Vintage Shabby Chic Signs - Part 2

Latey I've really gotten into making these cute vintage looking signs.  This time I made a French inspired "Patisserrie" sign :



Close-up detail




Close-up detail



Close-up detail

 
And this " Antiques" sign.



I just love how they turned out, and they were  really easy.  Oh, and it only cost me $5.00.  I'll give you a quick tutorial, so you can make your very own. 

Here are the supplies you'll need:

Wood in your desired size and shape ( I got mine for free from the scrap pile at Home Depot).
Wood applique's in scrolly shape( for the Pattesserie sign).
Wood glue.
Acylic or latex paint in Raw Umber and Sage Green.
Sand paper, and palm sander.
Faux finish medium ( optional)
Spray paint in Heirloom White
Drop cloth.
An old white candle.
Paint brushes- a foam one for coating the board and a fine one for the lettering.
Old toothbrush.
Hammer or screwdriver.
Stencil or font from the computer.
Lead pencil or charcoal stick.
Chain for hanging.
2 metal cup hooks or eyelets.

The first thing I did was go to my local Home Depot and look for the roughest piece of wood I could find from their scrap pile.  The one I found had a nice big crack in it, so it was perfect for the antique/shabby chic look I was going for.  They will let you have them for free if you ask, as long as you're not greedy- they let me take 2 at a time. Of course, you can use any board cut to size, but rough wood looks best. Then I bought a set of 2 decorative scrolly appliques for  about $5.00.  This was the only thing I had to buy, as I already had all the other supplies on hand. For the " Antiques " sign, I used a scrap piece of beadboard that I had left over from a previous project.

Next I used my palm sander to take off the splinters and round the corners a bit. Then glued the scrolly wood appliques to the top of the wood.  You could also put some on the bottom if you wanted.  Once the glue is dry, paint the whole front with the raw umber paint.  Let dry thoroughly.  Next take your old wax candle and rub it in random places on the edges and front of the board.  Wherever you put the wax, you will later sand off the light paint and it will look chippy and cracked, and show the dark umber paint below.  Then take the board, and chain outside and spray  with 2 or 3 coats of Heirllom White spray paint. Use the drop cloth to protect your surface.  Let this dry very well- at least 12 hours, or more if you can stand to wait.

  Once the spray paint is dry, transfer your selected font onto the front of the board.  If you're using a stencil, just use a stencil brush and light swirl the paint. Build up the layers slowly- 2 or 3 will be sufficient, as you will sand most of it off later.  If you're using a font from your computer, as I did, print out your caption and size it.  On the back side of the paper, rub the entire surface with the lead pencil or charcoal stick. Center the caption on your board and then using a lead pencil, trace around the outline of your letters.  The rubbed pencil/charcoal acts like carbon paper. Now carefully paint the lettering with the sage green paint.  I used 2 coats, letting it dry in between.  If you make any mistakes, you can take a damp Q-tip and clean up the edges of the paint.  It's really cool- it's almost like a mini paint eraser, and you can even go back and clean up edges that are almost dry. Let your lettering dry- I used acrylic paint, so it dried really quickly. 

Now you're ready to distress.  Take a hammer or screw driver and hit the board in random places to create dents- don't go overboard unless you really need to take out some " pent up frustations".  Then go over the entire board with sand paper- go lightly at first, and then build up pressure where you want more distressing.  The more you sand, the more faded your letters will be.  And all the places where you rubbed wax previously will come off really easily and leave some nice dark spots.  The thicker the wax, the more chippy it will look.  If you're happy with the look, you can stop there.

 I decided to add more layers of distressing by mixing more raw umber paint with faux finish medium and painting it over the entire surface.  Then before it dries, take an old T-shirt rage that is wet and wrung out, and wipe over the surface.  This will leave glaze in the cracks and dents and look aged.  Let this dry.  Then , if you want even more texture, take some plain  water and mix it with the green and raw umber paint ( separately).  Dip the old toothbrush in the paint, and then using your thumb, drag over the bristles of the  toothbrush, and fine droplets of paint will spray onto the board.  You might want to practice on a piece of paper first for this effect.  Let dry again.

