For some reason, I am drawn to primitive and natural wood. So when I stumbled across this lovely vintage wood wall pocket in Johnson City, Tennessee I had to have it. She has been waiting patiently for her turn at being styled for my home. Today is the day!

I mean, exactly what is it???!! Functionally, I am seeing two dough bowls (actually two halves of two different dough bowls) mounted onto a piece of wood. I assume it’s original purpose was to hold dough in these partial bowls…in the kitchen. I suppose that is correct.

Here are the search results for “dough bowl shelf”.

Not really the same thing. And this is the result for “dough bowl shelf”.

I guess we will just call it something in between…a vintage wood wall pocket.

It’s Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday so we are sharing our recycles and upcycles. This beauty fits right in. I won’t be using this for my dough. But I will be be repurposing it in my home.

Be sure to check out all of the team projects at the end of this post. We have some fantastic projects for you this month.

The Beauty of Wood

Whenever possible, I do love to leave beautiful vintage wood items in their natural state. So I didn’t want to paint this. It’s a lovely finish so I will just be feeding the wood and reviving the original look.

She’s in fabulous shape so I will just lightly sand a few of the mars and then feed the wood and shine her up.

Every Vintage Wood Wall Pocket Needs a Bath

Every revamp project piece needs a good bath. I cleaned the unit with warm soapy water. Then I grabbed very fine sandpaper to lightly sand the surface mars, which were just rub spots.

I just lightly sanded away the marks which were all surface scrapes and mars.

After sanding, she needed another bath to remove the dust particles from the sanding process. I wiped the entire piece again with warm soapy water.

Most of the marks had come right off!

Next, it was time to feed the wood. Hemp oil keeps the wood healthy and beautiful. And, it is all natural. The hemp oil will fill those sanding marks right in!

I applied a generous coat to the entire wall unit with a clean cotton cloth.

You can instantly see how the hemp oil refreshes the wood. The wood is immediately richer and brighter as it soaks in the hemp oil.

I let the wood absorb the oil for a few hours. Then I wiped off the excess and used a cotton rag to buff the surface.

Isn’t she beautiful?

My intention was always to hang this beautiful vintage wood wall pocket on the wall and fill her with lovely plants. Perfect, right??

A Few Other Tribute to Wood Projects

Here are a few past projects that focused on wood restoration.

Finding Inserts to Fit the Bowls

A while back, I found these plastic containers at the thrift store.

I knew they would be perfect to set inside the bowls as planters.

There were a few sizes.

The price sure was right!

The only problem was that they were not form fitted to the bowls so they did not sit flush and wiggled around a bit.

The bottoms were flat. I was worried that water might spill from the planters. So I needed to secure them.

I grabbed some Great Stuff and used that to make the containers fit snugly into the bowls.

I did line the wood bowls with plastic wrap because I wasn’t sure if the Great Foam would damage the wood as it is a petroleum based product.

It didn’t damage the wood, but it also didn’t dry very well. the product needs air to completely dry, which makes sense. The top and sides had hardened but not the section under the bowl.

So I peeled off the plastic and allowed the product to dry properly.

The containers popped in and out freely but sat quite snugly in the bowls.

I used spray paint that was left over from a Lantern project to spray the great foam to make it blend with the color of the wood.

Houseplants need good drainage so I grabbed some small stones and pebbles from the yard…

Some potting soil from the garage…

Added some plants from around the house…

When you are a plant lover, there are always plants to split up and repot.

And new planters to create.

In this case, 2 new planters.

I added some spanish moss around the edge of the bowls to cover the Great Foam filler.

I screwed the wall unit into the wall and secured it using a few washers.

I dabbed some craft paint over the washers to make them blend.

And now I have a lovely wall planter in my living room.

I do believe I need a few more of these around the house!

My Repurposed Life Thrift Store Basket Makeover

Funky Junk Interiors DIY Window Wood Coffee Table With Storage

Redhead Can Decorate Gorgeous Thrift Store Gold Framed Floral Print

Shop At Blu Modern Use for a Vintage Wood Wall Pocket

Sadie Seasongoods  Chic and Upcycled Light Shades

Songbird Easter Bunny Treat Bags

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Aged Stone Planter

Our Crafty Mom How to Make a DIY China Plate Wreath

Exquisitely Unremarkable Tin Top Wall Clock

The post Modern Use for a Vintage Wood Wall Pocket appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I am an only child so my parents entertained me quite a bit. When we weren’t playing games or in Dad’s workshop, I was seeking creative fun in all of the corners of our sweet Philadelphia home. I dug through closets, under beds, through sewing kits and cupboards. But my favorite quiet time was spent in Mom and Dad’s bedroom, perched on the end of their full sized bed sorting through Mom’s vintage jewelry box. Inside, I found the stories of Mom’s past. There were trinkets and memories. Each one had a history.

Years ago, in the ’80’s, Dad bought Mom a new jewelry box for Christmas. You know, one of those fancy wooden 1980’s taller jewelry boxes with the swivel carousel hook for necklaces and a fancy place to put your rings. Of course, I grabbed Mom’s old vintage jewelry box. Because I was documenting stories of my own.

Like those once gleaming pieces of jewelry, Mom’s vintage jewelry box has seen better days. Today is the day she gets her makeover. And, if we are talking renew, upcycle, and refresh, that means it’s time for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team projects.

If you are new to Blu or the TSDT, we are a group of 9 creative bloggers who focus on the upcycle, repurpose, and reuse of older or previously used items. At the end of this post, you will find all of the other team projects. We share our posts on the second Wednesday of the month. This is our first post of the NEW YEAR! And we have some bloggers joining our fabulous group! What new skills will we share this year?? Tools, products, DIY skills and fabulous tips are our favorite. Hope to see you as a regular visitor. You can sign up for an email reminder at the top right side of this page! Let’s get to our project!

