Feature Friday: The Bordeaux Headboard

Hi Readers!

Sorry for the late post, we've been so busy lately!  I wanted to show you another in-house project Laura did.  We have a wonderful client who requested a custom design of a Bordeaux Wine Label.  Well we designed it all and cut it and the first version turned out to be an "oops" stencil where we goofed up on an R.  Now we couldn't send it with a flaw like that, so we had to redo the stencil and mail that version. 

That left us with a 99.9% perfectly great 24x24 stencil, which seemed terrible to just toss in the trash.  So Laura decided to redo the headboard in one of her bedrooms with it.  Check it out.

Great, right? 

Here's how she did it, wish I had a few more process pics for you!

She roughed up the headboard with sandpaper so the paint would adhere better (it was just a plain wooden headboard).  Then she glued on the scallop-work that's at the top and bottom corners.  (I call that stuff gingerbread, not sure if it has an actual name). 

She painted an undercoat with a taupe base color.  Then she applied Folk Art Crackle Medium.   Next came that deep blue top coat.  She sanded the edges to expose some of the taupe base coat and then stained the edges with a wood stain.   The gingerbread got a coat of Folk Art metallic bronze paint. 

That left her at this point.  Do you see how cloudy the top coat is right now?  There are a few options to rectify that.  You can spray on sealer, which we have done many times.  I have problems with spray paint and so does Laura.  I have a really heavy hand and I almost always get a blotchy seal and drips from spray paint.  What Laura did here was brush on Modge Podge for a sealant and it worked great. 

Big difference, right? 

We just loved this custom, so we wanted to share with you.  This is an exclusive design and not for resale, but if you are ever interested in having custom work done, just shoot us an email. 

Hope the rest of your weekend is swell.  I'm sitting here getting caught up on work and listening to Ray Charles.  Doesn't get much better than that!  :)

Etspiration Wednesday: All We Do Is Wine!

Bonjour!

Well things have been very busy around the Maison de Stencils shops lately.  We're in the midst of moving, designing, crafting, you name it.  This past week I worked on a few new stencils for our Subway Art section, including two new wine stencils.  I've been having a lot of fun learning about wine regions in the process.  It's totally fascinating for a wine novice like myself.  I'm more of a beer snob, so maybe one day I'll do a German beer region stencil.  Or a Portland Beer Stencil!  We're beer crazy around these parts.  I digress.  All this talk of wine got me thinking:  Let's do a tour of Etsy's wine related stuff!  I was pleasantly surprised!

1A:  Vintage French Alchoholimeter Sign Image Courtesy VintageDetailz
1B:  French Wine Region Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1C:  Cotton Wine Bottle Tea Towel Image Courtesy OpenEyesPress
1D:  Wine Inspired Lavender Sachets Image Courtesy MilkAndHoneyLuxuries

I love the Alchoholimeter sign!  Really anything with weird and funky looking machinery, I like.  This almost has a vintage steampunky look to it. 

2A:  Hemingway Wine Tea Towel Image Courtesy Beagletique
2B:  French Vintage Tastevin Image Courtesy LeMoulinBleu
2C:  Italian Wine and Cheese Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2D:  Horizontal Walnut Riddling Rack Image Courtesy RChristopherDesigns

Another thing I learned about this week are tastevins.  Tastevins are these special little bowls that wine afficionados spit their extra wine out when sampling.  Isn't that fancy?  A little wasteful, but fancy!  When actors have to eat on set for a take, they just spit their extra food into a bucket.  Wine tasters get extra beautiful silver dishware.  I ate my lunch today on melmac.  (hardboiled eggs and a Baby Bel) Classiness level: Alf.

3A:  Chianti Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3B:  Recycled Pallet Wine Rack Image Courtesy PalletCreations
3C:  Rustic Italian Coasters Image Courtesy CoastersDiFresco

I am pallet obsessed.  I literally have a pinboard on Pinterest named Pallet Obsessed.  If I can get my act together, I have a pallet feature for the blog in a few weeks.  So check out 3B, a wine rack made out of pallets.  I am such a fan of reusing pallets because it saves a tree, which is a cause near and dear to my heart.

4A:  Vintage Italian Red Wine Sign Image Courtesy LaSartoria
4B:  French Wine Crate Bike Basket Image Courtesy cadeauxcatherine
4C:  Italian Wine Region Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4D:  Vintage French Enamel Wine Sign Image MaisondelaRue

You should really check out LaSartoria.  She has the most beautiful vintage Italian stuff in her shop.  It reminds me of my Grandma Anne.  My sister and I had two grandmothers.  (I know, that's how it usually works.)  Grandma Mae was my Mom's Mom and she was the typical homemaker grandma.  She baked cakes, let us brush her hair, played checkers with us.  Grandma Anne was my Dad's Mom and she was the kind of Grandma where her house looked like a museum and you knew you could not touch anything.  Know what I mean?  She passed away when I was quite young and I didn't really ever get to know her, but she had the most amazing taste.  I have quite a few of her art books now and on the main floor of our home, I think every piece of art came from her house.  She traveled through Europe and brought so many things back home with her.  Every time I pass by those paintings, I think of her, carrying these paintings through Italy and Croatia.  I wish I could talk to her now that I'm an adult.  And have a glass of wine!

We've got a lovely feature for Friday from across the pond!  Until then, Cheerio!