It’s more than once a week I receive the question as to how I find all the stuff I decorate with. Well, to be honest, it usually finds me. For real! Take this set of crocks, for instance.
Not only is this a sweet set of Roseville crocks, but also they are useful for so many things. For instance, these are food-grade safe so I can use them for my fermenting recipes. However, the painted-on apples weren’t doing it for me. Oh, and she also gave me another Roseville crock with a santa painted on it. Not my thing either.
So, the point of today’s post is to show you what you can do with what you either:
- have on hand
- given as a hand-me-down
- or find at the thrift store or garage sale.
TIME TO GET GOING
Remember I mentioned that the apples aren’t to my liking? I was more referring to the color fitting in with the rest of my decor. I have more muted tones and wanted something simple for an area I was looking to dress up in my kitchen. Also, the apples are flaking off by the minute. Notice the topcoat looked like this…
It had become discolored and a little tacky to the touch. Kinda blucky. The interiors had vintage newspaper stuffed in them since they came stacked together. There are scuffs and such from use, but nothing my old Bar Keepers Friend can’t remedy. Do you love that stuff too? It works wonders on my cast iron sink, tub, and stainless-steel cooktop.
CLEAN-UP TIME
First, I begin by using plain rubbing alcohol to remove the painted-on pictures. This is usually pretty messy but isn’t as hard as you may think.
The santa crock, however, is a bit more boogery, but it’s done. woot!
Last, after paint and poly is gone, I scrub with the Bar Keepers Friend we’re good to go.
ALL DONE
As many of you know I homeschool my 6 kids and we have been remodeling all of our home slowly, but surely. I needed a spot for them to have an organized place to get their supplies for daily-grind stuff. Here is my crock assortment all ready to go for the year.
You may remember that pencil caddy I gave an industrial vibe to a while back. We are still using it daily!
Notice I transplanted basil from our garden in the larger one-gallon crock. Winter is on its way and my kids and I worked hard to see the fruits of our labor. We wanted to save some basil for all year long. And if I like, I can remove the basil for a time and get my ferment on. tee hee.
Here is the area we custom built in our kitchen remodel. It sits just behind our dining table. We made a bench out of the reclaimed 1800’s hickory that we also used for our counters. You can see the full kitchen tour HERE.
This is the chalkboard I made a few years ago from one of my favorite curbside finds – an arched door with glass and screen inserts. See their stories in these posts. This is our verse to get our year off to a great start.
THE WRAP-UP
My hope is that you’ve enjoy how I updated these vintage crocks and made them my own. Don’t pass up those crocks you see painted up at the thrift store. You can create your own too!
Additionally, pin and share my DIY fun. You will never know who needs inspiration too.
Up next, it’s Trash to Treasure Tuesday and I’ll be giving this long-time-coming project its due revival. See its new look and purpose HERE.
Before you go, be sure to get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Until next time!
In addition, more storage projects like this use of vintage crocks:
Great tips on cleaning crocks. I have seen these but did not know alcohol would clean them off. Thanks!
I see them all the time too. I am a crock freak, so I grab them! haha!
Whoa… wait… what?! You can “deface”… “undeface”??? those crocks with rubbing alcohol?!? Like just kinda soak ’em down and rub them off? That’s crazy! I’m grabbing the next one I see. Yours came out BEAUTIFULLY! Pretty enough to get excited about school right there… ?
haha! Yes! As long as it is not under the glazing, which means it was done by an artist or someone to an already fired crock. These most likely were purchased new and then someone added their own art to it to dress it up. Thanks for the giggle! 😀
You are so very smart to homeschool your kids. Wish I had done that. They went tp private school but we ran out of money for it, then public. No end of problems after that. Drugs and alcohol! Did my kids no favors w that. Lost 12 yrs of the younger ones life to drugs but now she’s sober. Keep up your intelligent life style! It pays off. Love the stuff you share.
Thank you. I’m so sorry for your troubles. It can be very hard. I’m so thankful I am able to continue to school my kids at home. Some don’t have that benefit. Hugs!
i love the crocks, nice and heavy so they’re not bound to tip over!
what on earth is that monster you’re attacking next? i know it’ll be great whatever it is and what it’s to become!
woot! Exactly why I chose them for the job. Thanks! We have had such drama with a neighbor this summer and have some major changes to make. Stay tuned!
Hi Larissa, Thank you for sharing this awesome tip! I love storing some of my art supplies in these small crocks too. They certainly can help you to organize many things and they look great doing it too!!
I have my artist brushes in them too. So super handy! Great minds… 😀
Ya know it helps to visit on my desktop rather than my itty bitty phone – now I see those herbs! LOL You gave these crocks the respect they deserved, Larissa. So much better au naturale 🙂
haha! I hear that! We just love our herbs around here and miss them horribly during winter…the fresh version anyway. Thanks for the love, Marie.