You see these vintage jewelry boxes at estate sales, yard sales, and flea markets. They are roomy and still the best way to store your jewelry. Mine will sit on a shelf filled with treasures when she has been restored.

Selecting a Finish

The Francophile in me loves loves loves marble. I didn’t want to paint this jewelry box so I decided to cover it. Dollar Tree had these removeable peel and stick wallpaper strips so I bought a few. Cheap, easy, and I think they will work.

The instructions are conveniently on the back and are very simple.

There is some damage to mom‘s old jewelry box. Somehow over the years, a corner of the top padding was actually ripped away. That is the part that is sticking up on the top.

The inside shelf is a bit wonky so I’ll need to repair that.

The interior is still lovely, for the most part. The beautiful Asian print on satin is just darling.

The velour is still a pretty aqua thought there are a few discolorations and some divots where weighty pearls and baubles have rested over the years. Other than that, I think she’s in great shape.

The length of this wallpaper sheet was just a bit shy of the total width of the jewelry box.

I will use one whole piece of wallpaper for the top and piece it underneath, hoping to match the pattern. When piecing I will want to minimize the seams. So I will add those smaller pieces first. We will see if I have enough product to match the patterns perfectly. Cross your fingers! Here we go.

I took a piece of the wallpaper and basically laid it over each drawer, each side, the back and the top of the jewelry box. The plan was to apply each carefully measured piece onto the surface and fold over behind the door fronts, the back, and the entire the jewelry box.

I folded the paper along each edge essentially making a creating a new panel for each surface on the jewelry box. Since the wallpaper was just a little short in length, I started with the section that would go under the longest sides. I measured and cut carefully. I began to lay the pieces into shape.

I made my way around the Jewelry box peeling, sticking, wrapping, folding, and tucking the wallpaper into place.

I took special care to wrap the corners smoothly.

And I was careful to try to match the pattern when the wallpaper had to be pieced.

I did have to cut around the knobs and handles. But the process went pretty smoothly.

The beautiful decorative panel slipped off easily giving me access to the inside edges of the lid.

I used my handy dandy vintage Pampered Chef scraper to burnish the entire surface ensuring a secure bond of the wallpaper to the jewelry box.

And the decorative panel slipped right back into place once the wallpaper was installed.

And here she is with her new look!

I have to say I am quite pleased!

In this jewelry box, amidst the odds and ends, I found this little bracelet. When I was about 7 years old, my dad brought this home for me one day when he came home from work. My favorite color was purple. My heart is happy.

I also found a bit of my grandmother’s brooches.

And my great-grandmother’s watch bands. I had forgotten I had these!

Now to decide what she will hold long term. For now, she is in my jewelry vault, so to speak.

You can read about my vintage china cabinet turned giant jewelry box HERE.

My Repurposed Life Quilted Casserole Carrier Ideas Using Salvaged Fabrics

Our Southern Home Thrift Store Lamp Refresh with DIY Pleated Shade

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Stool Dupe that Looks Authentically Aged

Shop At Blu Mom’s Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover

Our Crafty Mom Heart Shape Paper Craft From Wrapping Paper Roll

Songbird Rubber Stamp Storage Idea

Funky Junk Interiors Upcycled Ceiling Fan Blade Wall Mounted Coat Hooks

Exquisitely Unremarkable Adorable DIY Pin Cushions

Redhead Can Decorate My 91 Year Old Dad’s Thrift Store Living Room

The post Mom’s Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Many of the most beautiful antique American furniture pieces from the 1800’s and 1900’s were created from tiger oak. Tiger Oak is characterized by very distinct horizontal grain and was featured in 19th-century oak veneer furniture. The stripes appear light in the dark wood because they showcase the medullary growth rings of the oak tree. Tiger oak is a distinctly American style, popular especially with the emerging middle class. Here is an example of tiger oak:

Another favorite antique or vintage wood is heart pine, often used for floors, pilings and poles in the construction of homes. Heart pine, before the 1900’s, was the go to wood for building due to its strength, hardness and golden red coloration. It was nearly extinct due to logging and overharvesting. Before the 18th century, in the United States, longleaf pine forests, covered approximately 30-60 million acres along the coastal plain from Virginia’s southern tip to eastern Texas. These pine trees, 80 to 120 feet tall, require 100 to 150 years to become full size and can live up to 500 years. An inch of heart pine requires 30 years growth. Due to deforestation and over-harvesting since colonial days, only about 3% of the original Longleaf Pine forest remains.^{(source: Google)}

The source of much of the available heart pine found on the market is longleaf pine from old buildings. Currently heart pine for building and woodworking is procured by reclaiming old lumber and recovering logs, felled pre-1900, from rivers. Here are some examples of heart pine:

Both tiger oak and heart pine are super strong and durable. I often find these woods in old doors and old furniture. Here is one project where I refurbished an old tiger oak mantle:

While old wood is fabulous when restored, there is something about old wood peeking from beneath layers of old paint that just sets my creative heart on fire. Look at these doors:

When I closed my antique and consignment store 5 years ago, I had many antique doors. Sadly, some were left outside due to storage limitations and recently, we cleaned up that pile. I was able to salvage a few pieces that resisted the heat and weather. I could not simply discard them.

Just look at that patina!

With fall almost here, let’s make some pumpkins from this antique and vintage wood!

Cut the Wood to Size

I cleaned the wood and headed to the miter or chop saw. This Ryobi compound sliding miter saw is battery operated and my new favorite Ryobi tool. I cut the wood to various sizes that I though would displace nicely together. After all, a pumpkin patch has pumpkins of varying sizes.

