Chalk It Up to Repurposing!

Photo Credit: Carasco Photography

Here at Georgia's we are all about repurposing, a passion that runs deep for all of us. Not only is repurposing green and good for the environment, it can be a real cost saver, too, especially when planning a wedding. As many of you know, last year I married my best friend and teammate for life. Repurposing was a key theme in our wedding. I wanted to avoid waste at all costs, not only to save some green, but to be green.

One way we cut down on paper use was by using chalkboards. The project began with a visit to one of our favorite salvage warehouses here in Chicago where we found a great vintage gold frame. We brought it back to Georgia's workshop and cut down a Grade A smooth piece of plywood (with no knots) to fit in the frame's opening. Next, we applied fasteners to the back, similar to what you would see on a traditional picture frame. Finally we applied multiple layers of black chalkboard paint to both sides of the plywood. Chalkboard complete.

Photo Credit: Carasco Photography

What did we use it for? The front side of the chalkboard was our ceremony program which we displayed as people walked to their seats. During cocktail hour, the frame was quickly moved and flipped over as the back side featured our menu for the evening. I bet you are wondering where it is now. You guessed it, in the process of being repurposed yet again. But I have to be honest, it is a project I haven't completed yet. This frame will either continue to function as a chalkboard, hold a corkboard for my office or become a mirror for my living room. I haven't quite decided yet.

Photo Credit: Carasco Photography

Do you want a great repurposed chalkboard of your own? Georgia's is stocking up on frames and has amassed quite a collection. Check them out and stay tuned for the grand opening of our online store where we will feature framed chalkboards in addition to winter and holiday decor items.

 

Now go get some chalk! 

One Door’s Past, Present & Future

As many of you know, I am newly married and I used my wedding day as an opportunity to combine my love of all things vintage with my love of repurposing. The culmination was a day I will never forget, and a ton of great repurposing ideas I can share with all of you! 

It’s hard to say what my favorite repurposed item was. But, for the sake of this blog post, I am going with the 100 year quarter sawn oak door that I found at a local salvage warehouse. Man, did that door have character and I fell in love with it immediately. 

After thorough investigation, we determined this relic needed a good cleaning and a little TLC to take care of some light water damage. Georgia’s Crew was up to the task!

We used Formby’s Furniture Refinisher, a fantastic product that allowed our team to easily redistribute the original stain without affecting the patina. After a coat of tung oil we had our result - a fabulous vintage door ready for repurposing.

To me, doors are symbolic. On our special day, we positioned the door front and center as guests entered our wedding ceremony and reception venue. Adorned with a large moss “B” (for Bechtold, my married name), the door welcomed our guests and symbolized the entrance to our future.



Photo Credit: Carasco Photography 

But that’s not the end of the story for this great piece. After our wedding, we brought the door back to our new home: a modern loft with bright white doors, 12 foot ceilings and expansive hardwood floors (except for white carpet in the bedroom - something I would like to change, but that's a topic for another blog). We immediately tore down our white, boring master bedroom door and replaced it with our 100 year old vintage one. The transformation to our condo was immediate. To this day, the new door is not only a great conversation starter, it warms up our condo and brings me such joy when I enter my bedroom each night. We'll take this door with us every place we move because it is something we truly treasure.

Where’s Your Wedding Guestbook?

Photo Credit: Carasco Photography

No really, where is it? Displayed on your mantel or a bookshelf for all to view or packed in a box buried in an attic or basement without hope of ever seeing the light of day. My gut tells me the latter is the final resting place of many a wedding guestbook. Last year, I planned my own wedding with the dedicated support of Georgia’s Crew, and when faced with the decision of “to guestbook or not to guestbook,” I decided to take a stand. I refused to let my wedding guestbook face the fate of so many others that have gone before it.  No,  20 years from now, I don't want to open a dusty box only to find this memento from my big day moldy or moth-eaten.

So, I went in a totally different direction.  I opted for a guestbook that I could cherish every day. The theme of my wedding was vintage (you’re shocked, I know), yet organic and "green."  I decided to have my wedding guests help me create a piece of artwork that I could proudly display in my home.

I started with a great design of a leafless tree which was printed on 18x20 acid-free paper that was then mounted on foam board.  I framed the tree, without glass, in a beautiful, old gold frame that I found at a salvage warehouse.  At the wedding, I positioned the frame flat on a table, along with green stamp pads, hand wipes and instructions on how to add to my soon-to-be masterpiece. The instructions I provided asked that each guest add a leaf to my guest tree by adding a thumb or fingerprint and then initial or sign their name near it.  Let me pause here because I know what you are thinking… and the answer is no, no one accidentally put a green print on my dress; the hand wipes which I re-labeled with my wedding colors and logo worked like a charm. 

Photo Credit: Carasco Photography

Photo Credit: Carasco Photography

After the wedding, I properly framed my guestbook wedding tree by adding glass.  Now, my guestbook work-of-art is hanging in my guest bathroom as an everyday reminder of the many family and friends that made our wedding day so truly special.

Do you have a great guestbook idea? We want to hear about it!