As white as...



This past week I was finally able to finish some things which had been sitting on my table waiting for the finishing touches. Amongst them was a chair frame I had used as an example during one of my classes. I had painted it a nice wood colour, but just didn't know what to upholster it with.

Maybe it was the snow which gave me inspiration, because all of a sudden I knew I wanted to upholster it with white linen. I rubbed the frame with some white paint so it looked as if it had white wax on it. Although it looks rather heavy and clumsy in the photo's, in real life it is much more subtle and combines rather nicely with the white linen.





As I was taking the photo's (above) I saw some movement from the corner of my eye. As I looked over my shoulder out of my studio window, I saw a couple of Great Tits (the bird variety) on the bare branches of my grape vine, busily hopping from one branch to the other.
All I had to do was turn my camera around and snap a couple of pictures of them. They didn't even notice me, even though I was only a couple of feet away from them.


Comments

  1. Oh, how I wish I could take your class! I love that style of chair and every time I see one of yours, I marvel at how beautiful it is. You are so talented - maybe someday I can make something as lovely as this!

    xoxo
    Claudia

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  2. Qué tan silla fantastica!, Que Lastima vivir tan lejos, estaria encantada de asistir como alumna A sus clases, una maravilla todos son sus trabajos.

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  3. Your armchair is beautiful and the white suits it very well.It goes very well with the room. It's wonderful to have been able to make it yourself.
    I also have great tits coming to my window, we give them pieces of bread.
    Geneviève

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  4. Josje, the chair is gorgeous and thanks for the tips on the white paint. It doesn't look clumsy at all, even in pics. I too love it when birds come to my garden and stay. I can watch them forever :).

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  5. Prachtige stoel Josje. OOk ik zou graag eenkeer een workshop bij je komen volgen.

    Groetjes Natascha

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  6. A VERY beautifull chair Josje, I like the pure white linen against the dark wood..

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  7. The chair is a beauty and perfect in everything!

    Eva J

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  8. Josje, thank you for the pics of the little birds, they are so cute. And I love the new chair!! and I feel more confident about what I'm doing :o))) Rosanna

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  9. Such a wonderful chair & to have made it all your self! It would be a joy to do your class one day, but I donot know if I would have the ability to make something so delightful as this....even with your guidence. It is always nice to see more photos of your rooms.... all so very beautiful!!

    Regards, Linda

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  10. weer zo,n prachtig stoeltje, geweldig
    groetjes adrie

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  11. The chair looks great. I understand the frustration of getting the perfect shot with a digital camera. They amplify everything. The software manipulates the pixels in the image it receives and forces sharpening of the image with algorithms. They are great fun and allow easy blogging but they are the devil as you don't get a true viewing as you do with unassisted cameras and seeing the piece in life. But I have found them to be of real help as they are one of the most honest and instant critiques one can use to improve the quality of our work. Since my miniature are something I have published in photos I now have to build to please the camera's lens and not just my own eyes. I build, photograph, fix any problems the camera shows, photograph again and probably repeat the cycle yet again. A lot more work than I used to go through before the age of digital cameras. Still beats running to the store with film and waiting around for it to be developed or sent back from the processor.

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  12. It looks so perfect in the room! The upholstery is so perfectly neat too, amazing work!

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  13. Josje,
    De witte stoel is erg mooi.
    Dankzij door de sneeuw geeft jou een inspiratie.
    Misschien lente-zomer-herfst-winter stoelen. ;-)
    Groetjes Lisette

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  14. is a fantastic and elegant chair, congratulations, is perfect!

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  15. Lovely! Who would have thought that something so simple (white linen) would be so perfect for that room. I, too, wish I could take your class!

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  16. Don't you think it is funny how we all like a certain style, we must be influenced by fashion! Same chair, different upholstery, completely different look.

    I would love to teach you all how to make the chair, but I know that it would be a logistic nightmare for most of you.

