I know I said I would finish my blog post tomorrow, and yes I know that was 3 days ago, but I am doing it today instead. <grin>
I think I said I would tell you about a few of my current projects. Good thing I am going to keep it to a few or we would both be here for a long time. Surely I'm not the only one with several projects on the go at once.
Earlier this winter a friend and I went to a introduction class to Annie Sloan paints and techniques. I was enjoyable couple of hours and has given me so many ideas for projects that need to be done around the house. The first project I decided to tackle was a small wooden bench/storage chest that I had purchased at a consignment shop on our last trip to Ontario to visit to our son. I actually purchased a few items that trip and here is a before shot of the chest alongside a large metal can that also came to live at our place. It was in terrific shape and although it was not a fine antique I knew it was just what I wanted for the foot of my bed. I had been wanting a small bench and the fact that this one had storage in it was an added bonus!
In progress with just paint
But how much richness the wax adds to her look. Here she is dressed in her new coat of Annie Sloan "Emperor Silk" red paint and finished with dark wax.
I also purchased a couple chairs from the same store and hauled them home from Ontario...poor Mr O! He just shakes his head...
In my haste to start this project I for the before pics so you will have to trust me on this one that they look WAY better with the makeover. I painted them in AS Graphite, again this totally changes it's look once the wax is added. The seats were covered with very black cord type fabric so that had to go. I have always been quite smitten with linens and toiles and ticking and although I have some in my stash, I needed a particular colour of ticking for this job. One very rainy day a couple weeks ago 4 amigos went on a road trip to do some fabric shopping and to pick up Ruby from her very long stay at the sewing machine hospital. We were able to score some great purchases at terrific prices across the border in Maine. I had the perfect piece of ticking for my chairs!
This is what they look like finished...well, almost finished. It needs a few more staples in the fabric, but as luck would have it I ran out of taples in the stap,e gun and with Mr. O away I was a bit of a loss as to where to find them, but you get the idea from this shot.
No I didn't miss a spot. I distressed them a it after painting and before the wax went on. I cant have them looking too new, they won't match anything else in the house! 😳
I had a couple projects in mind while shopping and was able to get one of them almost completed last weekend while at the cottage.
We have 2 futons in the guest house/quilt studio for overflow company. I was really feeling crowded with 2 of them and with a grand daughter getting her own apartment this fall while away at university I was able to pawn donate it to her. She is happy, and Nanny is happy! ( She was also happy to take a coffee table off my hands as well)
I kept one futon but was not totally enamoured with the fabric so I decided to make a slip cover for it in red and white ticking. Yes I know summer is tick season but for me this summer is ticking season! I wanted this to be as easy as possible to make and change as possible so the plan I cam up with was to make a large tube and then sew twill tape ties along the edges to keep things closed and secure. I am quite happy with the results. Unfortunately I was not able to purchase as much twill tape as needed so once I am able to get a few more meters of it I can complete that job as well. In the meantime it is working out just fine.
FUTON BEFORE
FUTON AFTER
I have several cushions that I brought home to recover so that will make it look a lot better once they are done.
I have an old Queen Anne chair that I love but has seen better days, so I shampooed it and am now in the process of covering the seat cushion. The original plan was to make a slipcover for the whole chair, (😱 what was I thinking!) however after shampooing the chair I came to the conclesion that covering the arms and the cushion would be sufficient. That is now a work in progress. I started out with a floral fabric, then switched to ticking and yesterday I decided that I wanted something different. I have been struggling with the piping. Not only have I never done that before but I am trying to replicate the method used by the original makers of the chair where the piping is not a piece unto itself but it is fitted into the seam while the top and side are sewed together thus making less bulk in the seam...I know I know...that explanation was as clear as mud and you are scratching your head saying, "what in the world is she talking about?"
I know what I need to do but fabric is limited so I may have to go at it ankther way after all...tume will tell.
This is my chair
She looks much better since her shampoo, but the cushion was realling hurting so this is what has happened to her.
The cover has been removed and dismantled so I could use it as a template for the new cover and yes that is ink on it! Don't ask!
I am really labouring over this project because I want it to look good. This chair is an old favourite of mine and she deserves it.
Mama also used to tell us, "whatever you do, do with your might. Things done by half are never done right."
While going through my decor fabrics I discovered a piece I had purchased while vacationing in Spain and I think it is just crazy enough that it might work with the blue fabric of the chair and the red and white ticking and the Union Jack throw quilt for the futon. It is a Queen Anne chair after all so this British themed fabric should be fun!
Come on now! Keep an open mind!
I purchased an antique dresser/cabinet this weekend as well and I am trying to decide on a colour for it. It will be residing in the beach studio and will probably house quilts and blankets. I think she will add some character to the place and I want her colour to reall "sing". My first choice was the same red as my little bench chest but I am also leaning toward an English Yellow. What would you pick?
I made several jars of stewed rhubarb this week and 11 jars of Heavenly Jam today.
See that little zip lock bag of rhubarb? I'm saving that to make another rhubarb loaf just like the one I made a week or two ago. It was without a doubt the best rhubarb loaf ever! I mean E-V-E-R! Really. I also made it into muffins for our fabric buying road trip. A tasty snack.
This is the loaf minus a slice or 2.
This is the recipe in case you want to give it a try. I used the zest from the whole orange not just the requested tablespoon and I also added a cup of chopped pecans.
My weight loss journey has taken a bit of a detour and I really need to focus and get back on track. ( please refer to the previous paragraph and photos to help you to understand about the afore mentioned detour) In all fairness with all the bad weather, walking has been difficult and any excuse to eat is a good one, which is ok if you offset the damage with physical activity but things have been a little lopsided lately and I need a good kick in the pants to get me motivated. I started out today fully intending to walk...got my hiking shoes on and then realized I better get my rhubarb washed and cut for my jam, so the apron went on instead, but I have to say I was really rocking this look today; ruffled apron over my skirt with hiking shoes!
Something else my Mama used to tell us was, "be yourself. Don't worry about what everyone else is wearing."
I'm pretty sure this is not a look everyone else is wearing! How am I doing Mom?
