The Shabby Home

2011-09-10T11:28:00.001-04:00

Hi all,
I have opened an ebay store... it has many of the same items that I have on etsy. I know some of you are more comfortable with ebay and others with Etsy. So... I am offering most of the items on both.

Come check it out! Just click on the picture below.

TheShabbyHome

What do ya think?

Directions for Making a Grocery Tote

2011-09-02T14:03:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if it's the cooler weather or what... but the sewing fever has offically hit again. I entered the sewing room this morning - with another plan... but hey the best laid plans get changed. Seeing this sage green burlap all rolled up looked like it was time for using. I began by thinking that I might use this fabric for placemats. Already cut to size - I changed my mind.

Headed for the stencils - and DAILY BREAD came forth. This reminds me that God's Word strengthens your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now for the directions:

cut the fabric into a rectangle or what ever shape or size you think you might use - I just used the size of a common placemat :)

stitch around the outside about 5/8 of an inch to the inside on each piece stitch two pieces wrong sides - wrong sides together - if you have a wrong side (burlap does not)- on 3 sides - leaving one completely open
cut your straps or handles - I just doubled the fabric - any length you want - stitched together - and let them fray to match the tote

stitch the handles to the top of the bag - no exact science here - just where you think they should be will be fine

There you have it. I made three in about 45 minutes... including letting the paint from the stencils dry.

One could have fun and use lots of cute prints; or just use what you have! Now - enjoy shopping with your new totes.

French Cabinet ~ white / blue

2011-08-31T20:00:00.008-04:00

I purchased this china cabinet at one of my favorite 'treasure' places in Charleston, TN along with the matching buffet. I loved the French design, the curves, and the gorgeous crown.

At first sight ~ I knew I wanted to paint the china cabinet... This piece would be my first china cabinet, although, I have been painting furniture for sometime. I really didn't want to have to sand that finish. I then heard about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ~~~ "Praise the Lord - God is good! All the time"! ~~~ makes me want to dance!! So now that I found a way to paint this baby...

Now... I REALLY started looking at it. I wanted to paint the inside as well as the outside. I realized that I couldn't get to the inside with those fixed side panels - that's when I decided I would remove them and have open shelving (which I love anyway). Removing them became a little more difficult than I imagined - as some projects seem to do - LOL. I had to remove the entire top to get the fixed panels out... away went the panels and away when the glass door.

This is the before picture... I'm sorry - but I got to carried away taking this thing apart to get in-between pictures. :)

I used ASCP in Old White for the entire first coat. Then I mixed just a little Paris Blue with
watered-down Old White - created such a nice icy blue to use for the back panel. I then applied another coat of Old White and followed with a clear wax. I used the dark wax in the recessed places in the doors and the carving on the crown. It's one of my favorite pieces!

I headed out to the garage - found a piece of wood ... and made the sign -

IN THE BEGINNING.

It's painted with Old White and Paris Blue for the base... and some 'uniform blue' from

Hobby Lobby for the lettering.

Farm Table and Chairs

2011-06-26T15:03:00.000-04:00

Hi Y'all!

I have been away from my blog for a little while now... tending to family matters. :) But, I wanted to show you a farm table and chairs that I recently painted in AQUA! I love that color... I know that others have been using it for a long time (I'm a little slow), but I decided to give her a try.

Pictures.........

I love how they turned out.

What have you been up to this week?

Spring has Sprung

2011-04-06T17:36:00.003-04:00

The azaleas are blooming along with the daffodils, tulips and hyacinths; and the dogwood blooms are beautiful. The pictures are blooms from my yard.

Blessings!

Thank you to Lesley Weidenbener (The Design File) for featuring a set of my chairs on her blog today - Please pay her a visit and let her know that Connie of The Shabby Home sent you. Lesley purchased a set of chairs - that were very simular to a set that I had remade... so had three other very talented ladies.
The title of the blog: Four amazing chair remakes to inspire mine.

Just prettier!

2011-03-24T09:25:00.006-04:00

I have this little chair that probably went to a desk or vanity. The chairs has the typical French styling that we seem to like so well. She needed a little make up job... so here is what I did.

First, I cleaned and vacuumed the dust and loose particles.

Then, I removed the seat and began to lightly sand the painted surface to dull the shine.

She was given a coat of primer and then paint. I just sanded around the edges to give her a little bit of time worn look. I will add a good coat of wax to protect her. Now, on to the upholstery of the seat. Natural burlap is my choice here. It has such a nice texture and color.

TA.. DA.. the finished chair. Hopefully, she will become one of a set of four mismatched dining chairs. There are three more waiting for their make over. Smiles.

Faith working here.

2011-03-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

I usually post about furniture... but spring is all around me. I have been in the garden and planting seeds in doors. It's truly amazing to watch the tiny seeds pop their little heads out of the ground. I have so enjoyed it the past week. I have potatoes popping up and the indoor seeds, too.

