THE BEAUTY OF BURLAP

Burlap is good for so much more than just a sack race!



It seems like every time I open up a decor magazine there is some piece of furniture upholstered in burlap. I love it! Burlap is a coarse woven fabric usually made of jute or other vegetable fibers. It is durable, breathable and environmentally friendly.

The texture of burlap may have you thinking it may be just for rustic country decor, but just take a look at this daybed sofa with French Empire carving from http://www.thebellacottage.com/.

In the garden burlap not only makes for a biodegradable weed barrier but it sets for a lovely garden party! Table covers, placemats and runners..OH MY!

Though burlap would not make the best curtains in direct sunlight, these curtains make a beautiful room divider! The neutral colour makes it easy to add to any decor. It also adds texture and character.

Crafting with burlap is fun. It makes for a great backing for cork boards or bulletin boards. If you can sew, the opportunities are limitless. Pillows, bags, garden apron and even clothes!

When I was in grade school, I even remember my dad wallpapering our hallway with burlap! I thought he was crazy! Who knew?

The Passionate Home carries these beautiful pillows made by Aimee at http://www.agardentoremember.com/. Check out her site for other burlap creations!

A natural fabric, burlap is recyclable and may one day surpass cotton as the most used natural fiber. I know that I have been inspired to consider burlap for my next project. What about you?

THE LOVE OF A STATUE

A BUST is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of a human figure. This one sits on my mantel at home and there is something about her that is beautiful and captivating.

This "love" is trying to keep warm by my fireplace! I find something calming about her sweet little face. When decorating with a statue indoors, it is like bringing the outside in!




It's funny really. These are my girls and they sit beside each other all day and never speak to each other. I wonder if they are fighting or just lost in their own thoughts.

Here is a garden statue brought indoors to listen to your tales as you wash up. You can add a statue or bust to any room in your home inside or out.

I would love to say that this is my backyard, but sadly, it is not. This beautiful display is at Gina Glavin's French Inspired Fantasy - see March/April 2010 Issue of Victoria Magazine. I do however have a statue at the back of my yard, a gift from special friends years ago. I often look out my kitchen window at her and wonder how she is doing out there!

Venus de Milo is for sale at The Passionate Home. This statue depicts Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. You could take her home and put her in your bathroom or bedroom to hang your necklaces! Of course the real statue is in the Louvre Museum in Paris!

One of my favorites at the store is this little winged angel. He seems to be pondering what to do next! I think he might like to find a new home where he can sit in the garden or on a patio and keep someone company! He does not eat much and he loves to listen!!

At this French Market we found Mary Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of France. She is the one on the right!!! WOW, how beautiful they both are!!

This statue may be just a bit big to bring indoors and may be a bit much for most gardens but with a little luck, you should be able to find one that can fit into your space just perfectly! When choosing your statue, really look at the face, each one has it's own story, it's own history and it needs to speak just to you! In the case of the Statue of Liberty, I think she speaks to many!

RECLAIMED SILVER

A TREASURE TROVE OF RECLAIMED SILVER

"Look what just arrived at The Passionate Home"

If you are a silver collector like me, you will want to see what just arrived in store!

I thought that I would share with you some photos of my silver collection. I love the detail on these two pieces and I also have the sugar and cream that match. I seem to have a bit of theme in my collection. I just love jugs or anything with a handle and a spout.



Another thing I love about old pieces of silver is that you often find them engraved with a bit of history. This teapot is to thank J.L. Watts for 25 years of service with Gulf Canada. Dated 1976 would mean that Mr. Watts started with the company in 1951...I wonder where he is now?

This is another great find! It is the lid to a serving platter and has the markings of the Union Castle Line. With a bit of research, I found that the Union Castle Line was a prominent shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and freighters between Southampton and South Africa from 1900 to 1977. How it must have travelled before I came upon it!

Here is another photo of a grouping on the top of my buffet in my dining area. The jug in the back looks like it may be used in a restaurant for water. The little one in the from is solid silver and is marked with a hotel logo. The silver tray is one of Janis's "Junk Style" creations. She painted the tray with chalkboard paint and added a vintage jewel. I purchased it for the holidays but I think I will keep it out all year round.

