Chair Slipcover

All over blog land are newbie sewers who are making incredible slipcovers for their furniture for a song.  I need to redo my home and need to do it for a song.  I can sew.  I fancy myself as a pretty decent sewer; I have made curtains, pillows, and clothes. 

We have lived in our home for almost 10 years and I admit that the colour of the walls and the basic furnishings have remained the same for most of that time.  There have been brief furniture moves, but essentially, it is the same space.

Blue is my favourite colour.  Why then, is my living room green?  It was lovely and cosy and much, much better than the 80's peach on the walls when we moved it.  The last 10 years have been spent focused on raising three kids and not much on home decorating.  Enter blog land to make my living room feel, well, BLEAH.

Did I mention I needed to redecorate on a song?  That means not breaking the bank to get a nice home.  Heck, that means not visiting the bank.  Inspiration derived from many blogs - some of whom even graciously include detail tutorials - means that I feel I can totally tackle some slipcovers.  That and a few free metres of the perfect blue fabric. (THANKS MOM!!)

Enter a free chair minus cushion.  FREE.  Hello.  I looked at my dear husband, promised things I'd rather not share and asked him if he would go get it for me.  He did, I did. Let's move on.

No cushion, no problem!

And there it sat, and sat.  A free chair sans cushion, for almost a year. 

My mom purchased the cushion for me.  (I have to pay her back, but the foam place is not open at night or on weekends) I made her a template, told her I wanted the hardest foam they have and sent her off.  I had budgeted $80.00 for it.  It cost $30.00 hello. 

The Christmas break was longer for me this year (thank you work!) and Ian had time off during the season for the first time since our son Tavish was born. (that is Tavish in the background up there) This meant I had some time on my hands.  I am allergic to time on my hands.  It took me an entire day to create patterns to make my slipcover.  I want a tight cover, one that looks a bit less shabby and more chic.  I am going to add a shabby couch cover and a nice french-inspired coffee table.  I will blog about those later.  I also found some wicked fabric to add interest, expect a blog later.

The cushion is done, that leaves the rest of the slipcover.  I promise to blog about it with a nice reveal.

Live High.
Heather

Silver Scallops Scarf

close up on the stitches

My office is freezing.  I keep a large black wool cape behind my office door.  We have space heaters in everyone's office for the extra cold days.  I started this silver scallops scarf to add to my collection.  I wear it to my office on the not so cold days to add a bit more style to my outfits.  Winters for me are mainly pants and turtlenecks.  I hate being cold and this extra long scarf makes my days nice and toasty.

It is a simple pattern that anyone can make.  It take s a bit to make and it took me longer because I get a sore back from sitting so long. Click  to check out the pattern here

I wore it to a meeting recently and recieved a request to make one for my friend Jennine, I will, happy to, it just may arrive for the warm weather.

Live High,

Heather

New Use for Books

Now that we all have tablets or kobos, who needs an actual book anymore?  Don't flame me, I don't really mean it.  I love books, but I love my kobo more.  Making the transition to digital reading has been easy.  Books present an inexpensive source of craft material that looks vintage. 

I know Valentine's Day  has passed, maybe you can put this idea in your mind for next year.  It was a crappy book, but pick one with love in it.  Perhaps a good harlequin will do.  Cut the pages in different lengths.  I used four different lenghts.  Staple in the centre and then again at the bottom.  Voila, you be done.  No chocolates required.  Let me know if you make some.

Live High,

Heather