Bench makeover

Well, I did it again! I took so long in between posts, I have to work on that!  Needless to say, I finally finished my antique bench and I love the way it turned out.  I decided to paint it heirloom white instead of sanding and staining it.  The white paint made it brighter, fresher and it looks great with the fabric.  Tell me what you think, I'd love to here from you!

This is now….

This was before...

I love this brocade fabric

So for now this beautiful bench will go in my etsy shop for sale.

I've linked this post to:

theshabbychiccottage.net

thrifty101.blogspot.com

frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

blog.addicted2decorating.com

Sneak peak at my antique bench makeover

A few weeks ago I went to a garage sale and found this sweet dainty bench.  I was lucky the owner was desperate to get rid of it, so I got it for a song!  I finally started working on it yesterday, it was little rickety and need to be tighten with some clamps and wood glue.  Then I removed the seat and took off layers of fabric that it had been covered with over the years right down to the original fabric.  Then I realized that it was a true antique not a reproduction, because it was stuffed with hay which most of it had turned to dust.  Synthetic materials weren't used for upholstery stuffing until 1920's.  Before then upholstery were stuffed with natural material like horse hair or hay.  Being that the wood was in good condition, I am tossed between painting it in a distressed white or sanding it and staining it a dark wood tone to bring it to this century.

I chose this fabric to upholster the bench, it is a beautiful brocade.

I'll be back when I figure out the finish I am going to go with. Meantime, I would love it if  you leave   me a comment on the  finish I should choose.

Branch accessories courtesy of my puppy

Branches are appearing in all sorts of furniture and decorating accessories.  They are a great way to bring outdoors inside.  It seems there is a branch for every style of decorating from sophisticated to rustic to minimalist.  So, my puppy must know this and he brought me this fabulous branch he found, I loved its form (some of my friends thought I was a little crazy, but thats besides the point!)  To me, the branches looked like coral branches and I love coral.  My friend Kristin suggested I paint it red and that is just what I did, I painted it apple red.  I love the way it looks, it looks like red coral branches!

My sweet puppy bringing me just what I wanted! OK, so I am a little crazy over my puppy!

It looks really nice naturally, but I wanted a bit of color.

I used glossy apple red spray paint to get an even coat

My proud puppy!

Linking this post to:

Funky Junk Interiors

Handmade flowers

One of the things that makes me feel so creative is making fabric flowers.  I started making bib flower necklaces which I think are so pretty and can jazz up the most plain outfit.  Then I began to add the flowers to headbands, ponytail rings, barrettes and brooch pins.  I love the creative process and the challenge to make one just a little different from the previous one.  Here are some of my recent flower creations I add to my Etsy shop.  You can see more at sheerserendipity.etsy.com.

I've linked to the following blogs:

fabricbowsandmore.blogspot.com

Linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

romantichome.blogspot.com