Barrel Back Chair

I bought fabric a long time ago for these chairs. WAY back in this post, I talked about more to come with these chairs...that was in September of 2011. I had the fabric then. That tells you how busy life can get. I was all ready to go with those chairs and here it is February of 2013 and I just finished ONE chair!

These are the chairs before the makeover. I got the pair off craigslist for $65. The PAIR! These are Ethan Allen chairs, the wood is a little beat up, but it needs to be in this house. The upholstery is ugly but really was in perfect condition. They looked so good I just couldn't pass them up. Oh, and they were the perfect size. the aqua table has had a couple of makeovers since the first paint and glaze job. It's perfect to me now though.

I'm not going to show a lot of progress pictures during this post, I'm too excited to get to the good stuff! Plus it's hard to hold things in place while upholstering and take pictures at the same time. I didn't have anyone around to help me this past week - I seriously saw my husband only at bed time all week.

So here it goes. I stripped all the old upholstery off.

Then I got busy cutting out and sewing together the new upholstery.

The back was easy, the front was harder, the cushion actually brought me to tears. I had always had the expert help of my mother on cushion covers before. She would coach me through it and show me tricks. This was a hard thing for me to do since I haven't even been sewing for two years yet. Let's just say it took me a few tries to get it almost right. I know there are imperfections in this chair, it IS my first chair to sew a cushion for...and I had never installed a zipper before either. I'm very proud of this chair! It's definitely not perfect, it taught me a lot, but I think it turned out beautifully.

One down, one to go and I am a happy girl!

A Little Softness

Nobody does it better.

Mixing colors and patterns.

Making everything look so perfect.

She's genius! Yes, it's Sarah Richardson again. You all know I love her work. I once heard her say that she used between ten and twelve fabrics in any given space. I thought it was crazy when I heard that, but it really works.

These are all examples of her pillows (from my two favorite places of hers ever: Farmhouse and Cottage)

She's so good! I can't even tell you how many times I've used the phrase, "I want to be her when I grow up" - I'm now in my 30's so I guess I had better get to the growing up part.

So, when I set out to do rooms in my own home I wanted to have that same look and feel; only have it be my style, my colors.

I think I picked my fabrics well. Choosing where they would go was harder. It's all working out beautifully. With each project completed I'm loving my little living room more and more every day!

I've already shown you the dress pillow, but the rest were made or modified last week.

One of Sarah's tips was to make pillows double sided so you can use all the fabrics you love and also achieve different looks by just turning the pillow over. I love that tip!

These pillows aren't all on the entry bench all the time. They are spread out over the living area and you will see them eventually...when I finally reveal the entire space. I'm hoping that will be soon, but it's a busy busy time for me right now so we shall see.

My Everest!

This is probably my longest post ever, sorry about that but you will understand why. 

Way back in August of 2011, I was new to Pinterest. I was addicted to it really. I hear I'm not the only one that was like that in the beginning. It just sucked me right in and was awesome, but a huge time waster really. I can occasionally still get sucked in to the time warp that is Pinterest. However, there was one thing that stood out to me a lot and I wanted to do it SO badly!

I saw this:

It was from Better Homes and Gardens and it's been so long that the link didn't even take me to the craft page on the site. 

I loved the idea of this and I had the perfect place for it too. I have this quote over our bed and I had put it on the wall back when I had our walls a different color. I loved the quote and wanted less of that color on our walls so I taped it off and left it. Well, this wreath idea suddenly turned into a frame idea.

The quote over our bed

Then plan the entire time I was making this was for it to frame this quote. 

I learned a LOT of things while I was doing this. Things like, always find out the actual size of what you're looking at. The above wreath is about 8-10 inches. I was thinking larger when I saw it. I also learned that I cannot to incredibly tedious work for long periods of time without going a little looney! 

I started with this:

It's styrofoam that I cut into strips and fashioned into a frame. I then wrapped it with an old white sheet. Getting started I was so excited!!!

