Fabulous French Burlap Table Makeover

Hello,

Last summer, I bought a sad little white table at a yard sale for $3.00.  It had good, sturdy bones and a cool art deco design on the side.  The poor little thing has been begging me for a makeover ever since. 

I finally gave in and decided to give my sad little table a new decoupage burlap top.  I've tried many decoupage techniques for paper and fabric but never on thick burlap.  I picked out a fun, burlap pattern with french words and a wine theme, since the table will be located in the bar area of the house. 

Fabric was 9.99/yard on sale at Jo-ann's fabric. 

It was fairly easy to decopauge the burlap on to the top of the table.  The hardest part was cutting the fabric to the correct size.  I made a pattern out of some old wrapping paper by tracing the top of the table with pencil onto the paper and cutting out. 

It was sooooooo cute!  And the old, sad table started to smile.

The white legs no longer went with her new "rustic-french" look.  After painting the art deco design black, I rubbed some bronzing paint with a clean, white cloth onto the legs and shelf.  You work very fast, rubbing on and then rubbing off the paint for a weathered look.  And the old, sad table started to shine.

With her new fancy french look, she only needed a few choice decorative accessories to be ready for cocktail hour. 

Accessories:  Ballard Designs wire tealight, boxwood ball from Tai Pan, and vintage wood cigar press from the antique mall).

Her debut was a smashing success and cocktail hour has never been so delightful!

 

 

Just goes to show, you're never too old or frumpty for a fabulous makeover!

 

Take care,

 

Di

Cute Booth

Hello,

The following pics are from a cute booth at Antique World Mall that I always pop into when I'm in the shop.  I haven't met the dealer yet, but have worshiped her booth from afar.  I especially like how she decoupaged brown, vintage looking paper onto a plain white shelf (you know I love, love decoupage from previous posts).  Her booth is in the very first aisle on the far left of the mall when you come in the front door.

Enjoy!

Di

 

New blogger-Simply Homemade Mommas

Hello,

I wanted to share with you some exciting blogger news.

My daughter-in-law, Annie, is starting a new blog called Simply Homemade Mommas (see this link and also link in my fav website):

http://simplyhomemademomma.blogspot.com/

She is a stay-at-home Momma of my adorable 18-month-old grandson who dedicates her days to finding wholesome, natural solutions for everything from child care and cooking to household products.

I constantly tell my son how lucky he is-as I hated to cook and he grew up on McDonald's and mac-n-cheese! She is always amazing us with delicious, wholesome meals on a budget!

She is getting ready to do her first official post of a "how to" to make charming Mr. & Mrs. pillows for your bed that are easy and inexpensive!

I predict her blog will be a smashing success and provide valuable info for Mommas everywhere. Welcome Simply Homemade Mommas!

Take care,

Di

Dreaming of Spring

Hello,

Now that the decorations and sparkly lights have been put away and beloved family have gone home, it's hard not to feel depressed with the long, dark days.

But in the depths of winter, sleeping just below the blanket of snow, is the promise of Spring. It will pop up just when we've lost all hope of ever seeing it again. We only have to believe....

Enjoy the following pics of my BFs beautiful garden. Looking at her desolate yard this weekend, even we can't believe it ever looked this beautiful. But we have faith, and once again Spring will come!

Take care,

Di

Eiffel Tower Centerpiece

Hello,

Happy new year! If you're like me, on New Year's Day you're tired of Christmas (it's been out in the stores since Sept) and are ready to take it all down and stuff it back up in the attic.

Before I do, I wanted to share with you my Eiffel Tower centerpiece I did on my table for Christmas. It's no secret I'm obsessed with Paris and have an obscene amount of Eiffel towers. I will actually be going in mid June for my bday. I hope I don't hyperventilate and pass out when I see it in person!

I used a large Eiffel Tower I found last year at Marshall's (love that store) and put a light-up antique store that was an early Xmas present from my BF underneath. I then surrounded it with green and white trees and busy shoppers running to-and-fro. My favorite part of the display is a chandelier ornament I strung with small battery operated led rice lights (from craft warehouse). It adds that extra whimsical sparkle when the lights are off! The table runner has black French script writing (from Tai Pan).

I think I'll keep the Eiffel Tower up all year and change the display underneath to match the season/holiday (is it too early for valentines day?).

Hope you have a relaxing and renewing day.

Di

Emma's Dilema

Hello,

I've spent the last few months writing, editing, and finalizing a new children's book, Emma's Dilema. With a prayer and a wish, I sent the manuscript off to publishers in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.

If you're not familiar with the publishing process, you basically send out what's called an "unsolicited" manuscript that will be put in a "slush" pile with thousands of others-hopefully to be read at some point and not put through the shredder! It's a process not for the thin skinned as going to the mailbox and seeing the dreaded form rejection letter can be a discouraging moment. But every dream comes with the possibility of rejection, and success doesn't come from giving up when the going gets tough.

So, send poor little Emma's Dilema positive thoughts as she waits in the slush pile at the big bad publishers.

I wish you all luck in accomplishing your dreams!

Take care,

Di

More darling decoupage

Hello,

Here are more pics of darling decoupage! These are from the Shabby House (which will soon be getting a new fabulous name). I LOVE the shabby house with its rooms full of vintage treasures and friendly fun owner.

They decoupaged old sheet music onto a headboard and dresser. Such a clever idea!

Have a fab Friday!

Di