Enough With the Burlap
I can’t even glance at my Pinterest feed lately without seeing it everywhere —
Effing. BURLAP.
Yes, friends, that coarse brown fabric so popular with pioneers, farmers, and coffee bean roasters now has caught the attention of DIY’ers across the nation- Our country’s craftiest are literally going bonkers over burlap. They’re fraying it. Ruffling it. Stenciling it. Smocking it. Painting it. Puckering it. Printing it. And of course, posting it.
On Pinterest.
Puh-leeze.
The burlap craze seemed to begin innocently enough, in the form of wreaths.
Source: Etsy
You remember seeing a burlap wreath for the first time, right? It probably looked a lot like this one. So clever! So unique!
So. Quickly. Copied.
Before long, it seemed like everyone and her sister-in-law was sporting a monogrammed burlap wreath on her front door. It became sort of a burlap wreath turf battle- where each suburban housewife had to outdo the one across the street.
Source: Etsy
That’s when the burlap craze started getting out of hand. I mean, look at this– It’s what happens when burlap does acid and then vomits.
Source: Etsy
And then there’s this lovely creation, obviously symbolizing that Bible story in Matthew where Jesus won the lottery and spent his winnings on a 40-day vacay at a safari resort.
Source: Etsy
In fact, from the looks of front doors across the south, Jesus loves him some burlap.
And chevron.
Source: Etsy
And the University of Alabama.
But as bad as it was getting on the outsides of homes– it was about to get worse.
Burlap was making its way indoors.
Source: Etsy
Suddenly, my Pinterest feed filled with images of burlap curtains…
Source: Etsy
And burlap lampshades…
Source: Etsy
And burlap throw pillows.
Source: Etsy
And burlap beds…
Source: Etsy
And burlap armchairs, printed with mustaches.
Source: Etsy
And of course– burlap toilets.
Source: Etsy
That’s when people started getting a little crazy with their burlap. This table runner, for example, must have been inspired by the “Black Lace and Burlap” episode of Little House on the Prairie, when Ma gets a job at the Walnut Creek bordello to make ends meet after her chickens stop laying eggs.
Source: Jennifer Rizzo
What do you do when you have burlap, belts, and candles lying around? You make burlap belt buckle candles! WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!
Source: Etsy
What’s this, you ask? WHO CARES? IT’S BURLAP.
Burlap had now established itself as the Cloth of a Generation. It was now time to seal the deal with the ultimate burlap bonanza…
Source: Etsy
The burlap wedding.
Source: Etsy
Now, thanks to the heady combination of burlap, Pinterest (and possibly prescription painkillers), you can send guests burlap wedding invitations!
Source: Etsy
Carry a burlap bouquet!
Source: Etsy
Wear a burlap garter!
Source: Etsy
Walk down a burlap aisle!
Source: Etsy
And cut a burlap cake at your reception!
Source: Etsy
So yeah, women of Pinterest. Go ahead on with your bad burlap selves.
Source: I Love to Create
It’s your burlap world now. The rest of us just have to live in it.
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Oh wow. I had no idea. Burlap is itchy and would make horrible pillows, dresses etc. Garter belts? Who thought that was a good idea? The smell is also quite strong. Thanks for leading the charge to end the trend. LOL
Someone’s gotta do it!
wow, I had no idea burlap was trending so well! I should offer to make Burlap Mickey & Minnie plush for my clients. I’ll let you know if it takes off!
Use this as your template!
the wedding was pretty bad but that dust ruffle on the bed was the most horrible thing I have ever seen….
I’m sorry but the lamp shade is even worse then the dust ruffle, and that dust ruffle is awful!
That lamp shade is still for sale, you know!
I’m pretty sure that entire room is burlap!
I have to say that I am very disappointed in this article. No where did I see a single mason jar burlap fly catcher! Please try to be more thorough next time. 😛
Ooops.
That bed! Beyond overkill. I can’t imagine wearing that garter. I would have a rash within a few minutes.
The wedding night is not the best time for a rash, amiright?!
Hilarious! I had no idea burlap had taken over the American South. The burlap and lace is my fave – just meant to be a country song.
That wedding looks like the set of a play, at a school with no theater dept budget.
YES. So hopefully, some high school theater departments are getting some great ideas right now!
Haha Lindsay this is awesome! Although we sell lots and lots of burlap, I have to agree with some of that some of the choices for application are questionable 🙂 -Abbey (we worked together when I was at Mom Central)
I believe that a little burlap goes a lonnnnnng way.. 🙂
Wow, that globe is not only decorative but practical. What’s the capital of The Lace Doily Republic? Gray button, of course!
Bwah ha haha haha!
I read an article recently about something like the ten worst wedding trends of the year and burlap was one of them. It is ITCHY, people! And it SHEDS! And it puts off asbestos-like fibers in the air that make people like me sneeze unattractively. Seriously. Just stop, brides of the world. Just. Stop.
I looked everywhere for a burlap wedding gown. We haven’t yet reached that phase — There were, however, PLENTY of burlap-inspired flower girl dresses and a few burlap wedding gown sashes. *shudder*
My daughter loves burlap, luckily I managed to keep it to a small pocket on her backpack.
The pillows for the porch are probably the least offensive for me. I would always shove them to the back with a softer covered one in front, but they are at least durable for that.
Ah, you’ve said what I’ve been thinking for a very long time. Why oh why the burlap trend among yuppy white people? It’s a cheap, rough-hewn, primitive material historically used for storage bags and by poor rural people. Co-opting it as something chic and trendy is preposterous and possibly offensive. It’s like making outhouses or chicken wire chic. Um, I better not say that too loudly.
LOL!!! This made me laugh SO HARD!
And chalkboards! My youngest daughter is getting married in June and finding ideas and decor that contain neither burlap (fiance is allergic!) nor chalkboards is impossible! Don’t get me started on mustaches. I really don’t know WHAT that’s about!
When we first got married and lived in Germany I had enormous windows in our apartment. All I could afford was some dark brown (chocolate) burlap on clearance through the JC Penney’s catalog. I moved those curtains around for 20+ years. I felt like we’d arrived (financially) when I could finally afford some decent chintz to make proper, lined drapes.
And chalkboards! My youngest daughter is getting married in June and finding ideas and decor that contain neither burlap (fiance is allergic!) nor chalkboards is impossible! Don’t get me started on mustaches. I really don’t know WHAT that’s about!
When we first got married and lived in Germany I had enormous windows in our apartment. All I could afford was some dark brown (chocolate) burlap on clearance through the JC Penney’s catalog. I moved those curtains around for 20+ years. I felt like we’d arrived (financially) when I could finally afford some decent chintz to make proper, lined drapes.
There’s lots of ugly things made out of cotton, silk, satin etc. I love my burlap wreath.
There’s lots of ugly things made out of cotton, silk, satin etc. I love my burlap wreath.