Hi everyone!
Let me start by thanking all of you who took the time out of your busy schedules to fill out the SI Blog 2016 Survey!
WOW… you guys are amazing and I’m learning so much! It’s been an eye opener and reading all of your comments… oh my heart!
Most days I sit behind my screen while editing photos and/or writing these posts and believe me, it can be isolating. So hearing all your feedback and even more importantly FEELING all the warmth, encouragement and insight means the world to me. Your feedback is REALLY appreciated.
I’ll leave the survey up and running until Monday for any of you who may want to share your interests and thoughts on Salvaged Inspirations!
Oh, and also – let me know if you’re interested in seeing the results of the survey. It’s all anonymous so I won’t share individual comments, but I’d be happy to post the stat results and give you the low down.
Now onto my Granny Chair! 🙂
You may remember me posting this chair on Facebook when M-M-M and I curb-shopped her on our way home from a sushi bar. I asked you FB friends what type of chair this was and someone replied “a granny-chair”. I think it may be a Queen Anne or Chippendale or something… but I’m sticking with granny-chair because it makes me smile.
Okay so here’s the truth. We all know I have NO PROBLEM curb-shopping furniture. But when it comes to upholstered items, ummmm, I admit I’m a little leery. We’ve all heard those scary bug stories right…so I’ve missed out on some pieces that could-have and would-have been stunning…like the red chair that MMM found on the streets of Toronto!
But for whatever reason I took a chance on this one. My guess, saki-bravado takes the credit for this salvaged piece.
To be safe, it’s been airing out in my garage since October. Then I gave it a good vacuum and cleaning. Probably months of airing not needed – but better safe than sorry!
Now for my disclaimer. I’m not a fabric painting expert.
It’s been on my to-try-list for over a year but this is my VERY first time painting fabric. My inexperience is already VERY apparent because I honestly thought I’d have a complete fabric painting review published for you today…along with some pretty ‘after’ pics.
The truth is, painting fabric takes longer than you think! It’s a process because the fabric takes so long to dry!
Here’s a sneak peek.
I’ll finish this girl up over the next day or two and then share my thoughts on fabric painting come Monday.
I’m really curious as to how it’s going to look and feel since I’ve heard and read different results!
*** Update: See the Restyled Granny Chair Makeover Here!
Any of you painted fabric before? Have any tips or advice?
Have a great day and Happy Painting!
Denise x
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Use a textile medium either on the fabric before painting or mix in with the paint. It will make the fabric more canvis like so it doesnt keep soaking into the fabric. If you paint on a design set an iron on a paper bag and iron your design. This will heat set your design into the fabric. This used to work when I hand painted t shirts
I recently discovered your blog and I love it! I totally get it about acquiring upholstered furnishings. I think the best way to ensure any “bugs” are dead is to spray the chair with insecticide (wear a mask), encase it in a large plastic bag (close it with a knot or twist tie) and leave it for a day or so. In the winter, you can leave the chair outside – the cold will do the work!
Welcome… and great tip Maria! I’ve heard of the garbage bag trick before but never thought of spraying it. Here in the Greater Toronto Area, our winters can be super cold so I figured a few months in the freezing cold garage should do it. 🙂
beautiful chair! And as one other poster said, a light hand sanding gives the piece a nice smooth finish. I have a side chair in my family room right now, that I painted and just love it. Easier than a new slip cover 🙂
Very encouraging! Thanks Lynn! 🙂
You’re such an inspiration!! I know nothing about fabric paint. Does it work more like a dye rather than a paint applied on top of the fabric? Can’t wait to see and hear what you think!
From what I can tell – both. It seems to have dyed the fabric but it does feel a lot stiffer… like it’s been painted. I’ll keep you posted Paula because this is all new to me too! 🙂
Hi, not to put a damper on things, but I can’t get my head around painting fabric. My hubby had an upholstery business for over 13 years. Upholstering antique and modern. The muck, dust and dead skin cells that came off the furniture when he stripped it down was disgusting. Even off pieces that looked relatively okay! He even managed to contract ringworm from an antique that he later found out had been stored in a barn for a few years. Anything we have in the house has to be stripped to the bare bones and recovered from scratch. I don’t even like to see people put new fabric directly over the top of the old covering! Sorry everyone – just my opinion.
