Saturday, September 12, 2009

What to do with Burlap Coffee Sacks?

I was skipping with joy back to my car after finding this authentic burlap coffee sack at an estate sale recently. I wasn't sure at the time just what I'd make of it, but I knew it had potential. The fact that I only paid 2 bucks for it didn't hamper my joy either.

Pottery Barn

The coffee sack had resided in my "to do" basket until the other day when flipping through a Pottery Barn magazine I saw these pillows. The description said they were "recalled from a whimsical look of vintage coffee sacks". While drooling over these pillows, I had an aw haa moment. I have a real vintage coffee sack, I thought to myself. So why not make pillows out of it?


Now, of course, you wouldn't want to make pillows from a coffee sack that you are going to lie your head on. Burlap is a little rough, but the pillows I've made are for purely decorative purposes.


So, I made this pillow...

And this one...

and this one.

Three pillows from one $2 coffee sack! And I still have burlap left over. If you have any ideas of what to do with my scraps, please let me know. I did buy a yard of burlap to use for the pillow backs. I bought pillow forms for inserts, and wood buttons for the oblong pillow.

Pottery Barn uses buttons made from coconuts for their pillow version, but coconut buttons were more expensive than the wood buttons I used. And I don't think there is much difference in the look for the price.

And speaking of pillows, here's a tip for you if you are interested in making your own pillows. If you want soft pliable pillows, you know, the kind that leave an indention when you karate chop them down the center, stuff your pillows with down or bamboo filler instead of polyester. Down and bamboo fillers can be more expensive than polyester, but places like Tuesday Morning and TJ Maxx sell down bed pillows rather inexpensively. So buy a pillow from either of those places and tear it open to stuff your decorative pillow.

But before you start hunting for a coffee sack, check out the other projects at Susan's Met. Monday, Cheri's Knock off Knock out, and DIY Day at Soft Place to Land. Click on their names to pay them a visit. You are going to love all the ideas!

38 comments:

Shanty 2 Chic said...

I'm in love! You did such a great job on those pillows! We are actually in the process of making burlap pillows for our couches as well...your right...it is not practical for laying your head on...we'll figure something out:) Thanks for sharing ~Ashley

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Love those feed sack pillows girl and caught up on all Your "Fallerizing" too, Fun! Enjoyed visiting, have a great week! xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Debra@CommonGround said...

The burlap pillows look wonderful on the black cane bench. Great job with them!
Debra

Love the Decor! said...

WOW I just came across a burlap coffee sack the other day that I have had laying around here for years. I have recently been wondering how to display it. Either in a frame, stuffed and tucked into a corner etc. But I really love what you did with yours and I love pillows. So now I better get creating. :) Thanks for the idea.

Blondie's Journal said...

Marsha,

I think you were spot on using that burlap coffee sack for pillows. The big hoorah lately has been texture. I have seen these pillows (in Pottery Barn, for example) and they seem to be overpriced. Another new thing~drop cloths. I hear the drop cloths at Home Depot are perfect for anything from pillows to curtains. Wash them and they are like silk!

Now, I have to run and learn how to sew!!

xoo
Janie

Cindy said...

OK...I have potato sacks....cool.

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

Love the pillows..., especially the ones with the buttons, a very nice touch.

Fifi Flowers said...

CUTE pillows!

Its So Very Cheri said...

Love it. I love your bench-did you make it?

Cheri

Anonymous said...

I love, love your coffee sack pillows. I have had my eye out for some coffee sacks, but no luck yet. Yours look wonderful. Thanks for dropping by Happy Nester. Monica

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You did a great job on the pillows!
Have a great week.

Kathy Walker said...

Way cool! You did a great job...I'm lovin' them!

Miss Mustard Seed said...

I love feedsacks and making them into pillows is such a fun idea. I love the graphic nature of your coffee feedsack. Thanks for sharing your project!

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

What luck to find the sack! Pretty pillow too.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

Leanne said...

I love your burlap pillows. I'm on the look out now for some burlap sacks. THey turned out great. You did such a good job and I love the buttons.

Reid said...

LOVE the pillows!!!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Adorable! You did a great job. I was eyeing some recently at a silent auction---6 of them for $16. I probably should have bid, huh? You found the perfect spot for your cute pillows. Enjoy.

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a fantastic idea! I really love what you were able to do with them. Kudos.

Tricia said...

Aren't you a lucky girl, finding that fabulous burlap bag for $2!! I gave up my search and stenciled some burlap to look like a feed sack and made pillows. Yours turned out beautifully, bravo!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Fabulous!!!

Maureen said...

Awesome! The textures on these, especially with the wooden buttons are so wonderful!

I love them!!

Shannon said...

They look great! I love burlap!

Its So Very Cheri said...

I normally contact everyone the night I post to let them know they were featured but I was tired and ready to hit the sack and thought I would get up early and contact everyone and 2 of you beat me to it.

Thank you for the wonderful coffee sack pillows. I actually have written down some design ideas to make my own printed burlap ideas.

Cheri
Its So Very Cheri

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Your pillows look fabulous, but that bench they are on is to die for beautiful. laurie

Kelee Katillac said...

These are charming! Like those buttons!

stop on by....

love, kelee

Pam @ Frippery said...

Fabulous job! Pam

Elizabeth and Gary said...

So creative and such a fun project.
All your fall decorating is amazing, how do you think of it all. I love the tee-shirts and bag you made for your grandson, its so thoughtful. My nephew is being deployed at the end of the month for his 3rd tour and he and my niece just had their 3rd baby last Saturday. God bless our Men.
Take care and enjoy your day,
Elizabeth

Pearl Maple said...

Great version of creative recycling, being green does not have to stop at sorting our refuse. Thanks for sharing the inspiration, these look like great fun.

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

These are so chic. I love them. I particularly love the one with the buttons. Very very cute.

Decor To Adore said...

Your pillows are just amazing. I have been looking at the $39 P.B. pillow and I like yours even better.

Let it Shine said...

LOVE it! I especially like the colors of the print.
Your header is gorgeous too! Love the pumpkins!!
~Alyshia

sarah said...

Very cute!

Funky Junk Interiors said...

YOUR pillows are STUNNING! I especially appreciate that great tip on stuffing them with down. CHECK!

I want some burlap sacks soooo bad!

Donna

santamaker said...

Wow! SCore! Those are the cutest pillows! Great idea to buy burlap for the backs too. For the scraps you may be able to make coasters of possibly use some as the mat to a picture in a frame. Good Job!

Flat Creek Farm said...

My first visit to your blog. Enjoying it! :) I love your coffee sack pillows. I've been making some burlap pillows, and stenciling them to 'roughly' look like grain sacks. The buttons on the PB pillows are a nice addition. Thank you for sharing. -Tammy

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Mama G @ bigcraftyblog.blogspot.com said...

Very nice! I have the same coffee sacks from the goodwill! Question how did you sew them? I tried to crochet two pieces together but they started unraveling.

Kelly said...

Veryyy creative :) I will try to create one by using rice sac LOL :D