Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sheep, Succulents and Silver

Inspired by Marty@ A Stroll Thru Life, and her post on staining ceramics with wood stain, I decided to stain my white sheep that I'd used in a Spring tablescape.
Like Marty, I feel that white-white things don't go with the colors of my house as well as off-white does.

Here's Marty's post showing the Roo that she stained and how she gave him a more antique look.
Roo with Attitude.

 Yesterday, I finally got up the nerve  decided to try Marty's technique on my sheep.



Here's the before  white-white look.


Testing one of the two stain colors that were in Hubby's shed, I tried this one on the sheep's foot...hmmm sort of looks like milk chocolate mixed with red Georgia clay. Not exactly what I had in mind, and it certainly didn't look like what Marty used. 
O-kay. Let's try the other color, American Walnut.


 After first applying the stain in a few spots, and rubbing it off a bit..  this is what it looked like... Hmmm... Still not quite the textured look I wanted.
Hubby arrived, and suggested that I dab a bit more, instead of rubbing so much, which, surprisingly, helped a lot.  :)  Yay, Hubby.
I was so pleased with how well the sheep turned out, that I used her in a coffee table vignette in the family room.

I kept turning the tray to see which way it looked better.


I used a little footed silver dish to hold the faux succulents, but I didn't have a candle holder that worked.

After rummaging around Hubby's shed, I found an old weathered piece of 6x6 lumber. I think it must have been left over from when we had the deck built, many years ago.
Feeling more confident in my crafting, I dry brushed it with some white paint to give it that shabby look.


Then I wrapped some Spanish moss around the base of the candle. 




 Sorry about this angle, :) but I wanted to show you the "back side" of the vignette, because you can see both, the texture of the sheep's coat and the wood.

Thank you so much, Marty for your great idea. It was so much fun, and I'll definitely use this technique again.
I'm partying with:
 Susan@BetweenNapsOnThePorch for Between Naps on the Porch

Marty@AStrollThruLife for

Kim@SavvySouthernStyle  for Photobucket

See y'all there.
Thanks for stopping by. I love hearing your comments and suggestions.
Babs

35 comments:

  1. She looks so good! Great vignette, Marty will be proud!

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  2. Oh I love how the sheep turned out. Such a great figurine and the stain gave it such character. I love the vignette too. Using the block for a candleholder is a great idea. I love it all and I am so thrilled you tried it. Thanks for linking to TTT. This is such great fun. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Your sheep looks fabulous, Babs! I love your vignette, too! What a good idea to use the wood scrap as a candlestick! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  4. I like your sheep better a little wooly too. I remember Marty doing that. I have a couple of things I need to try it on. Your sheep is a nice size too! The tray makes a perfect vignette.

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  5. Babs,
    WoW! What a transformation! Your sheep looks very vintage sporting it's new hue. Now, do I have something white ~ white I could try that on?
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  6. I can just see you rummaging around in the shed and coming out with that chunk of wood! It was worth it though because the whole tray looks great. Love the sheep's make-over. Have a great week!

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  7. Babs, the sheep looks great. I agree that the dark stain gives it more depth. Your vignette is charming. Clever to add the moss! ~ sarah

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  8. Beautiful redo. Wonderful vignette Babs!

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  9. Oh how cute! I love your "shabby chic sheep" --- say that three times fast!

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  10. I love the results. I also an impressed with how real the succulents look. Think I need to find some of those at Michael's or Joann's. Enjoyed my visit,
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

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  11. I do like it better -- great job and a cute sheep -- I've been looking at sheep a lot lately!

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  12. Babs, Your little sheep is perfect for your room. He looks so warm now! What a great idea and a wonderful job! I have a few things that I don't display anymore because they don't look very warm! But now I am trying this.
    Great and informative post!
    Yvonne

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  13. Such a pretty vignette and I just love the added texture the stain gave your cute little sheep! Martina

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  14. Babs, it looks so good with the stain added. Now it looks like a real sheep. Love the vignette and I have some of those faux succulents, too. Lot easier to tend to than the real ones that are getting bugs.

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  15. I have a thing for sheep... and I just love yours!
    Dee Dee

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  16. Hi Babs! Oh, your little sheep looks great! I love how the stain looks. What a sweet vignette you've put together. The little wood piece looks so good with the mossy stuff and candle! :) You're good!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  17. This sheep is adorable! Great job. And I love the candle holder too. What we would do without our husband and their sheds? Well we would be sad and we would spend a heck of a lot more money. I love 'shopping' in my husband's barn.

    Thanks for this post. It's great!

    Dana
    www.northwesttexas.blogspot.com

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  18. This was a great idea that Marty had and it worked beautifully on your sheep. I love sheep!
    Rhonda

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  19. Wow...that DOES look better than the white-white sheep!!! You paired it up nicely with all everything else to make it look fantastic! Way to go!!!

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  20. Babs this is just a wonderful vignette, I love how you added the whitewashed wood, it made a perfect addition. I'm with you on my home not doing well with pure white, your American Walnut (one I use a lot) made all the difference in the world. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. I love the sheep-great job! I love my Easter sheep and now you have inspired me to use them year round...now where did I put that box...

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  22. Hi:) I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog, stop by to enter!

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  23. It all looks wonderful! I even like the backside angle, LOL.

    I particularly like how you have the succulents.

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  24. The sheep is so adorable, I love her! You did a fab job, I see Marty is proud, you got the nerve! I'd be worried, but now, look! Love the vignette too. Great job. Hugs, FABBY

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  25. Babs, Ewe Rock! LOL. I love your vignette. It's great and so is your blog.

    Hugs, Dana
    www.northwesttexas.blogspot.com

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  26. I love how much personality a little stain dabbing gave to your cute sheep. Congratulations on being brave and jumping right in!
    Love how she turned out.

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  27. Hi Babs! Your little sheep is adorable and the stain worked beautifully. Marty does have the best ideas and I have borrowered quite a few from her.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  28. So cute. She looks like she is grazing on the moss.

    BTW, that's what you call "the north bound end of a south bound" sheep.

    :)

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  29. Amazing what stain or glaze can do isn't it? He is very fetching.

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  30. This looks fantastic! I love the more subtle look that the stain provided. I'd have never thought of this. Great job.

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  31. Looks terrific! Beautiful vignette! Thanks for sharing.

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  32. Lovely arrangement! I love the sheep.

    Benita

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  33. She looks amazing!!! Now I want one too.... where to find a sheep....

    Thanks for the sharing :)

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  34. Hi Babs,
    I just love the vignette you've created. You did a great job on your sheep. You ladies always seem to find such adorable little animals...I never come across them. What a great idea you had with the candle holder...I love it!
    Marianne :)

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