Now you're ready to hang.  Srew in the cup hook or eyelets, then attach the chain.  Voila!!! A beautiful vintage/shabby chic sign for next to nothing.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Antique Store Finds

I finally made it out to my favorite Antique Mall, "Southworks", in Cambridge, Ontario,last week They have 100's of vendors under one roof, and I always find lots of stuff that I  love. I literally have to restrain myself from buying too much.  The hard part is that they have" runners", who cheerfully take your selections to the front for you while you continue shopping.  Not only does this deter theft, but it keeps your hands free, and you forget how much "stuff" you've accumulated.  Of course, when you hit the cash register, it all comes back to you, but they are very nice if you change your mind about something.  This trip did not disappoint, and since I had some birthday money in my wallet, I knew I'd be doing some spending.  I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any shots of the mall, but you can see it in my link above.They have a beautiful virtual tour that you can take to see how great it is.

Some of you have seen  my "Antique Flow Blue China"  here,that comes from this mall.  I also found many of the items from this post "Some of my Favorite Things", here. It's well worth the visit and their prices are unbeatable.  People go there from all over Canada and the United States. I can't say enough good things about them.   But anyhow,  I'll quit yapping and post some pics now:

• 

 This is a copy of my grand-parents wedding photo from France. It is circa 1920, or even  earlier.

This cute litttle stool is an antique camping chair, which cost $40.00, but I just loved it!!!!! I love that it folds up, and it's curved to fit your "bum".  And the bonus is that the green looks really good in my bedroom.  I'm not sure what I'll end up displaying on it, but I posted a few options, none of which I'm" in love with". Oh well, I'll just have to shop my house for something to display there.

Next I found these great antique linen handerkerchiefs and hand towels- One bundle of 12 was only $6.00.

The lace runner is absolutely beautiful, and my mother bought that for me at $16.00.

Here's a clos-up of the edge detail.

I tried it in my bathroom, but ended up using it on my bed, over a sage green throw blanket.  I think that's where it will stay.

Then I got this pretty tea towel with blue edges,for $2.00, which I put in my china cabinet with my blue and white china.



Here's how I folded it in my china cupboard.

This is how I'm displaying it.

Then I used these pretty monogrammed hankies in my bathroom.  It's hard to tell if the monogram is an "I" or a "T", bit it doesn't matter, because neither letter is part of my name- they're  just pretty to look at.

Then I put this pretty scalloped hanky on this tray on the coffee table.

All of the pieces,except the lace runner are linen, and they washed up just beautifully.  Some were a little dingy, so I hand soaked them in hot water with Oxi-clean for 24 hours, and kept adding more hot water, as the water cooled down.  Then I gently rinsed them, pressed out the excess water with a towel, then  layed them flat on a dry towel until almost dry , then ironed them while stil damp.  They turned out beautifully.  You can also use a little vinegar or lemon juice on the whites ( it's a natural, yet gentle bleach), if you have some stubborn stains, but mine were in pretty good condition.

The rest of my "bootie" is rolled up in white acid- free  tissue paper, in storage until I find a place for them.

Well , that's my little antique "fix" for today.  I',m almost finished the transformation on my trash-to-treasures armoire, so check back in a few days for a look at that.  It's turning out pretty " fab"

Some Of My Favourite Things

Well it's Friday night, and I decided to post something, even though I haven't got any projects finished at the moment.  I started the makeover on the armoire that a neighbour was throwing away last weekend, but it will probably take at least a week to get finished.  I'll definately post a "before" and "after", when it's all complete. 

