I'm the kind of person that loves to paint and I'm willing to paint anything and everything. Nothing is safe from me! Give me some good ole' chalk paint and I will paint no matter what the shape, size, material. I recently discovered that you can easily paint upholstered material quite well.  

I was given a set of two chairs that I adored but I hated the fabric. It would have been very expensive to have it professionally reupholstered and too complicated to upholster it myself. So I decided to paint the fabric and, I must admit, it turned out beautiful.

That experience opened my eyes to the world of fabric painting. The possibilities are endless. I recently decided to paint a step stool that I had in my bedroom. I wanted to use it as a display riser in my living room but I no longer liked the fabric. So I got out my trusty chalk paint and paint brushes and went to work.

I have learned that painting on fabric takes up a lot of paint so there is no need to spend huge amounts of money on paint. I use the cheapo chalk paint from Walmart. You can get a fairly large bottle for just a few bucks. It can be found in the crafts department. Also, your paint brush can be of the cheapo variety too. Just go to Walmart or Michaels.

When painting fabric, I usually water down the paint or else the fabric will get very "crunchy".  A few coats are required because the fabric absorbs the paint like a hungry baby drinking a bottle. Sometimes the fabric pattern shows through ever so slightly and it creates a beautiful look.

Let each coat dry fully before putting on another coat. When you are finished painting, let the item dry completely.

 

After it is completely dry, I usually run a sanding block over the item to create a smoother finish. A final dry wipe will remove any paint dust.

 I love the way the stool turned out. What do you think?

I Made A Blanket!

January 27, 2019

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It has been so darn cold here this winter. That artic blast just won't stop. I saw this post about hand knitting a blanket and I immediately thought - that's for me. It only took a few days to knit and a couple of days more to add the poms. 

What's hand knitting? It's knitting without the use of knitting needles and you only use your hands. The cool thing was that I used a special pre-looped yarn called Bernat Alize Blanket E-Z by Yarnspirations. The yarn is already looped and you only have to pass one loop through the other and before you know it you magically have a blanket, scarf, or whatever.

The yarn is oh so soft - you just can't stop literally caressing it. It comes in a multitude of styles and colors. And being the shabby chippy freak that I am, I picked white as my color of choice. I purchased the yarn from Joann Fabrics. Here is a link to the Yarnspirations website. I purchased my yarn from Joann's because it was cheaper to buy it using one of their coupons

I made the pom poms using the Clover Large Pom Pom Maker, which I also purchased from Joann's. It was only $6.99 and it made creating pom poms a breeze. 

I hope I have inspired you. Making this blanket was super fast and super easy. You literally need no special talent. I had always wanted one of those large chunky blankets that you see everywhere on Instagram these days. But every time I would go to look at one, they always looked so ratty as if they would not hold up well. I was so inspired that I am using extra skeins of yarn to make a pom pom scarf!

I just love fresh fruit wreaths. Every time I go to Williamsburg, Virginia I am in awe at the beautiful fresh fruit wreaths that they have on display throughout the historic district. I purchased the book Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg and was totally inspired. I checked out prices online at sites such as EBay and Etsy and they wanted $150.00 for one wreath. Total highway robbery!

Until one day I came upon a video on YouTube explaining how to create an easy fresh fruit wreath. I tried it and it turned out beautiful. I used a 22-inch faux wreath on double-wire frame but I think next time I will create one on a live wreath. And, the best part, it only cost me about $20.00 to make. Here's a pic of my wreath. It is simple but I adore it!

So, what do you need to create such a beautiful wreath? Not much.

Materials include:

  • 1 wreath (faux or live)
  • Fruit such as apples (red or green), oranges, pomegranates, pineapples, lemons, etc.
  • Holiday picks for additional accents
  • Heavy wire (18 to 24 gauge wire cut into 12 inch lengths)
  • Wire cutters
  • Needle-nose pliers to twist wire
  • Protective gloves, if necessary.

I have included in this posting various pictures I have taken from Pinterest to further inspire and excite you in your quest for the perfect Fresh Fruit Wrath. Let your imagination run wild – the possibilities are endless!

 

So are you ready to get started? Here are the easy peasy instructions:

  1. If using a faux wreath, fluff out the wreath so it is not so flat.
  2. Lay the wreath on a table and place the fruit where you think it looks best - before wiring and securing the fruit to the wreath.
  3. Using the 24-gauge wire, cut lengths about 12 inches long.
  4. Arrange each piece of fruit among the greenery.
  5. Begin to wire the fruit to the wreath. To wire smaller fruit such as an apple, lemon or orange, insert the 18-gauge wire through the center of the fruit going completely through to the other side. Bend the wires into a U shape and through the wire backing on the wreath form. Twist the wire to the wreath form backing using the pliers so that the fruit doesn't move.
  6. Cut off any excess wire, and insert wire ends into the greenery so it doesn't scratch the surface of the door or table where you display the wreath. Remember, you can also lay a wreath flat on a table with a large decorative candle or lantern in the center. I have even seen wreaths hung from the ceiling above a table like a chandelier!
  7. Add a decorative ribbon, if desired, to your wreath to finish the look.

