Quick Custom Door Mat Project

Here’s a really simple way to create exactly the look you’re after at your doors - inside or out.  I made mine using cute Paris-themed burlap I got at a fabric store a few years ago but any sturdy material will work.

Materials:

Flat rubber door mat.  You can get the size you like or you can cut down a larger one.  I decided to cut the corners of mine diagonally for a bit more individuality.  (I got mine at the dollar store)

Burlap or upholstery-weight or canvas material, measuring at least 6 inches wider and longer than your mat.

Tape - I used Tuck Tape (no affiliation)

Scissors

Polyurethane spray or liquid

Foam brush if using polyurethane liquid

Yup, that and 15 minutes are all you need to create a stylish decorative mat.  It’s so easy, you could make one for every season.  It’s extremely long-wearing:  I made the original mat at least 4 years ago and have had it at my kitchen patio doors winter and summer ever since, with the afternoon sun beating down on it daily.  It’s only just worn at the edges this year, so was due for a recover.  Since I love the look of the burlap I’d used originally, I used more to recover it.  

Method:

Lay your material on your cutting surface, right side down.  Lay your mat on top of the material, and cut the material it so there is 3-4 inches of material around the mat on all sides.  You’ll be turning this under and securing it with the tape on the underside.  Re-center your mat on the material, again with right sides down.  

Here, I’m almost done recovering the mat.  There’s a turned-under edge and tape along the bottom, from my first mat project, which I decided to just leave in place.  I’ve taped down the diagonal corners and three of the four straight corners.  I’ve never had to replace the tape.

I started taping the sides down at the four corners, folding each edge down and creasing them first.   Tape down the four corners, pulling the material slightly at each corner so it lays smoothly on the front.  Fold over and pre crease each side, taping a side then its opposite side, to keep them smooth.  

Protect your mat by spraying or brushing with polyurethane and let it dry according to product instructions before using.  As you can see, the older burlap is slightly darker along the bottom of the picture because I brushed some polyurethane around the outside edge of the underside as well as the top.

What do you think?   We’d love to see your creations if you decide to make a lovely floor mat like this for your home, so send us pictures!

5 Easy Steps to Prepare your Home for Fall

It's officially Fall, though we were surprised by autumnal weather over the last couple of weeks. With the thermometer showing cooler temperatures, our thoughts move from beach style decor to one simple word - Cozy.

Just as we now pull on the warm socks we stowed away in the spring while slipping on sandals and tees for the past few months, it’s now time to put on your home’s warm socks and sweaters. Not quite so fast, though! Let’s do this in a simple, step by step way that guarantees you a stress-free seasonal transition, and less work, so you can do the fun fall things you and your family love.

Why is a step-by-step method needed? Because it’s not just a case of plunking your plastic containerful of turkey-themed whimsy on all your home’s surfaces. You want calm, not crowded. Let’s start:

#1 Editing. It’s always about editing. In each room, gather up the lovely summery accessories you’ve been enjoying while it’s been hot. Give them a clean - perhaps just a wipe with a damp cloth then a buff, wrap them up and put them all in one place. You’ll gather everything up after your fall container is empty, wipe it out if needed, then store away summer for another year.

#2 Cleaning. I’m not endearing myself to you, am I? I know, but over the summer, with the patio doors opening and shutting almost constantly, spiders and their friends may have made themselves comfortable inside, and it’s incredible how much of the outside ends up inside. 

Dust top to bottom in each room, evaluate if surfaces need more interventions by jotting down notes on each room (chipped paint on the windowsill, clean the far wall where there are liquid spill marks etc.), clean soft surfaces - with an old cat, slip overs are a lifesaver - and finish by deep cleaning your floor.

#3 Editing. Wait - I already said that. True, but after moving all the nick knacks off the tables and shelves to clean, look at them all again to see if they might work better in another spot, another room, or another house. Have an Out the Door box along with a Possibly Out the Door box. Divide the first into Donate and Trash, and the second can be stored for a season if you’re just not sure yet.