I have about 7 million pictures from all the different sessions of working on this. I soon realized that this was going to be huge. Epic, monumental, challenging...my Everest!

I had used things I had on hand to make the frame, but the glue sticks and pearls were a different story. I only bought the pearls when they were half price or I had a coupon. I used gift cards or would dash into the store for one or two packages here and there. Spread out over 2 years and 5 months is didn't seem so bad!

Then I added it up: 2 years and 5 months, 59 glue sticks, $468 in half price pearls, 77 hours of work...if I only charged for supplies and $10/hour (which is way cheap) I would still have to charge $1238.00 for this piece. 

I will NOT make another one of these ever!!!

Oh but it is Epic!

Back to the quote. A week ago, my daughter was jumping on the bed (a no-no) and fell backward into the wall. When she came crying to me she had an "m" and a "." stuck to her little arm. I think I cried too. I don't have a vinyl cutter or the capabilities to be artistic and hand paint the words so beautifully. I tried to re-stick the pieces...but it just wouldn't work.

What was I going to do?

I don't stay down long though. I just see this as an opportunity to do something different with our bedroom. I already have plans swarming!

So here it is in all its epic glory. I'm in love. It looks good in pictures, but it's oh so amazing in person!

Dress Pillow

Sometimes there are items of clothing that you just can't seem to let go of. I am that way with a lot of Jade's things. I don't know if it's because they are just super cute or if it's because she's my baby and I'm just trying to hang onto everything more because of that.

Anyway there was this dress...such a sweet little dress and she loved it.

Look at the little Duchess!!!

Had to throw this one in too - sometimes they love each other!

Jade was 4 years old when she wore this dress. When she finally got too tall for it I just couldn't let it go. I had thought about modifying it and making it into a shirt for her, but then what would I do when she outgrew the shirt?

It hit me then that the fabric went great with my living room colors. Immediately I was thinking of a pillow.

Decisions, decisions...when it came to trying to decide where to put which fabric I struggled a bit. There were just so many fun options. When I finally settled on the scheme, I got to work.

First I cut it to size and ruffled the sequin section I had cut off the bottom. I pinned it in place and then sewed it to the front of the pillow.

Fun little side view before it was finished

FRONT

This is the chair it will sit in - and no, the chair is NOT staying this way. More on that later though.

Back

So now I will have the dress forever. Not to mention a pretty cute little pillow as well.

My New Dining Table

We all know I'm a little embarrassed by this. I've fallen in love with pieces of furniture before, but they always belonged to someone else and I KNEW I couldn't have them. I know there will probably be times when this happens in the future as well. The problem is, my house is on the small side and I don't have the space to keep things I fall for and the things I currently have, all have sentimental value to me.

I think certain things while I'm working: 

This is so beautiful

I wish I had space for this

This will look great in so-and-so's house. 

Then there are the other thoughts (thankfully less often) where I say things like: 

If I moved this piece of furniture I bet I could fit this one in and keep them both 

I HAVE to have this one 

I wish this piece was mine...

So I knew. I knew when I started the top to this table that I wanted it. I knew I was going to have a hard time selling it. It shocked me a little because I have a crazy intense love for my grandparents table. I had never once thought of replacing it before. It will not be for sale though, I can't let it go either. It's going into storage for when I have a little bit larger house to accommodate both a dining table and a breakfast table. It will be the perfect breakfast table!

Small

Medium

Large

LOVED it!

So, when my husband offered to store the other table I said, "YES!!!" and started moving it into place. He left, then a few minutes later came back in and it was already in place. He grinned at me and said, "You just can't stand it can you? You had to move it into place now. You're adorable you know." He can be pretty sweet.

Old/New Look

Yes, one day I will finish painting my kitchen cabinetry and everything will look better.

I'm very happy with it. Now all I have to do is find other pieces to actually sell. Wish me luck!