15 Minute Vintage Bike Seat Upcycle


Happy Wednesday, Friends! It took me awhile to get around to it, but I finally upcycled the salvaged bike seat I found last fall in Round Top. As I hoped, it's just what my vintage garden bike needed and the project was complete in only 15 minutes!


vintage bike seat upcycle and repurposed garden art


If you read my last post about my mother's 75th birthday celebration, you may have noticed the vintage bike Dear Firstborn gave me a few years ago, was sporting a new seat! Originally, she'd hoped to restore it for use, but after finding out that she could buy a brand new retro style bike for less than it would cost to make the necessary repairs, she offered it to me. It needed some love, but I fixed it up for the garden and have enjoyed it ever since.


vintage bike seat upcycle and repurposed bike garden art


A new paint job made a big difference, but the previous seat was really a mess. My temporary solution was to flip the existing seat and plant it, but that didn't work out very well long term and so the hunt for a better seat began. However, the vintage bike seats I came across were too expensive for a bike that would be outdoors year round. I finally hit pay dirt when I shopped Texas Antique Week last fall with my friend, Carly.  Though I'm pretty sure the vintage metal seat I scored for $5 may have originally come from an old tricycle, I was fairly certain I could make it work for my ornamental garden bike. 


vintage bike seat upcycle


Spray paint to the rescue! Before spraying, I used blue painter's tape to create a stripe down the center: 5 minutes.


vintage bike seat upcycle


Then I gave it a fresh coat of spray paint: 5 minutes. {This shade is Valspar La Fonda Mirage--who comes up with these names?!} 


vintage bike seat upcycle


Once the seat was dry, I removed the tape and painted a red stripe in its place: 5 minutes. 


vintage bike seat upcycle


The upcycled seat gave the bike a fresh look and I've already used it a few different ways. First, as a fun birthday greeting for my mom's celebration and now as a whimsical business sign for Secret Garden Herbs.


vintage bike garden art
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  1. What a transformation!!!! Looks great! Love that you used it for a bussiness sign such a good idea

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  2. LOVE it -- it adds an extra cute touch to that already fantastic bike! An old bike for my garden has been on my 'list' a long time. They ARE usually way too expensive - yours is beautiful!

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  3. It looks like it was made for it! Love the fun colors and the bike use as a sign. Very cute!
    Hugs,
    Cecilia

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  4. How adorable! That would so cute in my yard....Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  5. I love these kind of bikes. Am actually thinking about buying one for some of the subdivision garage sales we go to.

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  6. Your new bike seat is adorable. Love the paint job you gave it.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your vintage bike seat sporting a new paint job at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!

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  7. So cool! I have a neighbor whose back yard is full of upcycled things like this and he has some vintage bikes. Hmm, I wonder if he'd let me take pictures!

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  8. I love that you can see an item and imagine the potential. What a fantastic eye you have.

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  9. I've got an old bike I use to decorate out in the yard, but at the moment I have no idea what the seat looks like! Love your solution--great colors, Cecilia :)

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  10. Very sweet! That is my next wish to find....a vintage bike for the garden! Love how you have it styled.

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  11. The bike turned out really cute, Cecilia!

    Happy belated Birthday to your mom! She doesn't look anywhere near 75 years old.

    xo,
    rue

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  12. Such a great re-do! I wouldn't have thought to paint it!

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  13. The seat turned out great Cecilia! I love grain sack stripes. Very sweet!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  14. What a great idea! From fair away you can't even tell it's painted, it just look like cute retro fabric!

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  15. Cecelia, this is adorable! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty!

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  16. Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW's DIY party

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  17. Hello - I found you through the Home Matters Linky Party and I absolutely LOVE what you did with this vintage bicycle! We are in the midst of updating and rearranging our perennial gardens this spring so this was just the inspiration I needed to keep me going. I would like to feature this post on my blog later this week if that's OK with you. Stop by and let me know if I can do that. I'm at Vintage Mama's Cottage at http://www.vintagemamascottage.com I'll be looking for you and I'll work on that feature post for tomorrow or Thursday. Thanks for sharing at the Home Matters Linky Party! Nina at Vintage Mama's Cottage

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  18. It's so cute and the colors are great! Thank you for sharing with us this week at Celebrate Your Story, and have a great weekend.

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  19. What a fabulous idea! I need one for my garden now. All the chic gardens should have one :) #happynowlinkup

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