Shabby Farmer

Antique Window #8

2011-04-20T10:45:00.000-06:00

This is a simple little window...It is about 2 feet high and 1 1/2 feet wide with two panes. It sits in a corner between two windows above the kitchen sink. A variety of little wreaths have hung on it. This one was from Kaitlin and Joslin.

Taking a look at it from further back. It is propped up in the corner and adds an interesting something to that corner.

A closer look at the cute little window.

Remember The Antique Tool Box

2011-03-05T16:32:00.001-07:00

I posted my Antique Toolbox previously, but I thought I would show you how I added to it for Christmas.

These are fragile antique Christmas bulbs. They are so delicate when I touch them they break! On the outside of the jar, I hung some vintage twisted metal icicles.

A different view showing the Christmas bulbs collected together in an antique canning jar.

These are all red antique Christmas bulbs in a vintage wide mouth canning jar.

A Arnold Friberg Christmas book displayed on the corner of the tool box.

Cute little wooden Santa in a basket of antique laces.

A fun Santa that Rick gave me a long time ago from Nordstrom. In front of the Santa is a rusty metal wheel the neighbor girls found out in a field and thought I might want it! I love it!

Visit farmersdozen.com to see the family.

You can contact me at farmer.laurie@gmail.com or on facebook or on twitter

Antique Window #7

2011-02-22T12:20:00.001-07:00

There are so many pictures of the family that I like that I didn't want to just place in a book. I wanted to display them, but not in those cheap looking frames with the rectangle, oval and squares cutout in the mat...do you know what I am talking about? So I thought, why not put them in a collage behind an antique window.

I found a large, weathered antique window and then gathered a variety of pictures, trying to make sure I had several of each child.

I then took some poster paper and traced lines showing where window pane would be, in other words you don't want pictures behind the wooden pieces of wood in the center of the window. I began overlapping pictures and placing them in random spots. I attached the pictures to the poster paper with double sided scrapbooking tape.

I attached the poster board to the wooden frame of the window with a staple gun. I will admit this might be easier than it looks. I have one spot where the staple came through the picture and you can see it, and another spot where the window cracked in the lower right corner. But all in all I liked the way it turned out, showing a variety of pictures of the kids at various ages.

A great way to show off some of those favorite photos, yet still keeping that antique look in your home...

Visit farmersdozen.com to see the family.

You can contact me at farmer.laurie@gmail.com or on facebook or on twitter

Antique Window #6

2011-02-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

Shabby Farmer - Antique Stain-glass Window

Window #6 is simply an antique stained glass window. It has lovely chippy paint while the stained glass design is plain and simple. I like it because it is the only stained glass window I have.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Stain-glass Window

Just sitting on an window ledge to catching the sunshine.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Stain-glass Window

An added backdrop for the music room.

A window in front of a window, perfect way to display an antique stained glass window.

Visit farmersdozen.com to see the family.

You can contact me at farmer.laurie@gmail.com or on facebook or on twitter

Antique Window #5

2011-02-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window #5

This window is probably about 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall. It has lead lines through it with the old bubbly glass panes. The center piece is clear stained glass. We found it at the Caldwell Auction about 10 years ago. The fun thing with windows is that you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on framed art...just place some antique windows on your walls.

Love antique windows!

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Frame

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Picture Frame

Don't forget the idea using a window frame with no glass in it as a picture frame, another use for an antique window!

Visit the family at Farmer's Dozen

You can contact me at farmer.laurie@gmail.com or on facebook or twitter

Antique Window #4

2011-02-07T14:26:00.002-07:00

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Picture Display

We found this window in Snohomish, Washington.

At the time we had 9 kids, but that didn't last long.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Picture Display

We ended up combining the triplets picture into one window, adding child #10 and put Rick and I in the center pane.

Poor triplets...

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Picture Display

We had mats cut for each window pane, with a 8x10 opening in the mat. I cut cardboard squares that fit tightly in the back of each opening holding the pictures in place. We take pictures each birthday...but I must confess we have been slacking lately. The two oldest children have moved on to college, so there pictures haven't been updated....Probably I will end up putting graduation pictures in theirs...

then wedding pictures :)...

