Steampunk

Do you know what “steampunk” means? I certainly didn’t! I had to check out wikipedia’s definition and, of course, ask my husband once I heard that word being tossed around. As it relates to furniture, I have decided it means anything that is a little bit industrial, a little bit funky, and a lot of fun!

I started out with this chest of drawers that has been sitting in my garage for months. I have mentioned often that furniture “speaks” to me, but this one was strangely silent for a long time…

…Apparently, that’s because I wasn’t speaking it’s language!

Then one fateful day, I spotted this cute dresser at Twice Lovely:

…and I knew…

My chest of drawers, however, wanted to be black and distressed. It was an old piece to begin with, so I needed to work with that.

I purchased vintage valve handles from etsy. They came with the original dirt still attached! My love for ‘vintage’ ends there, so I ran them through the dishwasher.

I used 1/4” x 1 1/2” machine screws to attach the hardware. There isn’t much of a ‘neck’ on these valve handles to hold them away from the drawers, so they were a bit awkward to use. So next I purchased 1/4” nylon spacers to place between the valve handle and the drawer, and that makes them much more comfortable.

They handles are secured by 1/4” nuts on the inside of the drawer.

That’s all there is to it! But I love the fun, funky look of the piece. I think this would be fabulous in a boy’s room!

What about you? Have you jumped on the “steampunk” bandwagon yet?

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This project was featured at Simple Home Creations, House of Hepworths, and Beyond the Picket Fence .

Rock-a-bye Baby

Would you have been able to resist this? I couldn’t. It’s a beautiful hand-made, solid wood baby cradle. I can just imagine the love carved into every inch!

I am not generally a fan of hearts in furniture or jewelry…but I made an exception for this piece.

I see beautiful vintage-style nurseries on the Internet all the time now, so I thought I’d make over this cradle to go along with the theme!

I painted the body in a barely off-white, and then dry-brushed some cream over it. I distressed the edges and details, and then glazed the whole thing with dark brown stain.

The baby quilt is ‘vintage,’ too! It was made for me when I was a baby. My mother never used it because she couldn’t bear to see it worn out. I take it out of my linen closet to admire every once in a while!

I used a bassinet to keep my babies close to me in their first few months…

…but now I’m wishing I had had a cradle!

Note: Even better, this cradle went to a mom expecting her first baby girl

....after SIX boys!

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PRETTY SHABBY ..........

Just a quick post of shabby but pretty images for your delectation ..........

 Venetian loveliness..........

Escutcheon beauty ..........

Form formidable ..........

Wonderful white ..........

Lace love ..........

Shabby shutter ..........

Shabby table ..........

Another shabby table !!!! ( my literary skills have left me as it's pretty late here !!)

Just a little shabbiness for you .......... I'm off to bed !!

CRYSTAL DROPS and GUSTAVIAN CLOCKS ........

Don't you just love these Gustavian clocks ? I'd have one in any colour.....Oooo , this one just happens to be grey !!

Here's another one in the most wonderful house.

I arranged for the sunbeam to stream in for this photograph !

Some amazing crystal drops and Oh Grandma, what a big sofa you've got !!

.......... beautiful painted cupboard ..........

This is probably the closest I'll get to a gustavian clock. A picture of one. It still looks good though.

I love this room, don't you ?

Oh, maybe I could afford this one...

.............. and finally, a massive, neglected chandelier,

What a delightful combination crystal drops and gustavian clocks make,

Jackie.

FANTASY BLUE HOUSE..........

Welcome to The Blue House....come through the iron front gate and up to the front door.........

.......... through the inner door, which has a welcoming country bunch of flowers and you step into............

.......... the Hall........ smells gorgeous, doesn't it ? That will be the pot pourri
in the large bowl on the table. You would like to use the telephone.........

.......... feel free.....do you know how to use these retro phones ?......... while you're doing that I'll just be in the kitchen..........

............. Ah, there you are. Did you manage O.K., .....Good......Let's have a nice cup of tea.......Ah, good. I see that Fortnum and Masons have delivered. We will be enjoying some of the contents of that hamper later......

.......... I'll just reach up and get one of these cups , sorry, what's that......you would rather have a cup and saucer ? No problem. I'll organise it.
Just got to dry one up....could you pass one of those tea towels over on the stool ?
Blueberry cake with your tea ?..........

Bring your tea and cake through to the dining room.....can you manage?

............... right, finished ? Come and see the rest of my Blue house..........

.......... this is the lounge. Lovely, isn't it ? and the flowers are from the garden......

............... come through the sitting room and pop your head into the Conservatory....we eat out there sometimes ...........

.......... now, up the stairs, follow me ..........

............ this is the pale blue room, just poke your head round the door. I think someone's in there ......

.......... this is the main bedroom ..........

.......... and this is the en suite to the main bedroom ..........

.......... another bedroom.... rather special this one don't you think ? ..........

..........OOooooo I think that it's someones birthday in this bedroom .......... Happy Birthday, sorry to disturb you ..........

....Oh, they must have been celebrating in the family bathroom as well !!!! .....
O.K....... that's upstairs. Shall we go and have a look at the conservatory ? ..........

.......... looks as if the celebrations have been going on in here. A good place for a party.......... come and have a look outside .....

.......... if you would like to put a pair of wellies on , we'll go and look at the garden and sit at the outside table .....

.......... Oh good, they have lit the candles and I don't think that it will be long before dinner is served. I hope that you have enjoyed looking around my Fantasy Blue House and that you will be a regular visitor.

Jackie