What is the Appeal?

1.15.2011


The theme at Funky Junk Interiors this week for SNS is grain sacks.

What is the appeal of these? They have certainly gained popularity and it has driven their price up.

Here are a few I have. Real and faux.


This is the large grain sack bolster pillow I purchased at a local flea market and it graces the bench at the end of our bed in the master bedroom.


It used to be on this other bench. I love the heavy chunky texture of this one and a steal at $40.


This is  another very heavy weighted vintage one that I picked up another local antique shop.
Only $28 for this one.


I used it as a runner for a Christmas display for the holidays


Now it is just hanging out of this large vintage basket.


Then I have the reproduction grain sack covers.


Ordered this one from a sale on OKL. Got a great deal on this pillow from LePetitCoterie.


Grain sacks look great mixed with other fabrics


Here I have my reproduction ones mixed with velvet pillows for a mix of textures.


My sister took her pillow cover which became very wrinkled and decided to frame it.
Love this idea.

Joining Funky Junk Interiors.

Enjoy your day,

KIM
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60 comments:

  1. Karen thisoldhouse2.com1/15/11, 9:26 AM

    I'm not sure why this took off either, but I am a fan of the look. Yours are perfect in the places you have used them. I have not found a bargain, yet, however..and I refuse to pay $100. for an old grain sack. They would look great in This Old House...still on the hunt.

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  2. Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns1/15/11, 9:27 AM

    Hi Kim! love your pillows! yes these really have jumped in price, and they seem to be everywhere:)
    Luckily they aren't to hard to create yourself.
    Wanted to invite you to my csn giveaway I just posted, stop by if you have time and drop your name in the proverbial hat!!
    paula:)

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  3. Andrea1/15/11, 9:28 AM

    I don't yet have any grain sacks, but do love the look of them also!

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  4. Donnie1/15/11, 9:31 AM

    They wouldn't fit in with my decor but I love to look at them. Don said where he's from in Illinois they probably have a lot in the barn at his aunts house. Maybe a visit is in order.

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  5. {northern cottage}1/15/11, 9:34 AM

    yum - i love how you've used all of them!

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  6. Connie in Hartwood1/15/11, 9:35 AM

    Grain sacks don't make the grade here. I like the look, along with rough linen, genuine paint patina, and a smattering of rust, it's just out of place here in the house. Once I get the guest house underway next year, THAT's where some grain sacks, or grain sack lookalikes, would be perfect!

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  7. savvycityfarmer1/15/11, 9:36 AM

    I l.o.v.e. them all real or not ...

    I have a dealer friend who was featuring these in her shop 10 years ago ... she was truly ahead of her time.

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  8. Tanna1/15/11, 9:41 AM

    We love them because they have such wonderful texture and soft muted color... we love them because them because the look really, really good all mixed together with anything we already have... Yep, we just love them because we can. lol.

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  9. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life1/15/11, 9:54 AM

    I think it is the lure and look of anything old world and vintage that makes them so popular. Yours look wonderful and I love the way you've mixed them with other fabrics. Your sister's framed one is lovely also. Hugs, Marty

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  10. Susan McClaskey1/15/11, 9:57 AM

    I love the look of these too. My theory about their popularity is that the country French look is SO big now and many of the sacks have French words stencilled on them. I don't have any but would love to track some down. They're like toile or animal print--they look good anywhere.
    Best,
    Susan

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  11. Debbiedoos1/15/11, 10:08 AM

    You have a great selection Kim. I love what your sister did too with hers, very clever. Hey finally the sun is out here in South Carolina. I spoke with my Atlanta friend and she said her boy was out of school ALL week there...UGH! Let's get out.....

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  12. Melanie1/15/11, 10:19 AM

    I don't have anything in my house in that. I like the idea your sister had about putting it in the frame. I guess it fits some and not others. Kinda like vanilla ice is for some and chocolate is for others. It is always fun to see a trend come along and see what others do with it.

    Hope you are thawing out. We still have ice in the backyard. Really wanting some warm weather to come our way.

