I know some people are over grain sacks, but I don’t think my love of these vintage fabrics will ever go away. They are so full of texture, they wear well, and have quite a history. I love their simplicity and humble origins. There were, of course, used by families to transport grains to the mill to be ground into flour. Each family had their own unique markings on the sacks to distinguish their bag from their neighbors’.
I don’t do the upholstery myself. I know some bloggers do an amazing job, but that is not something I want to learn, so I hire it out. Here is what this chair looked like before. This fabric is not original, and actually did not look as good in person as it does in the photos.
This side chair came with a companion arm chair shown below. I had this piece redone as well.
The seats have been covered in new linen selected to match the vintage grain sacks used for the back of the chairs. As you can see the fabric was used on the front and back on the chair.
Below is the before of this chair.
At the same time I sent the chair off for a new look, I also sent away my fireplace screen. Yes the screen is purely decorative! I didn’t like the black hole that is my fireplace for most of the year year, so I like having the screen in front of it, when it isn’t in use. And this is just an exquisite piece of furniture. The carving is intricate and delicate in what I believe is Walnut. This is just not something you can buy new, based on my research. So I bought it because it is a thing of beauty. I doubted I would ever see one again this lovely. I selected a striped gain sack for the upholstery, and had it monogrammed. There are some smudges on the fabric, but it’s probably over 100 years old, so it’s going to show some wear some where.
When I got the fireplace screen it looked like this. It was covered in what I believe was the original tapestry. The tapestry was quite dirty.
While I was trying to decide what to use for the screen I tried a few things on for fun. I had some toile sitting around and applied it to the screen. You can see how I did it here TOILE FIREPLACE SCREEN.
I wasn’t too crazy about that, so I also tried a coffee bean bag.
It was fun, but I prefer the grain sack best.
If you want to see more grain sack projects, you can find them here. 10 GRAIN SACK PROJECTS and ALL ABOUT GRAIN SACKS.
You can find grainsacks in my shop, click here.
I am like you I love grain sacks and will probably never get tired of them either. You can use them on almost anything. I really like the your fireplace screen, I think you made the BEST choice. Love it!!!
I don’t think I will ever tire of them either. They are too classic! Love your both your projects and how they look in your wonderful home.
Your grain sack post caught my eye as I just posted about how I love them! I am going to Paris in April and they are definitely on my list! Your home is lovely, I adore that slip covered chair!
Michelle you probably won’t find any grain sacks in Paris. In fact, I’ll be shocked if you do. The look is more Scandanavian or German, but we Americans like to call it French. The furniture I am using the grain sacks on are almost always French. The grain sacks are part of my farmhouse influence.
Hi Anita!!
I really love the grain sack the best!! It has a very classy look to it and went great with the other pieces in your room!!
Have a great week!!
Pam
xox
I agree, love the blue striped linen. I have taken embroidered pieces of linen and cut the areas that were threadbare and mounted them in a frame and added some old shell buttons. It is so nice to see old linens used.
I have so many pieces of my mother’s needlework and now some good ideas on how to transform some. LO V E my grain sacks and usually use them as bolsters on the beds. I just can’t bring myself to cut then for upholstery, but the urge is strong when I see your beautiful transformations. Thanks Anita!
Ginger
I love grain sacks more then any other material. They look beautiful on all the items you showed. Can you show us more uses throughout your house for grain sack? I recently did a patio set with them. I can send you a picture if you like. I recently ordered more through Etsy and they are coming all the way from Austria.
Here are 20 posts for you. https://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/category/grain-sacks
I love the grain sacks as well. And I really love the monogramming that you add to your pieces. I need to create a monogram to use in my decorating, now.
Brenda, with the exception of my fireplace screen the monograms are all original. I didn’t add them. Aren’t they amazing?
I have some wonderful grain sack fabric I’ve been dying to use! How about on a screened in porch? Again, I’m moving to a new home and will have a screened in back porch!
Can’t wait to design it.
Thanks so much for giving us this opportunity. I love your ideas!
Jan
I love the grain sacks and the look it gives your furniture. It is new to me so I will be checking out ebay. Thank you for the information.
I have some in my shop Annette. http://shop.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/collections/all/grainsack
Anita, do you really think grain sack is going out of fashion? It doesn’t matter to me because l think it’s classic. Perhaps l’m wrong?
I don’t think so. I love them.
I really love what you do with grain sacks! I, too, think they’ll be around forever! Thank you for the posts featuring them!
If loving grain sacks is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.?
I love the monogram on the grain sack fireplace screen! I need to do something like this!