I also have just a few vintage crystal finds to mix with the silver. I think it looks so pretty! The dish with the bird's nest makes for a perfect cranberry sauce dish and it cost me about $3.00 at a local thrift store. The decanter was a wedding gift to my Nana and Grandad. Did I mention that my Nana is in her 100th year!!

This shelf in my buffet is the perfect place to display my finds. Each piece comes with it's own little bit of history and a memory of how and when it came to be in my possession. I hope you have a little area in your home that brings you as much joy as this area brings me!

IMAGINATION IDEATION -festive front door

FESTIVE FRONT DOOR

The front of your home is like the wrapping on a gift. It sets the tone for all the wonder you will find inside. Decorating the outside of your home for the holidays should be fun and affordable. I thought I would help get your ideas flowing in order for you to make your home beautiful at this magical time of year. These ideas are not only for your front door area, remember your garden area and window boxes too!



You can set the tone for winter using items you may already have around the house. You may want to start with a half barrel from the garden or an urn, a collection of terra cotta pots or whatever you have laying empty in your garden. Even if you think the only pot you have is ugly, why not wrap it in burlap and tie it up with some string or ribbon! Move it to the front of your home and stuff it with branches and evergreen, holly or berries. You could even use cuttings from your own garden. Every year I use a few cuttings from my California Lilac to add into my window boxes. If it is on the front porch, try adding some old skis or snowshoes that would add height and interest. You could lean them against the wall or stick them in the flower pot along with the branches. Another great item to add height is a garden hook with a lantern hanging from it. Wouldn't it be beautiful to light a candle in your lantern to warmly greet your visitors?

Skates are another item that you could incorporate into your design. Do you have a pair that you do not use anymore or that are too small? You could set them into your barrel, if it is big enough or simply hang them outdoors for that chalet feeling.

You could decorate with so many different items. What about using a birds nest, baskets, driftwood, old cookie cutters, a tin star, galvanized buckets. Use your imagination! Try to keep to a theme and remember it is all in the details!

A toboggan is a great prop to set the scene for winter fun. You could just lean it outside the front door and hang a wreath from it or use it as a backdrop for a larger display.

Take a walk in your garden for inspiration! What about bring an old garden gate into the front garden and wrapping it with Christmas lights. I see a lot of great ideas in my own backyard that would help make a festive entry. Old wood sash windows, iron bed from my veggie garden, a white painted ladder, a set of green shutters, and a decorative iron piece.

If you have a front porch area, you may have an Adirondack chair or bench that could be dressed up for the holidays. A great way to add colour is to drape your seating area with a wool blanket. You can also incorporate any plastic holiday balls or decorations you may already have to add colour and interest to your urns full of evergreen, your window boxes or attach them to artificial greenery around your garage doors!

I encourage you to try something new this year. Decorate your front entrance for yourself and your visitors to enjoy. Do you have a bird bath in the garden?? Why not move it into the front or better yet, onto the porch and fill it with evergreens and tiny lights, a pair of skates in the center and TADA...there you have it!

Whether you go simple and elegant or you go all out, I hope that these ideas have got you excited to get out into the fresh air, to let your creativity flow and that the results bring a smile to your face!

Happy Holidays!

IMAGINATION IDEATION - old door knobs

OLD GLASS DOOR KNOBS

Bling anyone? Old door knobs are a great find and can be used for so many different things. They add history and interest! Here you can see that they have been added to an Antique Iron Bed. This 3/4 size iron head and foot board would be a great start to set the tone for a guest room or cottage bedroom.



When building furniture or changing up older pieces, you can use door knobs instead of traditional pulls. The unexpected really makes a piece special! You could change up your door knobs to your bathroom or pantry! You could use the knobs to hang tab curtains or use as curtain tie backs. I have also seen a door knob attached to a wall and used to hang a picture by a beautiful thick ribbon!




Old door knobs come in all sorts of shapes and colours. These knobs are black and have been added to an old wood window that has been converted into a mirror. This restyled beauty can be used for coats, hats or jewelry. To change the look you can create this project in any colour and with any knobs.

