Thrift Shop Upcycled Home Interiors Wooden Books
March 11, 2018
Are you old enough to remember Home Interiors or Homco parties?
They were very popular home parties (like Tupperware parties) until 2009 when the company went bankrupt, probably due to changing shopping patterns with the emergence of the internet. The company later reorganized as Celebrating Home.
I purchased or should I say re-purchased the Home Interiors' wooden books above at the thrift shop last week. I say repurchased because I bought them at a party years ago. Back when I decorated with Wedgwood or Country Blue and Mauve. Teal was big too.
These little books are about to get a makeover!
Back when I attended my first Home Interiors' party, I was big into this look, old buildings, barns, wagons, etc. I also loved the warm colors of the late 1970's, orange and gold. I bought this picture.
Are you familiar with this window pane collage picture? I sold mine at a rummage sale a long time ago, but I know a lot of people that had that picture.
Since vintage Home Interiors and Homco decor is for sale on both Ebay and Etsy, I was able to find photos of some of my old home party decor.
I also purchased this pair of barn pictures at my very first sale.
The above pictures were followed by these western kid pictures, and again, I know a lot of other people that bought them too.
That was one of the drawbacks of Home Interiors decor, we all had the same stuff on our walls.
I know I had one of these rectangular mirrors,
And also a square one.
I also had Home Interiors' copper pans hanging on a kitchen wall.
Who else had copper decor in their kitchens?
I had wire and wooden cattails.
Later on, I went for a much more decidedly Victorian country look, with lady figurines.
Oh, to be a Victorian lady!
I had this "cutesy" country trio of wood wall plaques.
I had three of these hard plastic straw bonnets.
This Home Interiors' picture was perfect with my china teacups and porcelain dolls!
And, I loved the Home Interiors candle holders and votives!
Before allergies, I purchased Home Interiors' scented candles by the box!
Home Interiors was a big part of my decor.
Home Interiors was a big part of my decor.
But now, I like my decor to be more one of a kind, upcycled, vintage, and collected. It's just more interesting.
Now on to the book makover!
First, I painted the small book with two coats of Chalked Paint in Chiffon Cream
, the middle one with two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey and the larger one with ASCP in French Linen.
, the middle one with two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey and the larger one with ASCP in French Linen.
I stenciled the titles to my garden books "Sprout", "Grow", and "Bloom" on the top covers and spines with FolkArt Garden Mini Stencil Pack
and Ceramcoat black craft paint.
and Ceramcoat black craft paint.
I stenciled the designs on the covers using two stencils from this Fleur de Lis Stencil sheet from Walmart Canada,
And the corner stencil on this one from Hobby Lobby.
I sanded the edges and center areas of the books with 220 grit sandpaper, applying more pressure on the edges. I painted the pages with Ceramcoat white craft paint and an artist's brush.
Basically, my books were done, but if I stacked them, the stencil designs just wouldn't be visible. I looked at our local Menards for an easy wood book stand idea.
I found that the hole in Madison Mill 2" toy wooden wheels fit on a 1/4" x 48" poplar wood dowel.
Basically, my books were done, but if I stacked them, the stencil designs just wouldn't be visible. I looked at our local Menards for an easy wood book stand idea.
I found that the hole in Madison Mill 2" toy wooden wheels fit on a 1/4" x 48" poplar wood dowel.
The dowels did fit perfectly in the toy wheels but getting the dowels into the books was a little more difficult.
My husband informed me that we should have a drill press to get a perfect hole drilled in the books.
My husband informed me that we should have a drill press to get a perfect hole drilled in the books.
I stood in front of him while he drilled into the book bottoms to tell him if the drill bit was up and down and not at a slant. They are not perfect but they are pretty good.
I also discovered that if I sanded across and up and down, the books had more of a fabric look, like a real book cover.
I painted my book stands with black chalk paint, and sealed the books with Minwax Paste Finishing Wax in Natural
and a wax brush.
and a wax brush.
One of a kind upcycled Home Interiors' decor!
My Home Interiors plain wood books are now garden book decor!
Here are the book spines.
The wooden candle sconce turned book shelf was also a Home Interiors piece upcycled/repurposed HERE.
My Home Interiors' white Nativity pieces purchased in the 1980's and still used every Christmas!
What were your favorite Home Interiors' decor pieces?
Sharing is caring
Very cute! I so remember going to Home Interior parties with my mom!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicky!
DeleteI had the home sweet home, wall hangings. I had a few other pieces too, but they are long gone and long forgotten. I recall many of these pieces in friend's and family's homes. Much fun taking this trip back to memory lane.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit!
DeleteKeep sharing those old things. I have a huge box of Home Interior in the garage, ready to be up cycled. I loveall the old HI items. I still use a lot of them, but they have been repainted.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I will! Thanks.
DeleteI sold Home Interior & Gift Items from 1985-1993 so I remember all the items you shared today and many many more. I don't think I have even one piece left from those years... I do miss a few of them.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun memory!
DeleteI love your upcycle. I am always inspired by you amazing ideas!!
ReplyDeleteI actually sold Home Interior products years ago. What made me different from all the other sellers is I would show the guests how they could utilize their own items with the Home Interior items. Probably had fewer sales, but lots of happy friends and clients. I wasn't pushy. It got to be too much with a full time job that started requiring extra hours. No GPS back then. Lots of directions given by husbands and boyfriends. Many of the ladies would use so many landmarks that i had no way of finding my way. I needed more highways etc to function. :) I was all over the metro area and got lost on my way home more than I want to admit. I also used to have several Home Interior items and recognized everything that you showed. I used to use my discount to purchase gifts for family. Today, it's all gone. Not one thing that is from Home Interior. All of the pictures, mirrors, figurines and glass votives are long gone. Thanks for the memories. Ranee (MN)
ReplyDeleteI never wanted to be a seller but I went to a lot of parties! Thanks for commenting!
Delete