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  13. Bonnie@Creative Decorating1/15/11, 10:26 AM

    I love the earthy feeling of the grain sack pieces. You have displayed them perfectly as usual!!

    Enough already....I want to see that guest room!!! I went out yesterday and took back a cashmere sweater I got for Christmas and bought a set of WONDERFUL sheets so I could make the bed like yours!!!

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  14. Wendy1/15/11, 10:27 AM

    Kim,
    They look great in your home. I am loving what your sister did with her's.
    Wendy

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  15. Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea1/15/11, 10:38 AM

    They look great. I have a stack that I brought back from Germany, I guess I should turn them into something. Have a great day.

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  16. Pondside1/15/11, 10:42 AM

    I like the look of them - I think that runners etc are a good idea, but like my pillows soft and downy. I have a feeling that a grain sack pillow would be scratchy!

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  17. ChRiS1/15/11, 10:52 AM

    i love the look of grain sacks i happend to pick 1 up few weeks back at local flea mkt 6 bucks....he had several why i didn't ask for a deal on all he had i'll never know maybe was due to xmas was just weeks away.

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  18. Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria1/15/11, 10:56 AM

    Kim I think I'm the only one in blogland that doesn't have any of these ha ha!! I think it's the whole French thing that is going on right now that appeals to everyone..I do have vintage feed sacks in my kitchen...I love what your Sis did with her's..Hugs and smiles Gloria

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  19. Leo 1/15/11, 10:59 AM

    You have a great selection. And I really love the way your sister framed hers! That really came out great.

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  20. Carol1/15/11, 11:10 AM

    I love the look of these pillows! You have a nice collection. I need to do a little shopping & start a collection of my own. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Smiles,
    Carol

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  21. Brenda Pruitt1/15/11, 11:22 AM

    I've asked myself this question many times, Kim. I don't know. I think it may be the contrast of the texture mixed with our other colors?
    Brenda

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  22. Melissa Miller1/15/11, 11:26 AM

    Kim I have none but I sure love yours. Gorgeous on your sofa! Your entire home is one of my all time favorites.

    Happy weekend! ~Melissa :)

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  23. Debby1/15/11, 11:57 AM

    I wish I had some as well. They have become so popular and I love them. Yours are really nice.

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  24. All That Glitters1/15/11, 12:03 PM

    Will you adopt me? I've never had much of a mother anyway and you have the best taste ever!!!! I swear I love everything about your home Kim!!!

    Love ya!!!

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  25. Erin1/15/11, 12:05 PM

    Sometimes I wonder the same thing...especially having grown up on a farm and seeing mice chew them, or mold be in them, but then again, I think farm like at times,LOL! I love the look of them in the home, and think that most people use them in beautiful ways, but I don't have any, wonder why?hehe.

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  26. Kelly1/15/11, 12:08 PM

    Ooh wee! You need your sunglasses to look at that aqua frame on my burlap pillow. You'll be happy to know that I've repainted it black now. It looks much better. I love grainsack and burlap pillows. I don't think I'll ever tire of them. Hopefully, they'll be around for a long time.

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  27. Roxanna1/15/11, 12:13 PM

    I just love all your pillows & anything burlap. I recently ordered a pillow from myadobecottage's etsy shop for my black & white toile office/guest room. It is black & white french country toile, burlap and monogram pillow cover. It hasn't arrived yet but I hope I love it as much as I love the pic. Going to recover my bullentin board in burlap fabric adding a burlap rosettee. Then cover the top of a round hat box on top of my desk with burlap. Just trying to add some burlap here & there. I also just recently bought some new bedding for my master bedroom that is blue, white & taupe. Hoping maybe I can make some bed pillows, that is if I can find the right color of burlap that is close to the color of taupe. If not, then I like the PB button pillows.

    Roxanna
    roxemor@aol.com

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  28. Anita Diaz1/15/11, 12:19 PM

    Love all your pillows Kim! I got some feed sacks last summer from my mom and have yet to figure out what to do with them. I was thinking table runners, but can't decide. We are still with snow piled up everywhere. Hope you are warmer!

