Pull up a chair

Sometimes beauty comes by the yard. While at the fabric shop, deciding on something for the window in the guest room, I couldn't resist looking through numerous groaning shelves of trims. They were wonderful, every color, pattern, configuration imaginable - and very expensive when they're as elegant as these below ($35 per yard). What amazing machinery weaves trim like this. When I had a custom lampshade business in the early '90's, really beautiful trims, braids, fringes, tassels etc. were so hard to find locally I had to stock up during trips home to England. I was quite surprised when the sales clerk agreed to cut me samples of these costly trims. I will not be buying by the yard, but I do have a few bobbles and beads for an altered art project later!

But I digress...........I really wanted to tell you of my fun weekly visit to SuzAnna's Antiques yesterday. Spring decided to hibernate a bit longer, it was cold and dreary, not many people were shopping, so Susie, Anna, Linda and I played. When I showed them my fabrics for the guest room, they all scattered through their shop, hunting, finding, grabbing and bringing forth a myriad of items, knick knacks, bric-a-brac and the most unusual French inspired objets d'art that might work in the room.

This sweet little fleur-de-lys hook was a gift from Susie - it even has a touch of my French blue-green paint.

Now this was different - Linda appeared from a corner with an old painted metal light fixture which must have hung from the ceiling or wall. Turned upside down it makes a great candolier - there is a holder on each end. The old wooden fruit and berry swag has a French looking bow and touches of French red and blue-green paint.


This pair of beautiful old bookends, perfect color, lovely flowers painted on each one (I love Morning Glories!) are now sitting on a shelf in the secretary ~ thank you so much Susie & Anna!

The fabrics I finally chose for the chair and window surprised me - I wasn't looking for anything like this - they just came out and grabbed me - perhaps because they do have that certain French look about them. The chair seat will be dark chocolate velvet with the warm khaki color diamond and fringed rosette pattern. Picking up on the pattern I found the pale gold sheer with the deeper gold chenille stripe which is actually a big check pattern. These are colors from the toile on the secretary doors and the pale khaki paint we used on the bed and the closet doors - so it all blends together and there is a lot of texture going.............and I love texture!




The window treatment will be very simple because the shutters will be on either side. A straight sill length panel which can be hooked back with the length of vintage dyed velvet ribbon........and look at these amazing large painted metal filigree tacks.................they were holding a curtain displayed on the wall at SuzAnna's. We decided they were the perfect way to hang my panel at the window - I didn't want rods. I love how the center circle replicates the fringe circle on the chair fabric.

..................and while on the subject of chairs, take a look at this one! One of a pair, it started off somewhat somber and Gothic looking until along came Susie, spray paint queen, with a new color that is definitely French Grey. No I did not buy this one - no room for another chair!

Susie, unlike me, never ends up covered in paint when spraying. Within a couple of minutes the chair was painted shabby chic, she whipped out the perfect piece of old cotton lace for the back.........then we placed a stack of old books and a pretty beaded necklace and voila, a chair that will not be hanging around the shop long!

I hope you will have fun if you are out and about thrifting this weekend. Do support your local independent antiques, vintage and thrift shops. Not only will you find hidden, possibly one of a kind, treasures for your home and garden at bargain prices, you may also make wonderful friends as I have.