vintage grain sacks
I love antiques. Whether it is a charming old house, a vintage accessory or a well-crafted piece of furniture, I adore things of quality and age. That is not to say I want a dowdy, out of style old lady house — I love mixing old and new to create my own personal style.
I just think it is remarkably special to own unique pieces with a real history. I love knowing that a piece was around way back when. There is something beautiful about an antique that no piece made today can quite capture!
Of course, I have nothing against Pottery Barn, IKEA, Crate & Barrel, Target, HomeGoods or any other home store that sells new furniture, replicas or look-alikes. I shop at those places from time to time myself. Certainly there is a time and a place to buy new or imitation.
But the pieces in my home that I treasure the most, and will in all likelihood still display and admire twenty to thirty or more years from now, are the ones with the most history. The ones that have a soul.
Antiques have a story to tell. Just like my grandpa who shared adventure tales from long ago, an antique tells stores far more interesting than any discount home store accessory could ever dream up.
Newly painted particle board is no match for the patina and richness of the antique wood. I adore the beauty of vintage textiles and the richness of an old oil painting. While I am no purist or antique snob, I do have a fondness for authenticity.
And if we are concerned about dollars (and of course we are), buying an antique we can keep forever doesn’t have to cost any more than throwing money at cheap imitations year after year. Many antiques you buy today will likely last a lifetime. If you love trendy decor, it can be expensive to keep up with what is hot and what’s not!
Just when you get all the latest stuff and start feeling all trendy, you open up a new magazine to realize your things are already hopelessly out of style. Or worse, they have fallen apart and it is time to reinvest in what is new. With antiques, you can blend a style all your own — one that can evolve over a lifetime and last just as long as you do. You don’t have to be a slave to trends dictated by someone else.
{GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED} Speaking of antiques, today we have a FABULOUS rare giveaway (see photo and description below). I SO want to win it. But of course, I can’t win because of that tiny small voice inside that says that would be just wrong of me.
One of my amazing blog partners, 3 Fine Grains, is sponsoring this giveaway today (yes, full disclosure, I am NOT this generous). I met Kymberley from 3 Fine Grains through a real life friend who knew we’d hit it off! Kymberley is an interior designer who has found her passion in antique textiles. So what is she giving away?
THIS IS THE PRIZE!
An authenticated antique German grain sack!
The photo above is of an over 100 year old authentic German grain sack. Can you imagine? THIS is the prize! The fabric AND the ink, the whole sack is the REAL DEAL! In fact, it is SO AWESOME and rare it has a value of $450!
It is a work of art from history, pure craftsmanship made to last hundreds and hundreds of years. These sacks were made to be extremely durable! As Kymberley points out on her website, they had to be thrown in the back of wagons, they were crafted to be left laying out in fields and strewn about mills.
These authentic grain sacks are more durable than any fabric you will find in modern shops so they can stand up to abuse from children and animals for a lifetime. And they are safe for people you love…they are made from organic hemp linen, all pesticide and chemical free. You can wash and dry many of them, or if you want to, you can dry clean them.
These sacks are not found mass produced for a chain discount store, these are found hidden under floor boards of charming old farmhouses or tucked away in the keepsakes of ladies from long ago. Oh the tales of adventure they could tell!
An authentic grain sack is something you WILL NOT throw away or dump on the curbside when the trendies decide grain sacks are so out. Because beautiful antiques are never out or trendy. These authentic sacks are classics and only become more beautiful with age.
Certain fads based on REAL ANTIQUES like grain sacks may come in and out of vogue, but the authenticity and charm of a real antique surpasses the whims of what is in and what’s out. That is the beauty of an antique. You enjoy them for their beauty and craftsmanship, not for their trendiness.
I love that a grain sack is versatile. You can use it to create whatever you want. So go ahead and dream. What would you do with an authentic grain sack? Cover a beloved chair? Make a stunning pillow cover? Hang in a window? Upholster a footstool? Oh, the options!
My stork pillow. Oh how I love thee.
I myself am in love with my own French grain sack pillow, also from 3 Fine Grains. Look at that stork! Sigh. I adore it. I hug it. I admire it. I tell its tales to any one who will listen. The original ink is so vivid and beautiful, the photos do not do it justice. It is beautiful. The texture is so amazing I run my hands across it almost every time I walk by. Yes, I am weird like that. Do I have that kind of love for all of my material things? No, not really. I do love my home and the treasures I’ve gathered, but there is just something special about beauty that only comes with age. I can say that now that I am over 40. I’m rapidly becoming somewhat of an antique myself.
Here it is again, the rare prize.
