Vitacost...again....

Ok peeps. I ready for some more free food from Vitacost.com. That means someone needs to click on this link.

Here is the deal. When you sign up, you'll get ten dollars to spend. For free. No strings attached. I will also get ten dollars to spend because I referred you (click the link).

I was SUPER happy with my previous purchases from Vitacost. Organic everything, great prices, and I only paid shipping. I'm in it for the food products, but there are lots of other healthy stuff on the site, so check it out!!!

 

 

Here is my referral link:

http://www.vitacost.com/Referee?wlsrc=rsReferral&ReferralCode=3458631

 

Also, click any of the above links (except the one on previous purchases) to take you there!

 

And Enjoy! I know I certainly do!!

 

 

Barrel Back Chair Revival

Remember these ugly pink barrel back chairs? 

 

 

 

 

They have a new life!!!!

 

I was really terrible about taking pictures of the process this time....sorry=(.

I just got so excited everytime I got to work on them that I forgot.

We've been super busy with school, football, and other life stuff that I was having a hard time finding the time in my schedule to work on these. They took me a couple weeks to finish, using spare minutes here and there.

 

I first stripped all the old fabric off and took out all the staples. Big, time consuming job.

 

I saved all the batting to use as it was not in bad shape at all!

 

I sanded and painted each chair an off white color to match the fabric I had purchased.

 

Then, I used the old fabric to cut out my new pieces. GASP!! I didn't have enough! I guessed 4 yards would be enough, but when I got to the fabric store, and found this PERFECT fabric, there was only 3 and 1/2 yards. Ends up, this was a VERY happy mistake.

 

I looked in my chest full of fabric and found some off white satin and a vintage lace curtain panel.

I cut out my pieces and started attaching just to see if it would hold up and look ok.

 

 

As soon as I put it on there I was IN LOVE! It was totally meant to be. I can't imagine these chairs without the lace now. SO chic and elegant.

Here is the front view of the chair with just the satin and lace.

 

Next, I needed to staple the back panel fabric to the back support wood.....so I cut strips from cardboard and stapled each down for a seamless finish on the back with no pulling.

Pic of the cardboard support.

 

Here is where things got a little trickier. I had to staple down the front fabric to the inside of a groove along the edges. This was more difficult than it sounds.....

 

I used home dec. weight fabric for sturdiness and cause it was just pretty.

My fancy stapler. I do have an electric one that is much easier to use, but it doesn't take the smaller, more delicate staples needed for this kind of project. So, I ran to Walmart and bought this manual one.....Much better=)

I almost forgot. Before putting on the outter fabric, I stuck the stuffing back in and tacked it down in a few places to stay put.

 

Somewhere in there I re-did the seats. They were super easy. The most difficult part was folding the corners in an asthetically pleasing way. No to hard.

Here is the first one finished!

A few days later.....they are both done. I am so pleased!

I brought them outside to photograph them in the natural lighting, although I would not recommend keeping them outside permanently.

Oh the back! LACE! I Love Love Love this so much. I am tempted to keep these.....but I have to start supporting my furniture buying habit, so I am going to have to part with them.

A detail shot. I made the piping myself! Patting myself on the back as I type....

 

Have I mentioned how much I love these?!? LOL

 

Anyways, they are for sale. I have them posted on my facebook, in craigslist, and on etsy for $150 (actually I put a little more for them on etsy as it costs me to post things on there). We shall see if they do sell. If not, I'll be happy to keep them.

 

 

On another note, I am trying to find the time to do some canning and processing of all the harvest my garden has given me this year! Here is a pic of me and my sister at my parents house, using their electric food mill to make some tomato juice. This was super easy and fast, thanks to the machine and my sister, KK. Thanks!!!!

Now I just have to can it.....along with the bagillion beans waiting in my fridge.

 

I think I will snap beans while at K-man's football practice tonight....think I'll look like a weirdo? Haha!

It has begun.....

Summer is officially over...atleast for me. We started back to school last Monday, hence the lack of new postings here. It has been a super busy life the last week between school and K-man's football practice and games. I feel like I just can't catch up!! There are so many things I want to be doing, and I just don't have the time. There are tomatoes rotting on my kitchen counter and green beans waiting to be canned in the fridge. I didn't get to the garden for a full week!! Can you believe it?!?!
Its been exhausting, but hopefully I can get into a routine and start back doing the things I love.

Here is K-Man before his scrimmage on Sunday: So tough.

Just a strange evening at practice of rain and sunshine. Weird.

So we kinda have a dog. She is a sweetie. We named her Hazel (because I just love old time-y names) 

She was a stray and we tried to find her home for a week...posting everywhere, walking around neighborhood, etc. When no one claimed her and we realized what a GOOD dog she was (and only 9 mo. old!!) we decided to keep her. 

On one of our weekly walks to the Book Mobile, we decided to take hazel with us to kill two birds with one stone. I went into the book mobile while K-Man stood outside in the heat with Hazel, as she couldn't come in. There was an older lady I had never met chatting up the librarian. She smiled at me, looked out the dog, and exclaimed "ANGEL?!?!?". I was throughly confused.

