Free Furniture Makeovers

I am a sucker for free furniture. The chair was a better project than the futon I picked up for free!  The futon would have been great if I had a place for it...what was I thinking. 

Anyway, I helped a friend that was moving and she gave me the chair. I went to get one small desk and walked away with 2 desks, a chair and bonus jean jacket. Oh yes let’s not forget the vanity!  She knew I could redo the vanity and give it a good home. Hubby was not jumping up and down with joy but was a big help. 

The desk asked for white paint, yes you read that, asked. So I painted it with a soft white. 

After and before pictures. The desk is happy and so am I. 

 

Now the chair. Oh goodness, me and reupholstering.   But, I watched Miss Mustard Seed's tutorials and went for it.  Step one, disassemble!  So many staples.  Hubby helped me along the way.  Between us we got them all out. 

Step 2, take the cloth and use as a pattern to do the back of the chair.  I used toile that I had left over.  I had so much fabric to choose from but love blue and white.

 

The Next step was the front.  I did not know how to do tuffting but I just wrapped my fabric arount the old buttons and sewed them on.  I used the orginial template and put my fabric on.  After that I poked a hole for the botton to go back in.  Yay, it worked.  As you can see the next step is to hot glue the piping to cover, yes, all those new staples.

The bottom of the chair, I chose my blue toile, just because I love it so much!  More staples.

My last and hardest part for me was the cushion.  We used the old cushion to cut new foam.  We used the sleeper sofa foam that we just replaced.  The one we had in my craft room/ aka the guestroom had a tear.  It was a little to big for the couch, how did we not notice this before!  The grands use it a few times a month.

I used the old zipper from the old cushion.  My first zipper ever.  Yay.  It fits the cushion and into the chair.

My only cost was the piping and our time.  And I got fabric out of the closet.  I was so happy to get the furniture from our friend.  It gave us something to occupy our time!

I have it in the bedroom, not that I need another chair in the house, but I love a good chair.

I am joining Common Ground for All About Home

Di

 

Feed and Grain Sack Glory

I love to shop and use feed and grain sacks in my house. It brings a bit of charm and texture in the room.   I have several quilts that feed sacks were used as the backing from my great grandmothers family.  I have several chairs reuphostered by 2 artists that I adore.  I also use scraps to creat fabric rolls, ribbons and embelish clothes.

 

Ann, from On Sutton Place, has a great post on grain sacks https://www.onsuttonplace.com/antique-grain-sacks/.  Feed sacks and grain sacks were used by manufactures for dry goods and animal feed.  Grain sacks usually are hemp.  I love both.

 

GiGi @ Belladesigns & Antiques, https://bellaantiquesdesign.com/,is extremely talented at upcycling feedsacks. She did my sewing chair, stool (the top lifts up) and sweet bear. As she is sewing she prays over the piece and it’s future owner. 

One of my favorite places to get feedsacks is in Pennsylvania @ http://www.pheasantrunantiques.com/ in West Sadsbury. When we visit my daughter I love to go to.  I missed my spring trip there, hopefully next year!

  

Hubby recovered both of our steps stools. The bottom one was his mom step stool and he would not get rid of it. I am so glad we kept it. 

I also love old tool aprons as well. Of course, I had to buy this one it has Hubbard on it! 

Those pillows up front use the tool aprons to hold romotes and books (smart girl GiGi). 

I hope you have some Sunshine today. We have rain So I will continue cleaning and reorganizing.  I can’t wait to show you my painting area and the supplies I just got. 

Di

https://thecottagemarket.com/a-morning-cup-of-joe-filled-with-features-and-linky-party-10/

Porch Glory

Oh did the porch need cleaning. The pollen and red clay coated the floor.  The first thing I did was vacumn the furniture.   I cleaned the doors, siding and floors with colorx and dish soap.

I had picked up plants and repotted them for the porch.   The crock above was my moms.   My mom always had fresh tea ready when we went to her house, stored in this crock.  The crock lid was broken but I couldn't let go of it and brought it to NC with me.  

The rattan set was my parents, I grew up lying on the couch many days reading or watching TV.  We had the cushions redone 2 years ago.

My wicker set is from my Aunt.  I can remember sitting in her sitting room off her bedroom with her and my daughter sitting on the footstool.  I can just see my grands enjoying sitting there.

The table is ready for sharing Kale Lemonade that my grandson is going to help me make this weekend.

The crates bought from Saluda.  The seltzer bottles were on my wish list and when I found them with the crate I had to get them.  There were so many wonderful items at this estate sale and I had limited cash.  I walked away with a crate full of 6 bottles, a german bible and linens.  I was a happy girl.

I added touches with the metal letters, pitchers, pillows and of course a throw.  Where to start... the throw was crocheted by my husbands grandmother.  The pillow made by my friend the fabulous Gigi, with Bella Designs.  

The flowered white pitcher is from my husbands great aunt, filled with handmade Americania.  Lavender fills my Ironstone pitcher.  I added a rug I had in the garage that I bought for my granddaughters room.  It was not used, so now it has a place.

I finished the work with a nice lunch and then headed in for a soak in the tub.  I felt refreshed and grabbed my book and headed for my sitting spot.  Look, my sweet Maggie beat me to it.  She did let me snuggle in!

Di. Joining. Common Ground

Fabric emblishments for my botanical papers

I love learning new techniques. As part of my Botanical Class,http://fracturedangelics.indiemade.com/product/botanical-collage-mini-class?tid=5, from Kate Thompson, she taught the steps to take stencils or stamps to create an extra piece of embellishments. 

I took a vintage piece of fabric and applied my materials to create designs. 

These will add a great layer to the botanical papers. 

I also used some ribbons to create butterflies and dragonflies. 

      A little sea, to scatter among the papers

 

I will be adding pictures and dried flowers next. Getting closer to finishing. Joining https://thecottagemarket.com/a-morning-cup-of-joe-filled-with-features-and-linky-party/

Di

Botanical paper dying

It has been raining here in Western  North Carolina. I had promised my nieces I would do natural paper dying. To do this we needed to pick fresh leafs, flowers, whatever strikes our fancy!!

It was drizzling and we headed out to the yard and neighborhood with our scissors. We ventured to the neighbors and even to the roadside. 

I spotted a mushroom in my neighbor’s yard and picked up her dropped pink and red rose petals. 

We took our assortment of papers and picked out weeds, flowers and leafs to make our designs. I had bought some letters from a friend in Michigan. She sent a stack from the 1900’s. My niece read the letter and didn’t want to use it because it was so lovely.   

It start “my Darling girl”. Oh so special. Anyway. As the packets were soaking we shared thoughts of boys, friends and dreams. It was such a special afternoon.   

We pulled our papers out and we’re excited for them to dry and talk about our next project.

We are excited for the next step of adding elements to our pages. Journals, art, cards and embroidery. 

Di

Joining

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Botanical papers

Loving all things botanical.  Over the years, I have collected vintage flower prints and pressed flowers.

 I eeven dried ferns, mounted and framed them for display.

 

I saw that Kate Thompson had a class on Botanical Collage Mini class.  I thought oh How FUN!  I quickly collected my papers, graph, lined, copy paper, watercolor paper...anything I could find.

Fractured Angelics

    

I collected flowers from the house and yard and placed them on the papers.

  

 

 

Now I am hooked on dying papers.  Here is the after effects, I love the colors and variations

     

A added bonus is I get to dry these flowers!  The second viedo will tell me how to use these.  I can't wait.

  

I will continue my class and post the final results!

Joining All About Home Link Party

Di