What a week!

This past week was one that almost made me lose my mind!

It all started off with my husband trying to scare Sara in the shower.  Needless to say, she fell and wiped out the plumbing!  Not a good day to be Mike in this house, lol.

We spent days trying to take out the old and find new that would work with the existing plumbing.  Not an easy task, but we did it all by ourselves.   Mike hates plumbing, but like everything else, he's the best at it!

I wish I had taken photos of us working on the shower, you would have gotten a good laugh!

I had so much running to do, Sara had work, trying to keep everyone fed in between all of the running and working was definitely a chore.  Especially having to go to the store for food!

After we got the shower fixed, I was so stressed and needed to unwind.

So.... my trusty sewing machine became my old friend that I went to unload to.  It always calms me right down.  

I had these two lamps with shades that needed a little pizaazz...so I made the slipcovers for them.  I love them so much better!

Then I finished up on this beautiful shower curtain I made for a sweet lady.  She wanted a whole set so I designed this to go with a tank and seat cover I made.

Of course the tank cover was made to fit hers, not mine.  Mine is way too small for this to look good.

In the mean time I had gotten the pleasure of doing Sara's hair.  She had been wanting to go dark for some time and during a trip to Wally World, we decided to just go for it.  Isn't she just beautiful?!  I love dark hair!

And of course I had mine done too, but not by me.  I was beginning to wear my hair in a ponytail everyday, so I needed it trimmed and had a few lo lights added.  I love our hairdresser...good thing she's our cousin!

On most of these days, I would have liked to have been doing what Wilbur and Oliver were doing...taking it easy and napping.  They are just the sweetest guys aren't they?  They help me feel better too!

But sadly, I have to keep working at something.  One of my big downfalls...always feeling the need to stay busy!

Trying to advertise things that I've made to sell is always a task.  Hours of sitting at the computer is not my idea of staying busy!  

I sure hope this coming week will not be a repeat of last..but it's looking like it just might be.....

More chalk paint

I just cannot pass up a great deal!

I found this little gem on my favorite place to look...facebook yardsale.

The lines drew me in...I just knew it could be beautiful!  You all ever have a vision and just know what something will look like when you finish it?  Well, that was me when I saw this!

I know you know what I did next...

Yep!  Whipped up some chalk paint and went to town!

Wouldn't this be a nice cabinet for a tv?

One knob was missing so I added the glass knobs.  They make everything look so much prettier!

The detail is perfect...kind of simple but with a touch of the perfect shabbiness.

Now on to another project.  I got this little beauty for a free swap from a sweet lady.  I thought this chair was just absolutely beautiful!

I carried her all over the house looking for a place to put her with no luck.  She just didn't fit in with all of my white.  After saying that I was not going to paint her, I finally broke down and did it.  

Loved it!  But then I noticed that 

there was blue on the seat, like it was blue jeans or something.  I got my woolite cleaner and went to town scrubbing it.  I did the back and the arms too, but the seat

turned more blue!!! 

My heart sank....I cleaned it again and it turned even more blue.  I knew it had to have something under the tapestry  and I wasn't about to rip out all of those tacs to fix it.    So guess what I did?

More chalk paint...I am smiling really BIG right now because I know that some people are calling me crazy!

But hey, it was free and needed some work.  Not like it was in perfect condition and worth lots of money.  

For now, I am trying to find the perfect spot for her and planning on keeping it.

So stay tuned to see what else I decide to paint and where she'll end up.

Chalk paint on an entire chair

Well...I finally did it!

I bought a chair for $40 and decided to just go for it with painting it all with chalk paint.  I figured if it didn't turn out, I could reupholster it. 

This  is how it looked when I bought it.  Perfect condition...but definitely not looking great with all of my white.  Years ago, this would have fit in perfectly...but not anymore.

So, I got my paint, mixed up my recipe for chalk paint(it's 1 cup of flat paint and 1 TBS of unsanded grout), grabbed my paint brush and just went for it.  As I painted, I wondered if I was making a huge mistake.  $40 this day and age might not be a lot to many, but it is to me.

But that soon passed because I was falling in love..

Here she is...I decided to only use one coat of chalk paint because of how the gingham was showing through, not the color.  It came through even more after sanding.  I really liked that!

I distressed the frame and let me say 

~WOW~

Even more beautiful!

