Is simple better??

Yes, I realize it is 12:30 in the a.m, but I find myself asking the question, "Is simple. better?" I am working on my next project. An awesome couch with great lines, which, in my mind I think deserves some equally awesome and great fabric. When ever I do a project to sell, I should think neutral color and patterns, right??? No! I am finding that I always think of myself, my life and who may be buying this. I say this because I have 2 little kids that have been known to get dirty fingers, faces and feet all over my furniture and I have found that pattern and color are great friends to that dirty combo...They hide ALL that! I know designers tell you to go with more neutral colors and pop the color and prints in the pillows. I really try hard to stick to that, and I do occasionally, but I always find myself going to obnoxious colors and patterns. Sure I feel great when I buy the fabric then have my doubts when I am constructing it. I have a moments of panic, but I always love how they turn out in the end. If you are gonna REUPHOLSTER something, then sure, go for the safer choice, since it is attached to your furniture, but with slipcovers I think they allow you to have more fun. I guess I am braver than most, or just don't care what other people think as long as it makes me happy, but deep down inside I think people really want to go with the bolder color or prints but are scared to take that leap. Why slipcover your furniture to look like something you can find at R.C. Willeys (I am not knocking them, our sectional came from there) or like your neighbors couch when you could have the couch that everyone loves and wish they could have!

I guess what I am rambling on about is, I, personally DON'T think simple is better. I love to take risks and I love it when they pay off. Especially when someone loves what I have created even more than me. So my goal for my fellow readers is to be brave!! Have some fun!! its just fabric....and it can be changed!!!

I was featured!

So Jen, a darling friend I made has featured me on her blog this week! She does all things vinyl and has a fun blog. She has recruited me to give her family room furniture a face lift as well as her dining room chairs. She is currently on the hunt for that perfect fabric but in the mean time found some super fun shower curtains at Target, and made curtains out of them! I love the print and they turned out great. Its amazing what you can find when your on the hunt! Go check out her blog!
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Oh...I picked up another couch this weekend, she is bright blue and covered in flowers! Soo excited for this one!!!! Stay tuned for the fabric choice to slipcover it in.

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

So I promise I am alive. I have been soo busy and I have let my project pics stack up and up and up. So, here is what I have been up too. A month or two ago I was commissioned to make 18 bags for the UVU dance team. They were going to Nationals and one of the mom's (my little brother's soon-to-be mother-in-law) bribed me by buying me a ticket to Florida to watch if I made all the girls matching bags. How could I pass that up? So I slaved away for a week or so measuring, cutting, turning, blah, blah, blah and ta-da...they loved them! and I did not mind Florida in April....

Remember the "cocaine" chair I picked up at savers....well, here she is! I loved how it turned out. Its amazing what a little sanding, priming and new, FUN fabric can do!
Before rehab...

I realize i never took a picture of the fabric, but it was soo bad I could not wait to get it stripped! Just think of one of Zack Morris's Sweaters from Saved by the Bell.....it was bad!!!
After rehab....



Not too shabby!
Next up.... My favorite Aunt Jo's chair, slash cat scratching post... I know you are probably sick of seeing the brown and cream damask fabric I used on my sectional but hey, people love it and got to give the people what they want!
Before the cat had its way with it.


After....





Alright, here is a good one. This chair came from a client who loved the chair, it was a good friend for years, but has seen much better days... The "attached" cushion on the ottoman was cut off the frame and left to sit. It stayed in the attic for a spell, but after a few years in the dark, she brought it in for some love. I stripped it down to the bones, cleaned it up, slapped a fresh coat or two of paint on it and gave it new life. She chose this blue and gold fabric. The blue runs one way while the gold is weaved in the other. It turned out amazing!!! No more dark attics for this little number!
Life in the dark before....




After....It brings a smile to my face every time I look at it! Before the wood was a blonde stain with white glaze but I ended up painting it an almond shade that I think goes well with the fabric.






And last, but no least...a few birthday gifts I made for friends and family a while back. I never know what to give people that have everything (mom and grandma...) for birthdays so I figured, why not a pillow? I love pillows! They can dress up any room with fun colors and textures. So that is just what I did. I made pillows for my cute friend Jill and my mom and grandma.





I know the first one looks a little funky but it was made out of burlap... and that crap is tuff to work with!!! No worries, grandma loved it!!

