Beautiful Bookends

 I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I was a busy girl over the holidays and I did a lot of painting. Here is another project I worked on. I picked these bookends at the Value Village close to my home (I love that place!) and turned them from dark brown (read boring) to shabby chic! Of course, I don't have a before photo. I am getting better though...I took a bunch of photos today of projects I haven't yet started.

I chalk painted these white and waxed them with clear followed by black wax all over, but especially in all of the nooks and crannies, to really make those details pop!

Aren't they awesome?

These have a really nice weight to them too! Here the are up close:

Wow, wow, wow!

They are available in our Champagne Shabby Etsy shop. I have a feeling they won't be there for long though!

I will definitely be on the look-out for more of these. It's the simple decor items, I think, that can really transform a space. I plan to do something with the books too. Stay tuned...

See you again soon. I'll be continuing to feature "the smalls". I am motivated to get these all done and then move on to some other larger pieces I have. I've got a bunch that are "in progress" so I'll be sharing those with you too. Take good care in the meantime!

Nested box makeover

Hi there! I hope you are having a fabulous Saturday. I wanted to share a little project with you today.

I upcycled these nested wooden boxes a while ago but have finally gotten around to posting them. I found these at my local thrift store where I get all kinds of treasures. These initially had a floral print on them and they were a dirty ivory colour (not to mention they were really grungy/dirty when I got them!).

I gave them a few coats of white chalk paint and and added an Iron Orchid Designs transfer. This tube has a lot of transfers so you really get your money's worth. I don't get any kind of compensation for saying that. I just really love the product.

I like these a lot. I'm tempted to keep them for myself and put them on my porch with some petty purple flowers for a nice pop of colour. Hmm. Nope - they are going in the Etsy shop.

I really need to learn to take better photos. These are nice and bright in real life. I guess it doesn't help that it has been gray outside for the last while.

I'd love to find a few more of these and try a different colour but I'm happy with them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Waterfall Dresser Revamp

 Hi everybody! It seems like ages since we posted last. Well, it has, really. It's been a pretty busy few months personally so it hasn't left much time for refinishing and upcycling projects but I have a beautiful little waterfall dresser to share with you.

As usual, I forgot to take a "before" photo (I really must start keeping a camera by me when I go in my painting room) but I'll tell you, it needed some much needed updating. I don't know about you, but I make a little "squeal" sound when I opened the drawers to find a bunch of interesting things in there! Nothing valuable, but there was a handwritten note thanking the previous owner for a gift, 3 gold Christmas baubles (which found there way on a garland spray I made for a friend) and some loose papers.

Here is the finished dresser. Let me back up a bit though. I started by sanding the whole dresser to take off the finish and bring it back to the bare wood. It was mostly in good shape and only needed a little bit of filler in a couple of spots.

The next step was to stain the whole piece. I used Minwax Chestnut Gel Stain and gave it two coats. It's a nice medium brown colour. This goes on so nicely and is a breeze to wipe off. 

I then applied the transfer. This is from Prima Re-Design and is called Precious Collection. I will admit that I messed it up a little and so part of it had to be removed. 

Fortunately, it was only a little and I don't think you can tell. It would have brought the transfer down a little but wouldn't have reached the bottom of the 3rd drawer anyway. I don't think it really matters.

I'll be selling this lovely dresser in our Etsy shop. If you are local, porch pick-up is available.

I've been busy painting over the holidays and will post a few items over the next couple of days.

Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year!  All the best to you and yours. 

Donna

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.

Something Beautiful Is About To Happen!

I was fortunate to win this dresser in an auction for a really great price. In the rush to get other items for our booth at the Hamilton Antique Mall, this beauty was put on the back burner. It was covered with a tarp on my front porch. I was finally able to work on this last weekend and did some final touch ups today. I sanded the whole piece down with 220 grit paper and painted it with my homemade chalk paint (I think it got 3 or 5 coats). I didn't give it an initial coat of BIN shellac primer because it wasn't a dark wood & I didn't think there would be any bleed-through. 

I'll retake the photos because the only place I could take them right now was in a bedroom right beside a window and they are not good at all! I was just so excited to show you all that I had to post it anyway! #hamiltonantiquemall

I used Minwax Gel Stain in Chestnut on the top and the front legs.

I used Prima ReDesign Hopeful Wishes to make this beautiful piece even more stunning.

 I gave the chalk painted areas a little sanding to slightly distress it. I added a coat of white wax on top of that and some polyurethane on the wood to seal it all.

It is available to purchase. Please send a message if you are interested in it. 

Thrifty Find

 Honestly, you never know what you will find at a thrift store on a given day. Since I have had a few months of "free time", I've been thrifting wherever I find myself. This little beauty came from Kitchener, ON when I was having a "girl's day" with a friend to celebrate our birthdays in August. I got a pedicure and she got lunch. Fair trade, if you ask me. Since my friend was the driver, I was thrilled when she agreed to shuttle me to a local thrift store. I think I've passed "the bug" along (no, not the coronovirus - we wear masks ALL the time) - "the thrifting bug". All this little lady needed was a couple of coats of Flat Black Tremclad Rust paint, which we happened to have at the house. She'll be in booth 01 C tomorrow at the Hamilton Antique Mall.

We're constantly working on painting projects and upcycled goodies. We'll be posting weekly so stay tuned!

 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?

Vintage Cedar Chest Makeover

I am so happy with the way this cedar chest makeover turned out. I used a number of chalk and mineral paint colours (Dixie Belle Cobalt Blue and Kudzu, as well as Annie Sloan Provence and blended them. I have to be honest, I was really worried about how bold these colours were and how they would blend together. I have never done a project this "out there" before. I chose the colours based on the peacock transfer from Prima Re-design. I had a heck of a time finding the perfect transfer to use so this sat in my hubby's work shop (aka the garage) for a while. 

Here is the chest open. It has a lovely additional box on the left side for smaller items. 

This photo and the next one are the sides of the chest and I decided to add a smaller peacock beneath the handles. The quality of these photos isn't the greatest - sorry about that!

 

I really tried to capture the vibrant peacocks so decided to have the lightest colours in the centre. I took a risk with the cobalt blue on the top and bottom of the chest. All of the You Tube videos I watched started with one colour at the top and ended with a different colour on the bottom. 

Here is the whole chest. I sealed it with Annie Sloan Clear Wax.

When I picked up the chest, it was locked and I was told there was no key. There was something inside but I initially couldn't open it. I had a feeling that MDH (My Dearest Husband) would be able to MacGyver this open for me.  He did and guess what was inside? Yup, you guessed it, the KEY! I have noticed that most vintage cedar chests don't have a key any longer. 

Here is the before:

I'd love to know what you think of this. I love it, but I could be a little biased. 

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