Archive for the Category »Shabby Chic «

Window to the Past

The Hubs has had a couple of old windows saved here and there from our 1890-built home. I didn’t want him to throw them away, thinking that one day I would do something with them. After living here for 15 years, I’ve finally done something with one of them. And now I can truly say it’s a Trash to Treasure window I will keep forever.

Window to the Past Trash to Treasure

I have filled each pane of this old shabby window with vintage photos, scrapbook paper, and assorted ephemera to make it sort of a Window to the Past. The upper left pane features of photo of my mother when she was a little girl. It’s one of my favorite photos of her; she’s wearing a dress my great grandmother made for her. The upper right pane features a photo of Nana, my grandmother when she was a young woman. I love how happy she looks in the photo . The lower left pane shows my mom when she was a very little girl, on a boat with Nana (my mom’s mother) and Nana’s mother. Mom was very close to my great grandmother, so I love photos of them together. And the bottom right pane features my mom and her grandmother. My mom is dressed up like the cutest little cowgirl, and she’s holding her grandmother’s hand. I just love that photo.

Here are some larger versions of each window pane so you can see the details a bit better.

Window Pane 1

Upper Left Pane

Window Pane 2

Upper Right Pane

Window Pane 3

Lower Left Pane

Window Pane 4

Lower Right Pane

This came out looking rather Shabby Chic, which wasn’t exactly my intention since my home decor leans toward country and primitive, but I love it either way.  Nothing wrong with adding a little Shabby Chic flair, right? I love that it’s kind of crusty and old looking. And I love that it was a part of this house in the distant past. This window is going to hang above my couch so I can see it everyday. Just have to get the Hubs to help me hang it!

Tina Siggy

Fairy Topiary

I spent time in the studio again yesterday. I never get in there as often as I’d like, and then when I do it’s hard to get me out of there! Got some fun projects done, including this one, my little Fairy Topiary (click image to view full size), which I’ll add to my collection of Fairy Crafts.

Fairy Topiary

I started with a small white, enamel bucket, about 2-1/2″ in diameter. In the bottom of that I add a piece of Styrofoam, which I cut to fit. Next I created the topiary, beginning with a reused end of a craft swab (waste not, want not, right?) that I painted green. I stuck on a small Styrofoam ball to the top of it, which I also painted green. Then I hot glued on some craft flowers until the ball was covered, and added a pink satin bow to it too. Then I stuck it into the Styrofoam in the bottom of the bucket.

Then I needed to create the fairy, which started with a vintage photo of a girl. Again I used a discarded craft swab to attach to the back of the photo, which I’d printed on cardstock. Then I used some craft picks to create her wings, which are made of pink tulle and beads. I simply taped those onto the back of the photo. Then I stuck that into the Styrofoam in the bucket as well.

To give weight to the bucket to hold everything in place, I put in glass flat marbles that you can get in any craft store. I have had these sitting around for years and had plenty of them. So I just poured in enough to go to the top of the bucket. They add a neat texture and some shimmer, which I like. They almost look like the tops of bubbles in there. :) Once those were in place I finished the bucket off by adding a pink satin bow to each side.

The whole thing has a sort of Shabby Chic feel to it, and a vintage touch too. I think something like this would look great as a table decoration at a bridal shower or baby shower or something. But my little fairy is going in my studio so I can see her everyday.

Tina Siggy

Vintage Clothespin Magnets

While I was in the studio this weekend I was brainstorming ideas for things to make from some vintage clothespins that I had in the house. I finally decided that they would look neat if I gave them a Shabby Chic look and made magnets out of them. So here are the results of my inspiration.

Shabby Flower Vintage Clothespin

Vintage Flower Clothespin

For the first vintage clothespin, I wrapped it first with a piece of scrap lace trim I had in my collection. Then, at the top and bottom edge of the lace, I added a strip of gathered lace trim, to make it look a little more frilly. Then I added a satin rose to the top of the clothespin, and some satin ribbon to the bottom lace edge. Then I just added a magnet to the back. Very shabby chic-looking, don’t you think?

For the second vintage clothespin, I started with a strip of cream-colored burlap to give it some texture. To that, I added a piece of my favorite vintage-looking rose-patterned fabric. And I simply topped that off with a burgundy satin ribbon, and added the magnet to the back.

So basically, these are not only recycled and repurposed vintage clothespins, but they are Altered Art as well. And so fun and easy to make with things I already had on hand in my studio.

Tina Siggy

Passion Pretty Pouch

This is third shabby chic and sort of altered art style Pretty Pouch I made this week, and I’m calling it Passion.

Passion Pretty Pouch

A plain muslin bag was my starting point, as usual. Then I stamped on a pretty image of a woman’s face. I got this stamp at Michael’s last week and I just love it! I also stamped on, passion. Next I sewed on some tatted-style lace trim, along with some black trim as an accent to tie in with the stamp. Then I added an ivory-colored craft rose and some matching organdy ribbon.  And I topped it off near the top of the bag with a black button and some more ribbon.

I could definitely see this pouch or any of the others being used as gift bags. It’s giving me lots of ideas for Christmas too.

Tina

Tina Siggy

Believe Pretty Pouch

This is another Pretty Pouch I’ve made called, Believe. This one definitely has that Shabby Chic feel to it, but still has that hint of altered art too.

Believe Pretty Pouch

Again I started with a simple muslin bag. I stamped on some script text using some copper ink. On top of that I added a butterfly stamp using black ink, and added the word, believe.  Then I finished it off by sewing on two different types of lace trim, and added a pink silk rose.

This is my favorite Pretty Pouch that I’ve made this week. One more to show you shortly!

Tina

Tina Siggy

Beauty Pretty Pouch

I’ve created some new things I’m calling Pretty Pouches. They are part shabby chic and part altered art, the way I see them. I love doing things with muslin bags, so I thought this would be fun for me. And I’ll also be selling these in the store once we open.  This is my first one, called Beauty.

Beauty Pretty Pouch

I started with a simple muslin bag and stamped on a fun image using blank ink. Then I sewed on some tatted-style lace and some ivory colored trim. Next I sewed on some burgundy colored ribbon flowers that have pearl accents. I just love this. It could be used for so many things…as home decor, as a gift bag, or just a place to put some special items you might want to tuck away somewhere.  I know I’ll be making lots of these!

Tina

Tina Siggy