DIY Chunky Golden Hearts

Enjoy the process--wise and true words. Creating, crafting is and should be just as much about the process as it is about the outcome. Play is important for adults too. So, while I had no idea how this Valentine's Day project would turn out and while it looks completely different than what I was planning, I had fun making it and I like what I came up with to add a golden touch of love to my winter centerpiece.

I wanted to make a few, chunky, wood looking hearts to place in the winter centerpiece. I wanted to use what I had and decided to make a DIY air dry type of clay. The clay was the perfect medium for this project. I wanted the hearts to be chunky and irregular with lots of texture. I definitely achieved that look with the homemade air dry clay. What I didn't get was the look of wood that I was after.

First, let me share how to make the clay. Combine 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup cornstarch in a small saucepan. Add 3/4 of a cup of water and turn heat on to medium low. Stir constantly until a ball of dough forms. Remove from heat and kneed until cool on a surface floured with cornstarch. At this point, shape, roll, form dough into whatever shape you'd like. 

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Okay, so this is the point where my chunky hearts went astray. I decided I need to add some texture to them. I should have donned my old lady reader glasses so I could better see what I was doing, especially in the white clay. I decided to use my faux wood graining tools (BUY HERE), but didn't clearly see just how well they were working and how much texture they were adding. In retrospect, I think using a toothpick to add some wood grain and lines would have been better. I did push divots and lumps into the hearts.

I let the clay air dry and it took a couple days. You can dry it in a 175 F oven if you want to speed up the process. So, when I put my readers on and actually saw how textured the clay hearts were, I said, "Hmmm...they don't look like wood, but I think I work with this." I decided to try and make it look like a funky, bronze paperweight. 

I painted the hearts black first,

and then I rubbed Antique Gold Rub-n-Buff all over them (Buy RUB-n-BUFF HERE).

I dabbed some black paint on over the gold to add a little more age and patina. The Rub-n-Buff gives these hearts a great look and feel. They are smooth and feel like real metal.

I made three hearts, each about 3.5"-4" tall and placed them in my winter, kitchen table, centerpiece that I shared HERE.

The chunky, golden hearts add subtle Valentine's Day decor to my home without going overboard. I love that I didn't feel the need to create an entire new Valentine's Day centerpiece--these are the perfect, simple addition to the centerpiece. 

And although they did not come out like I had planned, I enjoyed making them and playing and experimenting. Decor and projects don't need to be serious business--have fun with your home!

Vintage Feedsack Quilted Hearts

There are items that I buy at the thrift stores that I am not sure what I am going to do with, but just can't pass up. I don't recommend regularly buying items that you don't plan to use, sell, or aren't sure how you will use them as doing so only creates clutter and stuff you have to store. BUT, every now and then, if you recognize the beauty and history in an item and you feel the need to save it, then go for it! Such was the case when I bought this vintage, feedsack (some pieces are feedsack), tattered quilt at the thrift store. 

There are some holes and torn spots and the fabric on this crazy quilt is quite fragile. But, the prints and the colors and the little bits and pieces are beautiful. The problem is, I bought the quilt 18 months ago, washed it, and then folded it and let it sit in my laundry room since purchasing it. Just because something has value, again, we don't need to buy it if all it is going to do is sit around not being enjoyed. SO, I finally decided it was time to cut into this lovely bit of history and make some stuffed hearts for Valentine's Day.

I know, cutting it, eek! Hear me out...It has a lot of holes and tears in it and the fabric is fragile. The quilt has no meaning or history to me. My great grandma didn't make it, I bought it from a thrift store. I do not display or decorate with quilts. It wasn't being enjoyed by anyone sitting in my laundry room. I took me some courage (18 months apparently), but these stuffed hearts are such a sweet way to reuse and repurpose someone's handiwork.

I cut three random shaped hearts, not using a paper pattern, trying to make them somewhat symmetrical, but not worrying if they were perfect.

I sewed around the outside edge, right side out, leaving an unfinished edge on the outside.

I left a small, three inch spot open on the straight part of the heart and stuffed it and then sewed it closed. The first heart I left the original quilt fabric on the back.

