THE "CHAIR"

This chair has been an exercise in patience, the bane of my existence and quite frankly, a pain in my derriere!

I purchased it several years back from a yard sale for $10.00 and I loved the lines of it and the vintage feel it possessed.  Over the years I've had many dreams, hopes & plans for this little chair but have done nothing with it until my son recently requested he have a chair in is new (made over) bedroom.  Finally I would use this chair!

I took it outside and gave it a good sanding.

Primed it.

Painted it in a cream colour and then applied a coat of stain over top.

I used the existing cushions as a template and sewed new slipcovers.

My first set of slipcovers were just too big so I had to rip out all my stitching and start from scratch.  I started and stopped and restarted this sewing project several times over the past few months ~ each session ending with me more frustrated then the last.

I am so happy I am done this project because I wasn't feeling the love.

I am feeling the LOVE about my upcoming Christmas Giveaway!  I have been carefully putting together some items that should help get us all into the spirit of Christmas!

Stay Tuned ~ Cheers~

CHERUB LIGHT

I decided to spend my Sunday working on a simple project that I had in mind. Kind of a crafting day.


I purchased this little light from Ebay a couple of years ago. I'm really into 'mood' lighting as it does just that, sets a mood. This corner of my living room enjoys natural light during the day but by night it is a dark, drab corner. This sweet little cherub adds a touch of ambiance and lights up that corner, ever so slightly. It's quite pretty at night.


I decided to give my light an easy makeover. Since the 'rage' seems to be burlap, feed sacks and drop cloths, I figured I would head in this direction.


First ... I had to take it all apart. Now keep in mind - I lack patience for fiddly-type projects. I am so not a crafter (but I am compelled to keep trying).


I removed the beads. This was pretty easy.


Then I attempted to tackle the fabric. Not so easy. Notice my tool of choice - a steak knife!


It was glued on pretty tight. I struggled for a couple of minutes and then simply lost my patience and just went to town, ripping the fabric from the shade with all of my might.

Oh well, I tore the shade in the process. What did I expect?

I 'antiqued' the cherub so he was no longer a stark white. Notice the new 'cord cover'? Burlap - yup. I ordered that online. Once I saw it I realized I could have probably sewn one myself (maybe).

And then on to assemble the new shade. I chose linen. I traced around the shade and made a paper template to cut out my fabric.

Okay, this was not so great. I also used a glue gun to secure the linen to the shade. I burned my fingers, my table and a nearby mirror, in the process. I also discovered that the linen was not a wise choice for this shade - too thick! But now I was in deep.

The top needed something. I would make a nice trim detail out of the linen and attach it to the top of my shade.

This was a nightmare. Look at how small the sewing area was. Plus I needed to wind the bobbin with the matching thread I had purchased. I still cannot do this without referring to my owner's manual. That is how challenged I am. This has become my bible.

You know what I mean when I say "colouring outside of the lines". That is exactly how the sewing went. I was all over trying to sew in that small area. I kept sewing right off my fabric and would have to stop the press and start over. I went ahead and glued this piece onto my shade but then concealed it with ribbon.

Hubs left me in the morning to play golf and returned home in the afternoon to find me still working on this 'simple craft project'. It is not perfect by any stretch but darn it, I'm hanging it back up .....

while I search for a new light for this corner of my living room.

Cheers ~ Lisa ~

Shabby Chalkboard

This was once a mirror that came as part of a set with a newly purchased bathroom vanity. I don't always like things "matchy/matchy" so I decided to make myself a chalkboard.

I painted the mirror a creamy white and I distressed it. Hubby cut out an MDF back and painted it with chalkboard paint. VOILA! It now welcomes guests to special dinners and events!

It provides notes of inspiration and SUPPORT when having a bad day!

AND finally ... it introduces my NEW BLOG!!!

Cheers - Lisa