Shabby French Chair makeover, Part 1

Joining Miss Mustard See’s Furniture Feature Friday and My Romantic Home’s Show and Tell Friday.

These first 3 photos are my inspiration pictures from Karina Gentinetta’s Etsy shop. She has a shop on Magazine in New Orleans and is a fellow Katrina victim. She has been a source of hope and dreams to me for a while!

All her items are drop dead gorgeous but way out of my price line.

Below is a picture of a chair from Country French Antiques blog that I drool over all the time.

And her is my chair that I won on Ebay, the other one is coming also but she doesn’t need a make over! So I had to go the Greyhound station in Gulfport to pick this up. Scary place and a story in it’s own.

Got her stripped down to the old muslin…

See the old nails?

and whatever straw or something for stuffing…

I believe old chairs have joints like this in that round back. This chair has lots of joints such as this. I am no expert on antiques on vintage pieces, though!

carving on the arm

and the foot. Is this type of foot called “snail feet”? Anyone know?

carving at the bottom

and at the top….

This project will take me a while to finish. I’ve got to find the Belgian linen, do a little more research, and try to pull those tiny staples out from the ugly burgundy reupholstered job. Thinking about removing all the old stuffing and muslin. Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!

Happy Mardi Gras

Here’s a few goodies that came in the mail today.

Beautiful handmade pillows from Rhonda at Blue Creek Home.

Rhonda perfected the transfer process on these to look aged.

Just as cute from the backside. Beautiful job, Ronda. I love them. Can’t wait to see what you make next.

A vintage Italian lead glass cut crystal decanter from EBay.

She sparkles!

Hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras.

New lamps

Linking to Leigh’s Thrifty Thursday at Bloggaritaville and Cindy at My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday. Thank you ladies for hosting these parties.

I went to the local Goodwill last week, it was a huge disappointment in the “home & furnishings” department. But I did find this lamp for $4.99.

It needed a harp and a shade, it’s sitting here now. Not sure if it will stay here.

Finished the oyster shell lamp. This was fun and easy to do. I used an old lamp that I've had for years and my free oyster shells.

No right or wrong way to put the shells on.

Not sure this lamp will stay here, I’m sure I’ll move it many times.

I think it’s fun and it was thrifty for sure!

You can see my Tracy Glover lamp that I won sitting on the dining room table. She’s a beauty! Hand blown! I’m moving them all around!

DO YOU LOVE THIS OR WHAT

6 more hours on EBay and she might be mine…. SHE'S MINE!!!

Lately I’ve been …

working on this. Love the leather, love the chair (it’s one of my most comfortable seats) but need to

lighten up spots in my living room. Glazing to follow.

Working with oysters shells again. Using gorilla glue on this project, so it’s a slow process. Only a couple shells at a time can be be placed on. When they dry, then a few more can be added, etc. I varnished the inside of these to get a nice glossy, pearlized shine.

This pair of extra chairs in the entry hall are getting their 3rd makeover since I’ve owned them.

Bidding and won this on E-Bay, it will also get a makeover.

Searching for and ordered 20 more yards of white linen. This is picture off internet, not what I ordered. For some dreamy projects.

Celebrating with my Gulf Coast region. This is the most wonderful thing to happen to this entire area in many years. Are you crunked?

BLESS YOU BOYS!

Oyster Shell Mirror for my aqua dining room

Melissa's Inspired Rooms Fun and Whimsy post. Tools are for women too!

My oyster shell mirror is my fun and whimsical creation that I just love. The dining room might be boring without it.

Joining Leigh for Thrifty Thursday and Cindy for Show and Tell Friday since I saved myself gobs of money by making this oyster shell mirror myself!

Read way back about 6 posts on my blog about this oyster shell mirror, if you want more info and how- to- do. I got the oyster shells free, thanks to my husband! I love that my oyster shells took on a creamy, brownish shade after their bleaching treatment....

It’s finally hung! It was a project, itself, just getting husband and son together long enough to do this. But the biggest problem I had was where to hang it?!? I debated hanging it in several different rooms. And visualzed it in my mind. Since husband was not willing to move it, ever again, I had to pick the right and perfect spot. I think I made the right choice.

It ended up weighing 37 pounds, but I still pray it doesn’t fall of the wall. We used an Ook professional dry wall claw with a 200 lb. rating.

It was awkward holding it. Had to be held by the hanger on the back

Fiddling around with what to put on the wall sconces, shopping my house. Tried about 5 different items, decided on the Staffordshire dogs for now. Until I find something else. Any suggestions?

Close up. Board is well hidden. Wish that I thought of Teresa’s comment to paint the board an oyster shell color first. In the end, it worked out fine. The board doesn’t show.

Love that I was able to find the little shells. Their color blends nicely with the oysters.

I switched out lamps. These tall skinny ones are perfect with the mirror. I think they don’t compete too much with the mirror.

It was a fun project. I learned so much that I’m ready to make another one!

Still looking for the things to put between the lamps. Would love some ideas from all you talented decor bloggers. I have a very difficult time with accessories and decorative vignettes!