Thursday, July 1, 2010

Painting Grainsacks

So we all know how expensive the old grain and flour sacks can be, especially with them becoming so popular now. So, nothing new, but I decided to try to replicate my own, after using some tips from Mustard Seed Creations. I like the simple striped grain sacks, so I decided to do it simple. I started with bleaching a painted drop cloth (you can get these at the hardware stores for cheap and you end up with a ton of fabric). I spent hours soaking, resoaking in bleach and drying on high heat to soften, whiten and distress the fabric as much as possible. Drop cloth will NOT bleach just by adding a bunch of bleach with the wash cycle.  After I cut my fabric, I had to start by checking my OCD at the door. Miss Mustard Seed was correct on this, as you don't want them to just look like stripes, but old and faded stripes...and it was so liberating to run wild with the brush! Trust me, it's more exciting when your a total neurotic perfectionist to just let it all go! :) So, I taped off with my Frog Tape and some other tape I had laying around. With some fabric paint and some dry brushing a little later, this is what I got.


I love it! It truly looks like an old grainsack in person and I love that I can do these on a whim now that the time consuming part of the fabric bleaching is done. It was kind of addicting, so I might have to add some large ones through the house.

Linked up to:

Somewhat Simple

Life in the Fun Lane

Shabby Chic Cottage

The DIY Showoff

Crazy Domestic

Shabby Nest

Remodelaholic

Just a Girl Show and Share Day

Fingerprints on the Fridge Feature Yourself Friday

Funky Junk Interiors

14 comments:

  1. It looks great! Your picture of the completed room looks like it should be in a magazine. Going to "browse" your blog.;)

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  2. Love it AND your style! Great job:).

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  3. Becky,
    What an excellent idea! I have some left over drop cloth from a recovering project! I think this will be a fun project to do with my daughter! Thanks for sharing1
    Dee Dee

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  4. I love it and can't wait to see what else you come up with .. I have used drop cloths for our bedroom curtains and have been playing with the idea of doing something like this and using them for curtains in our living room..
    Thanks for sharing I think I will give it a try.
    Happy 4th..
    hugs from Savannah, Cherry

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  5. Stopping by from the DIY Show off!

    very pretty, I love the effect of the dry brushing

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  6. Love this idea. Another project to add to my list. Your sitting area is super cute!

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  7. LOVE that pillow. that whole room is darling. you did a GREAT job. If you ever get tired of it...you know where to send that little gem...

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  8. Your living room looks so dreamy I could curl up and go to sleep. Your pillows look great! Thanks for commenting and stopping by my blog. Now, I have to make a pillow like yours! The fun never stops!

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  9. I LOVE this idea! They turned out just like the real thing. Think of all the money you saved!

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  10. One more project added to my list! I saw MMS tutorial on this, too. Bookmarked yours to refer to when I attempt this! Love feedsack, burlap, Osnaburg...can't use them enough lately.
    xoxo
    Nancy

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  11. Hi,
    thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my pillow. Yours looks great - I love it. I want to try some in blue for my kids little TV room and have been dying to try a drop cloth - now that I've seen how yours turned out I may give it a try.
    ~Sam

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  12. Very sweet & simple. Stopping by from CSI!

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  13. Just noticed I already commented on this...I knew I loved it;) Great job!

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