Kids Room, Part Un

I am just getting ready to head up "North", but I'd thought I would post how the kids toy room turned out. I found the curtain and pillow fabric at Home Fabrics in Orem and the Houndstooth on the settee came from Fabric.com. I love the bright colors! ITs a kids toy room so its allowed to be obnoxious. Right? The next project for this room would be to put a fun fabric on the wall, paint the TV hutch and hang some art. But for now, I am just happy I got this done… What do you think??

Before:

After!

I kept the lines the same as the original. I like the casual feel it had plus the cushion is amazing! Its a nice squishy down filled insert and is quite heavenly to sit on. I just did a informal skirt with a simple hemmed finish. I did not do a box pleat on the corners. Its a kids toy room and its gonna get used and abused and I did not want to turn into "Mean Mom" every time the slipcover got messy with common occurrence of fort building that goes on… I really like the casual vibe it gives off!

My next project around the house is curtains for the dining and family room area and slipcovering my couch and 2 chairs. I got a sample of the most awesome linen (I can feel my husband rolling his eyes at me right now)and can't wait to order it! With "linen" and "slipcover" some say good luck with the wrinkles, but when you wash a good linen it does something magical, it gets soft, worn and yummy! I am going for more of a "Restoration Hardware" look that is more relaxed and casual. Oh boy!! Can't wait!

I may have time to squeeze in 1 or 2 fittings friday while I am up north so if you are in need, contact me!

Stiff as a board

Soo.. I thought Id give you an update while I am working through this wicked stiff neck I have soo graciously acquired. Not! Its the worst! i am beginning to get them a little more often then I'd like. I had a spinal fusion almost 13 years ago due to scoliosis and when ever the weather has a drastic changed in temperature my back and neck are always slow to catch up! So..after enjoying a lovely day yesterday riding, attending parent teacher conference, and enjoying the 73 agree weather at the park with the kids I am stuck with this gem. Boo!!! Its cool, I'll work thru it. But until then I'll just turn my ENTIRE body to look left or right… seriously… What can I say, its the price I pay for perfect posture!

Enough of my little pitty party, I don't have time for it! I have finished up all my clients slipcovers that will I will be dropping off when I head up to Salt Lake this weekend. I have 2 wing chairs, a couch and 1 of 8 windsor chairs to drop off and a few new client fittings. I really hope "Old Stiffy" relaxes by tomorrow.. Yikes! Bring on the Bengay and Bayer. Monday, I was able to knock out a slipcover for another one of my pieces, a bunch of pillows and a set of curtain panels. I have been hoarding fabric for the kids toy room and I finally got around to making stuff out of it. Now I just need to get the curtain rod hung, which is going to be interesting in my condition. I wish I were a fly on the wall to watch this one. LOL! Anyways All you get for now is the before picture..sorry

I got this awesome settee about 5 or 6 years ago when we moved into our Orem house. Before I recognized my sewing skills.. I say that because this settee is slipcovered. And if you knew how much I paid for it your probably slap me! I know I would! and thats with the family discount I get at Thanksgiving Point! But it is super comfy, so I'd say it was worth it. now.

I picked up some fabric on fabric.com when Premier Prints was having that awesome sale. I chose a great twill grey and white houndstooth print. I also picked up curtain fabric for the dining and family rooms. How could you not? The prices were cheap! As for the rest of the fabrics for the kids toy room, I scored a ton of bright and fun prints at Home Fabrics that last time I was up. I hit the mother load! I can't wait to get everything on and up! I still have a few pieces of furniture that need some painting so Id say I have "step 1" done for the kids play room. Step 2 would be art work and step 3 would be painting the hutch (which I am not looking forward too…)

I'll have the reveal up later today after I get the curtain rod hung… Please pray for me;) Also, just a reminder. I will be up in Utah County and Salt Lake this weekend for my sister-in-laws baby showers. I have a few fittings friday but can probably squeeze in a 1 or 2 more either Thursday night or friday evening. Let me know if you want on my schedule. You will NEED to have your fabric ready to go by thursday afternoon. Feel free to text or email me! Now please excuse me while I got soak in the tub!

Pure Luck

So have I ever mentioned that I have a severe cat allergy?? Like I don't even have to touch them, just being in the same room with them can send me into an allergy spiral! I mean if a cat even brushes up against me I instantly hive out and feel the swelling in my throat… I just dropped off a slipcover for a client here in St. George and who has cats and dogs and I am still (an hour later) itchy and sneezy! But hey.. no pain, no gain. The worst is when I am fitting furniture that clients bring to me. If they have a cat, I will know within the first 5 minutes of measuring! Sometimes I feel like this…

Remember "Pure Luck" with Martin Short and Danny Glover?? This is after Martin Short had been stung by a bee in a tinny airplane. Hilarious! I remember watching this over and over with my brother when we were little and laughing soo hard we about peed out pants! I have never swelled up that bad but oh man.. Have you ever tried fitting a slipcover while you felt your throat was closing up, your eyes watering like crazy and sneezing uncontrollably?? Its a talent. Really..

Enough about my personal problems. I wanted to post my latest drop off. Yes she fosters cats and dogs, and she is the coolest lady I have met! Super down to earth and super sweet! She had a pair of antique settees that have been in her family for years. She just had them reupholstered but soon realized that she needed an option to deal with the hair that comes from being a pet foster home.. So what is durable and affordable and not awful to look at? Drop cloth! This was the perfect solution to her problem! Take a look at how great these little settees are.

