Chair make over #1....and some other stuff!

It's no secret that I have a "thing" for chairs. Every time I stop at a thrift store or yard sale, chairs are always one of things I'm on the lookout for. I like to have a lot of chairs and fill them with family and friends. I love the idea of sitting down at the table for a meal and having to scoot out to add a chair or two! 

Another thing  I love about chairs are their differences....There are just SO many kinds of chairs.

When I was younger, my family lived in England.

 I believe my obsession with  appreciation of all things old began there.

My parents acquired some antiques while we were there.

It seems that over the years, a lot of them have been passed on to me.

I have happily received them. (Craig-not so happy! ha ha!)

Here is the first make over in a series of several chair make overs.

This simple little chair is one that we brought back with us from England.

 There were two of them originally, but I used one outside in our garden many years ago

and it had to be thrown out because of weather related issues.

I am sad about that now, but anyway....

At first, I  weaved old ties together to form a "seat" and stapled them to the underneath side. It looked super cool, but after a few behinds sat on them, they began to sag.

So, I started over with a new approach.

The whole thing got a coat of black spray paint.

After that, I sanded the edges and rubbed it with a nice gel stain.

While that was drying, I attached a few layers of batting to the piece of wood that my most dear and helpful husband cut for me to use as a seat. (I used spray adhesive to do this)

The chair is kind of a smallish one so I didn't want the seat to be too padded.

Then, I used a $3 remnant of upholstery fabric to cover the batting.

I used the spray adhesive here too, but also used some staples to secure the fabric underneath.

And, here is the big reveal....

 

I will add a little throw pillow and some other things with color as soon as

I get enough gumption to drag all of my spring/Easter decorations out!

Another thing that I have been working on is re-framing this sampler.

I got it at a thrift store about 10 years ago. I didn't have that many choices as far as framing it back then. To have it professionally framed would have cost me a lot and the sampler is just an odd enough size that it was impossible to find anything already made.

 So, here is how it looked before.

 I enlisted my husbands expertise in making a frame for it that would be the right size,

but one that would still let me use the glass from the old frame.

He routered the wood a little deeper on the insides of the frame so the glass would fit....

 Sides of the frame

And top and bottom of the frame (I have no idea what that fuzzy bit of stuff is there...gross!)

 This frame also got a coat of black spray paint and gel stain.

I like it much better now.

I just love making over things that someone else has given away!

I am linking up with Kindra again this week. She is having another Thrifty under $10 Tuesday linky party.

Go on over and see what everyone has been up to.

Finally.

I don't know what it's been with me but I have been so slow at getting things done lately.

Preschool has started again (and, by the way, this years class is wonderful!), there is a Youth Conference for our church that I'm on the committee for, and we are trying to pull it all together,

and a WHOLE bunch of kid/family things going on. 

All of these things seem to have depleted my energy for getting some UFO's done.

Something that really bugs me is having an unfinished project lying around. 

Which is silly because it's not like I am in some kind of race or anything.

But, alas, I am a "finish it tonight" kind of gal... 

Not always a good thing.

But FINALLY I was able to finish a couple of them. It's a good thing, too, because if my sewing machine could talk, it would probably have tried to break up with me....for lack of attention! :)

A few months ago, I had an order for a black and white baby quilt. I cut too many squares so I made a couple things out of them.

Here are some baby tag blankets. They are so quick to make up.

I have seen a few little people playing with tag blankets at church.

I also had enough left over black and white squares to sew up this little quilt.

(If only I paid more attention in my math classes....I wouldn't do this to myself!)

I added pink on this one though. I also sewed pink ric-rac around the edges.

And finally, I finished up this wall quilt.

I just love the vintage 30's reproduction prints that are out now.

Craig mom bought me a charm pack of them this summer while we were there.

This is what I made with it.

It will be perfect for summer picnics.

(except in Arizona where we have winter picnics!)

Have a great day!

Time to get back in the Saddle!

Well, tomorrow's the big day. The day where everyone gets back to daily grind. Some of us have had to work a few days over the break, but for the most part, we have been preeeety lazy here at the Carter house. Ragan is not excited about school starting again. Makenzie is not excited about going back to work. But Craig and I are excited to get back to our old routine. I have missed my little preschoolers. And Craig can only do so much sitting without getting very ornery! :) While Craig has been watching (what seems to me) to be an endless stream of football games, I have been finishing up some unfinished projects. I really have my pick of SEVERAL. This is a little scrappy quilt that I will keep out for January. I keep some snowmen decorations out during January and this blue fabric will match them. I also was able to finish up this little quilt. Now all you quilty pro's just stand back from your computer a little and squint your eyes. This is not perfection by any stretch of the imagination. A few months ago, I sewed about a gazillion half square triangles, and by the end, I realized that I had measured wrong and couldn't use them for the project for which they were intended. I didn't want to waste them, so I threw this little baby together. I do believe I have chopped off most of the points and many seams do not match, but I adore the colors and can't wait to find a place to hang it. My favorite part of making a quilt is taking it out of the dryer after it has been quilted, washed and dried. I just love the wrinkly goodness!

I discovered a new blog recently. It is called, A Hole in the Basket Primitives. Ann has a Procrastinators Challenge going on. She is challenging everyone to finish up their unfinished projects and will give a prize to the top two finishers. I thought I would give it a go. I am not one to set resolutions in the new year (Except, I do hereby resolve to not make another batch of caramel corn until next Christmas. I must have eaten 10 gallons of that stuff!) but I thought her challenge just might be the kick in the hiney that I need.

Soooo, much to my shame and horror, I have included some photos of things I need to finish.....

I have been crocheting some scarves lately. 5 of them need the fringe put on.

This fabric is for some curtains. Some for the kitchen, the other for the family room.

This is the recent sorting of fabric that I have been thinking about making into a Valentine quilt or table runner.

This is what I have regrettably done to the top of a little hutch in the preschool room. I am such a piler! Surprisingly, all of these things have a place to go....just getting them there is the challenge!

Here is a preschool table, again piled to the max! And look--the calender still says December! Oh boy, do I have my work cut out for me!

Those with weak stomachs, avert your eyes immediately. The picture you are about to see will undoubtedly make you gasp!

But, we are only as sick as our secrets, right?? I have been hiding this mess for quite a while now. OH! the SHAME! :) I really want to get this organized....

Pop over to Ann's blog and join the fun! You have until Feb. 8Th to see how many projects you can finish.

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I have been wanting to have a giveaway for a little while now, but just haven't gotten around to posting about it. But this time, I wanted to add a little twist to my giveaway. It is going to be a SURPRISE giveaway!! I have been gathering a few things here and there and I promise, whoever wins this, will enjoy it! So, you know the drill....leave me a comment and tell me all about your unfinished projects and I will put your name in the drawing. The giveaway will go until Jan. 10Th. Post this giveaway on your blog, and I will add your name 5 more times! WOO HOO!

Don't forget to include your email address or some other way I can contact you! :):):)

Have a FANTASTIC SUNDAY!