Vintage Spring Wreath

 

Easter is only a few weeks away.  I find the holidays are a great excuse for a new wreath for my front door.  I wanted to do something a bit different.  Something with a bit of a rustic vintage vibe.  I knew I wanted to use my leftover burlap.  I had purchased an entire roll for my winter stairway garland.

This past weekend I made a run to my local Joann's Fabric and Craft Store.  I purchased a 12" round wreath form and some floral sprays.  My first stop though was the Sunday Flea Market.  I headed directly for the jewelry booth.  I just love vintage pins.  I was able to find 10 pins in a floral motive.

At home later I gathered my new purchases, my leftover burlap and my handy dandy glue gun.

 

I didn't want to just wrap the burlap around the ring.  I wanted it to have some depth.  I started by cutting lengths of burlap and just kind of rolling and bunching it up and gluing it around the ring.

Then I pinned the different pins around the ring.

 

 

 



The final touch was to fill in the bare spots with flower petals and some faux bird eggs I glued on.

 

 

 

I kind of like the end result.  How about you?



Trend Alert - Faux Bois

 

The term Faux Bois comes from the French for false wood.  It is the artistic imitation of wood grain.  In Mexico and Texas the style is sometimes known as "El Trabajo Rustico" or The Rustic Work.  It fits very well with the current design world's love for all things natural.  If you are looking to achieve an industrial loft or western/mountain lodge look in a particular room, incorporating one or more décor items reflective of this trend will go a long way.  Here are a few items you might want to consider.

 

 Kromex 1970's Faux Bois Ice Bucket from Etsy.com

$23.65

 

 

5 x 8 Wood Grain Coppice Area Rug from TouchofClass.com

$263.00

 

 

 

 Oscar Table Lamp with Faux Bois Shade from LampsPlus.com
$ 86.91
 

 

 Wood Grain Soap Mold from Grandhorse.com
$25.99
 

 

 

Roll of  Wood Panel Pattern Illusions Wallpaper
 from Totalwallcovering.com
  $ 14.99

 

 

 

Faux Bois Porcelain Charger from Branca.com

$160.00

 

 

 

DecoGlow Birch Bark 3 x 6 Pillar Candle from Amazon.com
$18.99

13 x 21 Wood Grain Lumbar Pillow from Zazzle.com

$49.95

 

 

 

Vintage Faux Bois Log Planter from Etsy.com

$14.00

 

 

 

I find the look to be very textural and warm.   How about you?

 

 

 

 

An Ottoman Is A Must Have Item

If you haven't noticed, ottomans are everywhere.  It is not surprising since they have so many uses.  Of course, the original use for an ottoman was as a footrest.  You may also have heard an ottoman referred to as a hassock or pouf.  The ottoman originated in Turkey in the late 18th century.

In today's home décor ottomans make great accent pieces.  They can still be used as footrests, but are more often used today as additional seating, as coffee or side tables or to provide for much needed storage space.  Ottomans come in many shapes and sizes and can range in price from $100 to $1,000 or more.  Many DIYer's have even made their own ottomans out of plywood, foam and fabric.

Lets take a look at some of the stylish offerings available and see them in use.

These zebra ottomans would make great accent

pieces in any room.  They would look especially great

 as seating in front of a fireplace or

placed side by side at the end of a bed.

Here is an ottoman being used as a footrest. 

Paired with a matching side chair this

makes for a cozy reading area.

With the addition of a tray a large sturdy ottoman

makes a wonderful coffee table.

Ottomans also work well as space-saving

side tables in a small room.

This bench ottoman allows for storage of 

extra bed linens or off season clothes.

Storage ottomans can even be used to store

 files in an office space.

Here small ottomans tuck under a coffee table

when not being used for added seating.

Colorful Moroccan poufs make for fun

seating in a child's room.

 

So do you have an ottoman in your house?  How do you use yours? 

Trend Alert - Diamond Quilted Pattern in Home Decor

It is only a few hours from the start of the New Year.  So I thought it would be fun to look ahead at one of the home décor trends you can expect to see in 2013.  This diamond quilted pattern was made popular during the Art Deco/Depression Era of the early 1930's.  It was especially prominent in the glassware patterns of the day.  Like many things old it is new again.  Let's take a look at some ways you can incorporate the trend into your home.