Since faith is the substance of things hoped for... Planting seeds is a work of faith! You plant, water, and hope for the best... I like to garden and I at least try to plant a space for vegetables each year. Sometimes I am able to keep up with it and sometimes I'm not. It depends on a lot of factors - weather - time - and just how many weeds that I need to physically keep pulled up. Now with spring only a couple days away... it's really time. I haven't started plants from seeds before... so this will be my first attempt.

After research - I decided to purchase a seed heating mat, a thermostat, and a timer. Also, two shop lights, trays and a soiless seed starting mixture were purchased. For all you REAL gardeners... I realize that it could be a little late for some seeds, but not others. Besides, I'll be doing this with my precious 5 year old and he is so excited!

I needed a place to hang the lights... so the distance from the plants could be adjusted as the plants began to grow. Faith working here. I remembered a planter that I purchased last fall and had not used ... yet. It's solid iron with a copper planting area and some tile and iron-like shelving. It's heavy. Almost like a potting bench - but shorter.

As I began to look at the planter, I realized that might be just the thing for my seeding area. I painted an old coffee table top and added it to the shelving at the bottom. It needed some width and something solid to sit the heating mat and trays upon.
With that portion done... it was on to the lights. I simply hung them from the 'rails' on the planter with the included chains.

Not so pretty... but hopefully it will add lots of beauty to the outside with flowers and veggies.

As you can see... tiny little plants coming through the ground.

These are marigolds. My little ones love the babies.

Enjoy your spring!

~ The Antique French Bergere ~

2011-03-13T23:10:00.009-04:00

Being new to this blog thing... I sometimes do not know what to share... I have been selling furniture online for about 5 years. The furniture has changed a little - from true antiques to the 'beautifully imperfect' pieces that I redo. My most favorite (if that is correct English) thing to redo is French Bergere chairs.... So... going through my pictures... I found this redo. I hope you like it.

Last summer, I found this set of chairs (only one is pictured) on eBay and knew I wanted them... but I wasn't sure what I would do to them. I understand that they were from the late 1800's ... and as heavy as they are - I believe it. I started out much the same way that I always start out... sitting the chairs in my dining room... where I can see them through out the day. After sitting there for about a week... looking all prim and proper...

I started by repairing and sanding the old polychrome finish. Then I had some left over 'pistachio green' paint... and so that's what I used. Using a paint brush...

I was a little scared at this time in the redo...

Looking pretty??? I just wasn't sure ~ yet.

OK.. now for the real stuff... it was the first time I had experimented with stain over paint. I wasn't 'blog watching' at the time of this redo... so I didn't realize others were doing this too. LOL Here are the results of just brushing on a dark walnut stain .... and wiping it off with a soft cloth.

Not too bad... huh?

OK - now at this stage I was so impressed! I was hooked on stain over paint!

The upholstery was to be very special for this very special pair of chairs. I decided on an ivory hemp canvas for the front and cushion with a double welt... and a natural color hemp canvas with individual nail heads for the back and underneath. Although I do some upholstery projects... I use an elderly gentleman for the special pieces... and he is so very gracious to do what I ask... even if he looks at me like I had three heads and was from Mars. All aside... I think he did an excellent job.

So... there she is... one of the pair... I like her!

This post has been linked to the following:

Talk to me... tell me what ya think...

The New-Life Bench

2011-03-09T20:31:00.007-05:00

I remember many long telephone conversations while sitting on a telephone bench / table as a teenager in the hallway of my home. (I'm telling my age... and I think the table we had was very old then - smiles).

So... memories included ~ this was a special little project. I think she turned out very nice!

The table portion was already removed when I got this little baby. But she needed to be scrubbed down, sanded, primed, painted, distressed and upholstered. I used all white... I love the clean lines and clean color.

Take a look at the before.

Here she is again... all finished.

I have linked to the following:

I'm sorry - she has already sold.

The Sweetest Teapot ~

2011-03-09T19:04:00.003-05:00

I want to share the sweetest little antique teapot! A friend found this in Chattanooga, TN a few months ago. The colors are so brilliant ~ the most beautiful green. As with all antiques, I imagine the tea-parties that this little piece must have been part.

The crazing only adds to the character as well as the stained inside. This tells me that this teapot was really loved and used.

The teapot is labeled on the bottom: Made in England and it is numbered. The perfect accent piece - beauty and history.

Do you have a special teapot? I would love to hear about them.

AND a big thank you to Linda at BURLAPandBLUE for featuring my esty store today.

This post is linked to the following:

Raining ... blessings!

