Make Your Own 221B Baker Bag: Sherlock Purse

Make Your Own Sherlock Bag
I've been working on several cool furniture projects for an upcoming Spring Market. Unfortunately,
most of those are still unfinished.

However, I did find time to finish one project, not furniture but something else I've wanted to do for a looooong time: a Sherlock Holmes purse!

I'm a bit of a geek, especially when it comes to books/movies, and I recently came across an Etsy shop that sells bags that look like Sherlock Holmes' door.

So cool! I wrote to the guy and asked him about them and found out they are just flat, two-dimensional pictures. There is no real hardware on the bags: no coolio door knocker, no numbers. I probably should have realized that right away, but I geeked out over it and thought maybe it had actual hardware included. Nope.

I decided in order to be truly cool, I needed a purse with actual hardware. Then, I remembered that Tim Holtz makes a mini lantern.

From Amazon




Thus was born my 221B Baker bag! I bought the bag at Goodwill. It seemed like a good size and had a nice, flat black back that made a perfect canvas for my "door." Then I found a black fabric belt to criss cross over the purse and create the illusion of panels intersecting. After much searching, I found a shop on Etsy that sells small metal numbers and letters. I painted them with gold acrylic, then did a light misting of black spray paint to make them look old and weathered. I also ordered a pendant pull on Etsy that resembled the actual door knocker from Sherlock.

I assembled it all by fastening the hardware on and sewing/gluing the belt to the purse. Finally, I tucked the battery pack to my lantern inside the purse pocket and allowed the lantern to hang outside the door. The final result is just awesome! At least for a geeky girl like me. :)

 

 

Garden Gate Doors

It was our town junk day (a lot of my stories start like this). It was rainy, and I wasn't really sure I wanted to run around sifting through soggy, moldy garbage for treasures, but the allure of free stuff was just too strong.

As I drove up and down the streets, occasionally slowing down to examine things more closely, I came upon a house where someone was throwing out LOTS of old wood. It was weathered and split and broken and PERFECT. I didn't know what I would use it for, but I knew it had potential. So, with a little elbow grease (and mud and wet and ICKY) I got it loaded into my van.

And then.... nothing. It sat and sat and sat for a couple months. I even tried to sell it at a craft fair and a yard sale. Nobody bought it.

Then I saw something online: it was a cute little garden gate, complete with old rusty hardware, that someone had painted a sign on! I fell in love with the idea and got to work! With help from amazing, super-Hubby, I was able to make a few Garden Gate Doors of my own. Now I'm addicted. I LOVE these! Hope you do, too.

I found this key at a thrift store and just KNEW I would use it someday.

The hardware for this door was picked up at a flea market. Isn't it PERFECT?!

As an author, I am in LOVE with BOOKS! So, a bookshelf  "door" is a must.
This one is a work in progress. Still have to add the hardware.

When Hubby showed me this door, I knew it was MINE. It's hanging in my dining room.
The weathered wood is naturally perfect.
And the elegant corbels lend a bit of class to this old door.

The next generation! I just stained these two doors and with a little help from Photoshop,
I'm envisioning what they might look like with "Love" and "Family" painted on them. What do you think?

A Day on Dad's Farm

We spent last weekend with family: first with hubby's side at a reunion/picnic, then a couple days on my dad's farm. I got to visit my aunt and uncle and just enjoy the peace and quiet. Plus, Dad let me pick over the junk in his barn. Bonus! Here's a photo adventure of my favorite finds and a few family pics, too. Enjoy!

Old dented/rusty buckets. Dad: "They have holes!" Me: "Perfect! I'll take them."

Another bucket with a hole, this time intentional. :)

Love this tall bucket with the wood handle grip. Another planter for my impatiens!

I am a hardware JUNKIE. And this rusty strap hinge is huge and AWESOME.

Cool rusty chain.

Cool rusty hook.

I don't even want to KNOW what this was for, but it was just so unique, I had to take it, despite dad's jokes and concerned glances. :)

Dad was so excited about this. He'd actually SAVED it for me.
It's an old dustpan that flattens so you can sweep in it, then straightens when you lift.
Handy! And it has "Cedar Falls Iowa" on the tag. Very cool. :)

I found this thing in the barn playing with wild kittens. I guess I'll keep her.

Dad, looking the part. :)

Hollyhocks blooming.

My daughter and Dad's border collie, Maggie.

Maggie hiding from my kids' attentions.

Grandpa & Granddaughter: two peas in a pod.

A kiss for my daddy.

The whole gang. You have no idea how many tries it takes to get everybody to look straight and smile. :)

Overall, a great time on the farm! Can't wait to go back when the wasps are sleeping and REALLY clean out Dad's barn!

Perfect. Just the way they are...

Sometimes I find or buy items that just scream, "Make me over!" They are usually scratched or neglected or from the 1970s. Other times, though, an item is so old or beautiful or perfectly rusted or chipped that I can't bear to alter it. Here are a few of those "found" items that I decided to just leave alone.

This cute little bench came from a flea market.
I loved the old leather top and rusty studs.

I found this lady left all alone on a curb. She was so graceful and
perfectly chipped. I just updated her hardware, painted some corner details,
and added a basket for her missing top drawer. Beautiful!

This potting table was a thrift store find. With its metal top and chipped paint
I couldn't even think about changing it! It's found a home on my Porch. :)

My daughter found these little lanterns on a curb. Perfectly rusty and chipped!

Another "free" find, this old wash bucket is a home for my impatiens!

Bought all this rusty hardware at a flea market. LOVE the patina!

Originally, I bought this RCA radio cabinet to gut and paint. But
after my hubby found out the radio STILL WORKED I couldn't
bring myself to gut it.

Garden Gate Doors

Garden Gate Doors by What's On My Porch

I am a junk-junkie. So when I saw a stack of vintage wood on the curbside I thought, "I can do something with that!"

"Welcome" Garden Gate Door by What's On My Porch - Find me on Etsy.

A couple months later, the wood was still on my porch. I knew it had potential, I just didn't know what. So, I began using the individual boards to make cute little Welcome signs. But I still didn't know what to do with the larger pieces of tongue-and-groove board. Then I found a beautiful garden gate that someone had painted words on and I KNEW!

I put Hubby to work cutting the boards into gate shapes while I scoured the known world for cool, old hardware. Then I chose a background color, a design and got painting! These Garden Gate Doors are the result. I am addicted to making these cute wooden doors!

If you like them, check out my ETSY SHOP or FACEBOOK PAGE and get one for yourself! 

Garden Gate Doors by What's On My Porch - Find me on Etsy.