Heather from The Fresh View Magazine purchased these glass knobs from The Passionate Home and had her handy man install them to make a grand entrance to her shed! This is not your typical shed, just look at the vintage panel doors in glossy black, WOW! Thanks for sharing Heather!

It may sound funny put I have seen many a smiling face when people see the old door knobs. They seem to surface fond memories! Take a moment and think how you can add a bit of history into your decor!

IMAGINATION IDEATION - one chair

ONE SINGLE COUNTRY CHAIR

A single chair is a great addition to any home and in any room. This chair would make a super bedside table in a small space. Just enough room for a lamp and clock and it doubles as extra

seating. This same chair would work in a family room as a side table with books and a blanket. What about in your kitchen for a plant or fresh flowers?
If you are lucky enough to find a sturdy old country chair, snap it up! Just look at the character this one from the store has! It is sturdy oak and painted a beautiful shade of blue. You could also collect your set of dining chairs one at a time and create an eclectic mix at the dining table!

Lets go outdoors, it is great extra seating when you are setting up for a garden party like the people here at http://www.barnhouse.com/. I did set up something like this in my own backyard last year, but I don't think it looked quite this inviting!

This is my single chair close to my front door. It makes for extra seating indoors and a great place for the whole family to put their library books so that I do not have to search under the beds! Also convenient for Grandpa to sit and put on his shoes! A chair like this is also functional in a bathroom next to the tub or shower. It will keep your towels handy and your glass of wine within reach!

If your chair is in less than perfect condition, why not cut a hole in the seat and pot it up! This adds great interest in your garden! Or, use it at the front door to build a seasonal vignette. If you have cut a hole in the seat, fill the hole with branches, greenery and holly at Christmas. Fill it with branches and pumpkins in the fall! Decorating with one single chair creates a very relaxed style. Your chair is multi functional, easy to maneuver, practical and pretty! So remember, the next time you are treasure hunting, don't pass it up just because there is only one! Sometimes, one is all you need!

IMAGINATION IDEATION - flea market frames

FLEA MARKET FIND PICTURE FRAME

Picture Frames can be found in any thrift store, garage sale or flea market. They are affordable and one of the most inexpensive and versatile decor items. Just look at this collection of frames in all shapes and sizes. They have been uniformed by colour for huge impact. You could frame a collection of family photos or favorite prints from an old calender!


We carry an assortment of frames in the store that are painted and ready to go! Frames are not just for prints! You can have fun and frame just about anything. Here we have hung a bejeweled vintage hand mirror. You could also use an empty hanging frame to display colourful plates, a small shelf, a smaller picture, stenciled wall words or just another smaller empty frame!




I always feel lucky when I come across old gilded frames that look so beautiful just as they are. Here are a few that I have displayed on top of our piano. Another simple project is to add a mirror into your frame.

I found this frame in the back of a local antique store. The picture was one of those velvet bulls and lady in the red dress! Covered in cobwebs, my kids thought I was crazy. It used to hang above my landing in the hall but I have recently moved it into the living room where it frames my tree! It just makes me smile!

With a little bit of spray paint and chalkboard paint, look what you can create. This is also a great idea now that Christmas is coming! Hit the thrift store and make a priceless work of art for someone special! You could also add chicken wire in the frame to make a unique jewelry holder or add fabric to make a bulletin board. You can frame beautiful wallpaper, fabric or vintage linen.

While planning this weeks IDEATION, I came across this photo from http://www.agardentoremember.blogspot.com/. She purchased this frame at a thrift store for
$17.00 and a reproduction Paris map for $20 and it is gorgeous focal point in her family room.
For the kitchen you could frame a favorite family recipe and paint the frame to match your decor. This is also a great gift idea! If your frame is thick enough you could also add some handles to each end and use it as a tray. So, before you put those old outdated pictures into the box for the Sally Ann, take another look...you could probably RECLAIM, RESTYLE & REDECORATE!

I would love to hear about your FRAME CREATIONS, so feel free to leave a comment and share!