Weaving a Tale

Thought I'd just stop by to show how far I've got with the make-overs I mentioned on my last post...

This is the Lloyd Loom blanket box that I bought, which you can probably see needed smartening up...

Ew!

I didn't want to change the original paintwork, as this will devalue a piece, but the upholstery was yucky!

First I removed the fabric that had been attached rather badly with bent nails! This revealed the old fabric beneath.

Rather than going down the usual route of a floral furnishing fabric, I thought I'd try something a bit different. I have several French food sacks from the 1960's that I have wanted to do something with for a while. Luckily, my favourite one was just the right size.

It was simply stretched and stapled over the original fabric, into the wooden frame of the lid. The excess was carefully trimmed away.

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I had a card full of vintage braid, which was ideal for hiding the staples. This was glued in place.

Done! - Potting shed chic! Ideal in a conservatory/garden room, or rustic kitchen.

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The little glazed dresser that I mentioned is still a work in progress, as it will need several coats of paint.

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A quicker make-over was the one I had planned for this little file drawer.

I used a vintage toile de jouy cotton fabric glued in place.

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It would make a lovely storage box in a sewing workroom.

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I also painted this pine plate rack, which needed freshening up after a previous paint job!

It made it into the shop window today.

I'm sold - thank you!

I always find it strange how things turn up when I go out vintage shopping for the shop. Sometimes a certain colour scheme runs through my finds....sometimes an era links them...but this weekend it was a basket theme!

As well as the Lloyd Loom blanket box, I found this little wicker hamper...

I added the vintage china and linens, to make it a picnic set for two.

This fabulous 50's tea tray with basket sides continues the theme...

Fun and fabulous!

The tray sold today - Thank you!

And the pièce de résistance is this large French two tier storage basket stand.

Ideal in a country kitchen for keeping all your fresh produce to hand, or as a sewing basket perhaps?

Loosely continuing the basket story, (well, baskets are a form of weaving ;-)) I also found several weaving loom shuttles.

By coincidence, I found the old book about weaving too!

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Other finds, completely unconnected, include some pretty framed pictures; one an original watercolour painting...

Some 50's greetings cards, most with padded satin inserts...

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And a lovely old leaded light window pane.

Sorry there's been a lot of posts about my shop again...Tomorrow is my day-off, so hopefully I will have a day where I don't have to think about it...But then there is that dresser waiting for another coat of paint... :)

Niki x