#4 Inspiration. I don’t normally see this on similar lists, but one of my favourite things to do, is to flip through magazines, Pinterest, IG and store displays (this year

online) to see what looks are fresh for the season. I might pick a colour that keeps coming up or a theme I like as a starting point. I’ll then look at what I have and what I can easily add to make things feel fun for Fall.

#5. Decorating. Finally! I challenge you to put out only your absolutely favourite items, and consider if they might look great in a new location, in a new way. Did you see any design trends that might have you grouping your faves in a space you’d not thought of? Try it! Maybe move a couple of pieces of furniture around while you’re at it. Start with bases - piles of books, tables, shelves, mantles, and work your way up. 

The last step is truly the coziest part - bringing out your throws and lap quilts (you DO have lap quilts, don’t you? This quilter has enough to keep everyone toasty). Drape them behind cushions on your couch, over the backs of chairs, rolled up in wicker baskets, pulled from your cedar chest, and settle in with a cup of something warm and delicious to reward yourself for your work and creativity.

 I am loving having a booth at the Hamilton Antique Mall. Every day, I wonder how many people pass by. I would love to know what is going through each person's mind when they wander through and see our products for sale. Do they see where they could put the offerings in their own homes? I know when I see things I love, I ask myself, "where does this belong in my life"? 

I am always thinking about the next stage in my life and where I want to be and what I want to have in my home, garden and community. For my husband and I, our next move is related to our retirement. I see my new home with mostly repurposed and handmade furniture. We'll be living in a VERY rural area, so I'll want to up-cycle as much as possible. I see things like what are in our booth to put in our home to enjoy for many, many years to come. Here is one example of things I love. The hutch on the bottom is a perfect coffee bar station that I can put pretty much anywhere - a guest room, a games room or an office. The small end table can go in the living room, a bedroom or basement TV room. We really strive to ensure our products can serve multiple purposes in a home. 

I can see everything here in more than one room our a home. How about you?

Such Exciting Times for Champagne Shabby!

We may have been quiet as mice, but we've never stopped playing with our paints.  In fact, we decided at the beginning of the month to take a booth at the Hamilton Antique Mall!  We're so happy to be able to share our goodies with you in one place, so be sure to visit us on the Lower Level, Booth 01C.  

We're just thrilled with the response, and have been back to restock a few times now with pretty pieces we're really proud of.  We want to bring to you beautiful handcrafted and repurposed home decor items to enhance your home.  Let us know what you’re looking for so we can be sure to keep our eyes out.

Donna and Veronica

Inspiration - That Perfect Piece

We're always on the lookout for things to beautify the home. We never know where we're going to find something wonderful.

Take these two beauties for example. Donna scored them on a recent weekend pick, and they're so lovely - Victoria Magazine lovely, I think. Chintzware is a beautiful type of China which is often featured in Victoria Magazine. I won't bore you with my research here, but here's a link to a good article on this decorative tableware. The wineholder was a must have (it's definitely our kind of wineholder, able to hold 4 bottles of wine!) We'll be putting these two on the etsy shop, along with other great finds I'll write about in the next while.

The comforts of Home

Now that the clocks have been turned back and the Hallowe'en decorations stored away, we start thinking of how to make our homes cozier. (Time to put away the macabre candelabras. DIY tip: They came from Homesense and were ivory with a dusting of silver. I just spray painted them black to fit my Hallowe'en décor.) Even if we've programmed our house to be the same temperature summer and winter, we feel a stronger need to nestle as the days get darker and colder. 

You don't need to redo your home with the seasons, carting the "summer accessories" to a dedicated storage room, though I've seen it done. Instead, have a storage bin that holds a few things that come out as seasons change. Pillows can get different covers that evoke light and cool in the summer and richness and warmth in the winter. Blankets and quilts store away well until they're needed, perhaps just layered on a spare bed. Garden themed displays give way to pumpkins and golden hues. 

The most important accessories are those that hold meaning. Look for vintage frames for pictures of loved ones, pick up a special memento of each trip you take, remember a day in the country with a display that will remind you of the fun you had. Move just a few things around to new spots in your home. It's easy to look past something if you see it every day.