So, what would you use that over 100 year old authentic German grain sack for, should you be the lucky one to win it for yourself? Let’s dream about the options in the comments! Only one person will win at random, but because I like to spread the joy and have more people enjoy the beauty, you can enter up to FOUR times by promoting this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook or your blog as well as a comment here. This is fun. Giveaway ends on Saturday, August 22nd midnight PST and winner will be announced next week! I promise, it won’t be me.
You can see more lovely things from 3 Fine Grains on Kymberley’s website! I love reading what she shares about the grain sacks, their quality and their history, so it is a recommended visit!
This giveaway generously sponsored by 3 Fine Grains.
But my adoration of authentic grain sacks is 100% heartfelt and genuinely expressed by me.
Thank you for entering, the GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
i tweeted! http://twitter.com/agodlyhomemaker/status/3384831481
.-= tami lewis´s last blog ..another menu =-.
i facebooked it! i am at facebook.com/agodlyhomemaker
.-= tami lewis´s last blog ..another menu =-.
I LOVE IT! I’m crossing my fingers and toes to be the winner!
I think that I would have to go with a pillow for this! Although it would also be perfect to cover a small foot stool.
Thanks for the opportunity!!
i blogged= http://agodlyhomemaker.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-antique-grain-sack.html
.-= tami lewis´s last blog ..win an antique grain sack! =-.
Hi! What an incredibly awesome giveaway!
Everyone knows that I’m “all about burlap” and vintage grain sacks — but I do NOT own one like this! Wow!
What would I do with it…. hmmm…. honestly, I think I would hang it rather than cut it up for a project. I believe I would hang it in either my newly-remodeled kitchen/gathering room or in my entryway….
Thanks so much!!
Ruth
.-= The Beautiful Life´s last blog ..WE NEED YOUR HELP! Exactly How Important Is It To You That Jeanne d’Arc Living Magazines Are (or are not) In English??? =-.
Gorgeous! I’d love one!
What a wonderful treasure-it is beautiful! I could see this as a pillow, or covering a chair, or a footstool…..I love it!
.-= Gina´s last blog ..The Homeschool Room is More than Just a Room =-.
How stunning! I’ve been lusting after these grain sacks for a while! I LOVE the recovered chair you’ve got posted. Stunning!
How wonderful…I would make a pillow, or if large enough, cover my piano bench!
.-= Dawn´s last blog .."Bubbles"….I Heart Faces… =-.
These are so beautiful! What a wonderful giveaway! If I had one, I would make a chair cover for a chair in my kitchen, which is already filled with antique ironstone and china. I think it would fit in well!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Cozy Details =-.
My husband is from Germany! I fell in love with this instantly. I think if it were mine, I might make it into art…a wall hanging of some sort. But, I would keep it entirely in tact, so I could change it into something later if it so struck me.
I also Twittered this, and posted it on Facebook.
Thanks for the give away, and all the beautiful inspiration!
.-= Mandy S.´s last blog ..Funnies (and a Cutie!) =-.
would love to use that over the antique windor chair that was my husbands grandfathers chair. It would be perfect.
Thanks for the giveaway
and your wonderful blog.
elizabeth
.-= elizabeth´s last blog ..Reagan Photo Shoot. =-.
The minute I saw this grain sack, I thought how wonderful would it be to frame it with a dark antique frame and hang it in my living room…then I saw that you were giving it away. Very cool! I also love vintage and antique accessories and furniture mixed with contemporary and modern. It makes a room look more interesting, adding character, dimension and texture. I never tire of your posts.
♥, Susan
.-= black eyed susans kitchen´s last blog ..VERMONT PHOTO OPS AND THE ULTIMATE SMACK DOWN =-.
I think i could actually see myself pulling out a needle to make this into a wonderful pillow… NOW that is an inspiration! hahha.
Hope you all are having a wonderful summer day!
TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥
.-= Claudia@DipityRoad´s last blog ..Cottages — before and after =-.
So beautiful!! Please enter me! I’d frame this beauty and display it in my family room for all to enjoy!!
Blessings,
Stacey
.-= Stacey @ The Blessed Nest´s last blog ..Decorating Dilemma =-.
I love all the items found at 3 Fine Grains and would love to win the grain sack! I’ve been looking for something to cover an ottoman…oh, but it would also be good to cover one of the chairs I just purchased!
I have seen so many grain sacks out in blogland that I feel like I am behind the ‘fad’. I would love to ‘catch up’ with everyone else. I have a wooden latter back chair that I think would look just loverly with the grain sack as a slip cover. Thanks for the give-a-way opportunity.
.-= Cherri Engle´s last blog ..A fun Give-A-Way – to go check out =-.
