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

 

Summer Yard

Planting and digging in the yard has been a daily joy. When we moved in our house 5 years ago, the yard had no charm. The property had been where the barn was for the farmhouse below. I needed some landscape help and had some professional help in planning and planting.  So glad we did that.

I wanted the privacy with trees but the charm of a cutting garden. We picked our favorites and went from there. With the plantings in place it was up to us to keep it going.  

 

Our weeping plum tree starts out sparse and by summer turns out full. 

 

This vintage cage is perfection as a stand alone our full with cucumbers 

I love working under the trees. It is my patch of a secret garden. I can escape the worries of the unrest or pray regarding the events around us. 

My favorite time is the foggy, hazy start of the day. I love the promise of a new day. 

The plants do require me to come out and ground myself

This is an area I am developing this season. I moved some of the metal I found at a garage sale. The chair was $5 and the metal art was $12. I was thrilled to find those at an artist house that was moving. No one had looked outside!!

I am joining Debra @ Common Ground for All About Home

https://www.commonground-do.com/2020/08/welcome-august-at-all-about-home-51.html#more

How are you keeping sane during theses times?  

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

Inspiration Board

Inspiration comes from many elements. I have been putting my favorite pictures and items on this cute crib spring for many years. 

The desk is messy but usually is when creating. During the past 3 months I have taken part of live broadcasts from Jeanne Oliver and Marian Parks. I took a class from Kate Thompson and have been immersed in the process of art. 

 

Jeanne talked about an inspiration board to help focus your thoughts. I gathered bits and pieces and built my board on Monday. 

  

I collect pictures, papers and fabrics all over the place. Getting them together does focus on the colors and images you may want to achieve. 

Working with Mariam and paint colors, I love blues. With Kate’s process, I was drawn to roses, lavender and greens. 

  

I love Victorian pictures of women and children. 

  

I had some beautiful fabrics to mount my botanical papers on. On one silk I took Kate’s technique and placed a picture and plaster details. I loved it!!

I am happy how my bits and pieces have defined what I am working on. It confirms that in this crazy time, I can create what is in my heart. 

  

Family, friends and these wonderful artist have been my First Aid Kit. What has been yours?

Di   Joining Create, Bake, Grow & Gather Party @ Shabbyartboutique

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