Sep 3, 2014

Summer Barn Dance Chalkboard Art


When I was thinking of summer art for my chalkboard earlier this summer, I tried to come up with something that would celebrate our new farmhouse decor. 

Nothing is more symbolic of a farm than a barn, and what could be more fun in the summer than a good old barn dance?


 I decided to hang this chalkboard in a little corner of the entryway between two windows, and use it to welcome visitors into our home.

 

Do you remember this old chair my husband's parents gave us that I painted a while back, upholstery and all? (You can find the before photos and the tutorial here.)

 

I brought this old dresser home from an antique store twenty years ago. It was primitively made by hand, and I love every single mark and scratch on it. You can still see the remnants of green paint someone before me stripped off to the original finish.
  
 

The dresser used to be in our bedroom, but I'm using it to hold table linens now.

 

The large tray is from Antique Farmhouse.

 

 I think I'm the only blogger who shows a vignette with Reader's Digests that haven't been covered with beautiful paper or painted with an artistic faux process. (I think that's item #587 on my to-do list.)
 


I'm not sure if this is a brass sheep or a cow, but it was on the top of a 4H trophy I found at the thrift store. It's very solid and heavy. 


  
The old Elvin Bishop song is one of my all-time favorites.



 I bought this frame at a yard sale last summer for $5, and just painted the old scratched and faded fiberboard print inside it with black chalkboard paint. I've found that the store-bought black chalkboard paint holds up to repeated erasing with a wet rag better than my own homemade chalk paint. A complete tutorial for creating your own large chalkboard from a frame can be found here.



My SUMMER banner is card stock-reinforced burlap with the black letters transferred on using charcoal and then painted in by hand.

 

Bright flowers in antique bottles for a splash of summer color.

 
Autumn is just around the corner, but I'm squeezing every sweet moment left out of summer. I can close my eyes and still imagine the warm sun setting over a barn lit by fairy lights, full of laughter and dancing. 

We're gonna party till the cows come home!

Let's take this party to:

Vintage Inspiration Party 
Cozy Little House 

17 comments:

  1. Love this! I'm using Reader's Digests just like you are. I like the colors on the spines, so I haven't covered mine either. I'm always on the lookout for different colors when I go to the antique malls.

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  2. Laurel your chalkboard is fabulous! You are so artistic. if I would have tried to draw a barn it probably would have ended up looking like a stick figure person LOL! The whole corner, the chair, dresser, accessories and chalkboard looks amazing and oh so cozy. Love it.

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  3. Love the barn dance idea ~ the perfect warm invitation to your home!!

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  4. It's perfect Laurel and lucky you, you have a great penmanship!!!!!! Love it!

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  5. What a lovely corner in your home, Laurel! I love your chalkboard and the art you did on it. Such a great banner, too. I'm glad you mentioned that it is card stock reinforced because I would think it needs something. I noticed that Hobby Lobby has burlap banners made up in a kit already. Makes it easy enough to just stencil lettering on them.

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  6. Laurel,
    I love the the barn dance chalk board. How cute. Love the banner too. It is all great.
    Kris

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  7. Oh..you need a Pinterest button! I absolutely love the whole set up with the chalkboard and the tray. Love it!

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  8. I absolutely adore this corner of your home. I just tried my hand at chalkboard art yesterday but it's not as cool as yours....great job!

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  9. Thanks - great decorating inspiration.

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  10. Hi Laurel, my goodness you inspire!! Love your chalk board and this gorgeous spot in your home. I was just working with a framed piece turned chalkboard and you have inspired my creation!
    Have a great weekend.
    xo

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  11. I love your chalkboard art, I need to so something like this... You have skills! And the summer banner is just the perfect touch, such a great corner in your beautiful home!

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  12. What a cozy little corner you have created. The chalkboard is just the piece the piece that sets it off. Love your art work. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy

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  13. Oh what a lovely spot Laurel! I just love the simplicity. You have a good eye for editing and putting just the right elements together. And aren't chalkboards so much fun? Love the idea of a barn dance!

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  14. I will feature this tomorrow at Home Sweet Home party! I thought it was so original! Loved it!
    Sherry

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  15. Stopping in to pin. Barn Dance chalkboard how I love thee.

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  16. Oh so cute! I'd love for you to share this at my weekly link party http://www.thelifeofjenniferdawn.com/2014/09/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-107.html Hope to see you there!

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