I have the pictures printed in a sepia color to give it an old look.

A fun way to display the individual family photos.

Visit the family at farmersdozen.com

You can contact me at farmer.laurie@gmail.com or on facebook or twitter

Antique Window #3

2011-02-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

My friend Jody Starr made these windows. She took some great antique windows and placed dried flowers behind them with a natural homemade paper backing.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window #3

I love them, that is why I have two of them.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window #3

Visit Farmer's Dozen to see the Family Blog...10 kids and triplets.

Antique Window #2

2011-01-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Window #2...

An old green window with one pane missing. The other two panes have many coats of paint on them. Nice and dinged up! Perfect...

I happened to have some wooden letters in a box in the craft room that spelled the word LOVE, so I painted them red...I have painted so many things red with this can of paint, that Kade asked me if red was my favorite color. I guess it is! I cut pieces of twine and thin cotton lace and hung the letters on little nails I put in along the top of the window.

Looks perfect hanging over a dresser in our bedroom.

View some cute hairstyles over at farmersdozen.com

Antique Window #1

2011-01-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window

I LOVE old, antique windows! All shapes and sizes. I thought I would do several posts showing how I have used windows in decorating. This would qualify as the largest antique window, and the heaviest we have!

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window

We found 2 large antique church windows at the Caldwell auction. One was placed on the side of the garage, facing the street. The other window sort of fell a part. So I used the pieces in a variety of places.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window, Top Half

This was the top half of the window. The other side of it is white. I have a thin rubber slip under it so it won't slide.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window in Entry Way

The window sits an antique dresser in the front entry, providing an interesting backdrop.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window Outside

You can see in this picture of the window that there is a top half and a bottom half as well as an outer casing.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window Casing

This is the outer casing, placed next to the front door around a screen door, and an old bench with other antique items nearby.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Church Window Bottom

The bottom half of the window is by the front door to the left. All the glass fell out and it is quite flimsy, but still looks interesting. These two antique church windows provided an interesting backdrop in several places.

More posts on window decorating ideas to come.

Visit farmersdozen.com to see our trip to Washington, ALMOST.

Decorating With an Antique Toolbox

2011-01-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

I just love this tool box. I will show you a closer look of what kind of "tools" I put inside.

These are some old, antique books and at the right is an old, antique eyeglass case, which holds a pair of glasses that we found in Germany! Look at this treasure!

You can see the tattered case, in the background. The arms of the glasses are made with flimsy wire. Don't you wonder what the story is behind this little pair of glasses?

Another view of these delicately created glasses.

In the basket shown, is a collection of antique, handmade laces, along with an adorable picture of my Grandma Nielson as a child. I love the picture! It is my favorite picture. It has been placed in an antique frame. The plates in the background are from Rick's parents home and were made in Germany.

This little corner has a light green canning jar, and some old, antique books from Germany in it. The collection on the wire draped across the drawer, are military, awards and buttons.

The postcards are old, antique postcards Kaitlin and Joslin bought for me while in Germany.

This is a very old, antique Kodak camera.

There is a little tea cup and saucer hiding in this drawer, given to me from my grandmother Nielson, who collected them. The drawers are all lined with antique laces.

A view of the whole tool box, placed on a butcher block we bought at an auction in McCall, Idaho, from Shorelodge!

Hanging above the display is one of my favorite quilts.

View farmersdozen.com to see a cute youtube video!

Antique Window Picture Frame

2011-01-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Photo Display

I had this cute photo of the family taken by Randi Davies mounted on foam board. I wasn't sure what to do with it, since it was mounted on foam board. At first I placed it as is on an easel. Then I got a great idea.

Shabby Farmer - Family Photo mounted on foam board

First take a picture mounted on foam board.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window

Then find a cute little antique window, never can have too many antique windows! Love them! This one is without glass!

Shabby Farmer - Antique Doily

Find a cute antique doily.

Shabby Farmer - Tall Easel

Grab a spare easel, love tall ones!

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Photo Display

Put it all together and you have a cute display.