So there you have it, all caught up. Oh did I mention that you should NEVER fly when you have a sinus infection....Boo!! Bad choice on my part. It took me 2 days to get my hear ing back because my ears could not pop!! Soo miserable!!! But worth every second to be in 85 degree weather with NO children!

Now, one to conquer this gem....

She is ready for the prom!

So I worked on that lovely chaise lounge over the weekend and I am proud to say....She is done, and quite sexy at that! She turned out better that I imagined. I guess it was just so traumatizing to look at before that who new she could be soo great! This little number is for sale too. I just have no room for her and my "sweat shop" is starting to fill up.

Here is your gentle reminder of what she was....(orange marmalade flower parade)

i love how the glow of my heat lamp just illuminates the orangeness that she is. Lol!

now the best part....The after!



Love love LOVE IT!!!

if anyone is looking for a comfy little number she is for sale for $350

i have also left a link to my little family blog so you can see what the rest of the crazy bunch is up too, plus lets face it, it easier that way...

Sneak Peek!

Remember how I told you about what I was up to? and the lovely gems I purchased....Well here they are!! Up first, my "Cocain" chair. I stripped her down, cleaned, sanded and painted her a bright and clean white. My fabric choice is a bright pink and white polkadot. I wanted to have a little fun. I almost have her completely finished.... this pic is just her bare bones.



Next up...the lovely chaise "Orange Marmalade Flower Parade". Let the picture speak for itself...

I got a neutral denim-like fabric to cover the body, but the piping will be lighter, to show off the "lines" of this beauty!! I toned down my fabric choice on this little number because it is gonna be for sale. My fabric is washed and cut, now I just need to get my butt down to the sweat shop to finish her up. I am hoping I can get her done over the weekend...we shall see.

And finally.....the couch. i got this one for $30!!! i just love the shape and wood on the couch. I am gonna have to strip it down to the frame and start from scratch. She has been "loved" to say the least. The mystery stains on the velour just adds to the classiness of the piece..lol. i am thinking grey for the fabric, white for the wood with white buttons for the tufting. She is gonna be a labor or love, and a lot of swear words!

In the works

So I have a little "down time" if thats what you want to call it, while I am waiting for a few clients to pick out fabric. I have a few projects that I have kept on the back burner for just the occasion! My mom is the Retail Manager/Buyer for Thanksgiving Point's Emporium and she goes to all the fun markets. On her recent trip to Dallas she picked up some super cute plain shirts for toddlers. Forgive the phone pics...and the insulation!
PROJECT #1

So obviously they came from china but i have to laugh because these shirts are 2 different sizes, 3 months and 6 months. My 21 month old daughter can fit in the 3 month shirt with no problem! I guess she only weighs 22 lbs soaking wet, but still. So once I finish up all of these, they will go up in my esty shop. I will keep ya posted!

PROJECT #2
I picked up an horrid, HORRID chair at Savers a while back. This thing was so nasty that I was afraid to touch it. Is just a club chair but it has mucho potential!!! Did I mention it may or may not have a gram of cocaine lingering on the wood frame??? I mean, who really knows what that white powdery substance is, but......I am just saying!!! I have not quit decided how to refinish it. I am thinking bold and bright. I am waiting for the right fabric to hit me in the face!

PROJECT #3
A lovely chaise lounge. When I say lovely, I am talking about orange marmalade flower parade! She is goona be either a complete gut job or a fancy cover. I am not goona lie. I have just seen pictures of it, but my husband is picking her up today and I cant wait to see what she's got to offer!

PROJECT #4
Oh, how could I forget about this one...I have had a quilt sitting in my sweat shop that I put together LAST October and tonight, yes, tonight I think it will be finished. My awesome and great friend Carrie has a quilting machine, we call her "Camille" . My neglected quilt will finally get some TLC from Camille. I just hope she is gentle!!

The Elusive Wing Back Chair

So naturally I ordered too much fabric for my couch....Better safe than sorry! I was itching to start a new project. I thought to myself, lets do a chair. Nay, a wing back chair! I found myself thee most hideous chair I could find. I believe I spent a whopping $25 the the nasty thing. I painted her legs and slip covered her up with my remaining fabric and wouldn't you know it. She was a pretty little thing after all! Oh, I forgot to mention... Wing back chairs are a real pain in the @$$!!! Why do I chooses the hardest things to start on...A monster sectional and now a wing back chair...I don't think I will ever learn!

Before:

After:

**Again...sorry for the phone photos...