Re-do, Re-create, Re-purpose

Maybe it was the Depression Era Grandparents........maybe a Mom who could a  take  little bit of this and that and make a wonderfully decorated home on a budget.......or maybe it was the because in our family things were passed on from Mother to Daughter, Father to Son.....but, I have always figured things could be redone, recreated, or repurposed. I suppose that's why I love the vintage hunt. finding something that most would throw away and finding it's new lease on life.

I don't have a before pic of this wooden ladderback chair, but it was in horrid condition. With some nails, wood putty, a coat of Vanilla paint, some hand-painted rose garlands, and a victorian inspired lace, satin ribbon with satin rosettes accented pillow, this old chair has new life.

Discarded dinner plates become hand-painted wall art, or, place a clear plate over it and it can become a serving dish for cookies.

A vintage 1940's hat and coordinating hankie, hand-embroidered, await to become  a music box base and a dress for an Angelic Music Box creation

With the help of a vintage apron pattern,  a....................................................

vintage 1940's  hydrangea doily and new coordinating calico............................

will become a stylish apron.

A chipped souvenir plate becomes a floral wall hanging.

A 1940-50's rose motif tablecloth that was stained and threadbare. With some quick stitching and paper doll cutting expertise, I created pocket appliques for this vintage apron.

A discarded, rusty, and albeit holey water pump becomes a garden water feature.....

okay , I couldn't figure a way to incorporate a vintage textile in this one, but I do find uses for anything discarded into the garden. I have a 1950's Tappen stove sitting out back covered over.....LOL..to my husband's disbelieving looks....it will be a potting/serving buffet  table on our kitchen deck when we get it finished...hey it was free... and I'm on the lookout for a vintage ringer washer to fill with geraniums by two trees that'll make the perfect holders for a good old fashioned clothesline.

And, newly found vintage transfers..................................................

.......or vintage ephemera used as transfers........................................................

can become new Brown Gingham Creations like this....................

A vintage Southern Belle embroidery transfer will be added to............

this vintage hand-tatted edged hankie

to be the beginning of my newest Brown Gingham Creation pillow, Summertime..

I thought I'd do some different posts this time showing progress of one of my creations using vintage finds.

Summertime will be the first of a four pillow series of the season's.

Don't forget Saturday is Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound

Southern Lady's Vintage Love Market

Wednesday is Rednesday at It's a Very Cherry World

Vintage Thingy Thursday at Coloradolady