To make your wreath a little bit showier, you can double up the green wreath with a larger twig wreath to lay behind or in front of the green wreath. You can get a twig wreath from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Don’t forget to print out any online coupons before you purchase your wreaths which will enable you to bring the cost down.

The wire can be purchased at Home Depot or Loews. The size of the wire depends on the type of fruit you are using. The heavier the fruit, such as a pineapple, the larger the wire gauge. But remember, larger gauges will require more physical strength to pull it to the back of the wreath and secure it to the wreath frame.

 A finished wreath can last the entire holiday season if the temperatures are cool enough. If you live in Southern climes where it is hot, store the wreath in a cooler up to five days, then place on your door for a day or two, depending on the temperature.

Hope you enjoyed my little wreath how-to. If you do get inspired and decide to make a wreath, send me some pics to share. Who know - you might inspire someone else!

- Marcie

Winter Gotta Haves

November 09, 2017

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Winter Gotta Haves. Cold weather is a brewin’ and all you gals right now are scrambling through your closets trying to figure out what to throw away, what to keep, and what you need to buy. If you’re like me, you’ve hung on to the things that have emotional significance such as that T-shirt you wore when you were oh so young and probably will never wear again but darn it, it was the tee that you wore at your first Rolling Stones concert.

You know the golden rule: If you haven’t worn it in two years then you need to chuck it. But somehow you just can’t bring yourself to do it. So listen to me. Close your eyes. Envision a beautiful, clean, clear closet where you can actually see the floor. Then chuck that bad boy into your nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army bag. You'll feel a huge load of relief afterwards; and you might miraculously feel ten pounds lighter mentally by getting rid of all of that emotional baggage.

Now that you’ve purged, its time for the fun part: SHOPPING for NEW STUFF! You got that right – shopping without guilt because you feel so much better now that your closet and your mind has room for new exciting adventures.

So, what should you look for? Here’s a list of our 2017 Winter Must Haves that no Western Femme should go without:

    Layering Layering Layering! Save some of your summer tanks, camis, and swing tops to use as layering pieces for winter kimonos, cardigans, and jackets. Look to see what colors you are missing. Make sure you have black plus other glorious colors such as turquoise and coral to make your outfits pop.

       

        Graphic Tees. Graphics have recently become super popular. This fashion trend is here to stay and isn't going away anytime soon! Pair your adorable graphic tee with your favorite duster, cardigan, or jacket! You may feel weird pairing dressy with casual, print with print, but we promise this look is SUPER cute and right on point.

          Booties: A Gal’s Best Friend. Pointed toes, square toes, embellished or plain, booties are the staple of life, kind of like water! Buy tons of booties this winter. Booties are easy to wear (no worries about whether your pants will fit tucked in) and look cute paired with a skirt, a dress, or pants. Booties even look great with shorts paired with a long duster. You can't ever have too many booties!

            Beanies, Caps, Headbands, and Wraps. Your hair is screaming for cuteness and adoration too, you know. Match your “hair clothes” to your outfit to add warmth and coziness. The colors are endless and so are the styles. Add some snazz with our blinged out headwraps and headbands. We have graphic headwraps that are super cute with darling phrases. We even carry Messy Bun Beanies so you don’t have to worry about Hair Schmush – that resultant hat flat nightmare.

             

              Fabulous Jewelry and Bling. You don’t have to break the bank to look great. Posh Equestrian has tons of reasonably priced jewelry to complete your Boho Western Femme look. Layer up your turquoise; add some serape bangles; throw on a few rings; or even add one of our metallic tattoos. The more, the better!

                Hope we've inspired you to create a fabulous Winter look you can call your own. And remember: You’re never too old or too young for bling and glitz. Life is short. So enjoy it with all the gusto this season has to offer!


                With Thanksgiving just a hop, a skip, and a jump away, it’s time to get serious about your holiday plans. And by that we mean holiday tablescapes. Nothing is more important than having an oh so perfect holiday tablescape (other than the delicious food, of course!). I am always on the prowl looking for the perfect theme, especially those with western flair. I ran across this one in Pinterest and actually vocalized out loud “Be Still My Heart!”  Not only does it have the perfect western vibe, but it also looked so easy to make. And on top of it all, it cured by shabby chic obsession of white on white.

