~HOW TO MAKE A CHIC TOTE FROM JUNKY JUNK~

Today I'm going to share with you a wee little tutorial on how a thrift store wicker bag was transformed from something junky into something très chic and totalleeee fab!!!

 It all started with a trip to our local second-hand store where I'm sure to always find SOMETHING begging for a makeover...  Last week I found this cheapo wicker style Tote Bag with a incredibly limp and wilty turquoise cotton/poly lining.  Big plans were in store for this run-of-the-mill-tote-bag!!!  I see these bags all the time after summer fades into autumn for $1. :)

 First thing I did was careful snip the lining out as I needed to use it for a pattern for the new linen fabric I chose for the inside!

After the blue fabric was removed I cut a new fabric liner making note of the seam allowance used.  I chose a natural linen!!!

Didn't expect for the handle to come off with the fabric...I just hot glued them back into place vs. stitching them down.  Next I lightly brush painted (sorry...forgot to photograph it!) the entire wicker tote with my favorite soft white paint.  No need to paint the inside but I did lightly coat the upper inside rim!!!  I let it dry overnight!

The new fabric was frayed for a fringed effect and since I planned on hot gluing it into place (instead of sewing it down) a band of matching fabric was stitched close to the frayed edge.  Once the liner was sewn together it was attached to the inside, raw side against the inside of the Tote!

After the lining was in place the outside handle was decorated with roses, vintage French Net Lace and loops of old bobbin lace, too!  A little braid and a bit of frayed linen was also added to the floral mix!

An so there you have it!  A transformed Tote Bag that took MAYBE an hour to create!!!  This was a fun project and a sweet addition to most any booth space or shoppe!

I'm headed back down to my new booth space to price more product today!!!  It's snowing outside so I'm having a slow-motion day...  Hard to leave the cozy comfort of my home!!!

Hope to share pictures soon!

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

 

Love to you...

~VINTAGE CLOTHESPIN BAG MAKEOVER...Another Sweet Find~

I just love it when I'm in the right place at the right time.  

Don't you?

A few months ago I shared with you how I'd found a really sweet vintage clothespin bag and transformed it for use in my studio.

Well...incredibly I found another one very similar to it at Goodwill.  This one is a bit smaller but still just as charming.  I have big plans for this one as well! 

It's not quite as old as the one you see at the top and it doesn't have the grommets on the sides.  I plan to use some vintage cotton twill in soft white for a new sack and add vintage laces and trims, too!  Can't wait to see how this one will come out!  Such fun!

Don't forget about the

GIVEAWAY

for

Vintage Pink Rose Mannequin Paper Goods

(Note Cards-Tags-Teabag Covers-Chocolate)

currently running...

You can read about it

HERE! 

Hope your Friday is wonderful.  The temps have dipped here in Oklahoma and we are making our annual trek to the State Fair tonight...if the rain stays away that is!

Love to you...

~SHABBY FURNITURE MAKEOVER...FROM DRAB TO FAB~

~SIMPLY FABULOUS TRANSFORMATION~

Would you believe it if I told you no one in my immediate family except ME likes to hunt down fabulous old junque?  'Tis true.  Not my daughter.  Not my son.  Not my son-in-love, daughter-in-love and since my Miss K is only nine I don't count her opinion about it one way or the other. :)  I'm not even 100% sure my Mr. AGPMan would love it if it wasn't for the fact his wifey is in the biz of transforming JUNQUE into CASH!  That makes him a willing partner in the scavenger hunt and more than happy when he goes to the bank! :) :) :)

Now my sister in Tennesee...well, she's the junquing queen!  She's my favorite gal to dumpster dive with.  Only problem she's so far away so we don't get together nearly often enough.  Maybe that will change someday!

~LIGHTLY DISTRESSED~

Last Thursday I scored this sweet old maple chest from either the late 50's or early 60's at one of our local thrift stores.  It's not what I'd call an AMAZING FIND, but the piece does have good bones.  The upper knobs were missing (what a pitty), but everything else was in great shape.  Given the price I paid for it deciding to buy it was a no-brainer! :)  

~LOVE THE ORIGINAL PULLS~

After one coat of my favorite primer (Zinsser) I gave it a couple more coats of soft white paint and replaced the missing pulls with wooden knobs.  The edges have been gently distressed and then it was given a couple light coats of sealer.  It's going into my booth space at Edmond Antiques (Edmond, OK) tomorrow.