Oh wow! We come from German on both my husband’s side and my side..last name IS Schneider. We would love to have this in our home. We just bought a new brown couch, I think this would make a lovely pillow, chair covering or even framing it to hang over our couch! It is amazing!
Side note: does the chair you pictured say Mathias and Bauer? Those are the maiden names of my mom’s parents. Just wild! You really grabbed a piece of my heritage in this post!
Thanks so much for sharing the giveaway! I completely agree, I love vintage/antique style much better than “antiqued replica”.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Reflections =-.
I totally agree with you on antiques… they have soul… they are to be treasured! I think I would hang the grain sack as a piece of art. They are beautiful!! What a generous giveaway.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Design Star – Week 5 =-.
Holy moly, do I love this!!!!! Thank you !
.-= Jocelyn Stott´s last blog ..Antique Appreciation =-.
I love it! I would think about framing it, in a black frame, with a matte that would show off it’s beauty. Thanks!
.-= Lisa Gylling´s last blog ..Kansas in less than 24 hours. =-.
Please enter me, too…:) I posted on Facebook for all to see.
Love this……..please enter me in the giveaway. My birthday is the 21st, wouldn’t this be a great birthday present?
Kris
.-= Kris´s last blog ..Happy Sunday =-.
I also blogged about this give-a-way. Please put me in for a second chance at the give-a-way. Thank you,
.-= Cherri Engle´s last blog ..A Fun Give-A-Way over at The Inspired Room =-.
What a fun giveaway. Thank you for the offer. I think I would hang it over a dowel rod and hang it on the wall, perhaps over the breaker box.
Be still my heart!!!
Because I am of German descent AND I had the opportunity to visit Germany this year, my heart is pitter-pattering! What a fabulous giveaway! Thank you for hosting
.-= New Every Morning´s last blog ..Ahh, August =-.
I posted the giveaway on facebook.
.-= Kris´s last blog ..Happy Sunday =-.
this is the most amazing and generous giveaway!
.-= lissa´s last blog ..your beautiful darn it! =-.
This would look gorgeous framed on my dining room wall!
I wish I could edit my original comment. I have blogged and posted on FB (madrekarin) about this incredible giveaway.
.-= Karin´s last blog ..The Inspired Room =-.
I would make a pillow out of it – love it!
.-= Cheryl´s last blog ..7 Quick Takes Friday – part deux =-.
Wow! I’m thinking that I would probably frame it! So pretty!
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Another Giveaway!!! =-.
This would be SO AWESOME!Thanks to you and your friend for this giveaway:)
And I blogged about your wonderful giveaway too!
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Another Giveaway!!! =-.
I blogged about the giveaway here.
I tweeted,Tanya1223
I put it up on Facebook,Tonya Wxxxxn
Beautiful!
I saw some similar burlap pillows on etsy yesterday and I fell in love.
.-= The Bella Girls´s last blog ..Green Cleaning – Baking Soda =-.
Love this! Please enter me in the giveaway.
Angelica
LOVE everything! Count me in!
.-= Amy R.´s last blog ..Two sweet blue jars =-.
Please count me in!
sylviarj at yahoo dot com
Isn’t this just the coolest? Please enter me. xox Ü
Oh how I have lusted over these grain sacks!
What would I do- I don’t know, I have so many places it could be used. I would definitely want it out and seen, but not in our sun so it fades.
It would either be a chair or pillows or both- but I just don’t know
What a beauty! It would look great framed or on a chair.
Pick me! Pick me ! LOL! They are beauties!
.-= Loretta´s last blog ..That Old Cape Magic =-.
Okay – Here is my comment, and I put it on my Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Morna-Crites-Moore/90675619189?ref=mf#/pages/Morna-Crites-Moore/90675619189?v=wall&viewas=1246417209&ref=mf so now I’ll just enjoy it the way I enjoy the occasional (rare) lottery ticket – pretty much know I won’t win, but in honor of the MAYBE, I can enjoy daydreaming about it until the actual winner is announced!
.-= Morna Crites-Moore´s last blog ..Friday Flickr Favorites =-.
Ohhhh, please enter me. I adore this fabulous piece of history!
.-= Sharon´s last blog .. =-.
Wow – I love it, and would cherish it if I won it!
My mother-in-law shared memories of her school dresses made from grain sacks by her mother, who was a skilled seamstress. What seemed “shameful and poor” would be an absolute treasure today – wish I had one of her dresses to hang on a wall.
I happened on your website by chance, and I’m glad I did! I put it in my favorites and now check in regularly.
How awesome! I would probably make a nice pillow with the grain sack. That’s certainly something I would treasure forever!