Here are pieces of wood that I was able to salvage. Some have more paint on them than others.

I did give these selected salvaged pieces a light sanding to remove some of the dirt that had built up. Light sanding removed the thin layer of dirt and freshened the paint colors.

Here is the practice pumpkin, before I sanded the surface to renew the paint.

Pumpkin shapes are quite easy and simple. I’m considering these to be funky and quirky because, really, when have you seen a chippy blue pumpkin? But isn’t decor about creating and matching your home to your very distinct likes and styles? It’s about making things unique and personal. So here we go.

Creating Your Pumpkins

I cleaned up the wood. I also gave some sections a very light sanding to make the colors pop and remove any lingering residual dirt.

Pumpkins need stems. I grabbed a tree branch from the yard and chopped off sections to use as stems for my pumpkins.

Perfect!

I needed some leaves for my pumpkins. My choices were to cut some leaves out of fabric or gather some leaves from my yard. It seemed so much easier to forage than to dig through my overflowing fabric stash. So I headed to the corner of my yard to grab some beautiful leaves from my neighbor Cindy’s gorgeous magnolia tree. I grabbed as many small magnolia leaves as I could find.

Last month I use some jute/twine to embellish some wooden crates that I made into pumpkins. l liked that look for the tendrils so I planned to use some of that for these vintage wood pumpkins.

I had this old wooden frame in my garage. It’s been waiting for a project. It will make the perfect backdrop for my mini pumpkin patch.

I gathered all of my supplies and began to create my little pumpkin patch right on my mantle. Here is the mantle before:

I added the wooden backing.

Then, I started in the center with the base pumpkins and arranged them to my liking…

I moved them around until I had the look I liked.

Once I was happy with the position of the pumpkins, I added my stems.

Once the arrangement was pleasing, I hot glued the pumpkins…

And the stems into place.

Next up, were the leaves. My Ryobi cordless glue gun was perfect for the job.

I found these silicone fingertip protectors a while back. They are perfect for protecting your skin from that hot glue. With the leaves it was necessary to hold each leaf in place until the glue dried. This only took a few seconds for each leaf but these little doohickeys are a literal godsend. No more blisters for me!

These leaves are the very best for projects for two reasons…they were free and came in a variety of sizes.

After the leaves, I had planned on adding the jute tendrils (YES, THOSE LITTLE SPIRAL FLY-AWAYS ON A PUMPKIN STEM DO HAVE A NAME). But with the chippy paint and the textured leaves, I though there was enough going on so I skipped the tendrils this time.

Sorry my little pumpkins, no tendrils for you!

I might add a little sign or some words later, but I sure do like her just like this!

I finished of the mantle by adding these wooden crates from a project last month for the Thrift Store Decor Team. If you love super quick and even easier projects, click on the photo to see that post.

The mantle came together nicely.

Here in Alabama, the temperatures are just starting to drop to the mid 80’s. Being from Pennsylvania originally (Philly girl), I have a hard time jumping into fall with the vibrant traditional fall colors when I still have my a/c running full blast. So, a few years ago, I started easing into the fall season with neutral colors. I always gravitate toward blues and pale greens so I start with those colors and, of course, whites and beiges. But the time I’ve enjoyed these for a few weeks, we will be into the 70’s. And I can’t wait!

Guess what? Are you ready for some more projects and fall inspiration? How about 11 other posts from my Amazing Creator friends??

I’m joining friends, some new and some old, in sharing some October happiness. Below is a list of blogs joining me. Please swing by and meet some new friends. Enjoy the projects. Maybe learn a new skill. and definitely absorb the inspiration!

Shop at Blu -that’s ME! You are here!

Exquisitely Unremarkable

Gathered In The Kitchen

An Organized Season

Everyday Edits

My Home and Travels

Now Choose Life

Birdz of a Feather

From Farmhouse to Florida

At Home With Kristy 

The Stylish Maker 

Tea and Forget-me-nots

Here are some of my favorite fall projects from the past:

The post How to Make Pumpkins from Vintage Wood appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Look at the design! Can you imagine how long this project took? It is actually made from tiny pieces of gravel. This art form is known as mid century gravel art! Who knew??!!

It is a mosaic, of sorts. How cool are the colors?!

After some research, I found some other examples of lovely authentic MCM gravel art. You can see them at the very end of this post.

Well, I scooped it up several years ago with the intention of using it around Thanksgiving. We had a flood (one of many) while I still had my store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment. This item was water damaged. From sitting over the years, the backing on the frame had deteriorated. I suspect this is a Vintage piece that someone created back in the 50s or 60s. At any rate, my love for the artistic design prevented me from trashing this piece when it was damaged.

It’s time to salvage this thrift store art and upcycle it into something fabulous. What better time for up cycling, repurposing and renewing items than Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday!

If it’s Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday, that means it’s the second Wednesday of the month! With crisp air and falling leaves all around us, I expect to see some wonderful fall projects in this month’s roundup. At the end of this post, you will find all of the teams projects.

Game Plan

My plan is to remove the artwork from the frame and discard the damaged background fabric.

The frame will need repair as it is quite loose.

I need to determine what type of new background to use for the gravel mosaic. I will attach that background to the frame backing board and secure the mosaic onto that. The final step will be to repair and reinstall the frame around the artwork. Here we go…

Remove the Thrift Store Art from the Frame

Step one is to flip the frame over and remove the backer board from the frame. I used a small screwdriver to pry the staple heads up above the wood surface and then used needle nose and regular pliers to extract the staples from the wood. Sometimes frames use small nails to hold the backer board in place. I find that needle nose pliers, usually do the trick in removing those buggers.

After removing the backer board, the frame was very unstable and actually fell apart. I set this aside to secure later and moved onto removing the background from my mosaic.

