My Favorite Ladyhead Blows You a Kiss

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The Wreath of 2009

It;s been a very long time since I made one of these, they are so labour intensive. And the ones I had did not survive my move from the US. But finding a box of vintage ornaments at Goodwill inspired me to make a new one. I had to go a bit spare on the older ornaments since I don't have many left, but I think it came out just as beautiful. So....off it goes to Kijiji....let's see if Canadians are hip to these babies yet.


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Hat's off to me !

Sometimes I really hate myself for these headings, but apparently blogging brings out the cheesey-ness in all of us.

So, here's the story. I saw the most beautiful vintage hat in a local antique mall....but for some reason it just cried " lamp shade". I brought it home and the search began for the perfect base. It took a while, but let us all now praise Goodwill 1/2 price days !! There was the perfect base, albeit an ugly gold finish - but we all know that can be easily rectified.

A coat of Heirloom White and covering of Smoke glaze later....my base now loks like vintage soapstone. An old plain lampshade was cut to fit....add a vintage pin, and here we are......my hat lamp. I have one more to come.



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The Graphics Fairy Giveth

One of my favorite blog sites is The Graphics Fairy. When I came across Karen's site, I thought I had died and gone to ephemera heaven. Sometimes just scrolling through and looking at all the posts is a calming distraction. So here are 3 of my Paris Collages that I made using some of Karen's graphics plus many others. Unfortunately the pics came out a bit washed out, I'm still searching for the best "photo" spot in my house.



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Another sign by Rog.......custom weathered name sign for house or cottage.



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A Bit About Rog

So, "my guy" Roger is the President of the "I Make Weird Stuff" club. I never quite know what I will come home to...a dog made out of an old rocking chair, a metal robot head, but he loves to hand letter signs on vintage wood. I asked him to make me a "French Market" sign....and this is what I came home to. Nice huh.





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And for my next project.......


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Minor Amusements

So, when the weather gets too cold to work in the garage..... I go looking for "kitchen table projects". Here are a few recent ones. My pal Lisa makes lamps out of anything she can find. I like to fancy-up old junk ones that I find when scrounging. As you will see, I do love crystals....and yes (gasp) I painted milk glass.....get over it !


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After The Show

Well, the show was a disappointment. Lots of people there, but nobody apparently buying. Lisa and I each sold a few small pieces which was more than many vendors could claim.
The good news however, is that everyone LOVED our stuff. We received a lot of positive feedback and hopefully a few more followers. I am posting a few shots of my booth. Many of the pieces shown will be listed shortly on Kijiji.ca.

Off To The Fair

Well, Lisa from Recaptured Charm and I are off to the Markham Antiques Fair this Sat. Here's hoping that we come home with much less than we took.

Many photos will be taken once set up and will be posted here next week.

Wish us good sales.

Olwyn

When in need.....check the junk pile.

For years I have searched for the perfect old door to make into a headboard for my bed. I actually found the perfect one, but $450 seemed about $400 too high.

One day, while perusing my junk pile searching for my next project, I came upon 2 large, matching ornate picture frames. Having deemed them too large to install mirror, they had been banished to the "one day" section and forgotten. But inspiration struck and I thought....headboard !

The 2 frames were attached and wooden backing cut. Two foam squares were placed inside the opening of the frames and covered with vintage fabric. An old porch baluster was sliced in half to use as side pieces and a decorative header placed on top. The entire piece was painted to match and voila.......a custom headboard with a vintage French flair............you just can't buy this stuff !!!!

DUH

OK, my email address is supposed to be here somewhere....but I don't see it.
So here it is so you can see it



qb623@hotmail.com

All the pieces......bits and pieces

I know I'm showing my age with that quote.

I literally found this dresser in pieces in the basement of a salvage store, needless to say, it was easy to get home that way.
Since then it has been glued, clamped, screwed, clamped some more, and it now back to it's former glory. Painted off white, distressed, and with my favorite jadite glass drawer pulls as well as new mirror added....it's now a unique and beautiful piece. Check out the little drawer under the mirror....perfect for jewelry.

All of these pieces, by the way are listed on Kijiji.ca. Do a search for Shabby Chic and link to my other listings.

Cheers,
Olwyn

Traditional Eastlake spoon-carved design, this was probably once the backsplash from a sideboard. Now it's just a lovely wall mirror. The mirror itself is in great condition and it is ready to hang.

$299

Rubbed black............it's the new off-white !!!
Here is my first example of 2 pieces that did not originally belong together.............but you would never know.
Painted matte black and rubbed to show a red undercoat. The drawer pulls are vintage clear glass and the carved applique, which I added, is shown below in detail.
It is not visible in the picture, but in the top left hand corner of the mirror I added a cut vinyl floral flourish.



$325.00

Ahhhhhh........my ever-so-perfectly Shabby Chic dresser! Curved and dainty with loads of carvings. It is painted soft ivory and distressed. The drawer pulls are jadite glass, a beautiful soft, milky green.

$350.00

Opening Day

Look, Lisa, I did it !!!

Hello. I am Olwyn and I design and create unique furniture pieces and accessories from vintage relics, single-handedly trying to educate the world about Shabby Chic. I feel the term has been overused and misunderstood. Simply painting something white does not make it Shabby Chic.....it's all about rescuing the tired, the misbegotten, the shabby and abandoned. And it's all about making it beautiful again...making it chic.
All of the items I re-furbish were found in various states of disrepair and neglect, some just in pieces. Most of the vanities I have found without their original mirror but no worries, I just find one that fits. Sometimes I add carved appliques ( from a very secret source ) and often I replace rusted old knobs with reproduction glass ones.........I don't object to using reproductions, they're just too pretty not to. Every piece is hand waxed and ends up looking fresh, pretty and, well............chic.

I created this blog today and will be adding pictures of finished pieces which are for sale. Some of them may currently be seen on my pal Lisa's blog- Recaptured Charm.

So, please check back.....there will be much more to see.

Cheers,
Olwyn