The Burlap Cottage™

Let Your Light Shine

March 16, 2013 by theburlapcottage · Leave a Comment

Hi Friends,

Hope you all are having a great spring break. We sure are. We’ve been doing fun things with the family and having some down time.

There is one project we have managed to get done around the house. We changed out our pendant light above the kitchen sink. We started out with this beauty:

My husband needed to get a visa for some work he is doing in China and could only get that at the consulate in Houston. So I went with him on this trip and we stopped into a lighting store I have seen on some blogs. It’s called Brown Lighting. It is filled with antique lighting that has been refurbished, or antique light reproductions. We chose a farm house light in white to go above the sink. Here it is:

It even has the fabric cording. We bought two different types of bulbs, an antique Edison style, and a retro white globe. It turns out the white globe bulb puts out the best light by far, so even though I prefer the look of the Edison bulbs, we went with the white globe.

It is a tiny part of the kitchen reno we will be doing. One day.

Enjoy your time with your family,

Leanne

Filed Under: Before and After, My Home · Tagged With: before and after, cottage, DIY, farmhouse, home decor, Lighting, my home, transformation, vintage, white

Bulletin!

February 9, 2013 by theburlapcottage · 4 Comments

Hi Friends,

I’ve missed you all. Things have been crazy but good here at The Burlap Cottage. This was the first Christmas holiday season with my shop on ETSY and what an initiation! I participated in the Black Friday event and went from my highest month of 30 orders to 379! Wow! It was all hands on deck and a few all nighters. The burlap was flying at my house, even my husband was cutting out tree skirts for me so I could focus on sewing, my daughter was making piping and my son was tying jute twine on the free ornament that went with each Black Friday order! That is why you haven’t seen any posts from me since Black Friday, and it took most of January to catch up and regroup. What a learning experience, and I have already implemented some ideas and ways to handle what I hope will be an ever increasing business. Anyway, I’ve missed you all and hope you had a great holiday season.

Thought I would show you a project I did for a long-time friend. I recovered her bulletin board. She had already purchased her bulletin board and had it custom made for her laundry room. It was already gorgeous. When she redecorated her laundry room, she removed the fabric she had in it previously and wanted a monogram done on burlap. So here she is:

Here is a closeup with my crooked angle trying to get my own shadow out of the picture view:

Here is a closeup of my shop card that I include with all of my orders, especially in my ETSY shop, I wrap the item with tissue, ribbon and this card and a bow. Has to look pretty! Here are some examples:

In Michelle’s case, The bulletin board was too big for that, so I glued all of this to a thumbtack and pinned it to her board, so she could have a sweet presentation too : ) But I digress, back to the pinboard. Here is a shot of it in her gorgeous mudroom/ laundry room:

Look at those beautiful olive green cabinets. Aren’t they yummy?

Laundry looks downright fun in this laundry room!

These beautiful one of a kind art pieces worked perfectly in this space. The great thing about them is not only are they beautiful, but they are functional too. They hide the fuse box….genius!

One more look:

Thank you Michelle for the tour of your mudroom/laundry room. It is beautiful, great job!

Here are a few other pin boards I have done for my home:

This wass a gold frame I painted white and distressed it until some of the gold peaked through. I put some foam board in it and used it as a design board to show different combinations of fabrics for a show I was in:

Here is the same board covered with vintage news print and an inspiration photo. I use it in my studio:

Here is a shot of a bulletin board I made a few years ago:

I made some custom pins and put some vintage post cards and my favorite charcoal silk ribbon on it. Forgive photo quality taken with my phone:

Here is is without all the decoration on it:

Here is the same pinboard in my studio now:

One day I am going to make these for my ETSY shop, but until then, I am enjoying these.

Thank you for stopping by! Linking up to: Jennifer Rizzo

Filed Under: DIY, My Home · Tagged With: Bulletin boards, pinboards

Autumn Front Porch

November 3, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 8 Comments

Hi Friends,

Well I decided I should finish decorating my porch for Autumn before it’s time to get the Christmas decorations out! So yesterday was the day. Come take a tour with me.

