You Could Make That: ruffled table runner

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Graphics transfer to a table

The Graphics Fairy has so many wonderful old prints and engravings. This was a copy of a Circa 1850 Paris print. It's a delicately engraved frame with a laurel wreath embellished with lots of roses. I had seen it several times on her site and wanted to find a way to use it.

So, I decided to use it as the centerpiece on our kitchen table. I could put a vase or other dish in the center and the painted design would still show. When I add the leaf to the table I'll have to use a table runner since opening the table will split the design - but that's okay - when we need a larger table we usually go to the dining room anyway.

When I printed it out, I set it at 300 times the actual image. That stretches the design out so that it is quite a bit bigger than the original image, however, you have to tape all the "parts" together. This time I used carbon paper to transfer the image to the table. I didn't want the wreath to face only one way, so I split it horizontally right down the middle, flipped it, and painted the top half twice - kind of a mirror image.

I used a pretty watered down dark and light gray to paint the design. I was intentional in loosely painting the design and I'm still thinking about lightly sanding it to make it even more faint.

The design before the dark wax was applied.

The top of the table is painted with Behr's Moth Gray (flat, so that it will accept wax). I used Minwax/Paste Finishing Wax/Dark. The trim and base of the table are just a semi-gloss white.

Linked to:
Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy
and
Flaunt It Friday

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Grain Sack Runner, French Cache Pot, and a Lesson

Busy working on one of these. It's a gift for a really sweet friend. These are my inspiration pieces. You can find grain sack runners on many of the blogs, but these are some of my favorites. Soon, I hope to have finished my own version of a grain sack table runner. I'm checking around to see if I should line it or not. I wish they would show the back side of the runners so I'd know what to do! I think unlined is a little more authentic.

Ruffled or plain? Monogram? Stripe? Stenciled design?

I hope to have the finished product done by Friday night - since it needs to be pressed and wrapped by Saturday morning! I guess I'm putting up this post to to commit to having it done by then!

2 hours later . . .

This is really a pretty quick project. I made the runner the length of her table plus two inches, so the ruffle would hang nicely. I just rolled a quarter inch once, then once again for the hem on either side of the runner. Then I used some creme colored damask for the ruffle, twice the width of the runner. I did decide to go with unlined. After sewing a ruffle on each end, I did a zig-zag stitch on the seam to keep it from fraying with use. Then I was ready to stencil. I ordered the stencil from Maison de Stencils. It was a little pricey but I figure I can get my money's worth out of them in no time.

I used masking tape to keep the stencil in place before I started painting. I knew I should try out the stencil on a piece of scrap fabric first, so that I could troubleshoot on something other than the finished runner. However, I am not known for my patience, so I forged ahead and started stenciling right on the runner. I was lucky. It worked just fine. I used a dark brown acrylic paint. Now, before I wrap it, I'll need to set the paint with a hot, dry iron - then spray it with fabric protector.

This isn't a stencil brush, but it's close enough. It's a large,

round, flat-bottomed brush that's pretty stiff.

I had to try it out on my table to see what it would look like.

And now I need to make one for myself!

Along with the table runner, I'm wrapping up a "French" clay pot. I was so excited to get
started on this one that I forgot to take before pictures. Can't believe I did that, but you'll
just have to believe it started out with a glossy red glaze.

Kind of like this . . . it's the closest I could find to the before "look". Ugly.

The red was horrible but I loved the shape of the pot. The inside of the pot is raw clay. I painted the outside with white acrylic paint using a brush to get a little more texture, and left the inside as raw clay. After two coats, I glued on the French chocolate label that I found on The Graphics Fairy, then rubbed some Old English Scratch Cover over the whole thing. The label had been printed on off-white card stock. I was a little worried that the stain would obliterate the details on the label, but it just made the label look old and worn. Then a coat of Matte Mod Podge for protection and it's done!

Since the label is for chocolates, I filled it up with the same! It could also be used to

hold silverware on a buffet table, a fresh bouquet of flowers for a centerpiece, or a potted plant.

Ready to wrap with no time to spare - the birthday
luncheon is about 12 hours from now! Time for bed.

Saturday afternoon:

And, now for the lesson! Assuming your friends don't check your blog very often, is a mistake! I thought I was safe. But, unbeknownst to me, Pam had looked at this blog post . . . several times . . . and she had seen the progression of this gift all along the way! That'll teach me to be more patient with my posts! Anyway, there was no surprise when she opened her package today and saw her table runner and cache pot. We did have a wonderful day, and it all made for a good laugh - and a lesson. Happy Birthday, Pam!