    Karin, you are so right in saying the camera can be a real help in showing what the eye often doesn't see. It can be a quite ruthless critique. I will write on my own report card "must do better" ;)


    With the cold and snow we're having at the moment we've been putting out food for the birds too, but most of it is snatched up by the big beasts, a large flock of crows (I think they're Jackdaws) who live in my garden. The crows are so clever and funny to watch how they always manage to get to the food, although I must admit I'd much rather see the finches, tits and other small birds. My favourites are the Wren and the Robin who also live in my garden.

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  17. *lovely chair* , very well made!*smiles*~

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  18. Bij deze wil ik jou en je gezin nog een heel gelukkig nieuw jaar wensen! Je stoel is prachtig en helemaal van deze tijd, nieuw naar oud model.De foto's zijn zo echt,dat het net 1:1 meubels lijken. Koolmeesjes zijn zo mooi,wij hebben in de boom voor onze tuin een familie wonen die regelmatig met al hun gefladder onze aandacht trekken,haha!

    Groetjes,sabiha

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  19. Absolutely gorgeous! The room looks so airy and inviting!
    I love having a sudden glimpse at a beautiful bird. I was working at my computer the other day and suddenly looked just as three bald eagles were flying by, incredible!
    Happy New Year!
    Maia

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  20. I love that style of chair but impossible for me to get to one of your classes. It fits so well into the decor of the room.

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  21. This chair is so beautiful, it must be wonderful to handcraft something as lovely. I love the winter, because the branches always showcase the birds so perfectly.
    Karen

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  22. Hello Josje,
    Just found your beautiful blog. The content and photos are just breathtaking. Jain x

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  23. Thank you all!

    Sabiha, jij ook een heel fijn en creatief jaar gewenst! Leuk he die vogeltjes, tegen die witte achtergrond zijn ze nog mooier altijd.

    Maia, bald eagles wow! You must have a pretty nice view from you window then! I would never see those here of course, but I would hope to see them in the wild one day. I would have to travel first...;)

    Irene, shame we all live so far away from another!

    Thank you Karen, yes the bare branches and the white backdrop make them stand out nicely :)

    Thank you Jain! And welcome!

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  24. The most beautiful miniature chair have ever seen!!!!!
    And the room is stunningly beautiful too!!!

    Synnøve

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  25. What a beautiful chair, and such a lovely setting! I have some Bespaq furniture I would like to re-upholster some day.

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  26. Beautiful work again Josje, the chair is stunning and looks so nice with the white linen!

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  27. Thank you synnøve, Mimmi and Pubdoll. So funny what different colours and fabric will do. It is exactly the same chair I have made a few times now, but I must say I like this one a lot too. (or maybe that's because I always like my last one best LOL)
    Go for it Mimmi, you will be able to comepletely change your Bespaq furniture!

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  28. Josje I love your chair, I think that is my favourite style and your room is perfect. I just discovered your video on printing on fabric - thanks so much I couldn't get it right before I'll try your method. Did you print the lovely toile wallpaper in your room?

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  29. Thank you Margaret. I hope you'll have a go at printing fabrics! It gives you a lot of freedom. Just don't get the fabric wet, if you want to do that you have to treat the fabric with Bubble Jet Set 2000 first.
    I did not print the wallpaper, that was an existing wallpaper, I believe it is by Small Interiors.

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  30. And, here is the chair that made my heart skip more than a few resounding beats ... I do believe I'd be more than capable of claiming the sin of avarice to own such a beauty ... or two!

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  31. Hola josje, el sillón es precioso me gusta todo lo que tienes es todo muy bonito, te pongo en mi blog, lasmanitasdeglo.blogspot.com, gracias.

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  32. Hello Josje, Just read your old post again and am equally blown away as the first time I saw you stunning chair in that beautiful room, and had another chuckle at your pic of the Great Tits. Best wishes for the Festive Season! Oh and BTW I have been busily printing my own fabrics for the past few years, some failures but some great successes, thanks again.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Margaret! Good to hear you have been successful at printing your own fabrics. A wonderful Festive Season to you too!

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