Sunday, November 10, 2013

Burlap Burnout?

I have a question for you.  How many of you still love creating with burlap, and how many of you are kinda over it?




Over the years, I've stuffed it, upholstered with it,













stenciled it,



printed on it,




wrapped with it,




collected it,






and sold a bunch of it.








I've made message boards with it, and wrapped bottles with it.




I've also whined about how many difficult burlap projects I've done for clients over the years.  I go through these burlap burn-out periods.  However, this time, the period doesn't seem to be ending.

I still have a lot of it, but, I can't seem to motivate myself to do anything with it, other than sell it.

Maybe I've just seen too much of it, online, at shows, in my garage..................




Maybe this is just part of my desire to clear out, and move on.  I still love the graphics, and texture. Hmmmmmmm....................I think I'll keep one or two faves.  The rest can go.

Anyone want a bunch of burlap?

32 comments:

  1. Dear Rosemary, Burlap has never been one of my favorite materials. Maybe it's because we used to unravel it and knit our underwear out of it. It was mighty scratchy but had not much else at the time. I do however, love what you have done with it. These days, for me, it is silks and cottons and woolens and chintz and cashmere and French toile.

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  2. I really love the look of burlap--but hate working with it! You have done a lot with it--no wonder you are getting tired of working with it!

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  3. My affair with burlap started shortly after we got married 23 years ago. I upholstered out dining chairs and a craft table and chairs with the stuff. I guess I was a wee bit ahead of the decorating trend at the time. I have had spells of on and off times with it. Was just looking at the sun room that is in the midst of a redo thinking I might want some to redo the chair seats. Hmmm...

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  4. I love the canvas of jute!! I have a certain fixed .. I'd use it for everything!!
    basins

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  5. I bought some burlap a while back, covered one chair with it and hated it because it's soooo scratchy! So I gave the rest to my MIL. It's not one of my favorites but you work wonders with everything:)

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  6. I still love burlap. I don't have it out as much as I used to though. I still have a lot of burlap pillows and and artwork made out of it. I also have some sacks stored. I hope it doesn't go out of style!

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  7. I work a lot with it and still love it unless it's Hobby Lobby everyone has it stuff.

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  8. I love burlap. My whole house has a little somewhere. Would love some lol. Just tried to wash some today and it didnt do so well.

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  9. I love the way it looks and love the texture. I'm not burnt out on it, but that's probably because I haven't actually created many projects with it. I just don't like working with it.

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  10. I love burlap, but it is the hardest fabric to work with. My latest project was stockings two years ago and I don't think I've even touched the stuff since. My new love would have to be french grainsack fabric....thick, nubby and wonderful to work with:-)

    Good luck with getting rid of your stash and I hope all is well!

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  11. I think anything overdone is, well, overdone. But I haven't overdone it yet personally so I like.

    You putting some in your Etsy shop? It will sell fast if you do!

    xxoo

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  12. Rosemary, you have made so many wonderful things from your burlap! I have seen a decline in projects around blogland lately. Not sure if it's trending down or not. Maybe you should hold on to a few pieces.

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  13. Personally, i am not over it yet but i do see a decline in burlap projects on the blogland too. I believe that burlap will always have its faithful followers, so don't get rid of all of it ...
    Kisses from Greece !

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  14. I'm not burnout until it stops selling, lol.

    Would love to have some of your stash. You've found some A-MAZING patterns.

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  15. I've got a little bit here and I hardly ever use it, Rosemary. I think the mess puts me off using it. It's a shame I don't use it more, because I was just in Joann's the other day and they had so many different patterns on their burlap. A year ago I was lucky if I could find two on the shelves and now they had at least 12!

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  16. At the risk of being the only commenter, I am with you as far as being over it. I still see things out there I love but most often I walk on by. As far as creating anything with it, I am in awe of those that can handle this hard to handle material. As a side note: I am still in horror over having to wear underwear made from burlap (first commenter)!

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  17. I'm still loving it, but really don't like working with it.

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  18. I have always detested it! I do see some very fetching projects done with it by you and a few others, but I certainly do not want it!

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  19. Used on bulletin boards, wrapping candles, etc. I think it's great, but to have a pillow or piece of furniture upholstered with it...not a nice feeling when touching the skin.
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  20. Itchy, scratchy burlap I save for pretty rolls in baskets or buckets. I do not like the fibers flying off everywhere.

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  21. I don't think I will ever get tired of burlap !!! Love all that you have done with it!!!!

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  22. I was never into burlap. The comments about how messy it was put me off, not because I'm a clean freak (hah) but because I generate enough mess anyway. That, and it seemed to be everywhere. There are some lovely things made with it, I like how it looks with printed text and I still like coffee sacks. But otherwise,? I'm done.

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  23. I still love burlap. Seeing all your projects still has me loving it!

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  24. Your projects are always so beautifully done! I love the look of burlap and natural textures but it is everywhere on everything! It doesn't seem to be slowing down and seems especially big in holiday decor- I guess at least the next big fabric trend comes along- whatever that might be

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  25. I find this post so interesting. The first time I ever saw anything decorative done with burlap was about 8-9 months ago when I first discovered DIY blogs. I admit that I never was inspired to buy/make anything with burlap and was always curious as to why this "craze" was pursued in earnest by so many gifted DIY'ERS. I wondered if I was missing a chromosome because I love DIY, especially when it involves working with "natural elements". I wondered how long this love-of-burlap would last. Anyway, that is why I find this post so interesting...

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  26. I think burlap is lovely to look at, makes incredibly gorgeous upholstered chairs and benches, beautiful wreaths, and can do wonderful things to vintage bottles and stacks of old books.That is of course,
    as long as I don't have to sit on it touch it with my bare skin or get near it with my black yoga pants. It is itchy, gives me a rash and leaves a million little tiny hairs all over my black yoga pants.
    Lovely to look at, impossible to hold.

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  27. please if u are tired of it I love it and trying to redo a 100 year old farm house. I am on limited income but if u sale cheap please contact me. thank you

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  28. We would love some of your excess and will gladly pay for it or shipping. I manage a craft store in Germany on an army base and we don't have as many sources to choose from. I order it in herring bone and a couple of printed varieties for the store, but that is all we have to choose from...

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  29. I still am liking burlap. It's so neutral, it can do with almost anything.

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  30. After seeing your stash, I don't think I'm burnt out on it yet. You have some nice designed stuff. Where I live its hard to find anything with design. We have no craft stores. Will it be in your etsy shop?

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  31. Great question. I do still love the look of it, it's a nice foil to projects that might otherwise look too foofy. I hate the fibers that escape when you work with it, though, so I wear one of those surgical masks to keep me from inhaling them. Have a great week!! ~Lorraine

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  32. I'm still lovin' the pieces I have, but don't you wish you knew what the next big trend will be? I hate working with it myself. My kitties want to roll all over it, then chew it!!

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