I agree Tania, painting fabric as opposed to a beautiful and professionally reupholstered chair – NO COMPARISON! You’re lucky to have such a talented hubby! From what I hear (I’ve never had a piece professionally reupholstered), everything is stripped down to the frame, rebuilt, and then recovered so it’s pretty much a BRAND NEW piece…which explains the project’s cost. Painting is definitely the quick-and-cheapo way of achieving a different look…lol. 🙂 I am shocked to hear about the ringworm after years of airing though! Unless, maybe there were barn animals roaming around with ringworm???
Yes, I too am very curious. I am a lurker and hope to become a “doer” this year so all your posts are avidly read. Many thanks.
We love lurkers and doers Collette so welcome…lol! 😉
Pity we aren’t a bit closer I have a perfect fabric and if I could find a way of posting s pic of it I could show you. It’s an off white quality upholstery fabric with a 1/2 fan shaped weave and a tiny pink and blue thread at the point of the fan. would be perfect IMHO on this chair. I bought it many years ago to do up a slipper chair which unfortunately fell apart as we started to work on it. If you are interested Denise let me know and I can send you a picture on facebook.
That’s so sweet Patricia…thank you! I’m going to try painting the fabric for now and see how it turns out but I’ll keep you posted. And sorry your slipper chair project didn’t work out. 🙁
Loooove the work you do and are doing to the Granny chair! I am wanting to try chalk painting fabric, myself, but haven’t found the right candidate. You look like you’re doing a great job, especially since it’s your first time! Looking forward to the final reveal. 🙂
Thanks,
Tess S.
Thanks Tess! And “the perfect candidate” is perfectly phrased! All last year I wanted to try painting fabric but wouldn’t dare try it on a piece I purchased/owned. It’s easy to be more courageous and adventurous with roadside finds! 🙂
Can’t wait to see the finished product and find out your technique for painting fabric. Looking good already!
Thank you. I’ll be sure to post all the steps for you. 🙂
Only clue I can give you Dee, is to make sure you sand lightly between coats. It doesn’t take long, just a quick once over, but it really makes a difference. Looks like you are doing your usual outstanding job though! 🙂 Also, I think you should rename her Missake (pronounced Miss Sake)…. lol!
Can’t wait to see the end result… Missake has lovely bones!
Your other clue – how to properly spell ‘sake’…lol…just realized I made up my own version of the spelling in this post! Great tips as always Carole. Thank you! 🙂
Did you mix your paint with a textile medium?
No Jenn. I’m using General Finishes new Chalk Style line in hopes it will work like an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. When I reached out to ask GF to ask if their chalky paint works on fabric they said they don’t know because it has not been tested…I guess I’m the guinea pig..lol.
Denise…I’ve done a few of these and LOVE how they turn out! Huge update with just paint. I have one of my own that I will be doing in the future as well. Can’t wait to see yours!! ~Lynda~
I believe I featured one of your beautiful painted chair redo’s on a pinterest post (the gray one!). I love your finished chairs so I hope mine turns out as well. 🙂
Hi Denise. I love your blog and all your tips on painting furniture! I also have never painted fabric and am curious as to how your chair turns out. Looks great so far.
Thanks Monique! I’m curious to see how it turns out too…lol.
Oh my gosh….I looooove the granny chair! I am also skeptical of fabric furniture, yikes the thought! But have been very curious about painted fabric…..what will it feel like, will it crack??! It will most definitely suffocate any “bugs”…lol I do however have a collection of vintage wood pieces that I picked up at salvation army in my basement and since stumbling onto your blog….really got my juices flowing…not to mention my supply list for the weekend. I’m curious about how this turns out. What color chalk paint did you use for the wood? Java stain is on my list this weekend and will be attempting my own chalk paint soon. Keep up the good work, your posts are very interesting and you’re one talented girl! Off to salvation army to see what treasures I can find 🙂
I’m using General Finishes Bone White on the wood (same white I used on this china cabinet) and Cardamom Brown for the fabric. Sending you luck on your treasure hunt Christine…FUN!