I have been taking a lot of pictures of my favourite vintage, vintage inspired and antique pieces that I have around my house, so I thought I would share some "eye candy" with everyone.  I just love going to antique markets, so I have acquired quite a few things over the years.  I already did a posting about my antique "blue flow china", so I thought I'd just post some pictures of random pieces that I have.  They're not in any particular order, and I couldn't pick a favourite if I tried, so here we go..............

This is an antique oval framed picture that I found several years ago at my favourite antique market "Southworks" in Cambridge, Ontario. My living room is a  mixture of  many shades of antique white and blue, so this works perfectly in my decor.

This is not an antique, rather antique inspired, and made by me from an image I got on the internet.  The frame was from Homesense ( our version of Home Goods for those of you in the U.S.A)

I love this pretty antique plate, also purchased at "Southworks" antique market.  It sits on a shelf in my bedroom ( if you look closely, you can see that I didn't dust the shelf before I took the picture- haha!!!)

This mirror is also an antique, and I love the scalloped edge design.  If you look in the reflection, you'll see an antique floor lamp, with a small birdcage hanging from it ( I keep a small candle in it for now, until I can find the perfect antique lantern to hang from it).  Both pieces were purchased 3 years ago in a small village called Bath ( just outside of Kingston, Ontario).

I absolutely love, love, love this antique window that was handpainted by a local artist.  I bought it at one of my favourite stores" Kimberley Jackson"- you can link up to there website through my sidebar.  They make one-of-a kind furniture and accessories from reclaimed wood and antique windows/doors, etc. 

This is were it hangs in our front window.

This "chimney" cabinet was also bought at " Kimberley Jackson", and  was a real splurge at $1300.00, but I bought it with my first ever "bonus" cheque from my last job as a home furnishings retail manager.  The sconce beside it is also from the same place and is one of a pair  (the other one is on the other side of a triptic hanging on my dining room wall). They were all made from genuine antique reclaimed wood, and are extremely heavy.

This shadow box (from Ikea) holds a sterling silver fork and spoon set, with my name engraved at the bottom.  I'm from France, originally, and it is the custom to give engraved silverware to a baby at their Christening.  I left the patina on them so they look vintage ( and since they're from the 1961, I guess they technically are vintage ).

The rest of the items I'm going to show you are not antique or vintage, but they have a vintage or Shabby Chic feel to them, so I love them too.

I love this white planter, and the dried roses were the center-piece from my wedding cake.

 I love the look of hand-dipped tapered candles that are still attached.  These ones are hanging on the knob of an antique singer sewing machine that came from my husband's, grandmother's house.  This sits in our dining room with my collection of' " flow blue china" surrounding it.

Here's how it looks in my dining room.

These candles are not vintage, but I had fun with my photo-manipulating program making them look like they are lit. Gimp 2.6  is a free download on the internet, and my 9 year old nephew told me about it.

The vase is really pretty, and was about $5.00 at Homesense.  The little angel was from Michael's and cost a few dollars.  I'm not a purist- if I like it, and it fits my look, I'll buy it.

I love this rectangular laurel wreath - and I bought that at the William Ashley warehouse sale about 5 or 6 years ago.

And finally.........

I get many comments on this plaque.  It lives on our bedroom door- and it couldn't describe my husband in the morning any better.  Even he had to laugh when I bought this at a gift shop a few years ago.  It even has a vintage feel to it- I  smile every time I look at it.  And that's what it's all about, this obsession with collecting unique and pretty things.

Well, that's enough for now.  I still have lots more, but I'll save it for another time.  Have a great weekend.

Au Revoir!!!!!

Antique Flow Blue China and other Blue and White China

"There's  joy without

canker or cork

There's a pleasure

eternally new

Tis to gloat on the glaze

and the mark

Of china that's ancient

and blue"

Andrew Lang, from the

Ballad of Blue China



I have been collecting Antique Flow Blue ( also called Flo Blue) for almost ten years.  I found my first piece at my favourite Antique Mall, "Southworks Antiques Mall", in Cambridge, Ontario.  It was a beautiful,hexigonal shaped plate and I just fell in love with it, and had to have it.

