Welcome to my blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!
Showing posts with label toile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toile. Show all posts

Friday, November 1, 2013

More Transformations

Bonjour Mes Amis!
Hope you have all had a great week.  I can hardly believe that it's November already, and the holidays will be among us soon!
Today I wanted to share with you a few more of my drab to fab transformations!
I just adore toile, and still have a few pieces of  beautiful blue and creamy white toile barkcloth that I bought several years ago, while on vacation in Hawaii, of all places!
I sure wish that I could find more material just like this, I don't think I've ever seen it in barkcloth here before.
Anyway, I will give you a glimpse of the after, before showing you the before of this first project!

Ok, are you ready to see what these frames looked like when I first spotted them?
They are on the far left in the photo below.  They were part of my thrifting haul when we were on vacation last month in the Upper Peninsula.
I was immediately drawn to these round wooden vintage frames, but knew that they could be so much prettier than their current state!
So, after removing their still life prints (which were on heavy cardboard), I hand painted the frames a soft creamy white.
A bit of distressing around the edges gave them time worn appeal.
I then covered the back sides of the prints (I didn't want the prints to show thru my fabric) with the toile, using spray adhesive.
The frames have pretty little metal hooks at the top for hanging.  So much better now that they are transformed, don't you think?  

Here is one last makeover, these pretty and ornate little vintage metal frames.  You can see their "before" shot as well in the photo above.
They were made in Italy, and just begging to be painted creamy, dreamy white!  They have the prettiest prints in, of pastoral scenes.  The nice thing is that the prints can be easily removed so the frames can be used for photos or other artwork.
I have already sold them in my Etsy shop, but the framed toile are listed if you care to take a peek!
Have a great and creative weekend!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Toile Corkboard/Mirror, a Fun Drab to Fab Makeover!

Today I'm sharing with you one of my newest favorite drab to fab transformations, a fabric covered memo board/mirror combo.
Here is a glimpse of the "after"...............

 And here is the before!
What a difference, don't you think?  As soon as I spotted this vintage mirror/cork board last week, I just knew that she was begging to be transformed into something pretty!
First off, I could hardly wait to cover up that oh so boring brown, with my favorite creamy white paint.
 Just the right amount of distressing gives her timeworn appeal.
She was looking better already!
I then went thru my stash of fabric, in search of just the right material to cover that boring and tired looking cork board.
I was so excited when I spotted the blue and white toile barkcloth.  I purchased the toile several years ago in Hawaii, of all places.  I don't know about you, but I don't usually associate the tropics with French toile, so it was a pleasant surprise when I discovered this lovely fabric in a shop on the Big Island!
 It turned out even prettier than I was hoping!
 The piece de la resistance is this pretty fabric flower push pin that I created.  It has just the right amount of glitter for a bit of bling!

 I've placed her in my Etsy shop, though I wouldn't be sad if she didn't sell!!
Hope you have a fun and creative week!
Sharing with Becky at Timewashed for Blissful Whites Wednesday
and Junkin Joe Party at The Cottage Market