Slipcovered Chair

So my huband bought 2 chairs. He thought they were great. Really?.........

Really?
Besides this questionable fabric, it was part of a sectional and did not have sides.
On the positive side- it smells ok, has a drawer underneath, and is really comfortable. Plus it was almost free. I've read a lot about drop cloth slipcovers, so off to Lowe's I went. I picked out a medium sized one for about $20. It is the lighter weight dropcloth because I knew I wanted to make cording and was not sure how hard it would be to sew on. I washed the cloth first so it would not shrink.

Then I just jumped in and pinned and cut and recut to fit the chair- inside out first. I had plenty of fabric for mistakes!

I used a small cording to give it a finished look.

I really like the texture of the fabric and the color. I made a gathered skirt so that you can easily get to the drawer under the seat. I covered the front of the drawer with the same fabric. Then I forgot to take more pictures. So here is a "phone shot" of the finished chair sitting in the booth at Angel's.

I really like the finished look- maybe my husband was right about it after all! The next chair is similar - we are thinking of making it more "Man Cave-ish" with a Mossy Oak slipcover!

Lamp Makeover

These candlestick lamps are easy to find at yard sales and thrift stores. I buy them if they are cheap enough and store them away for a rainy day. I also have a collection of orphan shades to mix and match. This is not a before picture of my latest lamp makeover- it is similar- I didn't think about taking a picture before I jumped in.

I spray painted the lamp black. Easy enough. The shade is where the work comes in. If the shade has a pattern, it is best to spray it with primer so the pattern does not show when the light is on. I ended up painting this shade black because the primer did not cover the gingham checks.

I glue on the burlap and make yo-yo flowers and felted wool leaves. Finally I glue trim around the top and bottom to cover the edge of the burlap.

These don't last very long at my booth. As soon as I make one - I start on the next one. We have found lamps to be good sellers. A little work makes a lamp look new and I can charge reasonable prices. Lamps and shades are so expensive in stores!

Here is a sneek peek at my next makeover victim. My vision is painted shabby white with linen upholstery. There are so many staples in it that I may have to be working on this for a long time!

In The Doghouse

My Hubby has really gotten into the junking way of life! So much in fact that his treasures were taking over my space. So I suggested that he get his own booth, so "Welcome to the Doghouse"!!! Featuring things men bring home that get them into the doghouse and some other fun stuff!
The sign I made him is a tribute to our Eli!
Butterscotch is waiting for someone to love...

Big TV's are his big seller!

This Grandma chair stayed in his booth until I had room to move it into mine. It is a great candidate for an upholstery job- I don't have time but, if it does not sell I will redo it this summer.

Over at my space I have Spring in the air!

I have been selling burlap carrots as fast as I can make them!

This rabbit lamp is a combination of several treasures found yard saling- a rabbit, broken lamp and a dust ruffle!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint project- desk and chair. Were old beat up cast offs- now sweet, shabby,and girly!

The needlepoint on the chair was dusty but perfect- I was able to remove it and clean it. After some restuffing and new trim it is better than new!

Thrifty Thursday Nests

Oh, Pinterest, how I love you! I pinned some felted wool nests from this blog. Then I followed her tutorial (mostly) and came out with these sweet things!

I used an old moth eaten brown wool sweater ! = Free! I have made 10 nests, but so far I have only decorated 4.

I used wire, wool yarn, hymnal pages, feathers,scrabble letters and mini pine cones from my stash. = Free

The sticks came from my yard due to this recent stormy/tornado like weather! =Free

I did buy a bag of tiny eggs at the thrift store for $1.97 and some moss ribbon at Hobby Lobby for about $3 (using the coupon) So I will spend about $.50 per nest. Thrifty!

I'm going to link up to Leigh's party at Bloggeritaville!

Copycat

Recently I have been inspired to relive my early 70's college life and make a terrarium....or 2 ...or 4! I first made a terrarium my senior year in Elementary Education at UNC. A group of students and a GTA went out into the wild around Chapel Hill, NC to hunt and gather plants, moss, rocks and sticks. We then made pickle jar terrariums (for a grade) to take to our classes during our internships. Unfortunately we did not recognize poison ivy and the whole class (except a lucky 2) came home from the woods covered in it! I was LUCKY that day! I have since taken an online course on recognizing poison ivy and scored a 98%!


I began to notice terrariums everywhere- "Better Homes and Gardens", Pinterest, "Lowe's Creative Ideas" and the Cranky Queen's Blog! At Lowe's they were priced $3o ready made. I knew I could beat that price. But after purchasing a few supplies I found that I was quickly reaching that total? So what to do ????... make more than one!

I found containers at thrift stores and garage sales. I pulled out some stands from my stash along with some small watering cans, Tinkerbell and clay pots. I dug moss and some ferns from the yard. But I still spent money on gravel/sand, charcoal, potting soil, plants and rocks. Yes- I bought rocks- the rocks in my yard were ugly and I wanted some with a little color!

I'm keeping the one with Tinkerbell. The others will try their luck at our booth at Angel's! If they sell I still have supplies to make a few more!

The Jimmy Table

Here is a project that I have been working on this week that I call the "Jimmy Table." If you know my hubby you will be able to figure out the name. I confess that I have been a little slow in finishing it because I have grown to love it and will hate to sell it!
Sorry I didn't take before pictures, but picture a 70's maple end/coffee table. We got it from a college student on his way out of town. It sat in our booth for 2 months - did not sell- but was good for storage and display. I got this idea from the blog world in several different places and adapted it for this table.
It is a heavy solid piece of furniture - real wood. I just got my first can of Annie Sloan chalk paint, so this was picked as the test. NO SANDING. Just painted it on and sanded areas to distress it. I later learned that you do not even need to sand -you can use a damp sponge.

I used a clock in my bathroom to copy the Roman Numerals and hands. Then I used Annie Sloan soft wax to finish it. I am sold on these products! They aren't cheap but a little goes a long way. I still have a lot more paint and wax in the cans.

So this week I will be sending Jimmy to the booth to find his new home- but I will be looking for another round table to recreate one I can keep! Oh yeah...It is Jimmy because .............. "It's 5 o'clock somewhere!"

Blog Interrupted

This blog has been interrupted due to wrestling season. We have been on the road almost every weekend since November (and a least one night during the week as well!) . The season lasts until mid February. I don't know what has happened to my baby boy.......