Découpaged Musical Stool

Here's the twin to my Franglais Stool--my Musical Stool!

 I découpaged it with sheet music I saved from the trash at a book sale I volunteered at.

Mid-Century Modern Chair: Before

I bought this funky chair for $8 secondhand. 

I'm not a fan of natural wood, but I may resist the urge to paint it for a while because it belongs on this design, and has quite a beautiful grain.

After unscrewing the seat I spent a nice summer afternoon painstakingly picking the staples out of the bottom of it, and peeling off the revolting brown fabric and rotting foam. Yum.

I'm going to reupholster the seat in one of my fabrics.

Stay tuned...

Chalk Painted Geometric Chair for Sale

I've had the IKEA chair below since I was 5. It was my desk chair out of necessity, but I never liked its plainness.

Note the name scribbles under the seat.

 So I painted it. I used the X as inspiration to transform it with a geometric print.

 Old White and Provence Chalk Paint make up the light blue, plus I used Graphite, Antibes, and Old White for the rest of the pattern.

 The painted areas have also been waxed.

 It is for sale! Please email me at creativelygraceful@gmail.com if interested!

Découpaged Franglais Stool

Découpage is great because it totally hides an ugly surface with beauty.

 I picked up this stool at the curb. I think it was a child's chair at some point because I had to fill up those 4 holes at the back of the seat with some wooden dowel stubs. 

 Then I ripped pages out of this French/English dictionary and cut them into strips.

 I used Mod Podge to glue on the clippings, but plan on giving the whole stool a coat of Varathane to protect it.

  Voilà!

(Pssst! The stool has a twin that has yet to be embellished!)

Recent Thrift: Metal Ornaments

I found this switch plate and these metal ornaments at an architectural salvage store. I'm thinking of painting the ornaments (letting some of the metal ridges show through) to use with pretty knobs on furniture.

Reclaimed Jewellery Frame

My friend Meagan made this jewellery hanging piece from a frame she found on the road and a thrifted crocheted pillow cover. She painted the frame with a mix of Antibes Green and Louis Blue Chalk Paint, waxed it, and then used a staple gun to attach the lace. It could be used for displaying cards and such too! Isn't it lovely? Well, hint hint: Meagan will be starting up a furniture refinishing business soon...

Tub in Mint Condition

I saw this bathtub at an architectural salvage store for $295. Aside from the black mark you can see on the front, the interior of the bathtub is in excellent condition, considering it's probably from the '50s or '60s. Coloured fixtures are either revolting or funky, and used in the right bathroom this tub could be quite the latter. If only I had a tub that needed to be replaced!

Aquamarine Peplum Shirt

I owe a humble thank you to an unknown rodent!

This shirt, which I planned on altering, was too big for me to begin with, and the neckline was too low. I figured I would have some extra fabric to work with, and it's a good thing I did. After I washed it it was fluttering dry on a chair in my backyard, but I forgot to bring it in for the night. When I went out to get it the next morning, I discovered, much to my annoyance, that some little rodent had ripped holes right in the front of the shirt! I tried to sew them shut, but the result was obvious and ugly.

I sliced out the rodent holes, which hit around waist level, and took in the sides and sleeves of the shirt. Then I gathered the bottom portion of the shirt to the new width.

I sewed the gathered edge onto the shirt to create a peplum, and also made two pleats in the neckline to keep it from gaping. It's now one of those throw-it-on-and-feel-great-about-the-casual-prettiness-of-it kind of shirts.

Frankly, I don't think my original, vague, alteration plan would have turned out as well, so sometimes frustrating situations force out better creative results.

On the Porch

As a blend between the lush outdoors and comfortable indoors, the best porches are lounge-worthy spaces. I am so in love with these sturdy, ornate, dripping-with-flowers verandas on homes in Picton and Bloomfield, Ontario, because they are gorgeous examples of the kind of porch that invites summer lingering!