~NOT SO PRETTY!~

Because so many requests are made from would-be-buyers for furniture that is plain white (without artwork) I've opted to keep this one as you see it!

Here's a tip for you if you are going to paint furniture that is found unpainted and in it's original wood condition...

You may be temped to just begin priming without first sanding on the finish.  I almost always lightly sand the varnish off when possible.  Doing so helps the primer bond directly to the wood and not just the crumbly old sealer.  Then when you distress the edges the paint doesn't come off in chunks.  Instead you have smooth, gentle distressing!

I should make enough money on the chest to pay for my booth space for the month (or more!).  Pretty good, huh?

Blessings for an awesome Saturday!

Love to you...

~MY ROMANTIC COTTAGE BEDROOM...Lovin' The Lighter Side of Pink~

 ~MY COTTAGE CHIC BOUDOIR~

I had such a wonderful time last week showing you all our TINY Master Bath Makeover and I continue to be OVER THE MOON happy that it is 99% finished!  I feel like I have my life back...no kidding!!!  As soon as the custom shower doors darken the steps outside my front door (and then get installed) I'll show the the final shots of our extremely INTENSE redo project!

~LOTS of CREAMS and a muted SOFT PINKS~

I've promised you for the longest time to show you a few pictures of our space-challenged master bedroom.  I hate to keep harping on the size of what I believe is one of the most important spaces in our entire home, but the fact of the matter is our bedroom and bathroom are very small to be called a 'master of anything!'.  Still, as the years have clicked by I've grown to love the room for what it is and even sometimes do the happy dance because it's not tooo big to clean! :)

~FOREVER IN LOVE WITH OLD LACE~

 ~I'M ALSO IN LOVE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL PRINT~

 

~TRULY ROMANTIC~

I love the newer, refined Cottage Style and I have to admit that as the trends for chic and shabby decor have changed I find I'm continuing to lean more and more to simpler and less complicated lines.  I still love aging lace, antique hats, old linens and vintage millinery (always will!), but these days I'm less likely to over indulge in accessorizing. 

 ~LOVE VINTAGE STEMWARE and CHINA~

~ROMANTIC PILLOWS and OLD BUTTONS are a MUST!~

 ~FABULOUS FRENCH FURNITURE~

Remember last Summer when I shared with you about snagging this fabulous vintage French Provincial Furniture for $100???  I'm still not over that amazing 'I nearly fell over dead' find!  I'm crazy-in-love with each piece and the price I paid for them all still makes me SWOON!

 ~VINTAGE BRIDES and my Mr. AGPMan and I~

I love old wedding day photos and display them in my bedroom...totally romantic!  I love to see the smiling faces of the brides and their neatly groomed hubbies!  They seem to hold so much faith and promise for their lives...

 ~MY DADDY'S BIG SISTER~

I just recently came across this darling old photo of my Aunt Ethel Laura Elizabeth.  I absolutely adore her dress and I'm in total shock over how truly tiny, tiny, tiny she is!  My Uncle John was incredibly handsome, too.

They are both in heaven now...

 ~MISBEHAVIN' MOLLIE~

And just when you probably FORGOT about me tattling on my Miss Mollie and about her getting on my bed, etc...  

Well...when I left the room to do a couple unrelated things I returned to find that my beloved Yorkie, Mollie, had ONCE AGAIN jumped up on top of my bed pillows!  When I called her name she looked up at me, but never moved!  I'm beginning to think the consequences for her misbehavin' aren't nearly as serious as they need to be!

I only THOUGHT I was the Queen around here!  Not so!

Hope you loved the peek into my private space.  As soon as our crown molding is up and our 2die4 chandelier is installed (it's gonna make your heart skip a beat!) I'll show you even more!

Blessings and love to you...