miy-miycreations-recycle-decor-crafts

Miy Decor Project of the week
Flea-Market Make-overs part-2
C r e a t i o n s & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r t h e p u r e j o y o f m a k i n g t h i n g s"

Miycreations Project article and photographs
by Madeleine M Langlois

Flea-Market Make-overs: Fabulous finds and fixes.......

Decorating with flea-market finds is as interesting as it is fun for their nostalgic
appeal and versatility. They really can compliment any décor style. Their
character and history can even add warmth to a contemporary room scheme.
Collecting items of the past and mixing them with those of the present is not
only the current vogue but a continuing fascination for many and will be for
generations to come. The recent boom in reproductions is largely due to the
latest revivals and demands of items from the art-deco, the retro and the
seventies era. Rule number one in Flea-marketing 101 is "always decorate
with the things that you love".

A few simple ways to decorate with flea-Market finds;

• An old window frame with broken glass panes can make an intriguing wall
décor accent. Add other components such as small frames or china plates
directly on the walls to make a vintage montage. I placed a piece of carved
wood which just happened to be in the same colour on top of the frame to
embellish it.

• Even a simple desk drawer from a broken desk can be salvaged and
transformed into a unique hanging picture holder for small framed
photographs. Clean, sand and wipe with cloth, then simply stain or glaze the
drawer. Once dry, add mounting hardware at the back.

• Cake stands combined with glass domes can be used to display a variety of
household items or collections such as handmade soaps or vintage hand
towels in a bathroom. Stack cake stands in assorted sizes to make a
distinctive centerpiece for a dining room or front hall table with flowers, fruits,
pinecones or holiday glass balls depending on the season. You can even
hand paint details on glass domes with glass paints or even rubber stamps.

• Glass candy jars and medicine jars look distinguished filled with almost
anything such as seashells in the spring, floating candles and sea glass in
turquoise hues for the summer, coloured leaves and oranges or small gourds
in the fall, or holly sprigs, berries, and gold leaves for the holidays. You can
probably get a good deal on a jar that doesn't have a matching lid and use it
as a fish bowl, or place some sand in the bottom and add a few pillar candles
in assorted size to create a warm glow for entertaining outdoors.

• Tea cups can be used to display flowers or a single floating candle on a side
table or at each plate setting for a dinner party.

• Wooden wine boxes can be adorned by decoupage with pictures of the
past, a neat item to place on a mantel or bookshelf at a cottage.

• Ceramic tea trivets can be use to display candles in luscious colours or to
serve cheese and entrees for cocktails.

Top 10 trendy flea-market finds to decorate with;
1. Any Retro Kitchenware from the 50's is making a huge comeback.

2. Enamelware from the 40's has become the new cool casual classic. They
make great dishes for entertaining outdoors. They can easily be revamped to
hide defects with colour enamel paints and a sponge.

3. Glassware is omnipresent with several sought-after styles like: Vaseline
glass, Fire-King Jade-it glass, milk glass, depression glass, hand blown glass
and even Jeanette glass from the 70's in iridescent colours are all hot items.

4. Anything wicker or rattan is back in style and is quite simple to revamp with
a fresh coat of spray paint.

5. Trays and tin cans with vintage images and advertisements make great
kitchen décor accents and collections.

6. Trunks and suitcases make original end tables and are wonderful for
providing extra storage. Adding wheels on a large trunk creates a hip coffee
table. Some look great in their natural state, with a good cleaning and an oil
finish, others can be revived using wallpaper and fabrics to cover them, or by
adding vintage decoupage.

7. Globes make sensational décor accents in a den, office or a child's
bedroom.

8. Maps are great to use in decoupage projects for small table tops,
lampshades, trays, walls or simply to frame.

9. Medicine bottles, especially in blue or green glass, are quite sought after
to display as a collection, or as a single bottle with one flower added.
10. Tools and hardware are valued for their history, purpose, collection
appeal and to display on walls especially at cottages. Findings like glass
knobs, handles, and vintage hooks are best used to add to other flea-market
finds.

Here's a quick tip for mixing the old with the new: the more modern the wall
colours and surrounding décor are, the better an item or collection will stand
out.

Variations of other flea-market finds to revamp and to decorate
with;
• Frosted glass toothpick holders from the 50's become spectacular
centerpiece votives by simply adding tea candles to them.
• Old frames can be transformed using cork inserts - into serving trays or
bulletin boards for teens' bedrooms or home offices.
• Galvanised wire baskets are perfect for home offices or kitchens to organize
paper work, mail, books and magazines.
• Shabby-chic textiles and vintage linens make great throw pillows, quilts,
curtains, chair slipcovers and placemats.
• Old barn wood can make a magnificent shelf, coat rack or even console
table using vintage wood brackets.
•   Wooden spindles can easily be transformed into nostalgic candlesticks or
lamps.
• Old bed-spring coils can become intriguing candle stands or holders.
•   Lamps can be made out of a variety of items such as vases, small columns,
old boxes, and wooden blocks.
•   Folding screens can be revamped by adding cork, wallpaper, rice paper or
padded fabric inserts.

Miy Creations
Project G allery

Tea cups can be used to
display flowers or a single
floating candle on a side
table or at each plate
setting for a dinner party.

• Glass candy jars and
medicine jars look
distinguished filled with
almost anything such as
seashells in the spring,
floating candles and sea
glass in turquoise hues for
the summer, coloured
leaves and oranges or small
gourds in the fall, or holly
sprigs, berries, and gold
leaves for the holidays.