Um- yikes.

I came home with a new project yesterday which can be best described in one word- terrifying. There are other words to describe this project (filthy, disgusting, overwhelming, hazardous to your health...), but terrifying is the best.

Here's the contestant.
I paid $5 for this chair in its current condition knowing full well that the upholstery was in horrible shape.


But the frame was still good and would just need some reinforcement. What really drew me to this chair (besides the fact that it's a chair- I think we've been over my "chair thing" right?) was the paint. I love how genuinely aged and distressed it is. You just can't mimic that authentic wear.


Unfortunately, the paint's going to have to go. For one thing, salmon just isn't a color that I use in my house. For another, I don't know how old this chair is so that lovely peeling, chippy paint might very well be lead-based. No good.

After dinner I dove in with a flat head screwdriver and a pair of needle nosed pliers and began stripping the upholstery, starting with the back.

And just so you know, I will be sharing all of the vile, disgusting surprises this chair had to offer along the way. So be warned. The first one- an empty spider nest with a few dried spider carcasses sprinkled about.

Whoever recovered this chair last decided to use cardboard for the under side.

That seat scared me. Seriously. I fully expected just about anything to come out of there, so I left it alone as long as I could.

Discover #2- another spider nest. It was right about this point where I'd begun to think that $5 wasn't such a good price after all.

Once again, the previous upholsterers improvised with the materials, using a piece of burlap sack for the seat's back.

Discovery #3- mouse pellets. LOTS of mouse pellets. This was no surprise since whenever I'd move the chair I could hear those things rattling around on the cardboard. YICK!!! Luckily, though, their depositors had vacated the premises.

Discovery #4- a BIG dead wasp. This fell out onto my drop cloth at some point so I didn't notice until later. Which was probably a good thing because if I'd seen it come out I probably would've screamed.


With this lovely sight before you, let me just pause here to say that I did not wear a mask or any other protective gear during this process, and sincerely wish that I had. Not only was I breathing in the dust and mold that was covering this chair, but I'm sure there were other even less desirable things entering my system because I didn't protect myself. My husband reprimanded me for this, and so I want to urge any of you who take on a project of this level of disgustingness to please, please at least wear a dust mask, if not a hazmat suit. Today my under-eyes look like floatation devices, so I am seriously regretting not wearing a mask.

Once I got the seat completely freed from the frame (which, by the way, consisted of strips of denim used as webbing- somebody was certainly using what they had on hand!) I just turned the whole thing over into the garbage. I then proceeded to remove the studs and tacks used to keep the cardboard on. By now I was convinced that the gal I bought it from should have paid me to take it away.

And here it is- bare of all its dusty, grimey coverings and ready for the next step- sanding!

The stripping back part took me a couple of hours and caused some minor injuries (is my Tetanus shot current?), mainly because I didn't wear gloves and I wasn't using actual upholstery tools.

One of these tack lifters would've been much more effective I'm sure.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to get going on the next step. Maybe this afternoon if the kids cooperate. But I'll be sure to post my progress as it is made!

This is Part 1 of 5 depicting the transformation of NC. Click the following links for subsequent posts.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Chairs and chalkboards and pillows- oh my!

We've got friends stopping in for a visit tomorrow, so I really should be upstairs tidying. But instead I'm going to share what I just took over to the consignment store. I've been busy.

Chalkboard made from a wooden cabinet door found at our local Restore.

Eiffel tower graphic found here, plus a black velvet ribbon on natural cotton.
Fabric transfer patches stitched onto thrifted gingham pillows.
Another cabinet-turned-chalkboard project.
And two barrel-style chairs painted happy Spring colors!



Can you tell that I'm really loving this whole create-and-consign thing? 'Cause I really really am!!

Fabric transfers

Eve asked how I got the images on the pillows that I've showed you over the past couple of posts, so I thought I'd share the answer in case it interests others.

All of the images on the pillows were done with Avery brand Fabric Transfers.

I found them at Wal-Mart and paid about $8 for a pack of 6 8.5"x11" sheets. They have 3 versions available: dark background (for dark colored fabrics), light background (for light fabrics) and stretch (for knit material). I used the light version and was truly pleased with the results.