This background is a seagrass or grasscloth fabric. As I said earlier, it is vintage art and the grasscloth backing was very fragile and tore easily. However, because it’s fabric I needed to cut the excess grasscloth from around the edges of my mosaic. I used fabric scissors, and a very small set of curved scissors that were very sharp.

I believe these little curved beauties are also vintage sewing scissors.

The curves on these tiny scissors helped get as close as possible to the mosaic when cutting off the grasscloth.

Fortunately, the tiny stone pieces were very securely glued to the fabric, which allowed me to simply cut around the design. I was left with one large appliqué, if you will, that was ready to be remounted in the frame.

I used some Old English for dark woods to touch up the sides of the mosaic appliqué since the edges were white.

I used a paint brush. You could also use some brown paint or stain. Just be careful to allow the edges to dry completely before you glue the mosaic appliqué to the backer board.

Touching up those white edges made a huge difference on the dark backer board.

She is ready to go.

Selecting a New Color for the Background

I moved on to determine what color my background should be. Since I did not have any replacement, grass cloth on hand, I decided to go with a natural or darker wood look for the background behind the mosaic. The backer board on my frame is nothing but a traditional backer board with a very very dark color. The more I handled it, the more I like it. However, I thought I would try to lighten it a bit. So I mixed a solution of one part water to one part bleach and wiped the entire surface twice.

While it did not lighten the backing, it did clean things up and even out the surface so that it wasn’t streaky. The result was a rich chocolatey color. I’ll try this dark background for my appliqué.

Attaching the Mosaic Appliqué

I grab some E6000 adhesive to secure the appliqué. This little tube has tiny applicators that help to get to small places.

I used the tube around the large parts of the appliqué and used the skinny applicator on the smaller parts. After applying the E 6000 to the back of the appliqué, I placed it carefully onto my backer board and pressed it securely into place. I placed a crate on top to hold all of the corners down as the appliqué is rather thick and some areas did not want to lay flat.

The weighted down crate helped apply pressure across the entire surface where needed so that the mosaic applique dried flat. I allowed E6000 to dry for about four hours. In the meantime, I worked on rebuilding and securing the frame.

Repairing a Frame

The frame was in four pieces. Here are the corners where they should meet to form the 90 degree angles.

The repair process is quite simple, in theory.

• remove the old hardware (staples or nails)
• glue the corners to one another and allow to dry
• reinforce the corners

But, if you’ve every tried to repair a frame, you know that the process is quite complicated and frustrating. So let me show you how I managed to stablize the skinny pieces of wood and form beautiful 90 degree angles with the end result of a sturdy frame for my thrift store art.

First, use your pliers, flathead screwdriver, and wire clutters to remove all of the old staples. Grab your wood glue (Elmer’s works in a pinch). You will also need a few clamps. I like the ones with the squeeze grips but I also use the clip clamps as well (they resemble a clothes pin with a spring). And you will need a small block of wood with a nice 90 degree angles (to ensure that your frame ends up with perfect corners). The block doesn’t need to be more than 4 inches long x 1 inches deep x 1-2 inches long. It is just a guide for your corners. You can use a smaller or a larger size.

There are clamps that are made specifically for 90° angles that are perfect for securing or building picture frames or repairing. However, I have not splurged on any of these yet. Hmm, this is the first item to go onto my Christmas list! I will rely on old-fashioned ( cave man style) engineering skills. I used a wood block (with perfect 90 degree angle) and secured one edge of the frame to the block with a clamp. I applied some glue to each of the two frame pieces that would fit together to create the corner and layed the pieces into place at the corners. Then I grabbed another clamp and secured the other side of the frame to the wood block as well. This provides a sturdy support for your frame as the glue dries. A third clamp was placed directly over the 90 degree corner. I need to make a video of this process. Until then, hopefully these photos help.

Once the glue had dried, I used my Ryobi airstrike stapler to staple each side the corners.

I used the crate again as a support for my frame while I set the staples into place. It kept the frame steady and helped me get the staples into place perfectly. Then I repeated the entire process for the other 3 corners of my frame.

And here is the frame!

Reinstalling the Frame

The final step was to place the artwork back into the frame. The best part about reusing the original backer board is that the fit was perfect. I simply laid the board into the frame and stapled it into place.

Isn’t she lovely???!!!

I do like the change in the dark background. I think it really makes the colors so much more vibrant. I will be sure to display this in a room with much light to accent the colored gravel.

She will make a beautiful addition to the mantle. I can picture her with a beautiful potted mum on either side for a very simple yet elegant display.

Somehow, after this sweet project, I know there will be many more thrift store art work upcycles to come!

Thrift Store Decor Team Projects

As promised, here are the other projects from my fabulous Thrift Store Decor Team members. Take some time to enjoy the creative talents of my fabulous friends. Enjoy!

Painting A Thrift Store Lamp My Repurposed Life

Thrift Store DIY Upcycle Petticoat Junktion

Minnow Bucket Pumpkin With Dollar Tree Stencil Organized Clutter

Updating a Rolling Cooler With Spray Paint My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Updating Fall Thrift Store Art Shop At Blu

Boho Pumpkin with All-Natural Craft Supplies Sadie Seasongoods

DIY Velvet Pumpkins Domestically Speaking

Vintage Wooden Bucket Makeover House of Hawthornes

And here is the compilation of lovely MCM gravel art pieces that I found on Etsy:

Can you guess which one of these I just ordered…..???

The post Updating Seasonal Thrift Store Art – Fall Edition appeared first on Shop at Blu.

It is Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! What better time to share a fabulous creative project! As is the case every second Wednesday of the month, at the end of this post you will find links to all of the team’s creative upcycled projects for this month.

