The winner of the Willow House giveaway is #38, Mary Ellen!
My project comes from the March 2008 Ballard Designs catalog. The Ball and Spear Finials came in a set of 3, original price $69, sale price in this catalog $39.99.
I started out with this…thing…that I got in the clearance section at Hobby Lobby for about $2. I suppose it’s meant to be a finial, but the gold color was really kind of yuck.
This was actually one of my very first blog projects, and I didn’t take any photos of the process. First, I spray-painted it with gray primer. Then using gray and white acrylic paints and a dry brush method to give it a weathered look. Although in this side-by-side the colors look quite a bit different, the catalog says their finials have a “weathered gray finish”.
Today I have it on top of my hutch, which currently is not so much arranged as just a haphazard placement of things as they come into the house, both inside and on top.
A close-up of the dry brush technique:
I must confess, I actually did the painting before I saw it in the Ballard catalog, and though I knew when I bought it that I would paint it, I wasn’t sure how until I saw the same item on another blog, as is explained in my original post.
So this is a happy coincidence that it looks so much like the Ballard finials, but the take-home message here is look past what you see on the surface and imagine what it could be. Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that.
Party rules:
- your knock-off entry must be made by you
- it must inspired by Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, or Restoration Hardware
- you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare
- it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”
- you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column
- link to your specific party post, and not your general home page
- you should be polite and visit several other participants and leave a nice comment
If you need more details, see this post. List will be open until Sun Oct 31 at 11:59 pm.
10 comments:
Hooray! I linked up.
Thank you for having me!
Sarahx
I have to agree...
the gold color looks off in that finial.
You did a nice transformation with that thing.
Thank you so much for hosting, Holly! I linked up with a couple of PB knock-offs and one Ballard knock-off. :)
I've wanted some giant finials--the one you created looks great! Have a great day!
Thanks for hosting the party! And great job on your finial! Guess what I knocked off?? The Ballard finials! LOL! Come check mine out!
I've been looking forward to this all week! Thanks so much for hosting!
Hey Holly--
I linked up early, but then I linked again to show the Ballard knock-off that's in my post. Earlier I linked up a photo of my PB pillows, but realized later that a lot of people may have already seen that part of my post. If you want to delete my first link, you can. . . or you can leave it if you like. It's up to you. My post has three knock-offs--two PB and one Ballard that I just did yesterday. When I read about your party, I got out my Ballard catalog--and sure enough, something in the catalog really caught my eye! Maybe I need to participate in blog parties all the time, just so I'll be inspired to actually get things done around here! :)
Hi, I'm bj from Sweet Nothings...
A blogger told me to link up with your party as my post is all about Pottery Barn Knockoffs..my favorite thing to do. I've had several posts about them...and another in draft.
I've not linked to you as I didn't know about your party..but I will surely link the next time.
I love your knockoff...it is amazing. Don't we love getting THE LOOK without all that money.:))
I am now your newest follower..come by to see me when you can.
Awesome, fun party!
Are you doing this every week? If so, which day, so I can put you button in my weekday category. :)
Thank you!
This is inspiring!
Hugs,
~me
Holly, Thank you so much for your wonderful giveaway!! I just got home from handing out food boxes all day (and totally forgetting to eat!!) which was great fun but exhausting and your email just perked me up big time!!
You can certainly count on me being back to your delightful blog! I am always so inspired by all you sweet gals in blogland with your creativity!!
Love your Ballard knock off!! I wish I could join your party but I steer clear of these great catalogs because the make me drool too much so I wouldn't know if I have done a knock off or not!!
Bee Blessed!
Mary
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