~DON'T THROW IT AWAY! DON'T THROW IT AWAY!~

Sometimes I wonder just WHAT some manufacturers are thinking when they design gift-ware merchandise for the industry.  I've seen some pretty cheap and visually challenging things during my years in retail and I'm amazed some of those designs ever get past the prototype phase~  And yet, the thrift stores are filled up and overflowing with stuff we only use to love...

I found this [lovely] white wood factory-designed basket with the red check lining and robin's egg blue satin bow last week at Goodwill.  I walked by it three times before finally tossing it into my shopping cart.  It was priced at $1.99 and even though I thought $1 would have been a better deal, and despite the fact it whispered

CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP

I decided to haul it home.

First thing I did was rip off the blue bow.  The lining was hot-glued in place so I needed to use my blow dryer (set to HOT) to help heat up the goo in order to free the fabric.  After the lining was removed a few swipes over the rim with a piece of medium grit sandpaper took care of the remaining hot glue...

With a chip brush (super inexpensive at Home Depot) I dry-brushed the entire basket.  Gave it one coat and let it dry.  One more light coating and the basket was instantly transformed.  Dry brushing allows some of the original base color to show through and I love this not-too-perfect look! 

Now~after staring at the basket it seemed to need just little bit of SOMETHING EXTRA~something like a sign (similar to those seen around the neck of a wine bottle).  Then I remembered I had purchased some metal hangers on clearance at a local craft store last summer and hoped at least one would add the needed bit of pizzazz I was looking for!

I painted one with the same white paint and used a modified French graphic found online (Graphic's Fairy) for the inner label.   After a bit of distressing and the clipping of the hanger in half, the sign was gently wired onto one side of the basket!  Can't you just see it holding a loaf of fresh French Bread???  Yummmmm....

Total basket makeover cost was about $3.  Basket was $1.99.  Hanger was .25.  Ink and paper (for printing) and the paint didn't cost more than .75, at most!

This was a fun and easy project and if you decide to do something similar I'd love to see what you come up with!

Today I'm linking up with:

Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesdays

Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesdays

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

 

 Winter finally came yesterday to Oklahoma.  The snow floated down in what looked like puffs of white cotton.  We sooo need the moisture and even though I'm not a winter-lovin'-gal (I'm a Cali native, remember?) I hope it snows again tomorrow...  Our red earth is so dry and that will mean a greater chance for fire come this summer...

We've so enjoyed the spring-like weather we were having that we forgot to put our Adirondack Chairs away...  I actually love how they look covered in the frosty-wintery-white-fluff.  If you look closely at my pictures you can see the falling snow~

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day...can't wait!

Love to you...

~WHITE BASKET MAKEOVER...A LONG LOST FIND~

  Some sweet things to share with you today!

Christmas is still a ways off, but this tree basket is very special to me...here's why~

   In the late 1980's my Mr. AGPMan handmade at least fifty wood Christmas Tree Baskets for the wee little booth space we had at a local Folk Fair Festival.  We ended up selling every single one of them (save for a few for family and friends) and I distinctly remember them being priced at $9.99 each.  That was a pretty penny all those years ago...

 A couple months ago while helping my mother downsize for a move I spotted her basket in a box of things to keep.  I couldn't believe she still had it after almost twenty-five years.  It was still painted a dark pine green and the raised red heart appliques were still attached to each side.

 I brought the basket home (a happily returned gift) and over the weekend I gave it a facelift.  Nothing super special...just removed the hearts, roughed it up a bit and then slathered on a couple quick coats of soft white paint.  I love how it came out...simple, clean and uncomplicated.  I'm keeping this one forever even though my guy informed me he still has the pattern for the design...

 

 A couple of weeks ago I found a vintage hanky holder at Goodwill!  It was a ridiculously low price ($1.98) so I brought it home!  Only problem I found with it was with the rose base.  The piece was made in Japan and the base seemed really small given the height of the stand.  Sure enough once a handkerchief was attached the entire thing wanted to lean forward.

 

Then I remembered earlier in the month I'd found another neat metal stand with a super cool base.  It was also only $1.98.  Only problem with it was there was nothing attached to the metal rod.  Just a rod with a stand...I'm not even sure what it was supposed to be...

 I asked my Mr. AGPMan if it was possible to marry the two pieces together to make one and about 15 minutes later he returned with only one piece.  He's just amazing!  One was metric (I think that what he said) and one wasn't.  Anyway... I love how the thing came out!

 I painted it with my favorite spray paint and then added dark wax.  The excess wax was removed and this is how it looks today!

  Isn't it fab?  I'm keeping it...at least for a while!

My last sweet find was a set of four candle cups with the word HOME cut out!  They really look lovely on our bookshelf holding faux tea light candles.  Not enough space for real votives...

 I'm off to work in my studio this morning!  I'm in the middle of finishing up another special order Gathering Case (Train Case) with another one to do in the wings...  I'll be sure to share with you soon.

Hope your Tuesday is wonderful~

Love to you

~FRENCH WHITE BASKET MAKEOVER TUTORIAL~

See the photo of the sweet basket above?  Well...today I'm going to show you how I got it to look this way!  Ready???

 A couple of months ago while helping my momma
move to her new place she gave me this

UGLY BASKET! 

I'm sure it was gifted to her and probably came full of some sort of bath goods!  My mother knows I'm not one to throw anything out.  Even if I hate something I'll generally donate it before opting to go the landfill route!

Anyway...as I said she gifted me with the basket and since that day it's sat on my "I-MIGHT-DO-SHELF" waiting for a turn at a makeover!

Today I'm showing you how she was transformed.  Betcha it's going to make you think twice before you toss out something equally as crummy!
REMEMBER...THINK OUTSIDE THE BASKET!

I started by giving the basket a sloppy coating of dark wax by Annie Sloan and then wiping off the excess so it only settled into the grooves.  Basket was previously painted white!

While the wax was drying I started the lining makeover...

 I cut the purple check lining down the seems and added 1/2" to make up for the fabric that was cut away.  Instead of serging my seams I used a French Seam (blind seam) for the inside.

I made the new lining for the basket out of a natural white linen and opted to added vintage crochet lace and tattered ruffles (un-hemmed) to the the sides.

I sewed all the pieces together paying close attention to how the original one had been assembled.  Along the top edge of the new liner I turned it down about 1/4", placed the crochet lace on the underneath side and top stitched it in place.

Next I made two gathered ruffles to fit the length of each side of the basket.  The ruffles were then stitched in place just above the stop stitching for the crochet lace.  I wanted the lace to show underneath so the ruffles aren't too deep.

Next in line was making new ties for the ends.  The original purple checked ties were wimpy and short so I tripled the length of them and made them about 1 1/4" wide (before folding in half).

 I top stitched the ties together and then lightly frayed the edges before stitching them onto the liner at the end.

Here they are all tied up!

 Ruffle and lace side view!

 After the lining was assembled and tied onto the basket, vintage millinery flowers were added to one side, loops of ruched up rayon ribbon and a bit of vintage bling!

 Here's a close-up!

 And here she is again!  The final reveal!

Destined for the TRASH this sweet little basket was given new life.  Perfect for a bath or vanity or even sweet filled up with gourmet soup and cornbread mix for a fabulous Fall treat for a good friend.

Hope you days is wonderful!  My Mr. AGPMan and I are going BACK to the Fair with Miss K and tomorrow we are all attending the wedding of Tammy from Tammy's Heart.  Busy weekend and we even get to dress up!  HOW FUN!

Love to you...