Apr 7, 2016
Scandinavian Love – For Furniture
Sweden and Auckland are about as far apart as you can get. In fact, they are at opposite ends of the polls – North and South.
Our friend John Stephens Antiques theme right now is Scandinavian. Can you imagine how many things I want to take home… and how many ideas I have found.
This bookcase has such wonderful patina – Love, Love, Love – the blue undertones.
Then he has the most yummy Swedish style sofas, these are actually made from old Swedish Day Beds. The headboards are the sides and then a new back and all new upholstery is added.
Or these lovely Scandinavian chairs. Somewhere in the back of my mind these chairs are getting ready to get on a ship and come to America… but…. I don’t seem to be getting great buy-in from my husband.
Or this pair of demilune tables. The tops have been painted with a faux marble and are matched to make a single table or work as two halves.
There is even this wonderful stool/chair that I think is just so cute.
Many of these pieces have been restored with paint and a lovely grey glaze to give them a great patina all on their own.
My takeaway for this year is simple decorations, with more white, and I think I have to start working with more glazes.
Which one is your favorite from this lovely tour?
And Yes, this is where we found Madam X… but hopefully today the picture will be rightside Up.
Mar 23, 2016
Frames
Frames, 3 plus 1 great uses for Efex frames.
Frames have many uses. With 4 styles to choose from, they range from simple to elegant, art deco to french. They are for much more than pictures:)
Janet from The Empty Nest used F 28 to take this wonderful but slightly brown chest and make it marvelous by just adding a frame to the center and decoupaging fabric in the center.
At Maine Country Home, we added the simple frame F 24 to this painted sideboard to enhance the doors.
We are looking for a slant top desk, like the one pictured below because our F15 would be a perfect match. Just add paint and Efex.
And the addition of the frame F28 to the mora clock just made it pop.
Jan 28, 2016
In the winter of 1750 the town of Mora, Sweden was bitterly starving. A blight had ruined the crops and this small town in central Sweden was impoverished. What’s a mother to do? (Mora comes from “mor, the Swdish word for mother.)
The town had fallen on hard times since driving the Danish out of the country in the 15th century. They had to do something soon, or they feared all would be for naught.
Suddenly inspiration struck! It would take the skills and organization of the entire town to pull off this hair-brained idea, but it was all they had.
Almost overnight the entire town became a beehive of activity. Some people carved cases, others built clockworks, and a few hand-painted by candlelight during the long winter nights.
Their product was a beautiful, uniquely shaped, tall clock. Resembling the female form, a curvaceous Swedish lady, and over the next 80 years the clock industry flourished in Mora. This simple, yet beautiful, clock saved a crumbling town.
Imagine 90 people coming together to form an industry. They became renown for the style and sophistication of the clockworks and colors. Catching the attention of the kings and queens the popularity of the clock soared. It’s a style that is still appreciated and reproduced today, and can be found in many a living room or sitting room of any style.
Tomorrow we will show you how we took our Mora and made her a lovely Gustavian beauty with a little bit of bling and some Efex.
