Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Preorder the Book

French Feed Sack Chair

This is the post where I take a perfectly good chair, rip it to pieces and make it something that is totally “me”. 
This is the perfectly good chair.
This is me ripping apart said chair.
…and this is the chair now.  Totally me.  Frenchiness.  Feed-sack-ish-ness.

I know this won’t be everyones cup of tea, but it’s my cup of tea.

I painted it in Louis Blue chalk paint followed by a “dry brushing” of Old White and a coat of clear wax. 

The piece is upholstered in faded American feed sacks with a bright white gimp trim to frame it out. 

I love the traditional-meets-quirky look of it. 

Believe it or not, I’m going to let it go.  I’m taking it to my pavilion at Lucketts on Saturday to sell.  Sniff-sniff.  This job is getting harder and harder.
See you tonight at 10:00 EST for Furniture Feature Friday and our special slipcover show-off. 

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

Instagram Facebook Pinterest Youtube Amazon X-twitter

you may also like

101 Responses

  7. Amazing! I am so tempted to drive down from NY just to fight someone over this chair. I'm a little scrappy and might cause a scene though. Beautiful work!

  11. wow doesnt even look like the same chair. talk about ugly duckling to swan ;). i predict this will sell this weekend. i didnt care for the previous fabric but the feed sack look is so fresh and new.

  12. I was going to say "be still my heart", but some one beat me to it. …So I will say..I live in Oklahoma and teach high school, therefore I cannot make it to your pavillion in time to buy that. Life is SO unfair at times!! Lori L

  13. Well, MIss M,
    You took a perfectly good chair and made it absolutely sensational!!
    Beautiful job, sheer perfection…….

  16. The redone chair is my cupa tea too! I love it and yes I would snatch it up as well if it were in my neck of the woods, beautiful job! Love your style

  18. It is stunning! You took that chair from blah to BAM…as in Bam, I want that! Great job.

    -Aaron {the girl with the boy's name}

    wwww.mudpiesandmarigolds.blogspot.com

  19. oh my goodness! this is certainly my cup of tea too. There is no way you can sell that! Can't you close up your little shop for a week or two (or three) until you get some stock built up? probably not. That has got to be stressful.

    Back to the chair, I wish I could buy it. But since I live quite aways from you unfortunately that isn't possible. The armpads are just adorable and it's all just so beautiful!

    I've tried looking for feed sacks and they are just way too expensive, too bad I didn't gather a bunch up years ago when they weren't so popular as they are now.

    (I used to sign in as anonymous, but I have my site opened up now, just in case you were wondering who the 'heck' I am lol)

    p.s. you could create your own line of furniture!

  22. I love it! A friend of mine is giving me a chair like this and I am going to try and recover it..a little nervous! Did you staple the sack to the chair or use a good glue before you put on the gimp trim..did that make sense? It's my cup of tea too by the way!

  23. I've got a chair very, very similar to this one that needs redone. You may just have inspired me to get off my fanny and get it done! I really love the wood. It is so much brighter than the wood trim on my chair and I think this would really work for me, too. Bless you, dear, you know not what good you do…

  25. Love the chair, Marion! I have the same Full-o-Pep feed sack hanging on the wall in my dining room and sold an extra one on Ebay (not to you, I don't think.) It's fun to see another idea of its use. Love it!

  26. It's been French-i-fied by by the sack queen! Love it, just change out your profile pic for this chair and we'll know who it is. Question – do you think it's okay to bargain with the Salvation Army on furniture prices? There's a vintage chair and ottoman that's needs tons of TLC but they want $70, can I bargain with them without feeling bad?

  28. As I was reading this, I thought, "Surely she'll hold onto this one. It's SO her!" You surprise me with your amazing fortitude because there's no way I'd let that beauty go. Excellent execution. I may need to find me some grain sacks.

  32. Prettiest piece you have done. Well your corner cabs are beautiful!!!!! I know someday a big company is going to ask you to design and you will have your own line!!!! I am ordering chalk paint this weekend!!!!! Actually I have a store by me that is starting to carry it.Yippie

  33. I love this chair Marion! Don't sell it, keep it!! It is totally me too! KEEP IT!!! Hey I used the paint chalk in Paris Grey today…posted on it,even though I haven't finished it totally.

  35. Gorgeous! My cup of tea, also, as the other folks have chimed in. Did you get the feed sacks like this, or is this a stencil/drop cloth creation? I have three chairs I discovered at our local thrift shop – the wood is really perfect (stained a cherry color), but I'd love to do something like this.

  39. That chair is fabulous. I bet you have more fabulous chairs you are keep for yourself

    someone recently just gave me a feed sack for a gift, no way I could turn into a chair cover because I wouldn't know where to start(sissors?)

  40. awww, i this chair! i know too well what you mean about getting harder and harder to let things go. i refurbish something and the first thought and words out of my mouth are "i wanna keep this!". i find myself browsing my photo files of past pieces i've let go. lol it helps a li'l. 😉

    love your blog.

    Amy
    http://www.likeyesterdayshop.com

  41. marion,
    you are right, it was a perfectly good chair, but you gave it some personality and a bit of uniqueness and I love that. Hoping to one day get to your little corner of the world and pop in your space at Luckett's one day. You have really been popping out some cool stuff.

  44. Oh. My. Word. I absolutely ADORE it, Marian!! Someone will snatch it right up as soon as you take it. I would, if I lived anywhere near you.
    Ruth

  46. That chair sure is a beauty. Say, York PA is where most of my family lives! I was at a salvage place out there and saw feed sacks for $5. I guess I should have picked some up, huh?