                Of course, you can change the color scheme to whatever you would like. Pumpkins are easy to spray paint or chalk paint. Chalk paint comes in so many yummy colors and it is super easy to apply. You could even replace the antlers with tree branches taken from your back yard, painted to match your color scheme.

                So, you might be asking at this point: Why Do Deer Shed Their Antlers? Male deer shed their antlers for the purpose of growing new ones. This cycle happens once a year. Most species of deer will begin to shed their antlers in late winter to early spring (varies depending on location.) Shedding their antlers usually takes about two to three weeks to complete. After they've shed their antlers, they will start the regrowth process by growing blood vessels known as "velvet" around the antlers. The antler regrowth is a very slow process taking place over the summer, lasting three to five months.

                Want to try your luck in finding your own deer antlers? Deer antlers can be found in wooded areas where deer live. The best time to find shed deer antlers is from late winter to early spring. Deer usually shed the left and right side of their antlers at the same time. So if you find one side of the antlers, search nearby for the other side. The size of the antlers that you find will give you some idea of the size of deer in the area. And remember: take along a backpack or small duffel bag to store the antlers you come across.

                To make this fab tablescape, you will need:

                • Antlers
                • Pumpkins (medium and small size)
                • Votive candles
                • Bunches of hydrangeas or other flowers of your choice.

                This tablescape will WOW your guests this holiday season and it is very easy on the purse. I created the entire thing for less than $25.00. Look around your house and I am sure you will find items that can easily substitute what you see here. You can get real deer antlers on Etsy, flea markets, EBay, and Amazon. Or look in your nearest Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or local craft store for artificial faux resin antlers. Don’t have any antlers? Replace them with small tree branches for an equally inspiring look.

                The hydrangea flowers can easily be swapped out with fresh fruit (think pears, apples, pomegranates, etc.) or even a small fresh flower arrangement placed in a small bowl of water. You could even use fall colored leaves or any other fall blossoms/dried flowers taken from your back yard. Fill in any open areas with moss from your local crafts store.

                Use your imagination to create this special rustic woodland theme this holiday season. The possibilities are endless! And don’t forget to check out Posh Equestrian’s latest selection of fab finds for yourself to create a look and feel to call your own.

                Remember the Dress for Success movement where the number one mantra was not to show your wrists or any skin below your chin? Oooh how I hated those days. Ladies, we are finally free! Rules were made to be broken! No longer is the fashion that you wear for the office boring and dull and just delegated as "officewear".  Go from work to play in these fab picks from Posh Equestrian.  

                Cowskull Open Shoulder Top

                Mariah Cowskull Open Shoulder Top

                 

                 The Ashley Tribal Print Cardigan

                 

                Western Femme Floral Lace Blouse

                 

                Sonoma Floral Print Dress

                 

                Paisley Fringe Cape by Montana West

                 

                RU Cowgirl Tolosa Aztec Skirt

                Our long lost friend, the choker, is back and is better than ever!

                It seems that just about everyone is into wearing a choker these days. No matter what it is made of - velvet, metal, rhinestone,  leather, you-name-it, just about everyone is donning a choker to spice up their outfits. Even the oh so fashionable little North West has been spotted wearing a choker necklace!
                                     

                Choker mania reared its adorable face in the Spring of  2014 and this trend has continued to be strong. So what's all this hubbub about a simple piece of ribbon or velvet?  Noblewomen in the Middle Ages wore chokers that with Saint Sebastian pendants to protect themselves from the bubonic plague. During the French Revolution, young women attending the secretive victims’ balls wore red ribbons around their necks to demonstrate the appearance of having been guillotined, expressing solidarity with the rebels who had been executed during the Reign of Terror. In the nineteenth century, black ribbon chokers were favored by ballerinas, providing the appearance of an elongated neck.
                            
                               

                No matter what your fashion style, boho, western, hippie chic, or  traditional, chokers are here to stay and Posh Equestrian has some fab pieces for you to choose in a variety of unique styles.
                      
                 

                Hooray for the Red White and Blue! Feeling patriotic? Posh Equestrian has you covered so that you'll look fabulous this 4th of July. Gear up for the 4th with these extra special cuties. And remember: there’s no such thing as being tooo patriotic!

                Looking for Squash Blossom jewelry that won't break the bank? Dying for the perfect Squash Blossom necklace, bracelet, or ring, but are hesitant on spending thousands of dollars?  But not dying enough that you are willing to put your rent, food, and (gasp) clothing allowance on the line? Posh Equestrian has reasonably priced Squash Blossom designs that will let you be the Western fashionista of your dreams! Check out these fabulous items.