Eventually the story came out. Hazel was found by this lady a few weeks ago, who didn't want her but feed her and cared for her instead of sending her to the kill shelter. She saw what a good dog she was, but couldn't find anyone to take her. She then told me that she was sure "angel" had come to us because we were good people and could give her a good home. And our yard was like a puppy paradise....lol. Although I didn't know her...we quickly became friends. Before parting, she asked if she could come get angel/Hazel sometime to go swimming in the river.....I said absolutely!! 

This is what I'm working on today!! Hopefully I will finish them and have a new tutorial/post tomorrow=).

Be looking for my next post on reupholstering these beauties!!!

Until then, dear readers, stay strong! We will survive!

Chair Re-do...an almost tutorial

Remember this awesome chair I snagged at Goodwill for $15?!?

The fabric was all ripped in the back and it was just tired and ugly looking. But it also had really great lines. I believe this style of chair is  a Queen Annes. Correct me if you know otherwise.

I started by ripping it apart. First tearing off the double piping, or welting as I found it is called in the upholstery world.

Then, using plyers, a special staple remover, and a hammer, started removing staples so I could get the fabric off.

It was VERY difficult not to damage the wood, and as you can see, I did do a little damage. But that will all be covered up shortly. 

I only hurt myself this one time...looks ok...but it was deep! 

After I got all of the fabric off, and many staples......I spray painted the wood with an ivory matte color. I am always a little afraid to paint over wood, because it is so beautiful, but I am so glad I did! The ivory really brought out all the detail and carvings in the wood. 

I left the burlap and springs in the seat because they honestly weren't in that bad of condition. All other stuff got tossed. 

After several coats of paint (the can said it was primer and paint in one...not so much), I was ready to cut my pieces of fabric. I bought a heavy weight home decor fabric in beautiful shades of blues and greens. 

(This is why this tutorial is an almost tutorial.....I got very excited at this point and didn't take many pictures....)

I used the old fabric as a pattern to cut the new. I then used batting/foam to cushion up the seat and laid my fabric overtop. And began stapling. This is an artform. It took me a few tries to get it right....

But here it is!! Almost done! I just had to put the arm pieces on....and sew the double welting.....ugh I was dreading this part. 

I looked up some other tutorials on the interwebs to see what others suggested. I knew I didn't want to buy an expensive foot for my machine, so I found a great tut that explained how to do it with a zipper foot and a reg. foot. 

Place piping on one side of a strip of fabric and fold fabric over. Use zipper foot to stitch right along the side.....

Lay second piping beside the first. Fold remaining fabric over second piping......

Use a regular foot, go slowly, and stitch down the center.....

....and of course, my bobbin always runs out at critical points......

Just in case you were wondering...this is the awesome machine I use! My hubby got it for me for christmas a few years ago and I freakin love it. 

Alright, back to the double welting. This is what the back side looks like after you have stitched down the middle. 

Now, just cut off the excess....this becomes your back. 

And here is the front!

Beautiful, home made welting. 

Did you know that real upholsters use HOT GLUE to put the welting on?!?!? I was just as surprised. I love my hot glue gun. I slowly attached all welting to its proper place. Finally, I cut loose thread and cleaned her up a little bit. 

Here she is!! All finished! The lighting in my living room is perfect for movies, not so perfect for photos.

Check out those arm pieces.....

Is she perfect? Absolutely not. Did I make some mistakes....you betcha. Do I love her....oh yea.

And here is the surprise back! Matches the welting and arm rests. I love a modern print with a more floral feminine one. 

I'm proud of myself. It was a challenge and took a lot longer than I had assumed, but I think she is beautiful. 

Onto the next project.......

Last night while I was singing back-up for a friends new cd (I know, I'm all over the place), my other friend who was there (it was her house..=) offered to give me a wooden rocker to reupholster!! I'm super pumped about doing that one! 

Don't hold your breath though...its gonna take a little while to finish! 

Until Wednesday......

It is Wednesday! 3 things.....

Here is my weekly posting of three categories with three items in each.



Three projects in need of completion:

1.) This chair! I scored this for $15 at goodwill. I will do a separate posting on the re-do.

2.) Pillow covers for my friend who is re-decorating her living space. I can whip those out in less than an hour....it's just a matter of starting=)

3.) New coop nesting boxes....We are only using salvaged materials for this thing. We have an unused kitchen cabinet in the garage that would be perfect......

Three sounds I am hearing right now:

1.) Click click click---forks on a plate full of delish breakfast my hubby so kindly made. 

2.) CRASH!----kittens (or almost full grown cats now) knocking things over in my living room. These guys are messy! And kinda dumb. Willie Nelson almost died yesterday from suffocation. He stuck his head in the turtle food container and got stuck. He FREAKED out. He literally flew down the stairs and hit the bottom three stairs HARD. We had to wrench him outta that thing. It was stuck good. It took him all day to recover. I'm just glad we were home, or he would have died!!=(

3.) Coffee brewing! I love coffee. So much. 

Three fun things before summer is over!:

1.) Kennywood?!? I don't know if there is time left for this, but it would be so fun to go ride some coasters with the K-man. 

2.) Football practice. Every night until school starts. Sounds terrible, but I honestly enjoy going and watching. 

3.) Tanger Outlets!! Back to school shopping for all!!! I love to shop. And I love the outlets. I can get so many things for a fraction of what I would pay at the mall. 

Now to start on my to-do list.......