2011-03-05T11:21:00.001-05:00

Today in East Tennessee it's raining and overcast. There is a blessing in the air. I have potatoes planted and I am just waiting to see the little lovely leaves poke through the earth. They need the rain. AND I need the rain, too. I love to see things grow.... it's like hope of good things to come. Keep in mind that the following pictures only help me to hope for my own little potato leaves.....

Tables - tables - tables!

2011-02-24T20:54:00.001-05:00

I started work on these tables last fall just before the weather turned so cold. My son and I got them sanded and primed and that's just the way they sat - in the basement - all winter long. The weather has been so nice the past week here in East Tennessee that the tables are now finished. Sorry - no photos along the way... just the finished products.

What ya think? which one is your favorite?

Let's Update the Fauteuils

2011-02-21T20:13:00.001-05:00

Since I have been in business for almost 5 years... I have lots of projects... I must admit that most are 'pending'.... such as this pair of beautiful 1800's French fauteuil chairs. Some of the upholstery has been removed to make it easier to refinish the wood. The French green color is gorgeous, but not in good condition. Time for an update.

Diamonds in the ROUGH!!!

The chairs were primed, sanded (a little), and painted with BM Decorator White. The chairs have cured for several weeks now…. pretty carvings.

The chairs were then slightly distressed and given a heavy coat of dark brown walnut stain. I love the final look. It’s dark in the deep places… and it truly gives that aged looked that these chairs deserve.

It's getting there... one more to go.

I love the updated look....

The story will continue with upholstery – but that’s for another day.

Connie

Dressed Up and Ready...

2011-02-18T17:31:00.002-05:00

I absolutely love to take something old and 'not so pretty' and work on it - regardless of the condition. I purchased these end tables sometime ago and just put them away for another time. Now with the pretty days we have been having in TN - I decided it was the right time. I cleaned the cobwebs and dust from the wood. These tables are very sturdy and didn't need anything to the basic stucture. They received a light sanding, primer, and then a cottage white finish. The edges were then distressed to give it a nice worn-over-time look. See what you think...

Before...

Another before....

The After - all dressed up and ready to BEAUTIFY!

Much pettier and more usable...:)

Such a pretty pair!

The Treasure Hunt in the Thrift...

2011-02-17T20:18:00.000-05:00

I recently visited a local thrift store and as I walk through the doors - the lady at the counter said "Everything is 25 cents. I ask if she was going out of business. She replied that she was only reducing inventory... Oh well - yeah for me and all the other hurried shoppers. I watched as people loaded up - checked out - unloaded in the car - and came back inside for more. I couldn't help but laugh. Of course, I found some goodies of my own. Check em out...

Aqua wire basket with pearls ~ so pretty! I love this color.

Vintage Basket wall sconce in white

Blue/White Candle Holder ~
'kind of' French /Oriental Looking

Did you find treasures this week? 

New to the Blog World ~ Woo Hoo!

2011-02-16T06:36:00.003-05:00

New to blogging...
Hi there! I'm Connie Boyd and I am so excited to be here! I'm looking forward to all the fun we'll be having here together in The Shabby Home.
Let me introduce myself - I'm the mother of three wonderful people. My daughter is an active mother with two of my grandchildren. She’s a homeschooling mom and loves to decorate. My son is a ‘work at home’ dad with two more grandchildren. He can fix anything and is very creative. My third child is a precious – very active – red-haired little boy. He keeps me young! We are home-schooling. When I’m not teaching, playing, cleaning, or helping to care for my (84 years young mom)… you will find me ‘prettying up’ - the treasures I find for The Shabby Home online store.

Refinishing furniture is more than a job for me. It’s about taking something old and putting it back to use. Preserving the character that furniture holds is just part of the process. I like to see where Grandpa wore the finish from the ‘head’ dining chair through years of use. Even if it’s not my grandpa – it’s about the value of being beautiful with imperfections. It parallels our life with Christ. HE takes a used worn life and when he enters into our hearts – we become useful, beautiful because of HIM, and still imperfect – all in the same body. I hope you enjoy your stay.

I like what I do! Take a look...

This is an example of what I enjoy most about my work - taking things from a cast-off to beautiful.... at least in my eyes. ... Now these can be enjoyed at as 'set' of mismatched dining chairs.

Stay tuned...

Advertising Button

2011-02-15T19:13:00.004-05:00

My Advertising Button:

OK... now look at this... tell me what you think. I have decided to try advertising the Etsy store. I want to advertise on Miss Mustard Seed's Blog. She has ask for a button linked to my store or at least the 'computer gibberish' for it. I work online, but I normally do not do 'geek'. I wish I could... I have taken web design computer classes and do understand some... just enough to know what I need - even if I can't do it. All that being said - I have worked hours to accomplish this little button. I like it. It's spring-like... and seems to represent my shabby home... it's beautifully imperfect! I think.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Ephesians 3:20