While I love this rose fabric, it rips easily so I doubled up (so you couldn't see through it) some muslin for the other two hearts and used that on the back instead. 

I also sewed along the lines of the quilt squares for the the two muslin backed hearts to reinforce the fabric. I love this horse end square. It is the only square of that particular fabric that I see on the whole quilt.

Check out the linens at your local thrift store. You don't have to find a feedsack, vintage quilt, but can use a thrifted quilt that matches your decor--maybe a flannel one or an all white quilt or a satin one. These stuffed quilt hearts are a lovely Valentine's Day decoration. Display them in a wood bowl on an entryway bench.

They also would be cute in a basket, or sitting on a small chair, or propped on a windowsill or bookshelf.

I love these hearts and I appreciate the hard work that went into cutting each small square of salvaged fabric for the original quilt. But, if you follow my blog at all, you probably recognize that the hearts don't fit my home decor or style so I will be selling them, and that is okay too. We can appreciate items and other styles even if we don't decorate with them. I am happy that I gave this old quilt another life and know others will appreciate their history too. Oh, and I have a lot of quilt left to keep creating with. I think a table runner is up next. What would you make?

Thrifting and Happy Memories

There are lots of reasons I love thrifting--the bargains, finding unique items for the home, reusing and repurposing items rather than buying new, keeping things out of the landfill, and the memories that a vintage find might evoke.

When I spied this vintage, 1970's Wheaton glass popcorn bowl with four serving bowls at a local thrift store, I smiled as I instantly knew it was from the seventies. The popcorn bowl set was in great shape--no chips or cracks and the price was right ($10 for the five piece set) so I knew it had found a new home. 

Growing up in the seventies, Friday nights were for watching The Partridge Family followed by the Brady Bunch. We also had Nanny and the Professor, That Girl, and Love American Style. Later in the seventies we watched MASH, Rockford Files, and Chico and the Man. Friday night's were for TV and popcorn. Mom would make different types of popcorn--Jello popcorn balls, candied popcorn, cinnamon and sugar popcorn, and buttered popcorn. We would also get a Pop Shoppe pop on Friday Night's to sip on while we ate our popcorn. I loved the grape soda pop. 

And while we didn't have this particular popcorn bowl, seeing it and knowing it is from the seventies reminded me of those family Friday nights fifty years ago. I love the serving bowls--so much smaller than what we consider a serving today, although I must admit I don't stop at just one bowl full. 

While we may watch TV differently these days (streaming as opposed to rabbit ears), a bowl full of warm popcorn and a "pop" are still a perfect way to spend a Friday evening at home.

A Little Round Stool Makeover

When I find a little, solid, wood stool like this for $2 at the thrift store, that is an absolute "yes, I will buy that" moment.

45 minutes, a little paint, and new fabric for the top and it the small, round footstool is ready for a new life.

I Unscrewed the extra wood top that was for the cushion and then I removed an extra, round, foam cushion and a black cover with elastic around the edge first.  This was under that--it had obviously been well used. I imagine someone's feet resting right there in the middle.

I gave the wood legs and edge a rough sanding, just enough to get the gloss off so paint would stick. I then painted the wood stool black.

I threw away the original foam cushion, but kept the second one that had been added. Using a piece of sherpa fabric, I staple gunned the fabric on the wood round that was screwed to the stool.

I then I screwed the top back to the stool base. 

A little fabric covered stool lie this is a perfect place to rest feet when sitting at a rocking chair or a smaller sized side chair.

I can picture my almost two-year-old grandson using the stool for a book and snack spot or as place to sit as it is the perfect height for a wee one.

Because my sweet grandbaby doesn't live here and I don't have a place Where i need a little stool right now, I will be selling this one. It was a quick and easy flip and the price was right. I am always amazed how a little paint and new fabric can update even the simplest items.