It is so soft...feels like a very soft leather.  I've read that some use the wax, but I decided to leave that step out.  You can use it or not by what I've studied from others.

It replaced this chair...so happy with it instead of this one.

So there ya have it...my very first chalk painted chair...every ounce of it!

More slipcovers for the commode and a little lamp

I sure hope you all don't get bored with me and my slipcovers.

I had an offer from Salvaged To Sassy for Reclaimed Goods some time ago to sell my things in her shop.  After praying and thinking about it for awhile now, I finally thought "what the heck"...

She does so many wonderful things with the pieces she finds and I love that she opened up her own little shop.  It's close to me so I can pop in and I am really thankful for her generosity!

So, I thought, what would I do?  My slipcovers!  There would be no competition between her and I  (I definitely don't want to step on any toes since it's her shop)...so I pulled out the sewing machine yet once again.

I made another commode cover and added

more ruffles on this one, can ya tell?

And do you see the little lamp?

She's (and yes, all of my lovlies are "she's")so lovely with the shade slipcovered!  I tell ya...I absolutely adore slipcovered shades!

I've made pillows, valances and am planning on making a few bigger shade covers tomorrow.  Oh wait...it is tomorrow.  3 am to be exact...I better get to bed so I can get a few hours of sleep to be able to sew a straight line later.  

~Nitey Nite~

I always seem to share on Facebook and forget to share here on my blog.  So I had a few minutes and thought I'd let you all see what I've been sewing today.  Also my little "something new" for the table and the inspiration to one of my sewing projects.

First off, here is the "something new"..

The sun was setting as I ate dinner and I had to run for the camera to capture this.  It was so pretty!

I added two birds and the topiary to the center and decided I really love it for now.

Then after seeing this I knew I had to make my own rendition.  Isn't this gorgeous?!

Here's mine...

A little more simple for our bath...but planning on making one like Annamarie's for the girls bath later.

I just love how it turned out.  Hannah helped me on the design...she said no more ruffles!  I think she was right!

Then I made new slipcovers for these shades to go on this lamp.

I had bought 2 of these and re-did them totally by painting the lamps and ripping off the fabric that were on the shades.  Then I made slipcovers to replace the fabric so it would be easy to just take off and throw in the wash.

So there ya have it...what I've been up to for the last couple of days.

The weather was yucky today so I knew I had to pull out my sewing machine.  I absolutely LOVE to sew!

Hope you all have a great and blessed weekend!

A little "win" for me

This is long overdue...but as they say, better late than never.

A few months ago,  The Stitching Coop was having a giveaway and I entered.  Never thinking anything about it after that.  Her talent at making these little lap quilts just amazed me.  I knew that they had to be soft to the touch, felt like a piece of my past and smelled like Mammaw for some reason.  When I got the notification that I won, I was elated!

Isn't it beautiful?  And yes...it was everything I imagined it would be.

It found it's resting spot on what I call "Mama's Chair"....my chair.  When I get a little chilled, I pull it down over my legs and it does the trick!

This is the way I usually have it, but when company comes I try to spruce it up a bit.

I absolutely love it....maybe later I can buy a bigger one for the sofa.  She sells on Etsy, so check her out and tell her I said hello.

Another update on the back deck...I finally finished it today, but these photos are from the other day.  I'll be posting the finished ones after this rain goes away!

I had an old umbrella that was still in good shape but looked dirty and faded...it wasn't white!  I thought I would try painting it, but I didn't like how it was turning out. Plus the rain was making it a longer project than I wanted it to be.  

Why in the world didn't I think about making a slipcover for it from the beginning?

  

I made this from two full flat sheets.  I took the umbrella off  and laid it out flat on the ground, then laid the two flat sheets over it and cut to fit allowing for a hem.  I had just enough of the lace and then I made a ruffle to go behind it.  I thought I would never get it finished with the ruffle!  I added elastic to the corners to hold onto the tips of the umbrella.  That way it won't blow off, lol.

I love how it turned out...one of the quickest  sewing jobs ever!

Well the sewing didn't stop there...it never does once I start sewing.  I made this little slipcover with ruffles and then I made the matching pillow.  Thrilled how it turned out!

Then it was time for a break...but never a break because my mind will not stop with ideas!  I played around with the chair cushions...still playing....

