Vintage Grain Sacks Framed in an Old Window
So several weeks ago in one of my Friday Favorites posts I shared these vintage grain sacks I found at an antique store in my hometown. They were only twelve bucks each, but I feel in love the instant I saw them. My initial plan for these was to build some really cool frames out of old wood I have sitting in my garage. But to be really honest with you guys, I was being super lazy and kept putting it off because I didn’t feel like making the frames. I tend to do that sometimes. Anyway, the other day I was piddling in our garage and I stumbled on this old window that I’ve had for at least five years now, maybe longer. It’s actually an old screen window that had been painted green and I just wasn’t loving it. But as I stood there looking at it, trying to decide if I wanted to throw it in our garage sale pile, it dawned on me that this window was the PERFECT size for my grain sacks. It’s like the heaven’s opened up and I suddenly realized that this window was meant to be with my grain sacks. I squealed in delight, quickly summoned my husband for help, and the rest is history. And today I get to show you my vintage grain sacks framed in an old window!
Eeeeekk!! You guys, I seriously cannot believe how perfectly the grain sacks fit in this window. It was meant to be, that’s the only explanation for it. Let me show you how this window looked before:
I told ya, it was green. I actually have two of these matching windows sitting in our garage and I tell ya, they were this close to going in our garage sale pile. I’ve had them for years and just never found a way to use them. Until now! All I had to do to prepare this window for the grain sacks was rip out the screen and paint the frame black. That’s it. So easy and fast. And can you believe I painted it black? I surprised myself with that one too. But I knew I wanted to hang it in our breakfast nook and I wanted the black to contrast with the white planked wall.
The grain sacks only needed to be trimmed by about 3 inches on top to fit in the window. We just used a staple gun to secure it in place along the back side and that was it. Easiest project ever.
I actually grew up in a teeny tiny town about 10 miles from Rocky Ford, so that grain sack up top is extra special to me. Burrell Seed Growers Company was started in 1900 and still exists today, which is pretty cool.
I still can’t get over perfectly the grain sacks fit in this old window and how easy it was to put together. I guess my procrastination paid off! And this is just the proof I needed to show my husband that it’s definitely worth it to save all the things. Just in case. You never know what kind of project will come up and it’s absolutely necessary to have a garage full of random things that could be used for a wonderful DIY project one day. Feel free to use this post as evidence if you’re fighting that same battle with your own husband. Or your wife. Or your mom. Or whoever dare disagree that a garage full of random vintage finds is a bad idea.
I’d love to hear what you think of my old grain sacks. And let me know if you have any questions!
Sources:
Black Apron Rack: Magnolia Market // Gray Stripe Apron: World Market // French Stripe Half Apron: World Market // Table Runner: World Market // Light Fixture, Chairs & Table: Thrifted Finds // Bakery Sign: DIY project
The Comments
Lisa
LOVE this – I have been wanting to frame grain sacks for a while now but have not found any as neat as yours – where did you get them? Thank you!! Love your blog!!
Sarah
> LisaThanks Lisa! I found these grain sacks at an antique shop in my hometown. You might check on Craigslist and I know Etsy has a few options as well. Good luck!
Heather Hoben
Wow!! I am drooling, what a perfect way to use the window!! The grain sacks are amazing!
Sarah
> Heather HobenHa thanks Heather! So glad you liked this project!
Marilyn S.
Just perfect. Funny how a “decor” light bulb suddenly goes off in our head.
Sarah
> Marilyn S.Right Marilyn?! I get so excited when something like this comes together. Especially when it’s this easy!
Jan
Perfect match!!! Good job!
Sarah
> JanThanks Jan, it sure was a lucky fit!
Rhonda
Love this! I’m going to see if I have any windows in my stash that my Grain sacks would fit in. I’m slowly converting my decor from primitives to farmhouse & this idea would be perfect.
Sarah
> RhondaOh I hope you find a window that works Rhonda. It was so easy!
Jen
So cute! I love grain sacks! Nice job ????????
Sarah
> JenMe too Jen! And oddly enough I never come across them in all my junkin’, so I was really pumped to find these.
Jana
Absolutely precious! Great job Sarah!!
Sarah
> JanaThanks so much Jana!
Jeanette Vincent
Love this! Going to be on the look out for these items! Would love it in my mudroom!
Sarah
> Jeanette VincentOh it would be PERFECT in the mudroom Jeanette. We actually have a tiny mudroom that I want to do a makeover on sometime soon.
Sally Baker
I love this! It brought back a lot of memories. The farmhouse where I was raised had screens exactly like those and yes, they were painted green. And to top it all off, I was born in Lamar, Colorado.
Sarah
> Sally BakerWHAT Sally? Lamar??!!! I was raised in Swink!!
Dana
> SarahI was raised in Eads!
Mary
I think those window frames would be easy to make. Use s couple of trim boards and some L brackets!!
Easy Peasy!!! ???? Very cute!!!
Sarah
> MaryTrue, Mary. They would be easy to make for sure!
Sharon Mohon
Thank you for this amazing idea….I bought this old black window screen frame quite awhile ago with an old black, torn screen in it that I saw it in an vintage shop…it cost $5.00….When I brought it home, I thought, “what in the world am I going to do with that”?. I have a couple grain sacks somewhere down stairs I will dig out…..what a great idea!