Actually, I'm kind of addicted...




The only thing you need is an ink jet printer, an image, the transfer paper, scissors and an iron. That's it!

I also want to share an amazing online vintage image source that I used: The Graphics Fairy

Uuhh, I can't even tell you how fantastic her images are! You'll spend hours- HOURS- just looking at all the awesome clip art she's got posted there. And they're free! Every thing's conveniently organized into categories, so be sure to check it out if you're in need of a unique graphic.

One last little project- yesterday was my Baby's birthday. We're going to celebrate tonight, but I had to try and make his day a little special. So using a scrap of transfer paper and a bit of fabric I whipped up this little shirt before we ran out the door in the morning.

It's just a tiny tee from Target's Dollar Spot (which had a polar bear smack in the middle), a circle of fabric fused on with Wonder Under then zig-zagged around the edge, and a nice big #1 ironed to the center.

Hope this inspires you to try iron-ons. Kids' t-shirts, tote bags, blankets, wall hangings, quilts, pillows (of course)- use your imagination and make something one of a kind!

...and then some

Some more things went to the consignment store today...











... now let's see if anyone buys any of them!

A few more things

The message board and furniture went to the consignment shop on Tuesday, along with these other little items.

My favorite blue and a bird. Still not sure how I managed to let this one leave my house.


These embroideries were fun. The words are French for "play" (jouer) and "work" (travailler).

The frames were from the thrift store. They got spray painted red and brushed over with black house paint, then rubbed to let the red show through.


The shelf is still on the floor in the garage, looking rather disappointing. Not sure I'll be able to get it done in time to take in for the consignment store's Open House on Friday night, but I'm going to try.

Today I cranked out 4 more pillows, which I'll show you photos of once I've stitched up the open ends. I'm really hoping to get a couple more projects done by Friday, but we'll just have to see how things go.

Make a Framed Fabric Covered Message Board

In May of last year I put together a little message board using some fabric, a thrifted frame and some cork.

Today I made another one but this time took some pictures so I could show you how you can make your own.

You will need:
sheets of cork (these can be purchased in various sizes and in rolls, so the amount you'll need depends on the size of your frame)
wooden frame
fabric
hot glue gun & sticks
wax candle
ribbon or twine
staple gun or hammer & nails
thin cardboard
felt


First cut your cork down to size so that it fits into the recess of your frame. Cut it slightly on the small side so that when you add your fabric it won't be too snug.

Lay your fabric face down, then lay your cork on top of that. Wrap the edges of the fabric to the back of the cork and hot glue to secure. Make sure the fabric is smooth and taut before gluing.

I had to use a small section of a second piece of cork to make mine long enough for the frame, but a small bead of hot glue between the two pieces secured them together nicely.

If you wish to add a pocket to the corner of your message board, just cut a rectangle of fabric (matching or contrasting) and fold down long edge, then glue other 2 edges to the back of the cork.

In this tutorial I'm going to show you how I achieved a two-toned distressed finish. Start by wiping your frame clean.

I used a very beigey tan colored craft paint for my base coat and applied it with a sponge brush in a very quick and kind of sloppy manner.


Next, rub the edge of your candle along the high areas and edges of your frame, where you'll want the base color to show through the top color.

Wipe away the excess wax flakes then apply your top color.

When the top coat is dry (or even before, if you're impatient like me), dampen a rag and begin to rub away the top coat in the areas where you applied the candle wax.

(The candle wax acts as a resist so that the top color wipes away easily to expose the base color. I chose to use this method instead of just sanding away the top color because it would have been easy to accidentally go through the base color and have the wood show, which I didn't want.)

Use a spray-on varnish to give it whatever finish you'd like, or leave it as-is. (I used a gloss lacquer to seal my frame.)

Put your fabric covered cork into the frame...

... then cover that with a piece of thin cardboard cut to the same size.

Cut a piece of coordinating felt to slightly larger than the cardboard...

...then apply it to the back by hot gluing around all the edges and pulling it taut.

Staple (or nail) a piece of ribbon or twine to the back for a hanger.

Then display proudly!