I felt saddened over my destruction but still hadn't an affection for her "stuffy" decorating style. I believe I somehow found a justification in the deed by convincing myself that the "worn-in" styling was an improvement lending itself to a more welcoming casualness.
Nana did inspire me to collect pieces with a story. My love affair with decorating, antique collecting and reinvention were inherited.
Ottomans and footstools are always readily available in Houston. Sometimes they come in the form of a child's table or hat stand. With a little imagination and a husband handy with a saw, all things are possible.
This ottoman was formal with current day olive green upholstery and fringe. A grand baby found it to be the perfect place for juice and slobber so it became an ideal canvas for my needle and hot glue gun!
I gathered Twine, Jute, Cotton Muslin, Wide Belt strapping and various junk drawer findings.
I first covered the top by stapling a heavy cotton muslin over the top. I didn't bother with folding it under or ironing it as I knew it would be covered with another remnant. Feeling the top was too white, I poured a strong coffee on top of the muslin. Oops! Didn't like that as it blended into the planned jute pattern. Mixing bleach and water, half and half, the mixture was then poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the muslin. After 24 hours the top had just enough staining to give the piece an aged look PLUS didn't smell of coffee! The jute was then applied in a weaving method to gently resemble a nautical look. (This was not a quick application but I really like the finish!)
Now the side. A purchase at a Vintage Flea Market finally found its use! A roll of strapping once used for securing a tractor trailer load had just enough texture and grunge appeal to embellish the outer sides of the stool. (A belt or burlap would work fine!) Stapling didn't do well but a heavy glue gun did. After this came the whimsy. The junk findings were hand threaded into my version of fringe. A loose bead, game piece, button and rhinestone hair clip were just a few yummies threaded with twine and glued to the trim.
Finally, an assembly of remnants with opposing textures and color variations were torn into 4 inch strips and glued. *Remember to leave edges frayed and use random cuts and lengths to keep it airy and fun! Gluing or sewing these together, a handful at a time, saves time and eases the application process onto the furniture piece.
The last touch was a trim. Anything that doesn't compete with the otherwise visually dramatic features will suffice. I chose a frayed stream of rag doll hair from a 1980's arts and crafts doll. This covered excessive glue as well as staples.
Okay....its not Nana's storybook fairytale of living in opulence, but it is my way of life...living for the story. The process of travel through our story and how we don't always know where our story will go is what this journey is about. Sometimes a page break, a tattered element and knowing its okay to leave some edges frayed and vulnerable is what gives us the rich details that design our character. I'm hoping you'll find inspiration to JUST CREATE! No rules....Just create without too much control or planning. Allow yourself to just see what happens and let natural happenings happen naturally!