Shabby Farmer - Antique Window Photo Display

Add some dried flowers and an enamelware pot. Cute!

Tick, Tock, Goes the Antique Clock

2010-09-28T14:39:00.000-06:00

Shabbyfarmer.com - Family Picture with Antique Watch

Sometimes I am doing something, when all of the sudden an idea just pops in my head. I was on the computer and happened to look up at this picture and thought "I know of an antique watch just sitting in a pile, and some lace....".

Shabbyfarmer.com - Antique Watch

I immediately left what I was doing and got the antique watch.

Shabbyfarmer.com - Antique Key

I also noticed this antique key type thing in the same pile. I got some lace...

Shabbyfarmer.com - Antique Watch

I threaded the lace through the antique watch and some beaded lace through the antique key like item....

Shabbyfarmer.com - Family Picture with Antique Watch

Took them and put them on this picture display I already had out. It is a picture of the family on a foam board, which is sitting on an easel.

Shabbyfarmer.com - Family Picture with Antique Watch

The picture and easel are on an old box which has in it an antique shoe repair kit. I turned out fun don't you think? A much better spot than in a random pile to be gone through some day.

Count Your Many Blessing Dresses

2010-09-23T15:27:00.002-06:00

Farmer's Dozen - Blessing Dresses
You have a great piece of antique wood and you don't know what to do with it? I have the perfect idea!

On a road trip we happened to come across and old abandoned, torn down shack which had some great pieces of wood on it. The piece we ended up with was about 5 feet long and about 1 1/2 feet wide, probably about 1 1/2 inches thick. It has several old (antique) square head nails in it. Perfect fit for a wall in our living room. To hang the board, Rick made a heavy duty hanger on the back, since it is extremely heavy.

Farmer's Dozen - Antique Wooden Board

We, (meaning Rick), took some antique knobs we found in a store in Seattle named Earthwise Architectural Salvage (This store is a must visit, if you are ever in Seattle!) We had nine kids at the time and randomly placed the 9 knobs (a knob for each child), so they weren't all placed directly in a row.

Farmer's Dozen - Antique Knob

In the picture below it is showing the raw edge and, if you look closely, one of the antique square head nails.

Farmer's Dozen - Antique Square Head Nail

I took several branches, shipped to me from Washington, by my sister in law Carol, I am pretty sure my brother in law Duncan prepared them though, as they were perfectly cut in the same length and little branches neatly cut off to a nub. I took twine and wrapped it around a few times and made a sort of hanger out of them.

Farmer's Dozen - Hanger

Then I placed each of the children's blessing dresses on the hangers and hung them in birth order.

Farmer's Dozen - Blessing Dresses

The first dress was from Brazil, my mother in law (Norma) bought it for me. My instructions to her were, I wanted cotton, nothing shiny, short and plain. This fit the requirements perfectly. The 2nd dress (left to right) was an antique dress we bought the day after the baby was born! We drove to Seattle, with my hospital bracelet still on, and found this dress at an antique store that is now out of business. On the way home, Rick was pulled over for speeding but didn't get a ticket with the brand new baby and all! The blessing was the following day! (I might have been crazy). The next 3 dresses were the triplets. I made them from tablecloths I got at an antique warehouse sale which I had gone to while pregnant with the triplets. I brought a chair to the sale and often sat down, as I was very pregnant. I made the dresses after the triplets were born! They were born in July and I think blessed the beginning of September. They are identical dresses. The next dress, #6, was purchased at that same antique warehouse sale. Dress #7, my sister in law Carol found in Snohomish, WA, at a cute little store. Then came the first boy, my good friend Karen made this little outfit for the baby, it had a cute little matching hat with it. The next dress is probably my favorite. We had moved from Washington to a tiny town in Idaho, so my sister in law Carol, found this antique dress and without me seeing it, she bought it and mailed it to me. It is so fragile the back ripped when I was buttoning it. The last outfit I ordered on the Internet.

