Finding rusty old junk is fun! Nevertheless, I have found that no matter how much "stuff" I find and collect, only God can fully satisfy my heart. Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Apple Basket Makeover

 
I am spending more and more time dreaming in white in blogland, and I am happily addicted to pinning lovely whites and creams like crazy on my pinterest boards. In my own home I am still drawn to incorporating worn leathers and warm wood tones which add depth and a "lived-in" feel to the ethereal beauty of  my cottage white walls, white distressed furniture pieces and decorative accents. I love too many different decorating styles to ever have a completely white or strictly shabby chic decor, but I doubt I will ever back to putting much color on my walls even if the white/cream "trend" goes out. If trends revolve back to bold color, it won't matter...I am sold on whites for life! As a collector, I love the creams and whites on our walls because they provide the perfect back drop for my ever-evolving displays and vignettes. Despite having a lot of junk and collectibles, the walls create a sense of calm unity and the look is always pulled together.

I am now getting to the point that I find it hard to resist slapping white chalk paint on anything and everything because I am obsessed always so pleased with the results whenever I do. I was really sick with the flu last week and all I really felt like doing was pinning. All the inspiration was driving me crazy however, so here is what I did this weekend to satisfy my white cravings...


Earlier this summer I bought several old apple baskets at a yard sale, like the ones in the picture below. I love these types of baskets. So many memories of going to the market with my mom and seeing them filled with fresh produce.

source: http://rowhousenest.com/2011/05/08/basketville-baskets/
Mine had been outside so it was a little warped and mildewy. I sprayed it with a bleach and water solution and let it sun-dry. Then I painted it with a homemade chalk-paint recipe. White love strikes again! I had some extra burlap so I adorned the basket with a generous bow. It turned out even better than I thought. There are so many uses for this basket, both functional and decorative, especially with fall coming. Even empty, it is still so pretty.


For now the basket is sitting in this chair. I recently found it at a yard sale for $1. Since it was already white and a little chippy I kept it just the way it was. No extra work. Score!

 I stuffed the basket with a beautiful vintage chenille twin coverlet. Then I made a little stick bundle out of some broken chair spindles that I salvaged from some other furniture makeovers.  




These leftover spindles from misc. broken chairs (previously brown) were
originally tossed out by the garbage, but
I thought they still had possiblity for crafts or decorative potential, so I brought them in and painted them white too!

         Here is a prime example of why I chant the "use what you have" decorating mantra.  I love how this little spindle bundle turned out. Now it looks so pretty tied up with an old crochet remnant and scraps of burlap. And to think they were destined for the landfill!



   I also put this sweet little book in the basket as a prop for the post photos. It was a surprise gift from my best friend when I dropped off her birthday gift. We all know it is better to give than recieve, but its still always fun to receive! In addition to its lovely cover, the book has the most tantilizing pictures of various French flea markets (on my life's to-do list). Until I actually get to make that dream come true, I will settle for wandering through the pages.


Enjoy your blog visit!
 
2013:
 
 
2012 Linking up:





20 comments:

  1. I agree with you completely. While I find myself pinning all white rooms, I know they would feel flat without the warm wood tones I surround myself with. I'm slowly (very slowly) starting to paint over the colored walls I inherited when we moved into our old house, but I still like a little color and wood to warm things up. Love your basket project!

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  2. Love this basket makeover! The white is just so yummy!! I am always drawn to pretty baskets, too! It looks so great with all the stuff in it!!
    Have a great week!
    Becky

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  3. Adore the charming apple basket makeover and the idea of the spindles tied together. The book looks interesting & I'm putting in on my list to take a closer look at!

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  4. Love your basket! The burlap ribbon is quite the perfect addition!
    Happy WW!
    Monica.

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  5. hmmm I have a couple of these baskets in my garage collecting dust...what a great idea to paint them white! I may even add a stencil of a number on them too! Come link up to Centerpiece Wednesday on my blog and enter my giveaway.
    Karin

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  6. Very pretty basket that you fixed up. Love the great little chair it is sitting on.

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  7. That basket is so pretty! Chalk paint & burlap...one of my favorite combinations!

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  8. Love the basket with the little wood spindles. I believe I have some like that, but not painted. I feel the urge to copy that for my Fall decorations. Thanks for the idea.

    Audrey Z. @ http://audreyzumwalt.blogspot.com/
    Timeless Treasures

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  9. The chair parts turned out lovely. I'm already paranoid to throw anything away, now I'll never part with furniture parts.

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  10. Great blog header! I just discovered you - adding you to my reader.

    Popped in from TTT

    thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

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  11. Love how your apple basket turned out. Oddly enough I love those spindles.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  12. I too find that everything I pin is white. My two favorite homes are Our Vintage Home Love and The Old Painted Cottage. I am trying to slowing incorporate some white (or cream) into my home which is mostly earth tones. I love this flower basket with the burlap. These are a few of my favorite things = baskets, burlap and white! Good find, made better by you.

    Gloria

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  13. I love your apple basket!!Beautiful publication!:))

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  14. Your apple basket is such a delight and the bow is the perfect finishing touch. I really like what you did with the spindles, just the fresh coat of paint makes them look more important. I'm addicted to white chalk paint too:-)

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  15. Wow! Your apple baskets are beautifully transformed! Paired with the burlap and the left over spindles - all is marvelous! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  16. I wanted to thank you once again for sharing with Home and Garden Thursday and to let you know I will be featuring your post in this evening's Home and Garden Thursday party.
    Kthy

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  17. You really brought out the charm of that old apple basket, Amber! And that fabulous burlap bow was truly the perfect embellishment.

    Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Hope to see you again this week.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

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  18. Wonderful look for fall! I love what you've done with this. So glad to be a little junkin' inspiration for you! Sometimes digging for things is just what you need! LOL!

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  19. Beautiful transformation!! And the spindles....sigh.....

    Xo, abby

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