Crazy for crates....

suddenly I'm finding lots of crates and I just love them. There are so many possibilities and they're sooo useful..

In a previous post you'll have seen lots of pretty pastel coloured crates. This time it's a lovely rustic crates with grain sack images from Karen at the Graphics Fairy

this one is transferred using freezer paper..

and this one is a straightforward decoupage...

and then, how about a couple of shallow crates covered with antique sheet music?

Had to share this 'before' picture of a fabulous old hat box I found yesterday, hard to tell from the photo but it's really large (this is my 16inch studio ruler) and has lovely details including the leather strapping and the remains of old labels...

can't wait to get started on this one, it'll be a great match for the vintage trunk i finished a couple of weeks ago...

stylish storage!

have a good weekend x

Vintage letters...

Some time ago, in an old box I found at auction, I came across some very old letters (the oldest is dated 1877). They make fascinating reading but are also beautiful objects in their own right...

 I love the letter heading on this page, perhaps this is where the author worked?

Here's a close up of the 'three box power loom' advertised on the

letter heading...

 

and here's another, more recent letter in beautiful handwriting. I've left out the start and finish because it seems a bit intrusive to include it. The first page was quite personal so I chose to omit that part...

 I hope you enjoy these lovely archive items as much as I do...

Have a good day x

Shabby doll's house and rocking horse...

I found this poor, sad little doll's house last week...

it was no better inside....

but now it's a rather shabby but genteel house of the bourgeoisie living on the Rue Lafayette in Paris...

the faded grandeur extends to the interior where the rooms are painted in chalky sugared almond shades

Madame et Monsieur may have seen better times but they still manage to keep their Paris townhouse...

Major credits to Karen at the Graphics fairy for the image...

On the theme of toys... here is a rocking horse that I renovated...

I forgot to take a 'before' photo, but trust me, you wouldn't have liked the vivid green and red colour scheme!

More cuties for my next Vintage fair!

Vintage trunk, doll's cradle, storage crates etc...

Put the kettle on, lots to look at today.

First this grubby old trunk I found. Grubby yes, but in good sound condition otherwise, apart from the handles. The hinges were intact as was the vintage paper lining...

then there was the doll's cradle and you know how much I hate thick shiny varnish, right?

...and the rustic mirror, yucky but lots of potential...

and here are the 'after' shots...with some supporting cast members...

 the doll's cradle got a makeover with new linen and 'Bonne Nuit' transferred onto the headboard. (I'm pretty sure I got this image from the Graphics Fairy a while ago)...

No before pic of these pretty storage crates because you know what an old crate looks like, right? but very cute in their pastel colours and trims now...

 the mirror looks tons better with a simple wash of paint...

and as for the trunk...ta dah! I used an image from the Graphics Fairy again for a vintage Paris address on top of a coat of paint and reworked the handles...

not easy to see the image in the blinding (and unaccustomed) sunshine we've been having...

and here's an opinion from another cast member...

'wake me up when it's all over.....'

'I'm awake and I love what you've done' (I may have made that opinion up...)

anyhoo, back to reality...here's an idea for using the trunk for storage, great for linens or Winter clothes maybe? It would also make a great coffee table with built in storage...

and here's a little detail I added...

hope you like all these projects, more to come soon...

have a good day x

Shabby storage box and a racing car!

here's another sad little item that I thought could look a lot happier

shabby yes, but NOT chic...

but now....

shabby, chic and fit for any lady's boudoir...

especially if, like me, she likes a little bit of crackle glazing...

and here's one for the boys... I found this great little 'ride on' racing car at the weekend. Some little boy's going to love this surely?

Shabby Step Ladder.....

 everyone seems to love a shabby step ladder these days, and I'm no exception so when I saw this little beauty I snapped it up!

It was painted in a rather nasty dark browny red so I got my paint brush out - I don't think I knew the meaning of complicated until I tried to paint this, especially as it kept trying to fold up whilst covered in wet paint!

anyhoo, some time later....

pretty as a picture and so useful (are you listening ol' Bill Morris?)

here's a little photo from Pinterest too, I couldn't believe how many different ways you could use a shabby step ladder!

have a good day!