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  29. xinex1/15/11, 12:22 PM

    Hi Kim! Your post inspired me. Maybe I'll get off my butt and do something to the sacks that I bought. I only paid $3 for each of them, I have 2 but that's what they are, still sacks but they are big and I know I can do something to them. Thank you for your lovely post. Your home is beautiful!...Christine

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  30. Lori @ Projects Plenty1/15/11, 12:30 PM

    I have to admit I have not been a fan of the grain sack look. With that said, however, I LOVE your grain sack pillows (real and reproduction). How you mixed them with different fabrics makes me look at the material in a new and different way... really nice!

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  31. vignette design1/15/11, 12:39 PM

    I love grain sacks and burlap also. Although I don't think I've gone overboard with them, my family thinks so! I probably have about as much as you do. Just enough. Why the attraction you ask? I have been wondering the same thing. I think we are all just enamored with anything European. However, I didn't see any in Italy last fall. And minimal grain sack in the South of France a few years ago. Probably Belgium huh? I hope the trend doesn't go away for a while either. ~Delores

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  32. Anonymous1/15/11, 12:43 PM

    I only have a couple of these. I like the look and texture. Not sure how long this look will be popular, but I do like it.

    As we are working on our main floor and upper level rooms this month, I am looking for new furniture and would love to have a couple of the pillows. We'll see.

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  33. AntiqueChase1/15/11, 1:56 PM

    Love them and hope they stick around a looong time!!

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  34. The Tuscan Home1/15/11, 2:21 PM

    Kim, I WANT!! Those pillows are adorable. I like the way you have the pillows arranged on the sofa! =) XOXO ~Liz

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  35. Something Nice and Pretty1/15/11, 2:31 PM

    I recieved a Ebay gift card for Christmas so I put a bid on one from Pottery Barn, of course I was out bid... so they are very popular on Ebay too!
    I love your sofa with all the them placed so nicely, even the velvet looks great right along with them would have never thought of that:)

    Rondell

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  36. Christie1/15/11, 3:02 PM

    I came across a battenberg lace tablerunner the other day. I laughed. It looks so "out". In the 1980's everybody wanted it. Now, it's at the thrift store. We have swung from one end of the pendulum to the other. What will it be in another 20 years ?

    Kim, I love your posts on bedding and pillows. But, where do you keep them all ? Do you have a walk in closet for bedding ? Airbags ? What ?
    Love, Christie

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  37. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style1/15/11, 3:06 PM

    Thanks everyone. Christie, I don't even have a linen closet. I use the two closets in the bedrooms upstairs since the kids are grown and gone.

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  38. Tire Swing Mom1/15/11, 3:12 PM

    I have admired these on others' blogs but never realized they were so pricey. Oh, how I wish my hubby had saved a bunch of them from his days of working at the local feed mill as a teen. lol

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  39. Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal1/15/11, 4:08 PM

    You have a great variety of them. So many great ones but the one on the table I love. I just love the red in it. Well you have lots with red it so I would take any of those when you tire of them :)

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  40. Heather1/15/11, 4:23 PM

    I don't have any, but I certainly do like them. Yours are great!!

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  41. An Oasis in the Desert1/15/11, 4:46 PM

    Those look amazing. I have never found anything like that here, but I hope when we move to the big city, there may be more places to look.
    CAS

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  42. Olive1/15/11, 5:39 PM

    Yours look wonderful on the sofa. I am at least glad I am not alone in not having any from the comments.

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  43. Barb @ The Everyday Home 1/15/11, 7:39 PM

    Love this post. I am painting an old french chair and you have inspired me to find and/or make something similiar for the seat I need to reupholster. BTW, did you make the rooster pillow? I heart that one. :)

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  44. Low Tide High Style1/15/11, 7:52 PM

    Your grain sacks are all beautiful Kim, both the real ones and the faux ones! I think the appeal is that they are so earthy, have great texture, and the writing makes them interesting. Also taking something so mundane, like a sack that stored grain or flour, and turning it in to something pretty is appealing, at least to me.