As you approach our porch we have this garden flag that we change with the seasons and holidays:

Here is our Autumn wreath that was looking quite anemic, so I added some golden orchid’s in fall colors by just sticking the ends into the grapevine wreath and voila!

It definitely beefed it up a bit:

That’s more like it:

At Michael’s they have some of their Autumn and Thanksgiving items on sale. I picked up these Autumn berry garlands for 70% off! I took these as well as some grapevine garland and wound them around each other and placed them above the front door:

Each season I like to change out the pillows on our rocking chairs. I picked up this Robert Kaufman fabric remnant with a deep discount a couple years ago. Waiting for the perfect project to use it on, I made these 20″ x 20″ pillows with the fabric on the front, and backed it with red outdoor fabric.

I also hit Joann fabrics and caught their 70% off sale on their Autumn items. I had eyed this wall pocket on a prior trip and put it back. This time it was such a deal, I picked it up for $8!

Every year my kids look forward to the two scarecrow’s, one boy and one girl, to keep watch over the porch.

On the left side of the door I created this vignette with some sunflowers and pumpkins:

I love having a lamp on our front porch. It adds such a warm and cozy vibe as it welcomes us home. Since the one we had before conked out, I found this lamp in our garage and found a new shade at Target. Problem solved.

I used this wire rusty basket lined with burlap and some Autumn natural elements. I already had the burlap ribbon bow with Autumn leaves on it from a previous project, so I just kept it and I like how it turned out:

Backing out you can get a wider view:

I have been experimenting with my camera and decided to try using my zoom lens on this flower closeup and it I just love the effect. The focal point is sharp, but the area around it is blurred:

Well that concludes our tour of my Autumn Front Porch! Hope you enjoyed it.

Linking up to:

Filed Under: Autumn/Fall, Front Porch, My Home ·

Autumn Tablescape, Mantle and Hearth

October 22, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 4 Comments

Hi Friends,

O.k., I have decorated my kitchen hutch for Autumn, here are some pics of our Autumn Tablescape, Mantle and Hearth:

I created this centerpiece with some chocolate brown sunflowers from HobLob, some dried artichokes from Pottery Barn, and some Autumn leaves and hydrangeas. All are in a mercury glass french vase from World Market:

Here are some shots of my new Autumn salad plates and Chargers, the ceramic pumpkin is from the dollar store! :

I have added in some natural linen napkins with my pumpkin napkin rings I have had for a very long time. I picked them up years ago at Target:

Throw in a burlap ribbon and voila!

On to our mantle. My friend Jennifer who is a professional photographer took our portrait that hangs permanently over our fireplace. It fits in perfectly with Autumn with the Autumn leaves in the portrait. Below that I took my cornucopia and filled it with gourds and dried corn from the grocery store. Then I took some dried Eucalyptus leaves as my base. Then added an Autumn garland. I inserted some Autumn berries and some Autumn leaves I already had on hand. I filled in with some curly willow twigs and some feathers and this is the end result:

Every year I make an arrangement on my heart with real pumpkins. This year I added in my antique copper pot filled with greens and comquats and olive leaves. Ferns and greens I have had on hand soften the look:

I threw in my Give Thanks pillow, just added to my ETSY shop to the mix:

And there you have it. My Autumn decorations. I will be working on my front porch soon and will post when it is finished. Linking up to:

Filed Under: My Home, Tablescapes ·

We are Thank”Fall”

October 20, 2012 by theburlapcottage · Leave a Comment

Hi friends,

I was able to help thank the teacher’s at my kids school with a teacher appreciation luncheon this week. I chose a fall theme and came up with the slogan “We are Thank”Fall” for our teachers. Several other moms on my team brought autumn yummies for our teachers who give so much of themselves for our kids. Here are some of the pics:

I made this sign for the beginning of the buffet:

I created a burlap banner that says the same thing:

I made up a couple of these posters and put them in frames on the buffet table:

It was fun to create these burlap, chocolate, and peacock ribbon bows:

The color scheme was chocolate brown, autumn colors such as the rust, pumpkin orange, and tiffany blue.

Toward the end of the buffet line, I made this arrangement of autumn decorations:

Here are some of the teachers enjoying their luncheon:

It wouldn’t be a luncheon in the South without our Sweet Tea!