Thank you again, you are just so creative!
Sarah
> Sharon MohonOh yay!! I hope your grain sacks fit in your old window. They look so good together and SO darn easy!
Kathy S
Wow! I absolutely love this idea and it looks perfect in your breakfast nook. I would not have thought of hanging them this way but it’s just perfect. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sarah
> Kathy SSo glad you liked it Kathy. I have to say, this is one of my favorite projects too!
Suzi
That looks so great…awesome idea! I have so many unfinished projects waiting for me. Thanks for the inspiration! I hope it warms up there soon…it has too, it’s almost June! ????
Sarah
> SuziOh Suzi, I hope it warms up soon too. I am so over this weather, I can’t even handle it anymore. Thanks for the well wishes!
Deanna
Love this idea! I’m wondering how those would look in a dining room??? Hmm…
Sarah
> DeannaOh I think they’d look great in just about any room Deanna!
Julie Briones
Ohhhhh! This is one of my faves of yours… so far! I know it was so simple, but WHAT a statement! *Very* inspiring. (Are you putting the other window in your garage sale, or keeping it for future proof? 😉 )
Hope you are feeling well!
Sarah
> Julie BrionesThanks Julie!! I’m so glad you liked this project. I actually left the other window in my garage. ha! This convinced me to also keep that one out of the garage sale, just in case I find more grain sacks. Seems reasonable, right?!
Julie Briones
> SarahTotally reasonable! One of my good friends just texted me a pic of doing the same thing with a grain sack she has (and she doesn’t even subscribe to your blog!). When I saw it, my first thought was, “Just like Sarah’s!” Very fun. Hope I can do this one day, too!
Crystal Brown
OMG. I heard myself gasp out loud. I have a “thing” for american feed sacks and european grain sacks and use them for all sorts of projects ( in my mind) I buy them with the intention of making pillows or using them for upholstery and then I can’t bear to cut them up. Even the stained, ripped ones. This is one of the BEST use of sacks ever. In the history of sacks. Well done!
Sarah
> Crystal BrownOh I’m right there with you Crystal–I love grain sacks, seed sacks, all of it! I was so pumped to find these because I’ve never come across any like this before, which is kind of odd considering all the junkin’ I do. So glad you liked my project!
Teresa O'Connor
Love it , I was going to buy one of these screens yesterday , but taller , I ended buying 3 really old shutter doors , probably stay in y garage for a while too Sarah , LOL! thats what i seem to do anyways.
Sarah
> Teresa O’ConnorPerfect Teresa, keep them there until you’ve got the perfect project!
Jenn
I noticed this was the same place you had a chalkboard window once and I was wondering how you change pictures That are different sizes? Do you use the same screw or put another hole in your wall? I’m loving your blog and am using so many of the ideas but am nervous about hanging things in my new home because I’m afraid I’ll change my mind later. Lol love this DIY btw! Especially the fact that you do have random things in your garage. When I look at my garage at the things I havnt used yet, I think that I may have a hoarding problem! Haha
Sarah
> JennHi Jenn! I actually have no problem putting another hole in the wall. Ha! I just fill the old holes and it only takes a minute. No biggie! Don’t let that stop you from moving your wall decor around, it’s really very simple with a bit of wall putty and paint!
Sherri
That is AWESOME! (I know I use that word A LOT when I comment on your “stuff” but, it means I really, Really, REALLY Love It!, Lol) It was definitely meant to be! I just bought some feed sacks from a vintage sale here in my town recently (they belonged to a school teacher who just passed away, she was 98 yrs old…she kept EVERYTHING) but mine aren’t in near as nice condition as yours are. I don’t really know what to do with them, I just knew I needed them, Lol!
Dawn McDaniels
Wow! I love it when things come together so perfectly. The black frame makes everything stand out. Great idea.
Dawn
Sarah
> Dawn McDanielsThanks Dawn, I am so happy I painted that frame black!
Caryl
Love,Love,Love!!!
Sarah
> CarylThank you Caryl!
Pam
This is such a great idea! I have some old (burlap) potato sacks – wondering if they’d work as well. My grandfather was a potato farmer, so they are special to me. Thought about making pillows, but I like this idea better! Thanks!
Sarah
> PamI thought about pillows too Pam, but this was just so much easier! Good luck with yours!
Sissy
Well, well….wouldn’t you know that I have a frame just like yours with a screen in it. It has a tear in the corner and I was kinda bummed, so I was going to use it outside, maybe on the fence. But, I’m liking this idea, so now I’m on the hunt for the perfect grain sacks. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sarah
> SissySounds perfect Sissy! Good luck finding some grain sacks.
Karla Brekke
Love the framed feed sacks esp the Badger one from Milwaukee. I am from Wisconsin and the badger is out state animal and of course the University of Wisconsin Badger are our pride and joy. I love your website. I can’t figure our why I am not getting your weekly emails. Can you please help?
Sarah
> Karla BrekkeDang, this would be the perfect grain sack for your Karla! I just checked my email list and I don’t see yours on there. Maybe try subscribing again? Or I can add you myself. Just let me know!
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