A SLIPCOVER, SOMETHING SILVER, AND SOMETHING GOLD

Hello and thanks for stopping!

Today I've been at my sewing machine . . . a LOT!  I was working on some pillow slipcovers for the living room and another for the ottoman that I made a couple winters ago.  I know, it's only had the original cover for a hair over two years, but I like to change things up.  Two years is an eternity in my mind!  Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm constantly painting walls or rearranging furniture.

But, before I get to that . . . I got some awesome finds at Goodwill to share with you.  One of the first places I look when I get there is the silver section.  There are often other women hovering around the same area and I've considered asking them if they are bloggers.  I read about so many of you that do the same thing and so, I wonder . . . ?  But I found this incredible silver champagne bucket for only $9.99!  I put it in my cart - and guarded it carefully.  They were eyeing it . . .

 It was really tarnished - totally black.  But there was no engraving on it, and no dents anywhere.  I've seen them online for anywhere from $50 - $90, so there was no decision to make!  It took a ton of Tarn-X - but it sparkles!

Then I saw this pretty little antique jelly jar with a scrolly gold leaf design and wording.  It was only a couple dollars, so that came home with me too. 

I'm thinking jelly beans . . .

I think they look great together!  They're on a beautiful silver tray that was only $5.  So, it was a good day at the thrift store!

Which brings me to another project of the day - a new slipcover for my ottoman.  I decided to have my "coffee tables" switch places between the family and living rooms.  More on the one that left the living room another time.  You can find my tutorial for the ottoman here.  It was originally covered in a floral fabric that had the browns and turquoise of the family room as you see here.

But the fabric has faded quite a bit since this picture was taken, and it just looked limp.  So I pulled it into the living room and made a simple little off-white linen slipcover with a pleated skirt.  

Linen and silver . . . I like that combination!

And there's Norma, waiting in the wings!  Isn't she beautiful?
(I wish she sounded as pretty as she looks!)

Some day.

Some day she'll really sing!

-Nan

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Air Your Laundry Friday

HORCHOW INSPIRATION AND KNOCK-OFF PILLOWS

We have matching brown love seats in our family room, each one with matching brown pillows.  This long room has windows at either end, but it still tends to have low light.  So today, I tried to bring more light into the room by making pillow covers in off-white denim and then "embellishing" them using stencils, tape, and brown fabric paint.   My inspiration came from these beautiful Horchow pillows - minus the high price!

I love all of these, but especially the number and "grain sack" pillows.

French Laundry Home Pillows - Horchow

$73 - $136

They also had a great monogram pillow and another number pillow.

French Laundry Home "Spring Garden" Pillows
$115 - $190

Then I walked past the entrance to Pottery Barn and saw this "U.S. Mail" bin and I thought, "That would be perfect on a pillow top"!

(I might have to try making a "bin" like that too!)

So.  To begin.

 I washed and dried the denim and then began tearing it into 22 in squares for the pillow tops.  The number pillow was done with a freezer paper stencil.  If you've never used freezer paper for stenciling you should give it a try.  It's so easy and works beautifully!  As a matter of fact, freezer paper stencils turn out a lot better than traditional stencils because the stencil is "tacked down" onto your fabric and won't move around while you're applying the paint.  I've read that they can be used over and over too!

I think black might look more authentic as a french laundry fabric, but since the love seats are brown, I used a dark brown fabric paint.  For the number pillow, I used this Vintage Typography from The Graphics Fairy.  

After enlarging the typography graphic and tracing it onto freezer paper, I carefully cut it out and ironed it onto the center of the 22" square.

 

       Then, applied paint using a stencil brush . . .

and pulled away the freezer paper!  Works like a charm!

Next, I used a stencil I've used for some other projects - like the table runner shown here.

I bought this stencil about a year ago on Etsy.  It's well-used!

 Using the same brown fabric paint - this one was quick and easy!

Then, on to the monogram pillow top.  Using painters' tape, I taped off some "grain sack" stripes - a wider one in the middle and two skinny ones on either side.  Then using the stencil brush and the same fabric paint, I filled in the stripes between the tape strips.

         

For the monogram, lay a piece of tape horizontally across the center of the pillow so the monogram is level.

       

I used very inexpensive cardboard letter stencils . . .

 . . . and placed my husband's initial along with mine on either side of the stripes.

For pillow #3, I used the design from the mail bin shown above, added some heavy duty upholstery strapping, and a button and loop.

And that's it!

Four new pillows, inspired by Horchow and Pottery Barn, for the price of some denim - a far cry from the $100 plus price tag!

  

      

Now, what's next? 

 This ottoman that sits in front of the love seats will be needing an update also.  I posted about making this ottoman here it was also inspired by Horchow!  The fabric was great when the love seats and pillows were solid brown.  But, I think it would look great with a new off-white denim slipcover . . .      

Sharing on:

Freckled Laundry's Air Your Laundry Friday

Funky Junk Interiors' Saturday Night Special  Potpourri Friday 2805

Sundae Scoop  Brag Monday  Metamorphosis Monday  Tip Me Tuesday

Time Travel Thursday  Transformation Thursday  Show and Tell Friday  

Frugal Friday

    

Another Horchow piece!

Okay, for a mere $979 you can own this beautiful bench

from Horchow . . . or . . . make a similar one yourself for $50!

All you need is:

-4 table legs from Lowes in the height of your choice

-a piece of plywood

-some upholstery foam

-quilt batting

-your favorite fabric

-some decorative trim

First, stain/paint, and attach the legs to the bottom of the plywood.  There are some square, metal stabilizers you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot that you attach in the desired spot in the corners.  Then you just screw in the legs to the center of the metal stabilizer.  These keep the bench from being wobbly.

Next, you layer everything like a sandwich!  With the plywood base on the bottom, lay the upholstery foam on top, then wrap it with some nice, thick quilt batting using a staple gun to attach it to the bottom of the plywood.  Make nice padded corners so your bench won't be sharp and hard on the corners.  Then put your fabric on top of the batting and staple that underneath the bench also.  Finally, add your ruffle or pleated skirt with the staple gun, and hot glue on some decorative braid over the seam between skirt and topping fabric.  That's it!  You're done!

The end product is not only sturdy and strong - it makes a great footrest,

coffee table, and extra seating - all in one!

SAVINGS - $939.00

I've linked up with Funky Junk Interiors' Saturday Nite Special.

I was featured on "Fabric Fun Thursday" on January 12th.  Here is her post:

Do you want to save $939?!  Nan, at You Could Make That, uses a Horchow bench as inspiration and shows us how we really can make the above bench and save hundreds of dollars.