I made up these autumn place cards to mark some of the items:

Here are the sweets:

The teacher’s enjoyed their luncheon, and I enjoyed working on this for them!

Filed Under: Tablescapes ·

Fall Kitchen Hutch

October 6, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 6 Comments

Hi Friends,

You remember the changing table made into a kitchen hutch? Well here she is all dressed up for fall.

It’s subtle, but feels like fall. First, I took one of the white ceramic containers we use for icing down drinks when we entertain, and lined it with burlap of course. I took some of my creamy dried hydrangea’s I already had, then added some chocolate brown/bronze sunflowers I picked up for 40% off at Hob Lob. Added in some autumn colored berries, and I can’t believe the difference it makes. It really draws your eye up there, and best of all feels like fall, although I am liking it so much, I think it could work year round.

I tucked in some real greens and ceramic pumpkins I had on hand from last year, I think I got them at the dollar store! You can see the new autumn salad plates I picked up for fall. I just love them, they are from Better Homes and Gardens collection.

Below is a close up of a cookie jar that was my great grandmother’s from the ranch house. My mom remembers her grandma giving her a cookie from this jar. It still works really well. You can put cookies in there and they stay fresh and moist for a long time.

I took one of my antique brown wear bowls and put my organic potatoes in it. Keeps them handy!

I also took some of my twigs, and added some fall elements:

Couldn’t resist another shot of my new chandie:

One last look:

Thanks for visiting! Linking up to:

Flaunt it Friday Hubby Made Me

Filed Under: Furniture, My Home ·

The Burlap Cottage needs your vote…….

October 1, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 1 Comment

Hi Friends,

Today is World Habitat Day.

As you may know, One Project Closer and The Better Half have sponsored a Before and After contest this summer. Each weekly winner received a $50 gift card, and One Project Closer donates $100 to Habitat for Humanity each week. I was surprised and honored my Baby Changing Table To Kitchen Hutch was chosen by Myra @ My Blessed Life as a weekly winner for the One Project Closer/Habitat for Humanity Before and After contest. One Project closer donated $100 in my honor to Habitat for Humanity! Yay! I will be blogging about what I did with the $50 gift card I won in a future post.

Today starts the finals, and here is where you come in. The winner of the grand finale is chosen by you – the friends, family and readers of each blog. Since I am such a newbie, I could use all the help I can get from you. The winner receives a $150 gift card and more importantly, so does Habitat for Humanity. Simply click here and vote for my Baby Changing Table To Kitchen Hutch, I would greatly appreciate it. Check out all of the other weekly winners for some amazing before and after projects as well. It sure was great fun and benefits such a great cause. Voting is only open for this week.

Thank you to all of my followers,

Filed Under: ASCP, Before and After, DIY, Furniture, I've Been Featured, My Home · Tagged With: annie sloan, before and after, DIY, Featured, french linen, furniture, furniture refinishing, home decor, my home, paint, refinishing, transformation

More Storage Before and After

September 25, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 1 Comment

Hi Friends,

A couple weeks ago I posted about my studio space. I had a recent addition that I was going to post about. That is this cubby organizer. Once again, this was a piece that has had a former life in the kids nursery and housed very valuable treasures that they have since outgrown…..sniff….sniff. Oh well, time marches on. I got to thinking, I can always use more storage, so what have I got to lose?

Here is a picture of the before:

Your basic well-loved cubbie. Ugly, right?

So I pulled out my Annie Sloan pure white paint and when to town with two coats and came up with this:

Better already! I then sealed it with clear wax, tinted some clear wax and aged it a bit. Then I had the fabric boxes themselves to contend with. Somewhere in our organization effort we lost two of them, so I only have 4 now. I decided to wrap them in burlap. Here is the finished product in use in my studio:

It has been so handy to have my frog tape, fabric paints, transfer materials, etc. so close by. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. Sometimes in our own home, you get so used to seeing something as it is for so long, it can be hard to think outside the box and envision it repurposed. Thank goodness I did, it added some storage in some previously dead space, which every artisan/ crafter will know, that is valuable real estate!