Here's the little beauty.

"Flow Blue" is the term used to describe ceramic items which have been decorated with blue underglaze designs and have a smudged or blurred appearance rather than a sharp, clear pattern. The blue color "flows" or "bleeds"onto the body of the piece at the time the glaze decoration is fired in the kiln. This method of decorating ceramics originated in historic Staffordshire, England sometime in the late 1820's.  China decorated in this manner was inexpensive, mass-produced and and regarded as utilitarian china, with most of the production exported to the United States.  It was not really considered as fine china, rather ,

 everday- use china, so it is quite pleantiful and therefore very collectible. Because the Victorians used this china on a daily basis, most pieces show signs of wear and tear.  I find this appealing though, and it makes it more affordable .  If you do come across a perfect or rare piece, it is usually very expensive.  These are not the pieces that I'm interested in collecting.  I look for pieces that have interesting shapes and borders.  Usually I buy small plates and bowls or pitchers that I can display on my dining room wall and in my beautiful dish cabinet made from vintage refurbished wood and glass ( that will be another post ).

  I recently purchased a book on Ebay called " Gaston's Flow Blue China the Comprehensive Guide

This is the book, and it is a really good guide to making sure you find authentic pieces.  Usually, I can get a better price if I find a piece that is not necessarily authentic, but I still like the shape or color.

Here's how I display my collection on my dining room walls and in my dish cabinet.

This is one of the walls in my Dining Room



This is above the door in the Dining Room- these two  plates were purchased in Old Quebec City on my honeymoon.



Here are some additional pieces that are not authentic "Flow Blue", but I love them anyways. I display these pieces with my French Countryside  dishes from Mikasa ( all wedding gifts ).



This casserole was purchased in an antique store somewhere near Grafton Ontario- I can't remember the name.



The pitcher was part of a washing stand set- but the bowl was broken.  It was purchased at an antique fair at the Convention Centre in Etobicoke, Ontario.



Here's a close-up of the casserole on top of my French Countryside dinner dishes.



Here are some more close-ups of my treasures.



These two plates were bought at an antique shop in Old Quebec City during my honeymoon three years ago.  I think I paid $150 for both.

These three tiny plates were actually antique butter-pats and I had to hot-glue a hook on the back to hang them.  They are not " Flow Blue China", but soooo cute.  And the  vintage frame around them really makes the display, I think.

This plate was purchased at an antique store called "Cabin in the Woods", in Gravenhurst, Ontario.  It has some small chips in it, and a stain on it, but this made the price more reasonable.

 This platter was also purchased at "Southworks Antique Mall" in Cambridge, Ontario.  Again, you can see it is not perfect, and has signs of wear around the edges.

This plate and matching bowl was purchased at an antique mall in Mohawk reservation country between my home and Kingston,Ontario.

I absolutely looooove this plate- it actually has a translucent look to it and you can almost see through the white porcelain in real life.  This was also purchased at " Southworks Antique Mall".  I love the trim around it.

I'm not sure if this is "Flow Blue China", but I love the pattern.  The inscription on the back says "Teutonic", and it has a stamp, but I can't find any reference to it in my book.  If anyone knows anything about this particular pattern, I would love to here from you.

This is another tiny butter-pat, but I'm not sure if it's authentic "Flow Blue".



I love the symmetry of the border pattern on this one.

I saved the best for last- this is my absolute favourite piece and I found it this spring- once again at "Southworks Antiques Mall".  I love all the different textural borders surrounding the pattern.   I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this plate.  And best of all- my mother bought it for me, so it was free.

Here is an example of the stamping on the back that you use to identify what the pattern is.

Here are close-ups of the two pieces in the dish cabinet.

Well, I hope this has been informative and maybe you'll be inspired to start collecting "Flow Blue China". If you have any pieces you'd like to share, I'd love to see them.

Bye til next time. Au Revoir.