Back to School Goes Home

I admit that I have a thing for school supply stores.  Having been a teacher for many years has influenced my love for classroom staples, and having just the right pen and notebook still matters.  I also love lockers, globes, and maps, and I’m especially crazy about library card catalogs.  While that may make me sound like a quintessential nerd, I’m not alone.  Nostalgia for school days and childhood has made classroom items sought after decorations for the home.  You can have lots of fun upcycling school castoffs and making them your own.  

Lockers are great in mud rooms, in kids’ bedrooms, in bathrooms, in offices, and in craft rooms.  They are easy to spray paint if you don’t like the original patina.  They come in many styles, from small locker room squares to tall, slim doors that open to one shelf and some hooks. 

You can personalize lockers in many ways, including removing some doors on tall lockers to create open shelves and adding legs and/or a top to square lockers to create furniture.

  If you don’t have room for large lockers, try smaller metal pool lockers.  They can be added to furniture, shelves, and under benches for an industrial storage look.

School desks may be used for study areas, but they are also great with the top removed for planters or for display pieces throughout the home.  Desk benches or chairs are also nice display pieces, either on the floor or layered on top of a table.

Maps add color to any room and can be upcycled in a variety of ways.  Try attaching maps on rollers to the inside of window frames to create shades. 

 Hang maps as art in any room, framed or unframed.  Lastly, you can make a big statement in a room by pasting or pinning maps all over one wall instead of using wallpaper.

Globes make great accents and add color and fun to a room.  Try grouping several globes together, mixing large and small sizes for visual interest. 

You can also customize globes using paint, markers, or Modge Podge.  Use the globe for a base and add pictures, words, or drawings, either on the original surface or on a painted globe that you have prepared for a brand new look.

Library card catalogs can be made into other furniture like a sofa table or buffet, customized for craft room storage, or used as display pieces. 

They come in metal and wood styles and customarily have numerous drawers.  If the wood is quite worn, consider painting the piece for a shabby chic look.

Lastly, blackboard paint has become a popular way to make homework all grown up. 

 You can paint menus in the kitchen, cover an entire wall for the family to draw on, or customize furniture with blackboard accents. 

Black goes with everything, and this paint is easy to use and available at hardware stores.  You can even start with a layer of magnetic paint followed by blackboard paint so you can add magnets to your creation.

School days are here again, and it’s easy to capture the look with thrift store finds and a little imagination. Who says you can never go back?

Creating a Neutral Palette

           The shabby chic look is a popular design style, and furniture with “chippy” paint, tea cups, and rose quilts are best sellers in today’s vintage market, but before accessorizing a room, it is important to prepare a palette that will show off shabby treasures.  People often think they should paint their rooms pure white to achieve a shabby chic look, but white by itself can come across as stark or sterile.  Consider instead painting woodwork such as floor and window trim or wainscoting white and using a neutral color on the walls to make the whites pop.  An example would be Benjamin Moore’s #1515 Natural Elements.  You might be surprised at how many shades of white are available.  Experiment with linen, antique white, creams, and even light tans, and don’t be afraid to mix shades.  Other complimentary colors could include soft mint, pink, or grey.   Neutral carpeting or whitewashed wood flooring complete the basics.

            Dress your windows in white or cream lace or sheers for an airy look.  White smocked curtains add texture and layering lace and sheers can add interest.  Work white textiles into your décor and cover darker upholstered furniture with white slipcovers to achieve a quick change.  Remove any pieces with busy fabric or rug patterns; a neutral palette is calm, and busy patterns can overpower that look.  Use soft white or cream pillows and throws liberally.

            Place mirrors on the walls instead of artwork.  Mirrors make a space look bigger, add sparkle, and will reflect the whites for a lighter look.  White tin panels, sconces, and white architectural salvage add visual interest.  Hang chandeliers or use table lamps accessorized with clear beads, lace, or crystal pendants.  If the room you are decorating is a bedroom, hang white or cream netting over the headboard for drama.  Add white fairy lights for whimsy.

            If you have dark furniture, try painting it white or a light grey.  Grey will blend into a neutral palette rather than disrupting it like brown does.  If you are stuck with dark furniture or upholstery, use white pillows, throws, quilts, or even sheers or tablecloths to soften the dark colors.

            Don’t overlook your bookcases and how virtually busy the covers of the books can be.  Stack the books backward on the shelf to create a more restful display and accessorize the shelves with white or light pastel glassware or knick knacks.  Some designers cover their books in coordinating decorative paper.

            The lovely thing about a neutral palette is that if you tire of the look or want to change it for a new season, it is easy to add accents with bold color to completely transform and energize your room.  If you like the white look all year round, spray paint leaf garlands white or cream and use in place of a valance or in vases for autumn.  Incorporate holiday décor that is pastel or white, and add silvers for a festive sparkle at Christmas. 

          The shabby chic look is versatile, classy, and pretty, and compliments most styles, so try some whitening and lightening if you need a restful change.

