Halloween Meets Instagram

 Today is the day ... its the Reclaim_ologists Instasale on Instagram .... and on the table above are some of my offerings.

 

Oh, and I had to show you the cute chair I picked up at the Haunted Mill Event a couple of weeks ago from Angie Farmer of The American Homemaker.  I love it!

 These guys were so fun to make ... I used glass candle sticks and an old encyclopedia to decopauge them for the bases.  Also used scrapbook paper, vintage crepe paper, ribbon, old buttons, game pieces, rhinestone jewelry parts, washi tape and black Halloween garland!  Such a fun project.

 

 Loved this scrapbook paper, and thought it was perfect to go with the book page designed stand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I wanted to use a face for Jack that was a bit different than the norm ... so I did some searching on Graphics Fairy and found this guy ... I thought he looked super happy ... so I borrowed his face.

My listing times on our Instagram page are 1:15, 1:30 and 1:45 today if you want to come by and see what's been keeping me busy!!

DIY Bench in French!

 Well, the fun continues.  I got this double chair bench put together for flea.o.logy last weekend, but didn't have a chance to upholster the seat. 

Now that the flea market is behind, me I actually had time to finish it.

 I used a bleached out flour sack I bought at an estate sale last summer.  Then using graphics from graphics from Graphics Fairy and the CitraSolv method, I printed  on it.  With a couple of layers of Warm and Natural cotton quilt batting stapled in place, I added the old flour sack, and viola!!

 This is a display at Treasures Antique Mall where I work.  It was put together by Kathy, one of the dealers there and is getting rave reviews.

 Kathy also carefully covered this mannequin's bodice with lace doilies stitched together.  It is just charming, its been getting a lot of attention as well, in fact,  Sue Balmforth who owns Bountiful, an amazing décor store in Venice, California, stopped by and swooped it up!!

Well thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the double chair bench and the amazing, lacy mannequin!

DIY Making Fake Enamelware

 About a month ago I was working at the antique mall and saw an adorable reproduction French enameled bathing pitcher ... it had a checker board band around it and I was smitten ....



That started my mind peculating, and I thought it would be great to use black and white enamel ware on the tops of my cupboards when I redo my kitchen in black and white ... a project that is still in the planning process.  I know, as an antique dealer, that old enamelware can be pricey, especially the pitchers, tea pots and coffee pots that I thought would look best.

I then found the small enameled pitcher above and it was  a steal, so I bought the tall bathing pitcher (not a steal) and the small jug and looked for an in between piece ... that's when I saw the aluminum coffee pot above ... and thought "Perfect size, love the shape, very cheap ... ah if only it were enamelware ...

 

Now for a little history, enamelware was made by dipping tin pots and pans into heavy enamel (oil base) paint.  Then after drying, it was baked. 

 

Spray paint is also oil based enamel ... though I did find that even with a clear coat on top of the white it was not shiny enough to look like enamelware.  That's when I remembered my secret weapon ... 'Hi Shine' ... it worked like a charm. I then used a foam paint brush and painted the trim on the rolled edges that are usually painted on enamelware.

 Sadly the cute aluminum tea pot I found at a garage sale .... for a dollar, with the same intent, had a painting accident ... and will have to be stripped and redone ... a project for after flea.o.logy.

 

So here is the completed grouping.  See how the coffee pot is the perfect size?  I love it and am now on the hunt for old aluminum forms, which are ALWAYS MUCH CHEAPER, but have the same utilitarian shapes as the slightly earlier enamelware.

 

And did you notice that I christened it a chocolate pot? (Ala Graphics Fairy) I want black pops, but don't want to be too matchy matchy to the checkerboard pattern ...

Oh and then, while still in the enameling mood, I looked around and spotted these abused, but not very old, tin buckets with paper patterns glued on.  (I bought a stack of 12 of them for $4 at a yard sale of course)  After some soaking and scrubbing, I gave the one above the same treatment.  I found the label form on Graphics Fairy too ... then moved it to my Paint program and 'typed' in a flower name ... it reminds me so much of the gummed labels my mom used to type on and label EVERYTHING with ... that it makes me smile!

Thanks for coming along ... if you love enamelware, maybe you will be making some fakes yourself?  What do you think?