I had seen this type of project maybe 15 years ago around Christmas time. Here are a few samples I have seen on Pinterest and Instagram.

Someone had created glorious artwork by arranging vintage brooches and jewelry in the shape of Christmas. It was mounted on velvet and I remember my awe in the regality and festive aura of the creation. While I still would like to make a Christmas tree, with Valentine’s Day approaching, why not focus on a heart theme? Part of the joy of creating is taking older projects ideas and reinventing them. So that is my goal for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team project.

Select a Vintage Picture Frame or Twelve

You can start small with a tiny frame or go big with a larger frame. Of course, I will be making all of the sizes. Smaller frames can be a little more challenging because you need to keep your jewelry on a smaller scale. With the larger frame, you have a broader canvas to work with so sometimes this is easier.

I gathered a nice collection of smaller frames from my garage. Being a former antique store owner, I’ve still got a huge supply of items that are totally useless for daily life but perfect for a brainstorm of a project, just like this. I also grabbed a few larger frames. The smaller frames range in size from 3″ X 5″ to 7″ X 8″ and in a variety of shapes from square to oval to rectangular to diamond. I covered all of the proverbial geometric selections! Sister Pauline would be proud. The larger frames are 14″ x 17″ and 16″ X 19″. So I have a good variety. .

The most striking examples of brooch artwork creations had a rich background. So I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some velvet. At $17.99 a yard, I selected just 2 colors, black and red, and bought just 1/2 a yard of each.

I also gathered some other materials to use for the back of the frames including some fuschia crepe paper, assorted flannel fabrics, and even cardstock. Use whichever speaks to you. It is your creation.

Here are some other items you can use instead of brooches:

• Earrings
• Buttons
• Gemstones
• Coins
• Necklaces

Prep Your Frame

Most of my frames come from thrift stores, yard sales and garage sales.  Sometimes the frame assembly is in great shape.  Often the backs or glass fronts are missing.  You can find replacement glass at the thrift store!  Simply take your measurements and head to the local store with a tape measure in hand.  You are sure to find replacement glass and or backs at a great price. 

You can also make your own backs for your frame.  The side of the back facing front will be the base upon which you glue your jewelry. I use spare cardboard. 

In a pinch even cereal boxes will work.  Simply measure your frame and cut out a replacement back so that it fits snugly inside of your frame opening. Select a piece of cardboard that is sturdy and has a flat even surface. Bumpy or flimsy cardboard will make for a sloppy and disheveled backdrop for your art.

Add Your Fabric or Paper Backing

Once you have your back ready, apply some spray adhesive to the front of the cardboard (let’s call it the cardboard mat).  Since I am using a heavier fabric, I gave the mat a liberal spray and allowed it to set for a minute. 

Then I simply laid it on top of the back of the velvet, flipped it over, and smoothed the surface.  Instant background!

I repeated this process for each of the frames using my desired material to cover the mat. Time to piece together a design!

Create Your Design

This is the fun part!  I laid the first mat on my desktop so it was completely flat. Then I just started adding jewelry to created a heart. Play with your designs! 

I usually start with the larger pieces of jewelry and then fill in with the smaller pieces.  I use different sized beads as fillers.  Just keep playing until you get the look that you love.

Once you have achieved your desired shape, secure your jewelry and beads with glue.  I use E 6000 which is a crafters’ glue and can be used on all types of materials.  You can find it at craft stores, hardware stores and even Walmart. 

Because the dark velvet is rather unforgiving, I squeeze a small blob onto a paper plate and either dip the larger pieces into the glue or use a toothpick to apply.  Just lift the jewelry piece from it’s staged point, apply the glue and set it back into place.  Move to the next piece until you have glued all of the pieces onto the background fabric. I also used my Ryobi hot glue gun but mainly on the larger jewelry pieces.

I allowed the creation to dry overnight.  Then simply pop the entire piece into your frame.  Secure with a bead of hot glue or a few staples or nails inserted into the back.

Here is a link to another similar project where I created some artwork in the same manner as the vintage jewelry hearts but with buttons.

You know I couldn’t stop at one! So here are a few more but a little simpler.

I even have a few frames left over. I know there is an entire vintage suitcase filled with more jewelry somewhere in my garage. Gotta save a project for a rainy day!

Here is another vintage jewelry project:

I can’t wait to decorate for Valentine’s Day with these beauties!

Thrift Store Decor Team Projects

As promised, here are all of the projects from my talented friends on the Thrift Store Decor Team! We are so very excited about another year of bringing you monthly upcycled thrifty projects! Enjoy!

How To Hydro Dip Using Spray Paint My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Vintage Jewelry Projects Shop At Blu

Updating and Decorating with Thrift Store Art Our Southern Home

Get Organized With an Updated Magazine Rack My Repurposed Life

Updated Rattan Wicker Lamp Domestically Speaking

Washboard Cabinet Makeover Organized Clutter

Hanging Necklace Holder Petticoat Junktion

Wooden Sleigh for Winter Decor Sadie Seasongoods

Upcycling Junk – 3 Easy DIY Ideas Reinvented Delaware

The post Vintage Jewelry Projects appeared first on Shop at Blu.

A Preliminary Visit to Antiques in Elizabethton

I had strolled this lovely little small town shopping district back in December.  It was a cold and dreary early morning Sunday.  DIL#2 and I had a delicious breakfast at Southern Restaurant.  First rule of shopping for antiques, enjoy the local food!

Then, we window shopped the small cluster of antique shops. Sadly they were all closed. Covid has really taken its toll on small mom and pop businesses and it was blatantly obvious on Elk Street.  We did enjoy the limited views through the storefront windows of all of the treasures that were just out of our reach. 

And that time certainly placed the area up on the list of places to revisit in the spring.

I’m was dying to get inside of these little shops.  Zoom in on the detail on this mirror!

