto Bismol P I N K jewelry cabinet,

picked up from one of my favorite consignment stores,

Consignment Connection, in Lakeside.

 It had a splotchy spray painted finish.

All the interior drawers and sides were in excellent condition with green felt.

 I base coated the cabinet in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite.

 Then I used Old White and dry brushed all the trims and detail.

 Next, I added Chateau grey on the drawer fronts, 

and distress sanded to "find" little hints of the pink.

 Here it is all waxed and finished.

 Look at all the awesome details and texture.

Another piece rescued from UGLY!

Already sold..

"That's the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it!"

Making a Wall Coat rack from a headboard

I'm currently working on sprucing up a client's front foyer.

One of the things I suggested was to remove the hooks

from this mirrored window, and create a coat rack

behind the front door.

So on my mission to find one,

 I spied this twin headboard at a thrift store.

It has wonderful scrolly details at the top...

Are you seeing my vision??

After impatiently hammering off the legs, 

I had to essentially rebuild the piece.

Nothing a little wood glue and vices can't handle!

 Next, I plan where the shelf will go, 

and used my jigsaw to cut brackets to fit.

Next, I space out these hooks and mark holes.

 I painted everything in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in "Pure White."

I screwed in the hooks, 

and added some molding to the bottom edge..

and some decorative rope molding to the shelf front.

I used this metallic craft paint...

to paint over the screw heads.

 Next I used ASCP in Cream to highlight all the details, 

and then waxed in clear and dark waxes.

See how scrumptious it's looking??

Here it is waiting for it's new home...

It will be going on Frances' foyer wall next week!

I love making one-of-a-kind pieces like this for my clients!

It makes my heart sing!

Peacock Dinner Napkins for Art

When I was in art school 

back in pioneer days, 

I had a class where we addressed the question:

"Is it art?"

When I saw these napkins recently at Homegoods,

I thought, "Yep, these are definitely art."

 Hard to see because of the cellophane reflection, 

but it's a black and white image of a peacock 

on natural background with script..

I cut down a piece to a size I needed...

 Got out the colored pencils and added a little touch of color

here and there...

 Framed in a thrift store frame painted black and added a ribbon hanger.

Beautimous!

Definitely art!

Wonder where else peacocks will be appearing?

Idea for Upholstery: Vinyl Shopping Bags!

Here's an idea I wanted to share:

You know those little 99 cent shopping bags 

you see at TJ Maxx/Marshalls, etc?

They are thin vinyl?

Use them for upholstery or art!

Here's one I purchased recently. 

Very frenchy with the bee, etc.:

I had this bistro set that had been damaged by weather....

 One side of the bag was just big enough to cover the seats!

Two seat covers for 99 cents! Not bad!!

I removed the seats, covered in batting, 

and then upholstered with the bag side.

 

Here are the seats finished....

Next, I covered the tabletop in red vinyl I purchased at uFab on sale for $11.99/yard.

I added oversized nail heads along the outside edge.  

 I also covered the backs of the chairs in the vinyl as well.

Here is the set for sale in my booth.

All weatherproofed now for a covered porch, etc.

I used another bag to line the inside of this little wall shelf I painted.

These items are for sale in my booth at Greenwood Antiques and Uniques.

Bistro set: $185

Shelf: $45

Shopping bags. 

Who would have thunk?