Fur, Feathers, and Pearls For Our 2016 Christmas Tree

You may not know this about me, but I'm quite Scroogey about the holidays.  It's not that I don't enjoy the decorating, it's just that I dread taking it all down, packing it away, and finding a place to store it all until next year.  I felt especially lazy this season.  I decided not to decorate the mantels or any other space in the house.  The tree and a fresh wreath on the front door were my holiday concession.

We found a beautiful tree.  I convinced myself that it was so shapely that all it needed was some lights and a draped pearl garland.  My ulterior motive of course was that the less I put on the tree the less I had to remove.  Well, I thought it looked lovely in a minimalistic way.  Unfortunately, anyone who stopped by asked me when I was going to finish decorating the tree.  My sister even offered to help me decorate it! 

 I caved and added some feather wreaths, a section of fur fabric as a tree skirt, and a few ornaments.  The other difference is that I normally photograph our tree in daylight.   I decided to give it a try at night.  I like the shadows and contrasts that the darkness creates.

Our tree with fur, feathers, and pearls.

  

Tree reflected in my mirror on the stairway.

View of the other side of the tree.

Faux fur tree skirt from my fabric stash.

The jester moves when you pull the cord.  Love bubble lights.

Mini Feather Wreath

Pearl Garland

This was our first try with bubble lights.

Gold Tear Drop Ornament

I want to wish each and every one of you a wonderful holiday season.

To see last year's tree, go here.

Last Year's Tree

Glammed Up Camp Stool

I'm sure you've all come across camp stools in your vintage shopping travels.   I always purchase them and update them with fabric.  I've covered them in a black and white awning stripe fabric as well as in a P. Kaufmann leopard print.  I had a matching pair of these leopard camp stools.  They ended up at the foot of a bed in a girly bedroom.

ONE OF A PAIR OF "LEOPARD" CAMP STOOLS

If you've been following along you know that I'm on a faux fur kick,

 so my next camp stool is very furry and fun. 

FAUX FUR CAMP STOOL

Whenever I re-cover a camp stool, I first remove the original canvas seat and save it for a pattern.  I always line the fabric to give it more strength.   You can see that I used some solid white canvas duck as a liner for the faux fur.

UNDERSIDE WITH COTTON DUCK LINING

I attached the seat to the base using my staple gun.   Since I already had some rhinestone upholstery tacks, I decided to glam up the camp stool even more with the tacks.

RHINESTONE UPHOLSTERY TACKS FOR SOME GLAM.

Keep your eye out for some camp stools.  They're  extra seating, a place to sit and put on your shoes, or add a tray and they become a side table.

Faux Fur Fascination

Yes,  I'll admit that I've been fascinated with faux fur for a while---maybe even obsessed.

I've draped it over tables, onto benches, cots, and chairs and even wrapped a vanity bench in its fluffiness.  I think the vanity bench was my favorite so I began a search for another.  

My sweet long-time friend, Dianna, who owns Diamond Antiques, found me a long lovely bench covered in botanical fabric with curvy carved legs.  Of course I'm never one to leave well enough alone and always seem to take the most difficult route.  This was no exception.  I removed the lovely fabric---and 10,000 staples--- and recovered it in--you guessed it--faux fur.  Here it is all done and ready for our next sale which is our Grand Opening.

Of course you must have noticed the curvy legs.  They originally were a dark mahogany.  I thought they were too dark once I added the fur so I stripped them with Citristrip.  It's easy to use, non-toxic, and I discovered that an old credit card is a great way to scrape off the goo.  I'd also been wanting to try to use Liming Wax so after I dry brushed the legs with a light grey paint, I applied the wax.

Stripped, Painted, and Waxed Leg

I was impressed by the way the liming wax outlined the carvings in the leg.

Side View of Lime Waxed Legs

When I looked at this next image I thought that the faux fur reminded me of a bad hair day,

 but in a good way.

Fur Bed Head

It also made a great back drop for my small sale items.

Hope to see you at the Grand Opening, Mar 18-20.

Link to Diamond Antiques and Gifts in Tarentum, PA

https://www.facebook.com/DiamondAntiques/?fref=ts

Our First Sale

I'm so excited to share my new space at Buckeystown Design CoOp with you.  It's quite a mix of old and new as well as a mix of styles--MCM, European, and my fav, bohemian.  I've never had such a large space to fill and it's been so much fun to style.   

MCM Chest, Sunburst Mirror, and Metallics

Fabulous vintage plaster ram.  How perfect to have a two tone wall to work with.

Vintage Plaster Ram

My Boho side of the room.

The Bohemian Side

Cabinet at the end of a bed---YES!

Jenny Lind Spool Bed and Gold Leaf Cabinet

Faux Fur My Fav

To cover the cinder block walls, I painted some vintage doors gloss white and outlined the panels in gold.  I need to find a few more for the rest of the wall.

Paneled Doors Outlined in Gold

I placed two chrome and wood bookshelves next to each other, and put some small mirrors in a row on a piece of burlap dangling down the center.  To create a backdrop, I added decorator paper with a sea life pattern behind the open shelves.

Display Shelves and Five-Light Chandelier

Lab Bottles, Urns, Silver Plate

Antique Basket, Atlas, and Bowl

Faux Marble Table with Column Base

Caned Back Chair and Santos Bust

Architectural Fabric on Caned Chair

For me, books are always risers.  These leather books are stacked on a column base.

Santos on a Stack of Leather Books

Sofa table, sideboard, entry table---  How would you use it?

I found this fabulous walking stick in a shop in Pennsylvania.
 How unexpected to have rhinestone eyes.

Vintage Walking Stick

This doll clothes case is perfect for jewelry.  There's a tray and a deep bottom.
It's covered in decorative paper.

Vintage Doll Clothing Case with Tray

Please join us:

Buckeystown Design CoOp
3607 Buckeystown Pike
Buckeystown, MD

January 15-17
Friday and Saturday 9-4
Sunday 12-4

Visit the website for more photos

https://www.facebook.com/BuckeystownDesignCoOp/