 

 

 

Ralph Lauren Suite Diamond Quilted Sateen Bedding - The Home Decorating Company $299.99

 

 

Christopher Knight Home Mandolin Grey Leather Quilted Chair - Overstock.com   $202.49

Belmont Crystal 8 oz. High Ball Glasses - DineNDecor.com  Set of 4 for $34.25

 

Modern Mojo Accent Chest - Cymax.com  $900.90

 

 

 

Alliance Always Mine II Carpeting - Shaw Floors $3.50 - $3.99 sf

  

GUS* Thatcher Sofa - 2modern.com $1,999.00

 

 

If you want to add the diamond quilted trend to your home in a smaller way, check out Ebay for something truly vintage.  The bud vase below hits more than one trend as it is Emerald Green which is Pantone's 2013 color of the year.

 

Vintage E.O. Brody Emerald Green Bud Vase - Ebay.com $17.99

 

 

So what do you think?  Will you be adding diamond quilting in your home somewhere?

 



 

Make A Simple and Rustic Snowflake Garland

It was a tough day today.  A day of profound mourning for the 26 people killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday.  Twenty of them 6 and 7 year old little angels.  I was born and raised in Shelton only about twenty minutes from the sight of this horrific event.  With a lump in my throat today I made this simple winter garland for my stairway banister.

I started the process by hanging the holographic snowflakes I purchased at Michael's Craft Store on my clothes line.  They came in a package of 4 for a $1.00.  I then spray painted them with diamond dust Krylon Glitter Blast glitter spray to give them more of a snowy texture.

I tied one end of the burlap garland I purchased in a 10 yd. roll at Michael's to the top post.

I weaved the burlap in and out of each rail.

I then cut the burlap to the length needed and tied the second end to the bottom post.

I first began gluing the snowflakes to the burlap using my glue gun, but I found that they weren't sticking as well as I would have liked.  To insure that the  snowflakes stayed put, I chose instead to tie them to the burlap using white garbage bag ties.  With the small holes in the burlap material, it was easy to thread the ties in and then through the small hole in the top of each snowflake to secure them.

I think the final product in its simplicity and sparkle is fitting.  It will always bring to mind for me those little angels and their teachers who left this world far too soon. 

Make an Elegant Christmas Centerpiece

It is fun to take interesting items and turn them into something even more interesting.  I started with a what I was told was a cupcake holder.  To be honest that is not what I saw when I spotted it on a shelf at the Goodwill Store.

I wanted my theme to be elegant and wintry so I started by spray painting the cupcake holder white.  I also inserted a glass Christmas tree I had into the center.

I then added votive candleholders to each cup holder.  I had six around the house and had to purchase an additional six to fill each spot.

To glam things up even more I added Crystal drops I found at Michael's.  I added one to each candle location by sliding it onto the open wire end.

The final product looks like a modern candle tree.

To pull the whole tablescape together, I covered my table with a white table runner embellished with silver threaded flower petals I found at Homegoods.  To set my table I used silver chargers and white plates that I already had.  I added glass stemware that I had purchased over time at the Salvation Army Thrift Store to each place setting.   The silver napkins I purchased new from Homegoods.  For the final touch of bling I added burgundy red beaded napkin rings which I already had around each napkin.

I think the lighted candles against the white and silver elements makes for a very elegant display.  What do you think?

MORE THAN LIPSTICK ON A PIG

You have probably heard the expression "you can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig".  A lot of people think that is what home stagers do with houses.  Not the case at all.  Home stagers don't just add decor items to what might be seen as a home in need of TLC.

If a home stager is called in, they will evaluate your house from the curb to the back yard.

• Large shrubs obstructing the home may need to be trimmed back.

• The front door may need a fresh coat of paint.

• Decluttering of interior rooms is almost always needed.  

• A home stager is likely to suggest old carpets be removed to show off the hardwood floors beneath.

• They may suggest that bright paint colors be toned down. 

• Maybe light fixtures need to be updated.  

• Worn kitchen counters may need to be replaced, cabinets painted and hardware added or replaced.  

• Anything that doesn't work or looks unsightly must be addressed.

It is not until the house is cleaned from top to bottom and everything on the "to do" list is completed does decor come into play.  A home stager can use your furniture and accessories to dress the house.  If you, however, lack the necessary pieces to complete the desired look, the home stager may provide a shopping list for you or you may be able to rent items from the home stager's own inventory.   A home stager will layout the furnishings in a room to allow for a spacious feel while directing the potential buyer through the home in a way that accentuates the positives.  All items recommended by a home stager are chosen for the purpose of aligning your home with the desires of your potential buyer.    If the buyer sees what they want and feels at home, they will choose your home over others they may have seen that didn't.

Home staging is more than putting lipstick on a pig.  Done right home staging adds the pearls too.  Pearls of wisdom that is.