An Old School Clock for my Old Schoolhouse Home

I think most of you know I live in an old, two room schoolhouse. It was built in 1931 and was used as a school until the mid seventies. It was then used as for community meetings for 4-H and other activities. In the early nineties it went up for auction and a couple bought it and made it into a home. We bought it from them in 2015. We appreciate the hard work the previous owners did to make an empty school into a home. We do wish they would have preserved more of the original items and features of the schoolhouse. And while I don't decorate with a theme (my theme is eclectic), I do have this one small area at the end of my kitchen that has all of the schoolhouse vibes happening.

I was just able to make this spot more schollhousey (I'm sure that should be a word) with the addition of this incredible, vintage, oak clock that I found at a thrift store. We chose to hang the clock above this kitchen door that leads to the mudroom and laundry room because it is a great place to see it and because that is where school clocks are typically hung, above a doorway. 

Yes, finds like this are why I continue to thrift. I rarely look at the clock/electronic area at the thrift store, but just happened to because I need a new cheap clock in my workshop. This was up on a shelf and looked like a wood box. When I saw this beautiful antique wood I knew the clock needed further investigation. 

When I spied the $7.99 pricetag, I decided I didn't care if the clock worked or not, it was a keeper. In the picture above of the side you can see a little hole. I think this was a corded, electric clock that someone updated into a battery operated clock. A fresh battery and it keeps time like a charm. It has this stamp on it above the 6. I cannot find this particular stamp online so if anyone has any info on it, I would love it.

There are antique clocks I can find online that are almost identical, except they are stamped with the name Seth Thomas. There was a company called Smith Electric company that made school clocks, but I don't know what the J in the stamp is for. There are also antique clocks made by Smith Enfield. I think I should have been an archeologist or a historian as I love researching the vintage and antique items I find.

I gave the gorgeous oak case on my new to me clock a refresh with Wise Owl Furniture Salve (GET it HERE).

Other school related aspects of this little corner include the chalkboard that is from the school. The little chairs, and old wood chalk box and red chalk box fit the theme. The roundback spindle chair was used in the kindergarten classroom in the Catholic school where I first taught. They were no longer used and shoved in storage and one of the nuns told me I could have it. The exposed brick is now the chimney for our woodstove. it was the chimney for the original coal boiler that was in the basement. This new addition to our schoolhouse home makes my heart happy. Keep on thrifting on, friends!

Fresh Herbs in a Winter Kitchen Centerpiece

I don't know about you, but this time of year I sure do crave fresh--fresh plants, colors, decor, etc. I love using fresh herbs in the kitchen and do always have a planter full of them outside the back door in the summer. I was going to repot them inside, but they succumbed to an early, frost that wasn't forecasted. Thankfully, there are fresh, potted herbs occasionally in the produce department and I decided it was time to buy them to add to my kitchen counter space.

The store had rosemary, basil, and mint. I chose the rosemary and basil (which got a wee bit wilted in my cold car). 

I planted them in a couple of my planters that have a nice organic texture and feel to them.

The potted herbs are sitting on a thrift store tray. It was a silver colored metal tray that I rubbed Antique Gold Rub-n-Buff on. The tray has an engraved leaf pattern on it. This tray sits on my upper counter that is six inches above my stove, which will be convenient when cooking.

This tray held all of the modern candlesticks I made in November (SEE HERE). I left three of them as they balance at the planted herbs on the tray and add a warm, natural or organic texture. 

The herbs give off a subtle, lovely smell and I love the fresh life they bring to the space. I will use the rosemary on chicken or with roasted vegetables. The basil is perfect for caprese or spaghetti or pizza sauce or in chicken alfredo.

While I have living plants throughout my home, having fresh herbs in the kitchen gives me a hint at the hope of the coming spring and is good for my soul. Look for potted herbs in your local grocery store produce section, plant them, and group them together in your kitchen to add life, green, nature, and a fresh smell to your space.

Creating a Cozy and Curated Primary Bedroom

Yesterday I shared the thrifted, upcycled art I hung on our reclaimed headboard that I made. Today, I am sharing more of our eclectic primary bedroom makeover that I have been working on. I hope to show you how to create a warm and cozy, curated and collected, but also cohesive look in your home.

