Showing posts with label I've been craving a library. Show all posts

Dirt Cheap Do It Yourself Decor (again!)  

Posted by Heidi in

Dark chocolate chips stirred into white flour, sugar and butter batter.
Vanilla ice cream swimming in a sea of chocolate syrup.
Glowing pink, crisp green or deep blue against pure white.
I have always been a lover of contrasts so it's not surprising that this light and bright Shabby Chic fan equally adores the dark and heavy look of the late Victorian era. Yes, indeed, I do! For years and years and years and years, I have been craving a library that looks something like this. (Specifically, photo number five so you'll need to scroll down.) I have been racking my brain attempting to figure out where I could set up a library in my teensy weensy house without it requiring that one of my children sleep on the sofa (which wouldn't work out so well since one of them already does). Most of my books, nearly 1,000 of them, are taking up space in the garage except for my collection of antique volumes which have been in a cabinet in my bedroom, living on dark, deep shelves behind glass doors that make them almost impossible to see. Then, one day, I had a bright idea. I switched out the little crystal and silver pretties placed amongst old family photos on the what-not shelf in the hallway with my antique book collection and, voila!--instant library.
Yes, indeed, it is small and only holds a fraction of my total volumes but together with the books in my new(ish) fireplace mantle, it does create a smidgen, a soupcon, if you will, of the look I crave. There's nothing like moving your possessions to a new home to allow you to "see" them again. It's like buying something new for NO DINERO.

I also crave an "old" and authentic look to my house. I want to walk in and feel like it's been here for a very long time, (lived in by generations of people who took excellent care of it, naturally). (I said old, not falling down.) I particularly want an authentic looking Victorian kitchen and have been racking my brain (yet again--it doesn't work if I don't torture it) to think of an affordable solution for a backsplash behind the stove. In spite of the floral print, this plain painted wall does not scream "Authentically old, Victorian, well-maintained, not falling down kitchen".



Then, the other day, I re-discovered where I had hidden a Christmas gift (read: moola). (BTW, I highly recommend it. The finding, not the hiding, which is good but much more problematical than the finding.) So, I took my Christmas gift to the local hardware store and was delighted to find very affordable faux (read: authentically old Victorian but not as expensive as the real stuff) pressed tin tiles. It was easy-peasy to install. I also switched out the print for a tole tray which I have had forever and stopped "seeing" and now I have a lovely backsplash that even the Middle Child (read: jaded teenager) finds beautiful. Total cost: $39 (but actually free to me--see above)


A few months back, I ran into some photos of these gorgeous Easter rabbits that had been formed from antique chocolate molds like these large examples that had been embellished with bits of ribbon and lace and were selling for oodles of money. Rather than buy one, I decided I would try and make my own.


As you can see, I went a little wild as I don't have room for four. And since this was my most expensive decor venture of late, I will have to sell at least two or three of them to cover my costs. I'm pretty sure I won't be pulling in the kind of money like those whose work I have seen (read: ripped off) but if I can make even a fraction, my costs will be covered. Cost: ZERO (hopefully--time and eBay will tell.) And, oh!--look! I included pics of their sweet little faces.


This white bunny turned out best. I wish I had bought more of the those.


It's hard to tell in the photo, but the ribbon has chocolate brown trim, not black. Very appropriate, eh?


This bunny is holding a bead bouquet, two of which are antiques.



This bunny's collar is made from vintage ballet slipper ribbon. Lucious. (The white stuff is German glass glitter. It turns out that it doesn't look so great on dark colors. I have a feeling this is the bunny that will be staying put.)
As cheap as all of these examples are, they do still take some time and effort. The really cheap decor is the stuff that doesn't suck up any resources at all, such as getting out some of your beautiful things that you keep put away and setting them out where you can see them.

(FYI, I have read two whole books this year and have started on another and am loving every minute of it. It seems my book-hatred has vanished! I'm thrilled! Thanks for the prayers!)

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