Burlap Bag to Doorstop

Remember when my friend Christina gave me this awesome gift basket full of antiques for my bridal shower?

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Well, I have been pondering about what I should do with that snazzy feed sack, and I finally figured it out.  Doorstops!  I have been thinking a lot about how we needed doorstops for our back french doors that lead out to our patio.  And, we needed them A.S.A.P., since the weather is about to get cool enough to turn off the AC and leave the doors open! Woo to the hoo!

So, I grabbed my feed sack and did some more pondering about how I can make this work.  I had previously made a pretty nifty doorstop for our bedroom, so I figured I would do something pretty similar this time around.

First, let me show you this feed sack…burlap bagfeed sackOne thing that I love about it is that it has something printed on both the front and the back.

The front says Hoffman’s Farm Seeds.  I dig it.antique seed bagAnd the back….antique corn sackFunk’s Hybrid?  I mean, come on, you had me at Funk’s!

My first step was to cut the bag so that it laid flat.  This way, I had one long piece of fabric.  I did this by cutting across one side and along the bottom. seed bag craftVoila!!!

Then, I gave the whole thing a good ironing.  From there, it was time to do some cutting.  I wanted the doorstops to be a bit taller this time around, because there is actually a step up into the house making the doors a bit higher.  Since they needed to be taller, I cut the fabric longer vertically. This worked out well, since the printing on the bag is more vertical. antique burlap bags

I also made sure to cut both pieces the same size.  I did this by cutting one piece to the size I wanted, then laying that piece directly onto the center of the uncut piece.  I cut the uncut fabric directly around the edge of the top pre-cut fabric, basically tracing the exact size.   Hope that makes sense!  Probably not, but that’s as good as it gets for my explanation.

Anywho, those two pieces were to be the front of my new doorstops.  That means I needed two more pieces that are the exact same size.  I just so happened to have some tan fabric that matched pretty well with the fabric from the feed sack.  So, I cut two more pieces of that fabric the same way.tan fabricI needed two more pieces, because I was making two doorstops.  Which both have a front and a back, just in case you’re not following where I am going with this.  Now, that I had all of the pieces cut to the same size, it was time to get sewing.

I took the tan fabric, “good” side facing up, and laid it down first.  I, then, placed my feed sack piece, “good” side facing down, on top of the tan fabric, making a fabric sandwich. This way both “good” sides are facing inward.  And when I say “good” side, I mean the side that I want to be seen when I am done sewing, so for the feed sack it would be the side with the printing.  how to sew pouchesHere is a peek at the inside of my fabric sandwich…sewing fabric together good side facing inGet it?

Then, I just sewed up all sides of each, leaving only a small opening on one side. sewing-fabric-inside-outsewing inside outThe opening was about 3 inches wide. leaving opening in fabric for stuffingI left an opening, so I was able to turn the soon-to-be doorstop inside out. flipping fabric inside outOnce, I had turned each doorstop inside out I was left with this…burlap bag craftI didn’t sew those openings up just yet.  I first used them to fill the doorstops with rice.using rice for weight how to make fabric weightI just poured the rice right in, totally expecting to make a mess, but it was pretty easy and mess-free.  However, if you have a funnel, you might want to break it out for this step.filling fabric pouchIt took about 7 lbs. of dry rice to fill each doorstop. burlap sack craftI didn’t want them to be so stuffed they looked like they were going to burst, but I did wanted them to be heavy enough to prop each door open.  So, 7 lbs. seemed like a happy medium.burlap bag craftsOnce, they were both full, I sewed up the opening and then took them for a test run.       antique doorstopburlap bag doorstop Check out that door propping action! Wanna get closer? Okay!…feed sack ideasburlap sackCloser still? Fine!…feed sack craftfeed sackI totally dig them, and they serve their purpose!  Just in time for some nice fall weather. unique doorstopsAnd, when they are not keeping those pesky doors open, they hang out here…burlap sack projectRight next to the fireplace.feed sack projectI think I did a bang up job.  Don’t you?mantel decor with antiques

Willowcreek Antiques and Interiors(Rochester, NY)

While back in NY visiting my family, I got a chance to visit my friend Christina’s, mother JoAnn’s, antique shop!  I love me some good antiques so I was pretty stoked to check it out.  Here is what you will see when you arrive…

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If this doesn’t get you excited to check out the inside of this shop I don’t know what will!  How cute is this barn? I love upstate NY with all of it’s beautiful barns and rolling hills.  Lets get to it and check out what they have!

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Before you step inside you’ll notice this awesome bench made by none other than my friend Christina and her husband Dave.  As you can see it’s an old Ford tailgate made into a unique bench.  Sorry folks I don’t think this one is for sale!

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In front of this bench I saw this great rustic white trunk.  If my memory is correct I am pretty sure it was only $35! This could be a great coffee table or used for blanket storage at the end of a bed!  This would have come home with me if I didn’t have to take everything back on a plane!

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When I first walked in I spotted these vintage baskets.  JoAnn told me she believes they were originally from a library or a school.

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I turned around and came across this adorable antique sink set up that was filled with soaps from a local crafter.  I love that JoAnn features local artists in her shop!  I am all about supporting local arts, crafts and farming!

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If you head to the back of the barn there is a room that Christina told me her dad set up as the “man room”.  I loved it.  It is filled with all sorts of beer signs, tool boxes, antique fishing rods, jugs and flashlights.

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I also wanted to take this vintage craftsman tool box home with me, at a price of $15, it is a steal.  Unfortunately, I was still battling the whole suitcase packing dilemma and being constrained to a 50lb. per suit case limit.  I would have loved to use it to store paint supplies for my art room.  It had a removable shelf inside which would be a great divider.

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These antique paddles were also calling my name.  I could just picture them hung in the little nitches that I have in the tall ceilings in my living room.

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Can you picture it? I also came across this other paddle that I was digging…

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I believe they were $30 each.  Not bad!

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Check out this jug lamp and little antique lunch pail.

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JoAnn also has many beautiful antique dressers at amazing prices.  I believe this one was $95!!!  You cannot find a deal like that here in FL, down here this antique could sell for close to $400!  Here is another that I am absolutely smitten with…

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This one was $150 and I need to own it!  I love the drawer pulls and the fact that it is on wheels.

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Both of these china cabinets were around $150 each, which is another great price.  I wish I lived closer!!  On top of the white cabinet I saw these antique glass bottles…

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Thought about picking them up for my wedding, but I think I have enough glassware for my center pieces.  Someone please go purchase them and fill them with wild flowers!!!

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These vintage trunks were so unique.  They even had writing from the previous owner on them with instructions for delivery.  I also think these would make great storage in a bedroom, possibly a little boys room? The possibilities are endless people!

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This old wine barrel was beautiful!  And the burlap bags on top were pretty superb as well.  I could see them made into a couple throw pillows!

I had an awesome time checking out JoAnn’s shop and I wish her great success,  I plan to stop in each time I am back in NY to check out any of her new finds!  You should go visit her if you live close by(5377 Ridge Rd W, Spencerport, NY 14559)! Also check out her facebook page and take my advice, go visit her you wont be disappointed!

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This is my friend Allison, myself and Christina outside the shop.

I will be back tomorrow with another post to show you what did come home with me and where it ended up in my home!