Even the local coffee shop has charm and antiques and…honey!

While no shops were open, we did a walking tour of the historic markers and monuments.  It was quite lovely.  I share some highlights at the end of this post.

The Return Trip:  Actually Shopping for Antiques

Today we returned with #2 in tow.  It was probably 4:30PM when we arrived and with a 6PM closing time for the shops, we promptly got to our mission.

I’m drawn to so many things and when I enter a shop, I simply must see everything.  I’m always drawn to glass, French antiques, all furniture, kitchen anything, and everything primitive.  So #2 and DIL#2 are always aisles ahead of me.  At some point I’m sure they make a second pass.  And they always end up near the entrance giggling and patiently waiting for me. 

My First Find

The first shop we browsed was Picket Fence Antiques.  This store, like many, had vendors who rent spaces. There was a great variety of incredible finds at Picket Fence.  My first purchase was this grain scale for $7.  She reminds me of my MIL who kindled and inspired my love for country primitives.

  I said my weakness is glass.  So when I saw this RED bottle, I almost tripped over myself trying to get to it. 

I’ve had a bottle tree since before I opened The Blue Building Antiques back in 2009.  But authentic red bottles are so rare.  This bottle is Red Ruby Anchor Glass per the bottom.  The markings on the bottle can identify the maker and help date the item.

So many great finds and good prices too!

I’ve never seen a double ice cube tray!  Have you??

The second store we shopped was a two story shop!  This gem had some incredible antique furniture pieces.  I saw this beauty and she was only $159. 

And yes, I should have bought it!  She’s now haunting me.

Here are a few other beauties from the same shop.  I should have bought this basket!

How about this beautiful grain box???  I need one of these!  Didn’t know it until today.

There were some gorgeous primitives!

If you are looking for replacement chimneys, head to Elizabethton!

And I would not be me if I didn’t share the icon on one of these trips!

As you probably are aware, I’m a BLUE girl.  Always have been.  Combine cobalt blue with glass and, well, enough said.  This little bottle just pulled me in. 

I have never seen one with the lid!  Score!

And, you might know that since updating My Tuscan Inspired Kitchen, copper is yet another weakness.  So this little beauty had to come home with me.

She still has the label on the bottom.  It is not familiar to me so I will do some research that should help determine her age.

Last and Best Find of the Day

My last find was this darling tiny chest. 

I’m envisioning her all chippied up sitting on my kitchen counter.  Perhaps she will hold some tea. 

Or maybe she can be the solution for the loose mail scattered across the kitchen counter that drives Mr. Blu into a frenzy.  The oil based paint is the best to get a chippy look out of so that will be a project for the driveway on a warmer day.

We strolled the rest of the street and peeked into the closed shops which just intrigued me more.  I’ll have to make some calls before my next trip.  I must gain access!  I must see the treasures inside!  I’ll keep you posted!

Until then, antique on my vintage loving friends!

Sites and Sights in Elizabethton TN

Here are some more shots of this quaint little Tennessee town from my first visit for you to enjoy.  And here is a brief history of Elizabethton. 

This little town is filled with gorgeous old homes! 

I highly recommend the walking tour.  We saw the lovely war memorials.  Very impressive and solemn.  I suppose we walked for about 30-45 minutes.  We started at the creek and the covered bridge.  Just past the covered bridge was a side street that runs parallel to Elk, where the shops are located.  There were so many beautiful homes.  A few were even being updated.  We circled onto the main street (Elk) where we peeked into the shop windows.  And we ended up back at the water where we had parked.  

I guess I spent a total of about 6 hours in Elizabethton.  But it was enough to make me want to return and continue shopping for antiques!  

If you are looking for great places to find antiques in Tennessee, here are a few post from some antique loving friends.  They’ve identified some incredible shops and markets!

Bristol Tennessee/Virginia with Sadie Seasongoods

Nashville Flea Market, Nashville Tennessee with Petticoat Junction

Nashville Tennessee with Sadie Seasongoods

The post Shopping for Antiques in Elizabethton Tennessee appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I am using a large embroidery hoop as the base for the wreath.  They come in many sizes.  An embroidery hoop is basically one unit consisting of two round wooden hoops. The smaller hoops nestles inside of the larger hoop.  A piece of fabric is stretched between the two and clamped into place.  It is an ideal tool for creating embroidery.  I am using a 16″ hoop for my wreath.  It really is the perfect size for a DIY spring door wreath!

If you don’t want to destroy the handkerchiefs, you can simply insert them into the hoop rather than cut them or alter them in any way.  At the end of the project, tape the excess fabric to the back of the hoop.

Prep Work

Start by ironing and starching each handkerchief.  This will give them a stiffer texture allow them to stand up nicely along the edge of the hoop.  Without the starch, they will be limp and will not stand up allowing you to see the patterns and colors.  Who wants a limp and wilted DIY spring door wreath??

Assembly

After ironing, fold or scrunch each handkerchief and lay it on the hoop laying the pointed ends facing outward along the edge of the hoop, essentially forming the circle of the wreath.  Move the hankies around until you are pleased with the color pattern. 

Once you have your pattern, carefully place the inner hoop inside of the outer hoop to secure the hankies into place.

Adding a center to the wreath will cover the excess fabric from the hankies.  Trace the inside of the wreath onto some cardboard and cut out the circle. 

Next, cut a piece of fabric to cover the cardboard circle.  Attach the fabric by stretching it across the cardboard and over the edges.  Use hot glue to secure the edges of the fabric to the back of the cardboard circle.  I used my Ryobi cordless glue gun.

The fabric covered circle should fit snugly on top of  inside of the hoop.  Hot glue it into place by applying hot glue to the back edges and set it into place on top of the hoop.

