"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The past few days I have had my hands busy......

 with before and after projects that I have been working on.
Before
A customer from Virginia sent me this adorable vintage child's pillow case to restore with embroidery work.
 
After
Here it is.......restored!
 
 
Before
I have had this old chair, found at the dump, since last year............
 
After
Here it is, sanded, stained, and enhanced with my embroidered panel
 
 
Before
a blank canvas
 
After
wild rose embroidery
 
 
 
Before
If you remember, early in the spring, I decided to use my cherished light globes
as planters.

Before
Beautiful blue


After
perfect with light yellow rose moss planted in it.

Before
Hand painted and cute

After
Overflowing with dark pink rose moss

Before
delicate soft butter yellow with a scalloped edge

After
perfect with vibrant red rose moss planted inside

All three have done well

and help dress up the patio with the other rose moss and plants.

I love vintage looking containers for the garden.
How about you?
What before and after projects have you come across?
What kinds of containers do you like for your garden?
I would love to hear!


19 comments:

lil red hen said...

You really did a good thing with the embroidery! And all the containers of rose moss are beautiful! I planted rose moss in an old iron wash pot; have only had a few tiny blooms. Just wasn't a good year for anything here.

Wren said...

Great restoration of the child's pillow. And i really like the use of the globes! I have one and would have never thought to use it this way, maybe will have to now. Thanks for the idea.

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

your fingers have been busy and your work is lovly. I adore the chair too, you give it new life. BUT wow on the light covers, who knew! That is one awesome idea!

HOPE your day is good.

magnoliasntea said...

The embroidery is much more defined now. You are a whiz with the needle!
Your moss roses look way better than mine, and those "pots" are gorgeous. Our house is an old farmhouse and had several of those type globes in it when we bought it. I love them and still use them in two rooms.
Wow, the chair is so cute now!
Have a great week!

Betty Lou said...

Beautiful before and after pictures, the chair is a real heirloom now. Never though that globes would be that strong to hold a plant but they make beautiful planters.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Those cats are just cute as they can be! And your "planters" reallly look good. I had the moss roses growing here, too, years ago, but they escaped into the wild and tried their best to take over my garden. So now, much as I like them, I do not allow the little darlings into my yard. You really made that chair into a work of art!

Sherri Farley said...

Beautiful job on the embroidery. The planters are so creative. Great idea.

Country Gal said...

Oh it all looks wonderful ! My mum used to have an embroidering kit and did a lot of table cloths , hankies, Aprons you name it she made it back in the day ! I do like your idea for plant containers wonderful ! As for me I try to use all kinds of things for garden ornaments , like old bowls that may be cracked or broken , half bury them in the garden so the print or pattern is showing but not the broken bit . I try to incorporate just about anything in my gardens I have a round the house or I will go to a antique shop or thrift shop and look for something I can use ! I love doing things like this for my gardens ! Have a great day !

KathyB. said...

Very nice! You are so talented in needle art Kathleen.

What a good idea for the lamp globes, they are beautiful and as planters, I think, even more so.

Connie said...

Kathleen, I love all of your before and after projects. Your embroidery work is wonderful. The chair is really neat!

Terry and Linda said...

You are so amazingly talented!


Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Glenda said...

Great before and after projects! Beautiful! I love the the idea of using the light globes as containers for your pretty flowers - which look so healthy!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Lovely projects, Kathleen, and what a novel use for older light tops.i recently purchased some plants done the fall growing Eason.

Paula said...

Your embroidery work is amazing, Kathleen!

A Colorful World said...

You did an incredible job on both those embroideries! As always, though. You are SO talented! And I love your pretty light globes!

The Farmers Daughter said...

You are so good with a needle! Love all the before and afters. . . Great ideas!

Anonymous said...

Oh Kathleen, you work is always so lovely. We still use the pillowcases you made, what, about two years ago now? They have held up very well to our abuse.

Mr. Wonderful and I often think and pray for your kids in the Navy. How are they doing?? Still hoping one will get to San Diego so that maybe we can all see each other.

blessings, jill

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Wow! Your work is awesome! You are such a talented person, Kathleen. I love the pillowcases, the stained chair, all of your work is wonderful. You have been busy, but productive!

Mini said...

I loved seeing how your chair was transformed . I'm always fascinated by the manner in which American women are so into thrifting and then upcycling furniture...doesn't happen so much here in India.