Turning Clutter Into Cash

     I love yard sales.  I grew up treasure hunting through people’s garages, back yards, and barns, and I’ve met some of the most interesting people during my forays.  It’s fun to hear stories, share gardening tips and peek at others’ landscaping, and cart people’s junk home to give it new life.  I’d much rather attend sales, but the time has come for me to thin some collections, so I’m planning my own sale this summer.  My friends have been quick to offer advice on avoiding yard sale “faux pas”:

·         Presentation, presentation, presentation.  Don’t just heap items on tables or the ground.  Group like items together, vary presentation heights, and make sure items are clean.  Hang clothing and linens, or fold them neatly on tables.  A closet rod, broomstick, or shower curtain rod between two ladders works great for this.  Place fragile items up high so little hands can’t reach them, and always be honest if a piece is broken or cracked.  If you stage items to show potential and style, customers will linger and purchase more.

·         Clearly price items, so customers don’t have to ask.  If you don’t want to price everything, fill containers with items that are the same price, or use colored stickers that correspond to a prominently placed key that lists prices for each color.  If you have big ticket items worth lots of money, consider consignment or advertising instead.  People are looking for bargains.

·         If you have items that you don’t intend to sell, remove them, cover them with sheets, or put NFS (Not for sale) tags on them.  Inevitably people will want those items too.

·         Make signs big and bold.  Drivers can’t read tiny writing on boxes near the ground.  Don’t put or leave signs out unless you are open for business, and make sure you post signs legally.  Advertise in newspapers and on social networking sites to get the word out.

·         Open early to allow the crowd going to work a chance to stop.

·         Recruit a friend or two to work with you, and keep your change on you—an apron with big pockets works well.  Make sure you stock enough cash to get you through the day.

·         Place your best pieces prominently out front to lure drive-by customers in, and have lots of items to choose from.  It’s frustrating to see “Huge Sale” on signs that lead to only one or two tables.  Consider teaming up with neighbors, friends, or family for more variety and items.  The bigger the sale, the more people will come.

·         Have plenty of packaging available:  boxes, bags, newspaper for wrapping, and twine or tape are all essential.

·         Consider donating leftover pieces in good condition to a local charity.  There are several local businesses that would benefit from your generosity, and the tax write-off will benefit you in turn.

With a little planning, I hope to turn my clutter into cash, and you can too.  And here’s the best part—now we’ll have room for new treasures that are out there waiting!  (Just don’t tell my husband.  He thinks we’re downsizing!) 

Prairie Sisters Perfection

The Prairie Sisters Show at Metra was a huge success.  Those girls really know what they are doing down to the last detail. 

Colorful pennants, flowers, and hand made signs greeted shoppers at the door, and smiling cashiers handed out baskets containing treats.  Booths were colorful and stocked with shabby chic and repurposed items, along with antiques and upscale "junk".  The temptations were numerous and reasonably priced.  Needless to say, we left with our arms full.

"Junk Hunks" were available to assist with loading of large pieces.  A ticket system was in place to mark items sold and ready to move.

 According to our vendors who participated in the show, many booths sold out to the bare walls, so when the Sisters return later this year for a second show, I'd recommend getting there early--and don't hesitate if you want something because it will likely disappear before you can return for it.  The only complaint I heard at all was how crowded the show was and how difficult it was to see anything in the booths.  From what I've been told, the Sisters are considering expanding into the next room to create more space to alleviate this issue.

Great job, Prairie Sisters--you are a welcome addition to Billings' antique offerings.  We are looking forward to seeing you again in a few months.  (Shows are scheduled in western Montana later this year.  Go to the  Sisters' website for more information:  www.theprairiesisters.com  )

Baskets

Baskets are great tools for display in the home and for adding a touch of warmth to any setting.  They are one of man’s oldest inventions, dating back thousands of years.  Baskets were used by Sumerians to bury their dead, and traces of baskets have been found in Egyptian pyramids.  The Bible mentions baskets several places.  Early baskets were made for practical purposes, but it’s interesting to note that even in early times, basket weavers were creative in the weaves they invented.  As trading and travel became prominent, different weaves made their way across the world, resulting in a number of beautiful patterns that we use today.

            Baskets are made of a variety of materials, including grasses, fibers, pine needles, cloth, and even newsprint.  Some of the methods today include coiling, splint weaving using flat materials like reeds, canes, or vines, and round fibered weaving.

            You can use baskets for decoration or for practical purposes in your home.  Layer a variety of baskets above your kitchen cabinets.  Use them to hold magazines, newspapers, or kindling in the living room.  Nail a flat basket with its back against a wall in the bathroom and add rolled towels or toilet paper. 

A basket with toiletry items in a guest bedroom will make company feel welcome and at home.

You can also nail a basket to any wall to act as a frame for other objects or use baskets on a desk to hold paper, cards, or objects like seashells or rocks you’ve picked up during your adventures. 

 Baskets in cupboards in the kitchen or laundry room make it easier to keep small objects together and organized.  Add baskets under the bed for extra sweaters or linens storage.

