finally finished- the saga of 2 love seats

So about 2 years ago I agreed to recover a pair of love seats for someone I know.  I thought it would be easy. Boy, was I ever wrong!  These things were ancient.  They had been recovered last in the 70's (I'm guessing based on the fabric used).  I doubt that was the first time they were recovered.  I got the first one in the set and started to strip it down.  I think that is, by far, the worst part of recovering/reupholstering anything!  I eventually enlisted my husband's help. My hand were hurting and scratched and cut. Of course, as I'm taking this thing apart I am realizing that it is not made like any of the newer furniture I've worked with (not that I've worked on a lot of furniture).  It is more labor intensive.  The back piece was stapled across the straighter part of the top and hand sewn around the curved upper edges and sides.  I don't see hand sewing on modern furniture! Needless to say, I learned a whole lot working on the love seat.  Want to see what it looked like?

The fabric is a little dirty and faded, but in its day it was a glorious gem! (Oh, seventies, what were you thinking?)  By the way, the cushions are not foam.  No, they are springs wrapped in horse hair and dacron/batting stuff.  I've never seen that before!  They are heavy compared to most cushions.  They definitely hold their shape over the years, though.  This is a quality piece!

Once I got the first one half way finished, I realized that the wood trim looked pretty bad and should be refinished.  So I sent them back to their owners.  Wow, what a difference the new stain color made.  All those dings and dents in the wood were gone, and the cherry finish really went well with the red fabric we were using.  It took me a year, but I finished the first love seat.  Want to see what it looks like now?

Okay, so this is actually the second love seat.  I forgot to take a picture of the first one before it went home.  It only took me another year to finish the second one.  The cushions just need to be sat on a few times to fit perfectly.  Those springs were enjoying being let loose while I used the old cover as a pattern to make new ones.  The nap on this fabric makes for a rich velvet look with wonderful texture.  I am so pleased with how they turned out, even though I wanted to run and hide many times in the process!  I've learned so much and have a wonderful sense of accomplishment now.  I didn't think I would at a few points in the process.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how best to get the fabric straight on the sides (outside sides).  It was tricky, and I finally figured it out- on the second one!  I am so glad that both love seats are home and appreciated by their owners.

I am also glad to have my living room back!

 It went from this:

To this:

Okay, so the laundry is still on the couch, but the rest is back to normal.

Argyle? Yes, Please

Laura, my dear friend, sent me a link awhile ago to a tutorial on how to make this fabulous argyle wreath.  She knows I adore argyle because I'm a big dork.  I, however am not as talented in the "scissor" arts as many of you are, so I had to make my own flowers, instead of making the fabulous felt roses that are so hot right now.

My other dear friend, April, taught me to make these flowers and they're super easy to do.  For a tutorial on making this argyle wreath, follow the link here.  And don't forget, just because it's a Christmas wreath or an Autumn wreath, that doesn't mean it has to be.  Make it for whatever ocassion you want it to be.  Make it personal, and you'll love it that much more.

Happy Creating!


Kristin

Paper Chain? Nope, It's Fabric

Okay, here's the thing, I have ridiculously expensive taste in everything.  I'm not joking.  I get catalogs in the mail for clothes that cost $200+ for a shirt...A SHIRT!!  Do I buy that stuff?  No, I'm cheap, I don't have that kind of money and even if I did, I wouldn't waste that much on one thing.  No way.

So when I saw this fabric paper chain in the Land of Nod Catalog for Christmas, I wanted it. 

But there's no way you're going to get me to pay $29 for it.  I mean, I know it's not THAT much money, but it's only 20 links long, which means I'd need a lot more links to have it go where I wanted it to go.

That leads me to "knockoffs".  Yes, I do knockoffs.  I figure out how to make something similar, using my know how, my supplies, and my hands.  And typically, when I make a knockoff, it looks almost the same, without the $$$.

Without futher ado, here is my knockoff  fabric paper chain.  Keep in mind, I've only done 8 links so far, simply because I have about 80 other projects going all at the same time, but I will have it done soon.  Oh, and this is the "Birthday" version.  I am also making a holiday version...tonight.

So, How did I do it?

Well, here's the rundown.  You will need:

3+ Coordinating Fat Quarters
Mod Podge
Sponge Paint Brush
4 Sheets Scrapbook Plastic
Sharpee Marker
Rotary Cutter/Mat
Iron & Board
Paper Scissors
Velcro Dots or 3/4 yard Velcro

*If you use the Velcro yardage, you will also need a hot glue gun.

All you have to do is this:

Cut the plastic into 8 1/2" x 1 1/2" strips.  I used the Sharpee marker and my rotary cutting mat to measure and mark so I could make sure I got them all exactly the same size.

Iron the fabric.  Cut the fabric into 9" x 4" strips.

Once you've got the fabric and the plastic cut, bust out the Mod Podge and the Brush (make sure you work on a protected surface so you don't cover your good dining room table with Mod Podge).

Start by brushing Mod Podge over one entire side of the plastic, then place the plastic Mod Podge side down on the WRONG side of the fabric, as centered as you can possibly get it (I just eyeball it).