  47. oh my! its KILLER! I love love love it! and I have to say- originally, it was not such a perfectly good chair. lol. It NEEDED a make over. desperately.

  52. wow! I wasn't sure what you would do with it, because it was cute (sort of) before! It looks awesome now! Do you find that you get rid of your best things? Since having my booth space , my best work I just can't wait to put in my booth. Then , my house gets the "lingering,wont sell" stuff.

  53. Oh I love it… That is my Fav. Style Chair.. Love the mixture of old french rustic with curvy femine details..
    SO SO love teh dresser in bkground…and the mat on floor.
    Karryann

  54. Oh my Gosh!!! I gasped very loudly when I cast my eyes upon this beauty. Oh Marian I LOVE this chair. I would never be able to part with it. I'm drooling and swooning…wow!!!

  55. Marian,

    You rocked that chair!!!! Seriously, you hit it out of the park!!! I L-O-V-E it!!!

    I'm almost done w/my slip cover. I'll stay up all night to git'r done for your parties!!!

    Kaye

  56. how could this not be someones cup of tea! I think it is utterly delightful. Oh how I wish we lived nearby so I could pick up items in person! I don't know how can you let these things go to market – you are a strong strong woman!

  57. I love it..How can ya give it up ?..I would be crying as I put my price ticket on the arm of the chair..Simply beautiful..

  59. Gorgeous chair, it is totally you. That would be a hard one to let go, you're not the only one who thinks so. would love to know where you find your feed sacks? ebay? have a great day! Amber

  61. Another chair you've knocked out of the ballpark and made pretty. I don't think I'd be able to sell this baby.

    Michi

  64. I knew something great was coming to this chair when you showed it as a hint. I agree that not everyone will love this style but people that love your blog like I do will adore it. Wow is all I can say!

  65. This is just my cup of tea. How wonderful! 🙂 I wish I wasn't so far away (in Canada!) so that I could drive on over and pick up that bad boy for my home. 🙂

    Always inspired by you!

  66. LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! You know grain sacks and feed sacks are right up my alley!!!!!
    Hope it goes to a good home that will truly appreciate all its history! (and your hard work!)
    I'm also loving all the Chalk Paint pieces!
    You are one amazing, talented lady, Marian!
    Blessings….I think you need a Calgon Moment!!!
    Martha

  70. I LOVE it! Where do you come across things like faded feed bags though? Especially ones with such great design?! You're my idol ha!!! 🙂

  72. Couldn't you just auction it off here? we could bid on it 🙂 NO? Okay, some lucky duck is going to buy it before you sit it on the floor.

    It's definitely my cup of tea, beautiful.

  74. Wonderful job. I would snap up that chair if I was closer and save myself a lot of work! Wonderful job! I have a chair like that I am working on and I can not get the staples out from the original fabric. I may just give up on mine and make it a garden flower box since it was a freebie found at the curb.
    You have great style and taste!

  79. omg it's a cinderella story for that BEAUTY! now it's a trophy chair. your instincts are so amazing. totally my cup o tea. those are lucky luckett's shoppers.

    michele

  84. amazing site! love love it! the chair is adorbs.. but i have to say that bamboo rug really caught my eye! did you make that too? would love a tutorial on that! awesome!

  85. You got it goin' on, Marian! Just when I think you've out-done yourself, you out-do it again. LOL. I know you're tough, too, to let it go to Lucketts. Absoultely beautiful and your workwomanship is awesome.

  87. My mouth is hanging open. I love that you took a risk and it majorly paid off. By far one of my favorite transformations of yours yet!!!
    Okay this deserves a few extra exclamation points as a standing ovation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  91. I think I need this chair in my home as an inspiration piece from you!! I LOVE IT. 🙂 It'll be like me buying a painting from someone I love which I do all the time! What do you work out on shipping???
    Lisa

  92. I need to wipe the drool off my keyboard. Augh, what am, I doing on your blog, I have work to finish! Don't sell that Feed Bag French Chair, please don't!!! That is one of the most lovely things I have seen made over. The best, if you were here, you would here all the applause.

    I LOVE IT!!!!!

  93. OMG! This is chair is phenomenal. GOTTA have the source for the towels or fabric. PRetty please. THX so much. I am a newbie. My daughter kept telling me I had to check out your blog and I did and my life has never been the same since! In a good way!

  95. I love the chair! I also have to say that I just found your blog and it's my new favorite. Thanks for sharing

  96. I think I just died and went to heaven 🙂 That is the best chair EVER! And if I lived closer, I would be banging down your front door to buy it before someone else snaps it up. Truly love your style, girl!

    Also… where do you find all your feed sacks? I'm a total DIY-er and have never found as many as you seem to (and as unique).

  99. you stay very busy! Have you decided if you can reveal the source for the feed sacks Thx!

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

Facebook Instagram Youtube Pinterest Amazon

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Get Early access →

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.
Explore the shop →

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.
Shop Now →

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories

Looking for more encouragement?

four things | seventy five

May 21, 2026

I had an original art sale yesterday, so I spent the bulk of the day babysitting the sale (answering questions, managing presales, etc.) and packing

Read More

Original Art Sale Preview | May 20, 2026

May 19, 2026

I typically post my previews a few days ahead of an original art sale, but May has been so busy that this sale snuck up on me! The next original art sale is tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm Eastern (New York) or noon for presale subscribers.  If

Read More

Lucketts Spring Market 2026

May 18, 2026

Before I share my Lucketts recap, I wanted to let you know my next original art sale is Wednesday, May 20, 20206, at 1:00 pm Eastern.  For those interested in early access at noon, you can sign up HERE. On Thursday night, we packed our van with oil painting supplies,

Read More
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This