    Kat :)

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  45. Sissie's Shabby Cottage1/15/11, 8:17 PM

    Hi Kim,
    I think that your photos of your grain sack pillows tells us why we love them so much! They all look so lovely on your sofa and the one on the bench is very sweet.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  46. Cathy~Mille Fleur1/15/11, 8:28 PM

    Oh Kim...what a wonderful collection! I love them all...the pillows look amazing on your gorgeous red sofa! LOVE!

    I just ordered a table runner for my dining room after seeing it on Delores' blog...you know how I hate to miss out on a trend;)!

    Happy Saturday!

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  47. The Polka Dot Closet1/15/11, 8:48 PM

    I love the earthiness of them, They don't go with my shabby rose decor, but I love them! It is on my list to add to my booth, I have seen very few in the antique mall I am in, I bet they will be a good seller. I am going to keep my eyes open for them as I am out at flea markets.

    thanks
    Carol

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  48. Here On Crow Creek1/15/11, 9:04 PM

    Hey Kim! I would love to find some of those! Funny story. I found what I thought was something really special. Burlap with pretty writting on it, come to find out it was a rice bag! lol You always inspire me Kim. Love your beautiful home!

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  49. La Dolfina1/15/11, 9:12 PM

    Hi Kim,

    I remember you from RMS!
    It's nice to see you here in blogland:)
    Love your grain sacks. Your home looks as lovely as I remember it!
    Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
    Terri

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  50. Unknown1/15/11, 9:29 PM

    I love them ,but I guess like all new fashions this will pass too ,they are way too hard to get here in Oz ,so I will just keep looking.I love the ones on your red lounge
    ~Sharon~

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  51. Theresa1/15/11, 9:34 PM

    Love them, I am looking around my house to see where I could put some! :)

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  52. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here1/15/11, 9:48 PM

    Hi Kim, I know I love the texture and the soft muted colors of grain sacks. I have looked for the real thing but they have been so expensive and hard to find in our area! I have a couple faux pillows that I made myself. Your collection is wonderful and looks great on the red sofa.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  53. Pamela1/15/11, 9:51 PM

    I just love this burlap stuff. Especially the pillows with french writing on them.
    I was in HomeSense (Canadian version of TJMaxx) and they had this dining room chair that was covered in burlap with french writing all over it! It was too die for!!
    I have to get me a pillow!
    Pamela :)

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  54. Sarah1/15/11, 9:58 PM

    Kim,
    I'm a fan of these. I seem to like most things with texture and the written word. Your pillows are charming. I really like the mix of textures on your sofa. It looks great! ~ Sarah

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  55. Heaven's Walk1/15/11, 10:28 PM

    Hey Kim! I am a French grain sack addict! Yeah, I admit it! lol! I can never have too many of them. I adore the pillow with the red stripe. Is that real or faux? If it's faux, what color red did you use and how did you make it? Love all the pillows on the sofa. Soooo pretty!

    xoxo laurie

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  56. Sue1/16/11, 12:06 AM

    I didn't really like this look all that much until blogging. As with many other things, the look has grown on me and now I find myself keeping my eye out for pillows. I love how you have all of yours displayed.

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  57. Dear Lillie1/16/11, 1:41 AM

    Wow, I am jealous! You have some GORGEOUS ones. Not sure which is my favorite!

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  58. Kathy1/16/11, 1:50 AM

    Kim those are all great pillows, I haven't seen that fabric to buy around here?

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  59. People Who Know Me Would Say:1/16/11, 5:34 AM

    The array of pillows on your sofa is soooo striking, Kim!

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  60. Sue1/16/11, 5:37 PM

    I love the look, whether vintage or reproduction. Needless to say, I won't pay high retail for a grain sack, but I will keep looking for options that are reasonable. Love the one you used as a runner. Great luck on finding what you have! I bought a feedsack for a few bucks, but I'm really not so sure about having a pillow featuring animal feed. LOL Any Purina fans out there? :-)
    ~ Sue

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