Next, coat the plastic with Mod Podge (this is the side you didn't coat last time).  Fold the ends of the fabric in, coat the right side of the folded over ends with Mod Podge, then fold one long side of the fabric in and press it to the plastic and fabric ends.

Now you need to coat just the remaining 1/4" of raw edge of fabric on the wrong side with Mod Podge.  Fold that edge under.  Now coat the fabric side that hasn't been folded to the plastic with Mod Podge and fold it over, pressing it to the plastic and the fabric.  Your link should now look like this, sans the velcro.

Let the link dry, then attach velcro.  I am lazy and use sticky backed velcro dots or squares, but if you buy regular velcro, you can attach the velcro using hot glue.

To attach the velcro, you will need to position one side of the velcro on the inside of the link, and the other piece of velcro on the opposite end on the outside of the link.  When the velcro has had some time to adhere to the fabric, you can velcro the link together.

Why do we use velcro, you ask?  Well, this way, you can store your fabric paper chain flat during the "off season" and it won't get bent up, scrunched, or otherwise damaged.

Here's a couple of great things about making your own:

*Use your own taste in fabrics, or use your leftover scraps up.  This way, it's personalized for you.  No one else will ever have the exact same thing in their home.
*Choose fabric for any occassion (how about one for Independence Day, or for that tailgater you're throwing during football season).
*Cost:  For the whole chain...under $10.  Yep, under $10 and that's if you're lazy like me and buy the more expensive sticky velcro.

So, keep getting those catalogs and watching those great designers.  You can create amazing knockoffs for a fraction of the price, and your home can look like you spent a million bucks, when you really spent just a few.

Happy Creating!


Kristin

what I'm working on

I'm still working on my Christmas decor.  I have the tree up and decorated.  I have the nativity set on display.  I am working on new stockings.  They are mostly finished.  After I finish the stockings, I am going to make coordination pillow covers for the couch and chairs in the living room.  Then I plan to sew some leggings to go with Alona's shirt/dress and some pajamas for all of the kids.  The four pajamas I sewed for Ashley when she was 4 (that 5 years ago) just aren't cutting it for all three girls.  They fit, but they are wearing out and we need more than 4 nightgowns for 3 girls.  I am hoping to make some cute ones!  Of course, I am planning to make several pair for Drew since he doesn't have a whole pair of pajamas yet.  Poor kid.  He really is lacking in the pajama department.
Hopefully I will get the stockings finished tomorrow and maybe even get a little done on the pillow covers.  I will post pictures just as soon as I get them done!

It's in the past, but I'm still hanging on!

So I finally decided that I really should have a way to access all of my past sewing posts from my personal blog on this one.  That way (if anyone really wants to) you can see more of my sewing endeavors over the past few years.  Just click here and it will take you to the sewing projects posts on my blog.  There are handbags and slipcovers and a few other things in these posts.  If I could figure out how to just import the posts, I would.  Unfortunately, I'm not THAT good. 

Make it Monday

In following Knock-Off Wood, I found this great post. It really inspired me!  She made the floating shelves and then added her decor- and then she added more.  I love that she put in seasonal (4th of July) items to add some color.  That really inspired me.  I have several floating shelves in my living room with lanterns and pictures on them.  I feel it still lacks something- and now I know what that something is!   I need those little colorful seasonal touches.  Because I have white walls and off-white furniture, I can do anything with my decor colors.  I am even going to make throw pillow covers for the different seasons.  I mean, why not?  It is perfect! So, thank you Ashleigh of Bee in our Bonnet!  I don't know why I didn't think of this myself. 

So for this Make it Monday I challenge you to add a little seasonal decor wherever you can.  Make some covers for your throw pillows, add some colored glass beads or other filler to a glass vase or container you have on a shelf, or whatever you think will bring out the season!

Here are the pillows I have.  I am off to make some seasonal covers for them!  I use velcro to close them so they are easily removed and washed.

Wedding Gifts

As promised, here are the goodies I was working on for my sister's wedding gifts.

This dishmat was based on this tutorial and inspired by this post.

The 4 towels are based on the towels in this post.  The hotpads are from this tutorial.

Table runner inspired by this tutorial.  It is rather small because they have a small table!

I think she might just end up with the prettiest kitchen at the University!

The best find...

I found the best blog ever.  Okay, maybe not the best ever- but the best DIY furniture blog I've ever seen!  It is targeted for someone who has minimal tools and experience working with wood.  You really should check it out.
I discovered it when a fellow blogger posted about a desk she made.

Yep.  She made it.  Click on the picture to go to the post.

When I saw that, I thought to myself, "I can totally make that too!"  I mean, I have been wanting this particular desk set for so long.  I could never spend that much, though.  But now I can have it for a price I can afford (plus a little labor).  Don't be afraid if you don't own a saw.  You can pay a little extra and get your wood cut at your local store (such as Home Depot, Lowes, or in my old hometown- Jerry's).  This blog is brought to you by Ana White.  Go and check it out!  Knock-Off Wood

Now the only question is: which one do I make first?
I'm thinking the Modular Office Collection Project Table!