Embellish

You can leave your wreath as is or add a sweet message to the center.  I found this little wooden blank sign at Hobby Lobby. 

I filled the holes with wood putty and sanded the surface smooth.  Two coats of Rustoleum2X white spray paint with primer and the sign was ready for a message.

I used my Colorshot Paint markers to write a little message. 

After the sign was completely dry, I hot glued it into place with my Ryobi cordless glue gun…one of my favorite Ryobi tools.

Since I didn’t cut the hankies, I used some packing tape to secure the excess fabric to the back of the circle to keep the extra fabric flat.

And here she is before the sign…

And after…

I thought the banner needed something more so I added some flowers.  I’m torn between using the sign and leaving the center empty.  What do you think?

Now I can enjoy these vintage beauties.  So much more lovely than sitting in a box in a garage!

If you enjoyed this project, you will also love these other spring idea.  Check out my post 5 Simple Ways to Add Spring to Your Decor.

The post DIY Spring Door Wreath from Vintage Handkerchiefs appeared first on Shop at Blu.

First, a little bit about Vintage Market Days.  This is  franchised market that it popping up all over the country!  If you love vintage markets, you need to check out the website Vintage Market Days for a venue near you. We are in central Alabama.  There are now THREE VMD events near us. The next show is in Decatur AL.  “Southern Picnic” is April 21-23 at Celebration Arena.  Mobile will host another August.  And Birmingham’s first venue is November.

Admission is generally $10 and covers all three days!  Birmingham has not had many vintage markets so I was simply elated to browse through all of the glorious vendors.  Vendors must submit an application with photos, as “Vintage Market Days® is an upscale vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market.  featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, outdoor furnishings, consumable yummies, seasonal plantings and a little more. Vintage Market Days® events are so much more than a flea market. Each Vintage Market Days® event is a unique opportunity for vendors to display their talents and passions in creative venues.”  (quote from website).  

Here are some photos of The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment Vintage Market Days® space from Vintage Market Days® of Mobile:

If you’ve been to my store, you know I like to cram alot of happiness into one space.  The more to see, the more to buy!  Right?

My friend Dennis, formerly from The Yellow Building (I miss that store) hand paints incredible signs.  Call me to order ANY sign.  Dennis is also a super talented portrait artist!  How bout that chippy door?  I did a post on how to get this chippy look!

We had a nice mix of vintage, antique, and collectibles as well as our usual JUST FUN STUFF!

My friend Nancy is the Upholstery Queen!  Her chairs were a big hit!

One lucky lady went home with the beautiful antique rocker that was reupholstered with a 1942 Australian army blanket.  Simply lovely!

This show was a great success for us!  And so many folks promised to visit us on their next trip to Birmingham!

Speaking of Birmingham, we are planning on doing the VMD of Birmingham this winter…it’s the weekend BEFORE the Iron Bowl (if you aren’t from Alabama where all scheduling of life activities revolves around college football, it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving)!  Stay tuned as I will be posting some of the goodies we will be bringing to this market.

The post Our First Vintage Market Days of Mobile appeared first on Shop at Blu.

She’s a beauty!  And already has some hooks.  I have the perfect items for a Christmas display!

My MIL made these beautiful stockings out of old ticking and fabric she had laying around back in the late 80’s.  Aren’t they fabulous?

She was the queen of primitive and what is now called Farmhouse Chic!  

Don’t they make the perfect accent for this washboard?

I think I will add some greenery just to brighten it up a bit.  I have an old beat up artificial Christmas tree that isn’t functional.  I have been using the branches for miscellaneous projects.  Some of these greens will be perfect.

Add a burlap-ish bow.  And here she is…

Here are some links to purchase similar items should you wish to re-create this look in your home!  Note:  links contain affiliate links for your convenience…

Not bad for a 15 minute upcycle project!  

This baby needs to go in my Farmhouse Kitchen, once it’s done!  For now, she’s looking pretty at The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment in Alabaster, AL.   

Linking to the following parties…won’t you stop by and share the love?

Made by You Monday

Inspiration Monday Party

A Pinch of Joy Holiday Link Party

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party

Mad Skills Party

Dishing it and Digging it!

Talk of the Town

Tutorials and Tips

Show and Tell

A Little Bird Told Me Linky Party

Creative Spark

Share Your Style

Wonderful Wednesday

Wow Me Wednesday

The Inspiration Gallery

The post Quick upcycle project at The Blue Building Antiques #1 appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Decor on a budget isn’t always small!

If you follow any of us, you know that we can do ALOT on a itty bitty budget. And simply because you have a little budget DOES NOT mean you have to decorate small.  Follow along for each of our Super Simple Holiday Home Tours of our normal little holiday homes.  I bet you find something phenomenal that was done on an itty bitty budget.  And you will probably enjoy the raw reality of our normal little homes!

Family Decor Traditions

Growing up, my mom decorated for every holiday.  I loved to help her pull out those decorative boxes from the basement of our Philadelphia home.  We would drag them up the stairs and sort through them together.  Many of those decorations have long been discarded or broken.  But I still have a few and they are displayed proudly on my mantle every year…especially at Christmas.   These dolls are one good example.  The two tallest dolls and the ballerina in the rear of the sleigh were my childhood dolls.  Mom displayed them every Christmas. And now I do!

One of my Mom’s best friends made Mom and Dad some stockings when they were first married back in 1961.  Four years later, she made one for me.  And now, my entire family has stocking made by sweet Anne Hoffman!  These are possibly our family’s most treasured Christmas items!

Creating New Family Traditions

As we have grown our little family from two to seven, we have our own family heirlooms and memories that are present on the mantle and on our Christmas tree every year.

