"Rich Wrinkles"

Our couch last week... Our couch today...

Since we installed brick floors our den has felt so dark. Time to change colors. We've owned this sofa as long as we have been parents and it has been reupholstered once before. I studied it a while and decided to try my hand at recovering it myself since a couch is just a big (heavy) chair, right?

The fabric is a neutral linen and cotton blend that I love. The colorful salesperson that I bought it from told me that his southern-born mother would say that it would have "rich wrinkles". I love that expression. I would probably love his mother, too.

Aprons Strings

Our daughter-in-law, Molly, is enjoying a new job as a barista at a coffee shop and bakery, Five Loaves, in Montana. She's been wearing and sharing a couple of adorable aprons from one of her favorite shops, Anthropologie. I've decided to add to her collection. I hope she wants an apron wardrobe because I have a lot of ideas and materials for creating more.
This Christmas one is made from a vintage tablecloth that I found just last Saturday at a garage sale for $1. I added details with bits from my collection of vintage fabrics, buttons and trims. The only new part is the ribbon tie. Kitschy or campy?

The only thing I did to this ready-made apron was to make the neck strap adjustable with the addition of buttons. Megan did the applique and monogram. It's so cute and preppy! She made one just like it for me, too. Thanx, Meg!

Linda's Valances

Last month I made these windows treatments for a friend. They cover the three windows in her breakfast room with a view to a beautiful wooded area.
She chose gorgeous fabric, deep red with an embroidered muliticolor floral design, and beautiful moss and gold fringe. Her entire home is warm, welcoming and magazine worthy.

I've learned something new!

Smocking!
At the urging of my daughter and the help and encouragement of a dear friend I've learned to smock. This is my first completed bishop dress, a gift for my granddaughter, Evie. Soon there will be a tiny version to match for her baby sister, Anabelle.

There are dozens of mistakes in it, but if I have to count tiny pleats to find them most of you won't know. Usually a perfectionist, I've decided to accept the imperfections and have realized that it "won't be noticed on a galloping horse". Actually, last night she was a "Baby Princess Butterfly Ballerina" hosting a birthday party for a green monkey and his pet kitty.

I'll post pics of the models in their "couture gowns" asap.

Labor of Love

I found these 70's style chairs and their matching ottoman at an estate sale a few months ago and offered them and the promise to recover them to our daughter, Megan, as a birthday gift. She chose the fabrics and repainted the chairs with a distressed finish. (She did this painting12 hours before her second daughter was born. Crawling around on the floor, reaching and bending may have helped to start her labor.)

"BEFORE" with 80's Fabric

"AFTER"

The 70's are back...
and classy with 2000's fabrics.

I learned that this is not my favorite kind of upholstery because every edge is a finish edge. Megan says that every time I complete a project I say that I won't do that again. I don't want to do this kind again, but I imagine I will when I find another great chair and have forgotten the labor pains of these "twins". I believe that Megan will have another baby one day, too.

"Before and After"

I like to show before and after pictures of my latest projects, but this next project isn't my own it's God's (and the USAF's).

Reed, our youngest son, joined the Air Force on August 27, 2008 and graduated from basic training on October 10th. Neal, our middle child and an Airman who now lives in Montana, was able to meet us in San Antonio for the event. They have both "grown in wisdom and in stature" and we could not be more grateful to God or more proud of the children He has given to us.

Reed "Before"

Reed "After"

Reed and Neal

Brothers and Airmen

Neal, Our Security Forces Airman

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until until the day of Christ Jesus." Philpippians 1:6

Monday's Child is Fair of Face...

She's here! All 6 pounds and 13 ounces of her! Mother and baby are doing well (Daddy and sister, too). Thank you for praying for all of them for so long.

"Wook at her wittle nose, wook at her wittle mouff, wook at her wittle eyes..."

Megan with Anabelle, Evie with "Evie's Anabelle".

Prayer Request

Please pray for my brother's wife... Her cancer is back and too advanced to treat. Doctors are offering medication for pain relief. Thank you.

Fleur de Lis Chair

This petite wing chair was given to me at an estate sale, it was the last day of the sale and the sellers were motivated to clear out the house. They made the offer and I made room in my already stuffed station wagon.
It had the original 40's gold upholstery which I replaced with this brown w/gold fleur de lis fabric. I found almost $1 in change, a back- scratcher, and a wristwatch (that Richard put a new band on and wore for 6 months before it died) in its crevices. Cha-ching! The chair will soon be moving to my sister's house and I'm on the lookout for another.

My Therapy Chairs

I rescued these matching club chairs from a trash pile 5 years ago, I remember because it was the spring before our daughter, Megan, and Ben were married. After all the activity of their wedding I needed something to occupy my free time and thoughts so I tackled the chairs. They were origionally upholstered in a "lovely" 80's mauve fabric. I chose to cover them with this plaid fabric thinking I would love it forever...
A few months ago our son, Neal, married Molly and I was in another post wedding activity lull. I decided to work on the chairs again. They now wear a neutral linen type fabric that I think I will love forever...


Someday, after our son, Reed's, wedding I hope to not need "upholstery therapy" and still be satisfied with this fabric. I'm getting faster at it, but I don't want to recover them a 3rd time.

Megan's Chair

My mother gave this sweet antique chair to my daughter, Megan, a few years ago. This old chair has had many different seat covers during its relatively short history in my family. Yesterday as I discovered 4 different fabric layers I relived family times, happy and sad, in several different homes where my mom has lived. It now has a new cover in a new home waiting for a new baby.

Megan chose a beautiful natural linen with an appliqued chocolate damask monogram.

Cheetah Chair

My sister has been shopping for the perfect chair for her sitting area. She found this comfy wing-back in an antique store and planned to have it reupholstered. I studied it for a while and decided to try my hand at it. I was a little intimidated by its shape and size, but I learned a lot about construction and techniques while I was taking it apart. I'm pleased with the results and I believe she will be, too.

"BEFORE"

(I forgot to take the picture before I started taking off the old fabric.)

"AFTER"

My sister chose to reverse the print on one side of the cushion. It's a little hard to see in the photo, but it looks great and gives her options.

Anabelle's Car Seat

My daughter has been on bed rest during her second pregnancy and has had plenty of time to shop on-line. Shopping for a new carseat cover was high on her list. She found several that she liked, but they were very expensive so I offered to make one. She picked out the fabrics and I used the old cover for a pattern and the pad. This is the result... Won't Anabelle look even more delicious in this seat? Like icing on a cupcake.