Farmer's Dozen - Blessing Dresses First and Last

Notice how my tastes changed from the first dress to the last dress...short to long :)

Farmer's Dozen - Blessing Dresses Displayed

Why store these cute little outfits away in a box when they can become part of the decor? The sign above them reads: "HOME is where your story begins". I have had these outfits hanging in this spot for over 10 years and they still look great....

Button, Button Who has the Antique Button?

2010-09-17T22:03:00.001-06:00

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons

Do you have some antique buttons that you love, but don't know how to display them?
I love buttons! They are fun to use in the traditional ways; on clothing, scrapbooking/paper crafting and on hair bows, but what to do with those you want display? I received some great buttons from my friend Maria, who's dad had a sewing shop.

This is what I decided to do with my antique buttons!

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons on wire, close-up

I took some wire and started threading the buttons on them. I then began bending the wire around randomly. I had a center point and put an equal amount of similar buttons on each side of the center button. The wire I began with was about 3 feet long.

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons on wire

At each end I made a hook of sorts. I placed it across these two drawers that I don't use much, above the microwave and in a visible spot in the kitchen. I love red and have red accents in the kitchen.

I did the same thing with the natural colored buttons. There were some fun antique buttons!

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons on wire, beige, close-up

I placed these buttons on a tool chest I have in the dining room that is displaying vintage collectibles.

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons on wire on vintage tool chest

I took the remainder and placed them into two antique canning jars with vintage lids.

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons in collectible canning jar, close-up

Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons in collectible canning jar

They both are on a low window sill in the dining room.


Shabby Farmer - Antique buttons in collectible canning jar on window ledge

What do you do with your favorite antique buttons?

Shabby Farmer - What to do With a Vintage Harrow

2010-09-16T21:12:00.003-06:00

An ordinary harrow...some might think it is only used for farming...

Shabby Farmer - A complete vintage harrow

I found this description of a harrow at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_harrow In agriculture, a set of harrows is an implement for cultivating the surface of the soil. In this way it is distinct in its effect from the plough, which is used for deeper cultivation. Harrowing is often carried out on fields to follow the rough finish left by ploughing operations. The purpose of this harrowing is generally to break up clods and lumps of soil and to provide a finer finish, a good tilth or soil structure that is suitable for seeding and planting operations. Such coarser harrowing may also be used to remove weeds and to cover seed after sowing. Tools for harrowing are commonly called harrows (plural) as they are used as a set. There are nominally three types of harrows: disc harrow, tine harrow and chain harrow. Harrows were originally horse-drawn. In modern practice they are almost always tractor-mounted implements, either trailed after the tractor or mounted on the three-point hitch.

Did you already know that? Since I am a "Farmer" in name only I did not really know what a harrow was. I did however, know I loved them the minute Rick showed me one. A vintage harrow...an antique...a collectible?

The first two harrows, I (I meaning Rick :) ) put on the side of the garage in an area with plants.

Shabby Farmer - Two vintage harrows by garage

Barbed wire and all...

Shabby Farmer - Vintage harrow with barbed wire

Look at how great the wood is that they are made from...

Shabby Farmer - Vintage harrow spike

Now the spikes can possibly be a concern as they are heavy and somewhat sharp, I guess after all they do have a purpose other than a decoration!

You might be asking yourself, so what else can you do with a harrow?

Porch on right...

Shabby Farmer - Vintage Harrow on right of porch

Porch on left...

Shabby Farmer - Vintage Harrow on left of porch

Inside...How about the kitchen window?

Vintage harrow on window ledge

Look at this awesome red nail in the one at the kitchen window.

Shabby Farmer - Harrow with red nail

How about above the fireplace?

Shabby Farmer - Vintage harrow above fireplace

And my favorite, possibly a bit risky if there was an earthquake? We sleep directly under these harrows and if they fell just right...Rick put them up with extra long screws. They look so great, then I placed just a long torn strip of white cotton fabric across them about 8" wide with some great lace that is about 2 1/2 in wide. I had some long flowers I placed on the harrows above the bed also. Love it!

Shabby Farmer - Vintage harrows with lace above bed

Shabby Farmer - Vintage harrow piece above little window in bedroom

What do you think? What could you do with a piece of a vintage harrow? A coat rack?