While my stockings are unique and handmade, here are a few links I found to similar stockings kits.  These links contain my affiliate links.   Each time a purchase is made through these links I receive a small commission from the sale without any extra cost to you.  

One tradition that I started when we only had two children is the gift of an ornament under the tree.  I always tried to pick an ornament for each child that would represent some milestone or highlight of their year. Thus, we have ornaments that represent learning to swim, favorite shows and cartoon animals, getting a driver’s license, scouts, sports, karate black belt, games, favorite foods, first jobs, trips to Washington DC, Paris, hobbies, and so much more.  

It got a little difficult to be original when buying ornaments for 9 people each year (I also bought one for my mom and dad since they spent every Christmas with us).  I paused over the last two years as our tree is always so loaded with personal ornaments that there is hardly any room for traditional balls and ornaments.  But I always throw on some balls that we have had from our first Christmases together.  

“The Edingers” we inherited from my in-laws when they passed away.  This is one of my favorites!  It’s simple, tasteful, custom made for them, and so very close to my heart!

I was so very proud of IV when she learned to swim at the age of 3!  I swam throughout my childhood on the neighborhood summer swim team.   Go Kendrick!  I have several Philadelphia City Championship medals for Team Medley Relays and Free Style Relays.  I was also a member of the 1st John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School Swim team! Last year while visiting my high school’s website, I saw where a graduate received a swimming scholarship to college!  Whoohoo!  So proud!  Alma Mater Glorify!  Wonderful childhood memories…I need to put these soon to be antique medals on our tree!  LIGHTBULB MOMENT!!!

Very proud of “V” when he started swimming at the age of 2!  A benefit of being a stay at home mom…finally after 5 children!

Our little ornament collection  worked nicely for numbers “I” and “II” who now have homes of their own and a starter set of custom picked ornaments for their trees.

Though I do add new items to our decor each year, my favorite decorations are the older ones that belonged to family members who are not with us any longer.  My Great Aunt Marian bought these musical wise men for my Great Grandmother back in the 1970’s.

 
I made this ceramic tree for my grandmother back in 1978 at ceramics class.  I’ve inherited hers, along with the one I made for my great grandmother, and the one I made for my mom.

I have seen these trees for sale at craft shows around the holidays.  I’ve also included a few affiliate links below:

My MIL, Flo, was a crafty creative soul.  She was always in her basement with her scroll saw and dremel whipping up holiday decorations.  She even had little in home sales around Christmas.

These stockings were sewn on her little sewing machine and are a few of my most favorite items.  She was Farmhouse Chic before JoJo was born!  I have dreams at night of the two of us shopping Lucketts and Brimfield!

I also started a Nutcracker collection for my 3 boys and a doll collection for my 2 girls.  This is another ritual that I have taken a break from over the last 2 years as it is getting harder to display these.  Hopefully “I”  will take his 14 nutcrackers with him this Christmas to the new home that he just bought!  

Our tree doesn’t really change very much over the years.  We always use the family ornaments.  We use more or less balls depending on the size of live tree we buy.  The last 2 Christmases, we’ve used our artificial tree for convenience.  The kids really only like the real trees but sometimes it’s just better for me to go the easier route!  They adjust.  After all, in a family of 7…adaptation is the norm!

The collection of Santas over the Grandfather clock are Santas that I have accumulated over 25 year of marriage.  Some are from craft shows, some are gifts, but all are loved.  They are a reminder of my “primitive” days.

My Christmas style is a little eclectic, like my life!  I gravitate toward vintage items…like the Santa on the mantle and the feather tree.  Many of these items I have purchased from my own store, The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment, my greatest source for all things vintage and eclectic!  If you are ever near Birmingham, AL, stop in and see us!  I promise you will be amazed!

When I see vintage tree ornaments, I am rendered helpless…I MUST BUY!  Knowing your weakness is a good thing.

As I reviewed these photos, I was mentally compiling a list of what was missing and what was wrong in my living room.  

• I have NO Christmas pillows!  One of my sweetest blogger friends, Lucy at Ms. Craftberry Bush has a beautiful line of pillows!  I MUST BUY SOME!
• I should really put more decor on that red pencil tree.  
• Those santas at the top of the grandfather clock need something more.  
• My curtains look drab.
• I seriously need to make a beautiful Christmas pallet sign to replace the “My darling” sign just for the holidays.  Note:  I love this sign and it’s new  from this year’s Market on Chapel Hill so it might just stay here ’cause I’m probably not gonna have time to make a sign this week.

Just goes to show you…we are never, ever finished!  There is always more to do, more to buy, more to fix.

One think I have learned this year is that I must move at my own pace and in my own groove.  Comparison is indeed the thief of joy!  So my message for this tour is this:  take a little inspiration but don’t beat yourself up.  After all…here is a picture I took to show you what I started with:

But here is what I really started with:

See Pop’s hat and jacket and newspaper at the bottom left, my drill and keys on the piano to the right?  My point is that there are lots you don’t see in the snapshot that you are presented with.  Remember, there is always always always more behind the scenes!  Nothing is perfect!  No-one! Not ever!

So, this was a glimpse into my home…my home that needs so much work and updating! My living room that is overstuffed with furniture to accommodate 8+ people lounging comfortably on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter! My walls and carpet that need updating!  But, don’t we all!  All things in due time my friends! 

And no glimpse would be complete without some picks of my constant helpers.  

Levi loves to inspect all of the decorations!

And Hercules likes to go incognito!

And Mia, well, she likes to nap!

I’m missing my scaredy cat Bella…she’s shy!  But I promise some pics of her and Bowser the Ferret at a later date…maybe New Year’s!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Continue the tour with the wonderful homes below:

The post Just a Normal Home – Holiday House Tour appeared first on Shop at Blu.