Wooden Boxes Before and After

You know how you go into an antique shop and spot something and think, "I want that but I have no idea why." Then you go home without it and it haunts you. So weeks later you go back and hope it's still there. Well, it was my lucky day because this set of three wooden boxes that I just had to have was still there. Here's my set of wooden boxes -- okay, truth be told, they are an old canister set. But they are solid wood and have such potential!

 

I brought them home and sanded them down. Mixed up a batch of chalk paint and gave them a few coats. Distressed them and applied a coat of wax that I then buffed out. I topped them with beach glass for knobs, and wow, what a transformation! When I get out to Seattle later this spring I'm going to search for the perfect sea glass chunks to become the official toppers for these fun boxes.

Turquoise and Orange -- Love it! Part 1

As usual, my posts start with -- so, I found this piece of wood...Again, I had no idea what it was or what I was going to do with it, but it was interesting and I had to have it. So I brought it home and sanded and painted it a new great turquoise color that I mixed up.

I then decided I need to apply fish. It just seemed like the thing to do. So, I drew a few different shapes and my friend cut them out for me. I really thought a blue and butter yellow might work, but when I painted them up and laid them on the turquoise wood, it wasn't doin' it for me.

I decided to go bold with a bright orange. I painted them up and sanded them down and ...

Am really glad I made the switch as I just love this color combination. I arranged them into a 'school' and attached to the wood. Then, finished each fish off by adding an eye with a tiny Leland Blue stone from my treasure jar full of things like this that I collect on the beaches.  I'm not really sure what to call it, but I think it looks really great leaning against something or hung on a wall. You decide!

 

 

 

 

Nautical Shabby Chic Runner

I just finished this runner and really like how it turned out. It's made of natural burlap, woven with jute and appliqued with  gauze-like linen waves. I wanted the look to be very raw and all natural looking.

Here's how it was made:

I started by measuring and cutting my piece of  burlap. Then I created a paper template of waves, pinned it to my gauze, which I had backed with a fusible fabric stabilizer, and cut it out.

I then pulled out a couple strands and wove in a piece of jute the full length of the runner on each end. Taking a large embroidery needle, I wove in a couple strands of an off-white burlap for some contrast.

Next step was to pin the applique waves in place. And, with my machine set at a very small, tight zig zag, I sewed the applique to the runner. This was a bit tricky with all the twists and turns.





Last, all the edges were zig zagged to lock the weave in place so it will not unravel. I then apply a light starch with a hot iron to flatten and add body to the material. The look is just what I was after -- shabby chic, beachy, nautical and natural! Hope you like it. It's for sale in my Etsy Shop, www.etsy.com/shop/Floatinteriors.

Vintage Hanky Pillows

In my cedar chest I've kept a collection of beautiful hand-crotched handkerchiefs that my grandmother made. Recently added to this collection were more handkerchiefs from my mother that she had saved. They were given to her by her mother mostly in birthday cards. In mentioning this to my sister, she sent me her collection as well as her wedding handkerchief.

So why did everyone send me their handkerchief collections? Well, what do you do with them really? Yet, they are not the sort of thing you want to discard as they really are beautiful. I had mentioned to my family that I was going to experiment with them to see how they'd make up into little heirloom vintage hanky pillows. So far, I've made 7 and I'm really liking how they turn out. I've found some pretty fabric to use as a backer for some of the white hankies and other coordinating fabric to use as a front or back. They are fun to make and just all look so different!

Shabby Chic Beach Pillow

This is a shabby chic beach applique pillow. The hand-cut and sewn letters are purposely rustic to give it this great comfy, cuddled look. The pillow is canvas with linen letters. The thick fringe is very soft cotton. More details here https://www.etsy.com/listing/103855292/beach-cottage-shabby-chic-pillow