Blessings,

Filed Under: ASCP, Before and After, My Home · Tagged With: annie sloan, before and after, DIY, my home, organization

I Have Been Illuminated!!!

September 19, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 1 Comment

Hi Friends,

One of the benefits of blogging is that you get to connect with other amazing blogger’s and make friendships. I have learned so much from these pro’s and like a sponge, I have been taking it all in. Now I have a chance to give back!

Doreen over at House Honey’s has nominated me for the Illuminating Blogger Award! Yay, Thank you! Doreen has been such an encourager for me. Not only that, I follow Doreen and look forward to her posts on decor, gardens, so much inspiration. Pop on over to House Honey’s and check it out…….just pure fun!

The Illuminating Blogger Award was created by CJ at Food Stories blog and although it was originally related to food and storytelling blogs, it grew to include everyone once CJ saw all the wonderful, informative blogs in the blogosphere, and I’m so glad it did!

Here’s how it works:

If you’re nominated, then you’ve been awarded the Illuminating Blogger Award.

Thank the blogger who nominated you and include a link to their site.
Include a courtesy link back to the official award site in your blog post.
Copy and paste the award to your blog.
Share 1 random fact about yourself.
Nominate at least five other bloggers that you feel have illuminating, informative posts.
Let the other Bloggers know that you have nominated them.

Random Fact About Me:

I have travelled to 15 different countries. My favorites being Italy (I have been 4 times) and Japan. Because of my travel, I have developed a love for foreign movies, especially British movies and t.v. If money were no object, I would travel more and see the world. We do a fair amount of travel because of my husband’s job, but I would travel even more if I could. : )

My Nominations for the Illuminating Blogger Award are…..drumroll please…….:

One Project Closers The Better Half

Between Blue and Yellow

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Homestead Simple

The Brambleberry Cottage

Go check out these blogs for inspiration! Thank you again Doreen!

Filed Under: I've Been Featured ·

The Burlap Cottage Studio – Where I Create

September 10, 2012 by theburlapcottage · 7 Comments

Hi friends. Here is where I create. A peek into where all of the ~~madness~~ genius happens. All of my tools and supplies are here. I originally had my studio arranged differently, but the layout was all wrong, and I wasn’t liking the style/feel of it….this is more…..me ; )

These cubbies were another transformation from my kid’s nursery when they were little. I will blog a before and after on this in another post. They have proven to be valuable real estate for more storage.

Here’s another view:

These bookcases have had a former life in our library (along with four other’s), but these were taking up space in our garage, so I thought it would be a great storage solution. On top I keep important reference books/magazines, paintbrushes in my pottery barn gold pots (formerly held plants in another house). The wire baskets I picked up at World Market and hold my order’s separate, I can work on many at one time. When I receive an order, I put a copy of the order, assemble the supplies for that order, and can keep it all together all the way until it ships. My system has worked very well for me.

Here is a close up of some tags I have added to some of the baskets with my supplies staged and ready for orders:

Looking toward the other corner, I have “L” shaped shelves built in to hold my pillow forms, trims, supplies, etc. Everything I need is at my fingertips.

The lamp in the corner has had a make-over. It was a floral lamp, that I primed and painted, then recovered a shade in burlap and added a crystal finial. Above that are my spools of ribbon.

I have already blogged about these wire wall pockets to keep track of my current orders. Below that is my computer and cutter. My sewing machine(s) are behind me, and my cutting/layout table is in front of me, and I have a nice view looking out the window complete with window seat.

Here’s another overview:

Here is the rolling baker’s rack that houses yet more supplies, and my fabrics sorted by color into each basket. I also have a shelf for more….you guessed it…..burlap, as well as my coffee sacks, and other fabrics on the bolt.

Here is a view of another pin board I have made from a gold leaf frame, now painted white, and the foam board is covered in vintage newspaper advertisements. I also have an inspiration picture on it.

This chair is the favorite place to sit in the house. It is right by the window, and gets much natural light, and you can see the edge of the window seat where I display some of my newest creations. In the chair is one of my new pillow designs made with vintage coffee sacks, this one I’m keeping for my studio. I found more of these wall pocket tins in the garage, and repurposed them in my studio. I still need to fill one with some rosemary.