I plan on painting the rugs, I have something special in my mind and I sure hope it turns out how I invision them.  That'll be next week sometime.

I played around with this little seating area and think I really like it now!  I ran across some fabric pieces that I had cut out to make a shabby banner a long time ago and sewed them together and hung.

  The perfect little touch it needed....the fabric is a pale green with pink roses.  I'll try to get a better photo with the finished ones later so you all can see.

 This is my first banner and I have to say I'll be making more!

I also put the little chandi over to the side....I just love this deck now!  It's so much cooler out there ...I think we'll actually enjoy it!  Maybe next summer we can do the whole deck with a roof...but for now this will have to do.

Here's an update on the cushions

It took me a little bit to figure out what fabric I was going to use for the cushions.  After digging through my stash of fabric, I ran across a shower curtain I bought from facebook yard sale a few months back that I had forgotten about.  I was so happy!

Then I had to make sure I had enough to do six cushions...thankfully, I did with a little bit of creative thinking.

I found some old curtains to use for the bottom.  Can you believe I was out of white fabric?!!!

I ran out of white thread too!  No more sewing for me until I restock my stash!

I still need to paint the floor in this area with one more coat of paint.  Then I need to finish painting the umbrella...I sure hope it turns out ok or I'll be sewing a slipcover for it too.

Stay tuned...

Here's what I've been up to

Things have been super busy in our lives these past few months.  Sorry I haven't done a post in awhile...

I honestly do not know where the time has gone so quickly and I cannot figure out how the heck I made it to today...

So here's what I've been up to...

First, Sara  decided last minute to attend her senior prom.  We were so happy that she wanted to go, but then the rush set in trying to find a dress last minute.  Talk about things being picked over!

But we found the perfect one...and I think she looked amazing!

Something she'll always remember because she had a super time!

Then it was Hannah's turn with her farewell dance from middle school.  She'll be attending high school this year and I am blown away by that in itself!

She looked absolutely beautiful!

Then it was kick in mode to graduation...applying to the college Sara "finally' decided to go to and filling out all that crazy paper work!  How I made it, I don't know...

Sara's graduation ceremony was a few days after Hannah's dance and it was definitely a tear jerker for me.  I just looked at her and realized she was all grown up...sniff sniff.

Afterwards we went to Project Graduation for an all night party for everyone to play, dance and just have fun.  Mike and I were so tired...can't stay up like we used to.

Not to mention all of the things we were having to do outside to get ready for summer.  And poor Mike...having to go to work too.  He's such a good husband.

Meanwhile, I got the bright idea to paint the back deck white.  It used to be painted the color of the siding but it was all peeling off.  I debated on what type of paint or stain to use so this wouldn't happen again.

  Finally I went with a porch and patio enamel.  I think it's going to work!  We also decided to cover part of the deck with that vinyl stuff overhead.  It is so much cooler out there now...I love it!

Then I found a patio set on Facebook Yard sale for $75...I couldn't pass it up!

This was the original color before I decided to paint it pink.  Then changed my mind and painted the chairs white with touches of pink.  I left the table because I had already painted it.

Now I need to recover the cushions that came with the set.  I'll be sewing tomorrow...lol.   I had Hannah help me carry the old table and chairs to the pool deck.  You can barely see them in the distance here. So far, they are perfect for eating by the pool. 

This set came with 6 chairs and the table...can you believe I got if for $75???

The pink was inspired from the flower boxes I painted pink and white that I found on clearance at Lowes for $10.  Valspar has the perfect shade of  PINK!

Oh, I forgot to mention that we had a graduation party for Sara too.

We had an Elvis impersonator friend that came and made her day...you can see it was fun for everyone else too!

During the party one of our storage building doors fell off...so the next day we had to fix them.  Let me say...we were TIRED!  

And here are some flowers Mom and I planted in a flower box I made from a cornice and some old book ends.    

I love it!

You all have to know that getting ready for a party is work, preparing food, making everything ready for outside(cleaning everything off), getting firewood for a bonfire and keeping everyone entertained and happy.  But at least we can breathe a little now until something else pops up that needs fixin' or painted...

So for now, I am working on little things and enjoying the kitty's!  I just can't sit still for too long...I tend to get stiff!

Hope you all are enjoying your summer!