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March 31, 2014

Hi. Today I thought I'd share an experiment that actually worked. I know the "Pinterest FAIL"s are fun to laugh at but I was sure glad this didn't turn out to be the case.

Often when I go visit my girlfriend Jackie we like to have a project. The roman blinds I made for her kitchen a couple years ago remain one of my favorites. Jackie has very elegant taste in furniture. She had a pair of side chairs in red raw silk that had been pretty trashed over the years, but she loved them so much she just couldn't let them go. So I suggested we paint them! I'd wanted to try it since seeing so many examples online, and we didn't have anything to lose.

Not sure why I took a *before* pic, other than to chronicle just how thrashed they really were before we started. ;-)

It's been several months, and I'd forgotten this step, but as you can see in the above photo we spritzed the fabric with water before putting our first coat of Kilz primer paint. Why? I guess I assumed the fabric would *grab* it better. I can't remember. I just know it worked! I don't think the tutorials I looked at before doing this project used primer. I chose to because it was Red Raw Silk. I expected it to bleed through any paint, including the primer!

First coat of primer. Still not sure where this is going!

Second coat of primer. Wow! Not the texture we were expecting (as we had NO expectations). We're thinking it's kind of like leather. Certainly no longer fabric-like, but not gross and stained so whatever it is, we like it better. (Here comes the magic! Are you ready?)

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Ta Dah!!

All we used was indoor latex paint with a squirt of fabric medium added. 

Look how those tufts and buttons and creases soaked it all up perfectly. Everyone who came and looked just couldn't believe that the paint wouldn't start crumbling or peeling or something. I think it helps that the upholstery is tight, you know--not soft and cushy. 

But it's been almost a year now and they still look awesome. Nobody would ever guess they were painted! And that color! They remind me of something out of a Doris Day movie ;-) Love them.

So, if you have a yucky piece of upholstered furniture that is one step away from the junk heap  but it is still solid, give it a try! A quart of primer, a quart of indoor latex, a little bottle of any old fabric medium, and a shot of courage. Good luck!

March 19, 2014

Hey there creative friends! When's the last time you made an ABC quilt? I bet you'd like to! Some of you may recall I used to sell these 4" letter sets on etsy. They were quite popular--versatile, too! You can make a square quilt

by combining the I and J in one block

or the Y and Z in one block!

Then of course there's a good ol' rectangle quilt where you can do all sorts of fun things in the corners.

Bean bags are fun, too!

I'm sure you can think of all sorts of uses for these! 

I've made them in nine different colored pin dot cottons, with iron on adhesive applied to the backs. It just doesn't get much easier! All you have to do is click either the etsy or the ebay banner up in the left corner of this page and there you go.

Thanks! :-)

March 13, 2014

Today I want to share the result of something I've been working on and thinking about for over a month! 

Not long ago I got it in my mind that I really should "get back to work". I've been somewhat retired (doing whatever I want) for going on 15 years now, but I'm thinking more and more that I should be 'out there' and making my own money. Three of our four daughters work with the general public and the stories I hear!---I suspect I'm too intolerant to last long at a Starbuck's or Safeway. And ALL applications are done online these days! Reading about me on a computer generated list; I am a 56 year old grandmother who hasn't really worked in 15 years. PASS! lol. So I got it in my mind that I should do what makes me excited to get up every day and not feel like I'm working. And that is to CREATE! I've spent years decorating and making for friends and family, many results that I've shared here on this blog, but I'd like to see if people might actually want to pay me to decorate for them, too!

To help get the idea rolling, I asked a friend with one year old twins if she'd be my first. She took a chance and said "yes!". Even better, I got to do the work while they were out of town for two days. Aside from a general color palette I had shared with her, Carrie had no idea what I was going to do. I really appreciate that she trusted me! Here is the before pic.

The room is 10 x 10. 

Here is the bright and happy after!

You know my old blog still gets 500+ hits a day for my roman blind tutorial...So I can't imagine doing a room without making one. They just add such a custom touch I think!

Carrie was hoping for lighting a little more conducive to naptime than the previous mini blinds and I think this helps a lot.

This fabric by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake couldn't be cuter!

My idea for tying in two unmatched cribs was matching quilts. I bought a white twin size quilt at Tuesday Morning, cut it in half (and then some), and personalized them with their names. :-)

 

I always knew I wanted that saying between the two cribs. When the one I ordered on etsy ended up being too big, I put a call out on a local Facebook page I'm on and thank the Lord Melissa Essig came to my rescue! She made a couple of tweaks to it that made me love it even more. Seriously, check out her wood signs. She's awesome!

This is the third or fourth old sewing machine cabinet that I've upcycled into a more useful piece. I think this is my favorite one yet. When I found that scalloped wood trim at Michael's years ago I bought every stick they had. I've previously shared projects using it here and here. Now I still dream about finding more. Have googled the heck out of it and keep coming up empty. I have one strip left. :-(

Hello cute! I think this little corner really packs a punch, don't you? IKEA table and shelves done over to meet our needs. :-)

The scallop paint around the the ceiling--I'm sure we all agree really makes the room POP! I have no secrets or tips to share with you. I went around and around that room probably six times (lost count of the times I went up and down a ladder) and all I can say is you've gotta have real determination. Which you know I always do. ;-)

I've created a new Facebook page, as a business and another means of publicly sharing creativity. I'd love it if you like it. Uniquely Chic Decor. Thanks!