Howdy Friends! Have you ever been shopping and purchased something you thought you couldn’t live without? While perusing Home Goods I walked up on the cutest shelfy thing! It was so cute and was covered in chalk paint so I snatched the tag off and found a boy right away to drag it to the front for me. So glad I didn’t hesitate. As I was waiting on the guy to come back with help, 2 other ladies tried to buy it too! I knew immediately what was going inside those cubed spaces. Here’s how I spruced up my adorable farmhouse style cubby shelf!
How I spruced up my adorable farmhouse style cubby shelf!
I first have to mention why I was so excited about this new purchase. Do you remember earlier this year I started taking a pottery class with my bestie? Let’s just say after the first 6 weeks I have A LOT of condiment bowls. Throwing clay is way harder than it looks.
Fancy pottery bowls for ketchup, mustard and salsa
Our first lesson was to throw a cylinder. I thought, no biggie. I’ve seen the movie Ghost. It’s doable. Um, nope. It took me several tries to get the 2 pound ball of clay centered on the wheel. And when I say several, I gave up counting after 6 tries. Everyone else had moved on and I was still retrieving my balls (a.k.a. piles of mush) that flung across the room.
More handmade condiment bowls for relish, Ranch dressing and spicy ketchup
My bestie already had 3 cylinders finished before I even got my ball to stick to the wheel. I was frustrated, baffled and felt like if all my brains were ink, I couldn’t dot an i. I knew at anytime the teacher was going to put the nincompoop cap on me. But she didn’t. She just kept saying “Try again, use your body, keep those elbows locked in, push down, now push away from you”. Ugh, I seriously thought I’d be the first student ever kicked out of the studio.
Even more bowls for Tarter sauce, BBQ sauce, Honey Mustard and Garlic Aioli
Then when I was out of breath and had sore arms, I got it! The ball of clay stuck to the wheel and I was on my way to making a cylinder! The teacher cheered and the smile on my face said watch out Demi Moore, I’m fixin’ to make a fountain! BTW, anyone else watch the British show called The Great Pottery Throwdown? I’m infatuated with it!
I call this my adorable mini pancake serving platter with personal syrup pitcher
Like I said before, I have a lot of condiment bowls. Not cylinders or pretty vases like everyone else. Nope, mine kept collapsing so I’d have to cut the top off which turned them into small bowls. Next 6 weeks when the class is doing bowls, I’ll be the one in the corner making the most beautiful vase my mother has ever seen. Because no one else will have ever see it. I bet the people getting each piece out of the kiln get a good laugh when they see my stuff.
Yep, more condiment bowls. This time for salt and pepper. So chef-like.
Anyway, when I came across the cubby shelf, I knew exactly where it was going and what I wanted to put inside. My pottery! Just look at all those wanna-be cylinders! I’ve had so much fun you wouldn’t believe it. I’ve decided to sign up for a years worth of classes. After all that teaching I may be able to graduate out of the beginner class! Woo hoo!
What do you make with leftover clay? A soap dish with an embossed tree inside – duh
All that said, to fill up my cubby shelf I added a few pieces that were store bought. I’m sure you can tell which ones those are. Then added a few faux plants. The small things were raised with cake plates or wooden risers. Then to keep it from looking cluttered, I kept the pieces in the same basic colors and kept the subject matter the same. I can already see adding pumpkins during fall and a bunch of greenery at Christmas will look pretty.
Vintage iron piece for decorative topper on farmhouse cubby shelves
Do you like how I spruced up my adorable farmhouse style cubby shelf? I forgot to mention, I also added this vintage iron piece on top for extra cuteness. I’m looking forward to filling up those shelves with my own stuff.
Adorable Farmhouse Style Cubby Shelf
I’ve taken the Beginner 1 class 3 times now. Tonight, I move up to Beginner 2! Lidded bowls and casserole dishes, here I come! If you’d like to see the rest of the dining room, click here. You’ll see what used to be on the wall where the cubby shelf sits now. And if you’d like to follow me on Pinterest, you can see lots more decorating ideas!
What a cute shelf! You don’t see those type of things often. Would you mind sharing what you paid for it? I sure would love to have something like that for my dining room. Only because it’s the last place in the house that I have room…lol. Is there by any chance a maker name on it?
Your stoneware is cute and looks perfect inside!
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Thank you Shirley. Since the comment is a bit long, I’ve emailed you. Have a great week.
See, you CAN write a post about the cubby shelf… and make it hilarious, too! So, wait… that platter and pitcher… did you make THOSE? If you did, THAT is impressive. And I LOVE the salt and pepper bowls! Very chef-y! And I really like that inset photo you used at the top of the post! I may use that myself!
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Yes, I actually made the platter and small pitcher! It’s probably my fave thing so far. It’s the little bicycle embossing that I like and the handle. Even the teacher was impressed with the handle. Go me! LOL. Thank you Julie.
Cindy, I am so impressed with your clay making projects. For the “I don’t do DIY” girl, you did great. The cubby shelf is darling. I’ve stood and guarded a purchase too. That’s a keeper.
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Standing guard feels weird doesn’t it?! I felt like a child with the last popsicle in August. And I still can’t DIY much but I’m finally getting the hang of the pottery thing. Thanks so much Carol.
HA! You have me rolling, Cindy! I’m totally picturing Demi Moore and the potting wheel scene. I’m amazed at your creations, girlfriend! What a fun class to do with your bestie, too. I wish mine lived closer so we could do something like this. I actually have a family friend who has been making pottery for years and has a legit kiln. It’s a wonderful hobby! #goals
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Thank you Crissy. I keep thinking I’m going to get a wheel for the house. I could use the extra practice over the once a week class. The hubs said if we ever move to Navasota full time, he’d add a studio with a wheel and a kiln. I think it’s his way of bribing me to say yes. I’m not saying a word but it might be working. 😉
The pottery that you have made is gorgeous and it looks great styled on your new farmhouse cubby shelf.
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Thank you Paula. Very sweet of you to say.
I’m so glad you found a shelf for all those precious pieces you have created. They deserve your pretty new shelf. I love those cute dishes and am very proud for you.
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Aww, thank you Marlene. That makes me smile. Hope your week is going well.
That would be me…Beginner 1 for 27 years!!! I love your bicycle pitcher & oh my goodness…those little bowls are great! The soapdish…wow. I am very uncoordinated so I truly appreciate efforts to make things.
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Thanks so much Jeannie. It’s getting easier but I certainly realize why when you go to a craft fair or arts festival things are so expensive! 🙂
Cindy I am so happy to see you are enjoying your pottery class so much! Everything you created is gorgeous and I think you’re being too hard on yourself to say otherwise, but I get it – we’re all our own worst critics! The cubby shelf is the perfect way to display all your lovely creations. Keep spinning that pottery wheel – I can’t wait to see what gorgeousness you create next!
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I thought maybe I was being hard on myself but when everyone has done twice as much as you’ve done and left you behind in the beginner class, it’s kind of hard not too. But I’m okay with it. That just means when Pottery Barn picks up my line of dishware, they’ll be worth more. LOL! Thanks for the encouragement Michelle. It means a lot.
Hi! Can you please tell me the maker of this unit?..I know it is from Homegoods,but can’t find in any of my local stores,and I’m in love!!..I have the perfect pieces for this. Thank you,so very much!
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Hi Ali, I have looked all over the shelf unit (on the back, underneath, on top and in the drawers) and cannot find a tag, stamp, anything to tell me the maker. I’m so sorry. I even looked through pages online to find something similar and nothing came up. I’ll keep looking though and let you know if something pops up. Best wishes and thank you so much for the visit.