I spread GE Exterior Silicone II on the bike bars and wrapped them with the wicker. I used large clamps to hold the wicker in place until the silicone dried (This was not an easy or fast process). I used a whole can of Minwax Polyurethan on the wicker, straw, wood, willow, bamboo, handle bars and seats. The wicker soaks up the Poly and it acts as an extra glue and hardener. I plan to do extra coats periodically. I even coated the burlap fabric with the Poly. I am not a confident gardener about what to plant in the baskets. Temperatures are already gettin' up to 100. It will probably need to be potted plants. This Fall, I plan to fill the back basket with coconut liner then those miniature pumpkin gourds that I am growing in the back yard. Last year people were using my bike as a photo op on Halloween night. I had painted it with spray primer to look like rust and It had yellow pansies in it.

I have several wicker pieces I've had for eons: a 1976 Papa-san chair (seats two): a barrel chair and matching ottoman/table (I bought at a garage sale this spring for $15), and a 1976 Loveseat (from the old Pier One Imports, back in the day when it was an actual import shop like you'd find in old Algiers or Bangladesh, and could also buy all kinds of paraphernalia in the black light room at the back). Still have the cushions for the Loveseat. The barrel table and chair were natural wicker and painted over with a pine green, which is now nearly all worn off except in a few places. Love the the way that looks. I won't paint over it. When I get my patio cover built (soon), they will all be able to go out there on the patio. I had an old wicker settee similar to yours schoolhouse that I found in an alley. My daughter and I hauled it home. I used it for years until it disintegrated and then the cats used it until it turned to dust. It was broken down on one side, so I put some bricks under that leg to support it. It didn't show out in the garden and suited me just fine. It was an antique Federal Blue (a very popular colour back in the 70s - if you look in old Country Living magazines you will see that colour used a lot) :) I am ALWAYS on the lookout for anything wicker. I also found a wicker bathroom shelf (fancy schmancy) at that same garage sale in that same colour of Fed. blue. She had all the old Fed blue and white geese decor things from the 70s. I bought it all! That is where I got those big blue and white pots in my kitchen too. I scored big time! I also bought a solid oak water bed frame with headboard and footboard for only $5 on the last day of her sale. She originally had it priced for $75 and then went to $50. I'm going to nail side boards to hold slats and use it as a frame for my big California King bed. I found a bunch of great children's books for my grands, and a terrific Southern Living Cookbook. (What fantastic recipes!) I love finding reusable things at garage sales and in people's trash. I bought a bunch of cans of antique green spray paint a couple of weeks ago so I could paint my 1950s iron garden chairs, two step-ladders, and a few other things. I've been waiting for a still day when not too hot to paint. Love this topic. Thanks schoolhouse! ~Annie

Oh, good. I was hoping to get positive feedback. I already have the loveseat and love it. It's comfy and came from a very clean home of a nice young couple. They got a bigger place and wanted a full size sofa. It was in pristine condition, so at $40.00 it was a super deal. The chairs are at a a somewhat high end used furniture thrift store that supports special needs children and teens. I feel really good about buying things there. A teacher I worked with told me about them and I love shopping there. They have more than one store, this one is all furniture/home decor, others have clothing too. Val, you are right, if I do need them professional cleaned at their price they'll still be an awesome deal. Dorothy, I'm a Gramma/Grammy too, so it's good to hear I'm not trying to act like a spring chicken with my furniture choices! Ha ha! ;^) jlc, if I get them I'll take pictures as soon as I get the room in shape. Like I said above I'm using the loveseat right now for sorting things and I'll be gone a good part of the day starting with a dental appointment. I babysit our two year old grandson tomorrow so it's a play day for me. Hey Lori, I will be making some pillows for them. Have some pretty fabric already. Now if I can just get myself in gear and sew! ~Becky

Thanks Tamara! I like the look of the new resin wicker, but I heard that it doesn't do great in wet climates. Although NorCal seems to perpetually be in a drought, we do get rain during the fall/winter months and our deck is so exposed . . wasn't sure how the resin wicker would hold up. We had teak out there before and, even though we did nothing to take care of it, it held up beautifully for 12ish years.