You can even use baskets in your garden shed to hold seeds, sprinkler heads, or flowers and herbs that you’ve gathered.  One of my favorite uses for baskets is to combine several small gifts for a friend in a festive setting.  They make a colorful, fun present for any occasion.

            Baskets can be found at most thrift and antique shops for nominal prices.  Try adding some to your décor this spring!

Sources:  Linda Herbert, "Basket Beginnings" and Helen Polaski, "Short History of Baskets and Basket Making"

Collecting Flower Frogs

    

     Florists use floral foam today when arranging bouquets. Before foam was invented, however, flower frogs were used to achieve beautiful, airy arrangements. Flower frogs are made of metal, glass, or ceramics and actually date back to the Persians in the 13th century when side spouts were made on vases.  

  “Glass-disk frogs are flat on the bottom with a recession on the rim and were designed to sit on top of a matched vessel. Footed, domed frogs were meant to be set at the bottom of a vessel. Metal frogs were designed to sit at the bottom of a vessel and were not meant to be seen.”   

     Originally called flower holders or arrangers, flower frogs were first used in the United States in the early 1800’s. The devices peaked in popularity in the 1920’s and 1930’s, at which time over 20 companies manufactured a variety of styles. After the Depression and World War II, the making of flower frogs rapidly declined and ceased altogether after the invention of florist’s foam in 1954.

Flower frogs are still functional, of course, but today collectors have come to appreciate them as ornaments, and they are highly collectible.

     Before 1870, flower frogs were so common that many manufacturers didn’t mark them. Most glass flower arrangers were part of a set including a bowl or vase, and the markings were more likely found on the larger piece instead of the frog insert. Higher end manufacturers including Heisy Glass, Cambridge Glass, and Davidson Glass did mark some of their flower frogs, but not all of them. Marks increase the value of the frog, but even unmarked frogs, especially rarer colors or styles have notable value.

     You can display flower frogs in cabinets, arranged on a wall or table, or in the garden.  Glass frogs make great pen holders, and you can use metal frogs to display pictures, recipes, or business cards.  If you love gardening, consider using flower frogs to add color and interest to your outdoor collections.

Source: Yoest, Helen. “Flower Frogs”. Country Living, 2012

Something Old, Something New

         I recently helped a bride-to-be and her mother select antiques to enhance their vintage wedding plans.  They left with a car full of quirky pieces that the bride planned to incorporate into her home after the wedding.  Their visit made me start imagining a vintage wedding setting that would be easy to design.  Here are some ideas that you can use if you want to incorporate “something old” into your wedding.

·         Create letterpress invitations to set the tone.

·         Layer your table settings.  Start with a plain cream cloth, followed by large pieces of burlap that can be ruched at the corners and top with a lacy antique tablecloth or doilies that have been stitched together.  Use mismatched white chairs or rustic benches for seating.

·         For your centerpieces, create height with crates turned upside down.  Place milk bottles in chicken wire baskets to hold garden bouquets.  Sprinkle homemade confetti across the cloth.  You can make confetti by cutting small hearts out of old sheet music or books that have fallen apart.  The crates and confetti may also be used on the table for the cake display.  An old store tabletop scale is a great accent for holding homemade mints or other treats.  Seating assignments could be made from tea stained tags.

·         Wrap your bride’s maids’ gifts in burlap tied with jute.  Attach a piece of costume jewelry on the middle of the bow.  You can also add costume jewelry to bouquets and corsages.

·         Wrap a wire with rusty patina around the top of Ball jars, creating a handle.  Add sand or pebbles in the bottom and a small candle.  Hang at various heights from tree branches and light at twilight.

·         Hang long lace curtains from a pergola or from a wire strung between trees to create a wall if needed.  Place a shabby chic white buffet or harvest table in front of the curtains if desired for the ceremony. 

·         Old doors can be used for a variety of displays.  Attach hardware at the bottom of the doors to make them free standing.  Tape family pictures all over one door to show the bride and groom growing up.  Paint blackboard paint on another door and use chalk to write out table assignments.  Attach a light fixture at the top of a door and a shelf mid-way to hold the guest book and pen.  Three or four old doors hinged together could form a backdrop for the ceremony instead of curtains.  Doors placed on saw horses become display tables.

·         Hang vintage quilts over fences for color.  (Protect with a sheet underneath.)  An antique pickup with quilts in the back could also be parked off to the side to hold gifts.  Think of the photo opportunities here!

·         Make wedding signs using barn wood and white paint to direct your guests to the site.

·         Set up nostalgic lawn games for guests including croquet, bocce, or washer toss.

·          Place a vintage suitcase on a table, opened, with the letters C,A, R, D, S cut out and attached to a ribbon strung across the inside of the lid.  You could spray paint the outside of the suitcase a solid color if needed.

·         Set washtubs or copper boilers full of flowers, branches, or greens around the site.

 There are lots of ways to create a vintage look for your special day.  You’re on your own for the “new, borrowed, and blue parts, however!