As I said, I made the headboard a few years ago from reclaimed wood. I left the boards as is, joining them together on the back and using a French cleat to hang it on the wall. The tall height helps with our 12 foot ceilings. You can read about the art in the post below this one. 

While a reclaimed wood headboard might be considered rustic, pairing it with other eclectic and boho finds elevates it. The natural wood adds a warmth and organic touch that is necessary in every space. 

I will never be a matchy, matchy furniture person, never have been. I prefer the look of items collected over time rather than a furniture store look. Unique pieces add so much more character and warmth. I had been using a pallet wood shelf that I made for my book for a nightstand. It was useful and fit well, but the unfinished pallet wood was more of the industrial style I decorated with five or so years ago.

I found this at the thrift store for $40. I am not sure if it was small buffet or a commode. It did have the back piece that you see in the BEFORE photo below. I chose not to use that (it is under my bed so it is nearby in case I use this piece somewhere else in the future.

I always give furniture a sniff before I buy. I avoid anything that has been in a smoker's home. This one smelled fine...except when I was loading it into my car an got a whiff of the inside. No smoke, nothing had died in it, but a distinctive musty antique smell. I knew Wise Owl's Furniture Salve would solve that. I have a picture of it below when I used it on the cedar chest. For the nightstand, I washed it thoroughly, even on the bottom of it and under the drawer with some hot water and bleach. Then I used the salve on every inch of it. You can get the salve from my friend TINA HERE.

I let the nightstand sit for a few weeks to make sure the smell was gone. I have a super strong sense of smell and since this would be next to my face at night, and partially over a heat vent, I wanted to make sure it didn't smell musty. I all I smell is a lovely scent of lemons from the salve. The drawer has a stain in it, looks like ink and doesn't bother me at all. helps to show the age of the piece.

There is plenty of space for all of my nightstand needs.

I just found this antique bowl (that I paid 90 CENTS FOR!!) at the thrift store. It holds all the remotes. Why so many remotes in the bedroom you ask? I do go to sleep with the TV on, a habit that started when I was pregnant with my son who died when he was six days old. Because we knew he had a rare hear defect when I was pregnant, I had horrible insomnia. I finally found that if I could be on the couch and watch something familiar, a favorite movie or TV series, I could fall asleep. I still do that. One remote is for my bed that raises and lowers at the head and foot. Okay, now that I have justified my TV watching at bed time, if anyone knows anything about this bowl, please let me know.

It has a gold rim on the inside and this one the bottom. Look at that crazing.

The cedar chest at the end of my bed is another thrift store find that I paid $35 for. It was badly scratched and sticky and gunky.

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I sanded, and sanded, and sanded. I removed the wood feet, one was broken, and added these gold feet you can buy HERE and used antique gold Rub-n-Buff on the straps and then the Wise Owl Furniture Salve to make that natural cedar shine.

The bench at the end of the bed holds a few blankets.

And it is nice to sit on when putting shoes on. The vintage, wool rug under it is from a garage sale. It has great colors for my space in it and helps to add another layer of coziness.

But, the bench is really about helping the 14 year old dog up on our bed (her bed?).

The orange comforter and shams I purchased new a few years ago at Target, they are part of the Nate Berkus collection. The other pillows and shams are all from the thrift store. The two matching square pillows were from Pottery Barn. I only buy linens from a thrift store if I can wash them. Pillows have to be covers that can be removed. 

Using a few matching items such as the wall sconces and the mirrors give the room some symmetry and helps it to not look like a hot jumbled mess. The mirrors were given to me and the sconces can be purchased HERE. I still need to wrap the black cords or give them the gold Rub-n-Buff treatment. We have switches on either side of the bed that work with the outlets that the sconces are plugged into.

Hubby's nightstand is a tall, skinny stand also from the thrift store. It holds his phone and a book on top and has space for other books below.

Take time to collect and curate items that work in your space. Repeat elements--colors, textures, and materials, use items you love and that have some history, include some symmetry to create a cohesive and personal look in your home on a budget. Oh, and enjoy the process.