She used a local upholstery shop for the restoration of the settees, who did an amazing job! We kept the lines of the original settee but extended the bottom by an inch. She absolutely loved them! and so did one of her cats..

Drop cloth is a great alternative to traditional fabric. Its durable, neutral and softens up really nice when washed. Perfect for house full of kids and/or pets.

I will be up North Feb 27-March 2nd. I have a few fittings already scheduled. If you want anything slipcovers, contact me to get on my schedule and I'll fit you while I am there!

The Carleton

I survived the week of family! We had a blast! But it feels great to sit down and relax. Ya right! I have been really busy this week and its only Thursday. Geeze! This week I worked on an oversized chair and ottoman from Pottery Barn - The Charleston.

I wish it was called "The Carlton"… click on the link. I dare you.

Remember this guy??

How great was that dance? How great was that show!? My darling client just bought the cutest house in Sugar House and wanted me to revive their sad chair. The chair itself is in great conditions, but the slipcover she had on it was dying a very sad and slow death! I told her that I have to make a pattern with the existing slipcover and that she would NOT be getting hers back. She literally jumped for joy and told me to burn when I was done! lol! The slipcover was not all that bad, for a luxurious brown velour that had been bleached by the sun.. and looked like burned chocolate. That would definitely not go with her cute newly remodeled house.. But you know what she found that would go amazingly with her house? This!

She scored this at the Midvale Home Fabrics. They had exactly 15 yards on the roll. It was just the perfect amount! After I destroyed her existing slipcover I was able to construct the new one. I was able to match up most of the noticeable pattern on the chair like the front, cushion and arms on the chair, but I was working with limited amounts so I had to cut carefully! I kept all the lines the same from the existing slipcover. Its hard to believe that this neatly folded pile of slipcovers is a chair, 3 cushions and an ottoman - 15 yards!!

So use your best imagination to picture the chair covered in this. Pretty cool! Her sweet Mother-in-law who happens to be a good family friend will be down in St. George this weekend so I am sending it back with her. So you'll have to wait for the after pics..

I am working on slipcovers for a pair of antique settees this weekend for a client here in St. George. Stay tuned!

My next trip up to Utah County will be Feb 27th thru March 2nd. Hit me up if you are wanting slipcovers! you need to get your fabric before then.

"Mortel 8"

I have been busy this past week and half with family dropping in. My mom, dad, brother and sister-in-law came down last weekend to golf, play and celebrate my mom's birthday.

And this week I had my in-laws plus my husbands 7 brothers and 1 of his 3 sisters.

They do an annual "boy golf trip" in St. George every year and now that we live here, we have opened up "Mortel 8"! I have never washed so many linens in my life! And I make slipcovers… Its a good thing I splurged on my washer and dryer. Sorry honey! But seriously.. Once you move to a "vacation" spot the masses come. I honestly can say that we have really had maybe 2 or 3 weeks since November that it has just been our little family. But it is soo fun to have friends and family come stay. But I am not gonna lie. I can't wait till our casita is done!!! Poor Laker thinks his bed is on the floor in his sisters room..

Last Sunday I headed to The Winter Market in Vegas with my mom. She goes down there every year to buy for Thanksgiving Point and this time I got to tag along. Um…It was like a textile Disneyland for me! this was the first thing I saw when we got there:

So many amazing fabrics, furniture and just stuff to see. It was super inspirational for me and gave me some great ideas for the future.

Today I just shipped out an ottoman cover and 2 cushion covers to a client in Provo. She is going to have to send me pictures when she gets it, but I fell in love with her color combo when I went for her fitting. She had me slipcover her ottoman that looks just like this:

We kept the box pleat skirt and I added a band around the top to break it up. She chose a black duck cotton for the ottoman and cushions. I took all her measurements there and put it together here.. Lets cross our fingers the ottoman fits..lol! She has a great white slipcovered sofa in the same room and is going to be doing pillows out of these two fabrics:

umm… they are pretty great! I love that she is mixing these in white black and white! I immediately ran to Home Fabrics in Orem to go see if they had enough for a few projects around the house. (Actually I had just bought fabric earlier that day for the kids room settee, curtains and pillows and I was immediately jealous that I did not go that route..haha) Luckily for me they love me there and I was able to swap out my fabrics, but sadly they did not have enough of the blue large ikat print. sniff. sniff.. But thats ok. I worked it out. I am really digging the blue and white right now. Soo fun and soo bright! I did just place an order today for the kids settee, dining room and family room curtains. Can you say Houndstooth!!! I can t wait! But lets be honest.. I still have to cover 2 wing chairs, 2 oversized chairs plus ottomans, 2 parsons chairs and now 2 settees here in town…

I scored big time on my fabric tho! Fabric.com is have a 20% off Premier Prints right now and they have really added some pretty great prints to their line up. And at $6 a yard you can't go wrong! So have a great weekend! I know I will. My horse is being brought down tomorrow and I can't wait!!

Busy Bee

This past weekend I headed up to Utah County to get my horse gear all packed up before her move down to St. George next weekend. I am beyond excited to finally have her here! I went from riding her 3 times a week to once a month when we were up for holidays.. Thankfully I have a AWESOME trainer is riding her in my absence. She is in Florida (Wellington) right now at the UDSF/FEI Trainers Conference and I can't wait to hear all about it. Never-mind that I am super jealous right now, but maybe next year I can go as an "auditor". Soo much to learn, not to mention you get to listen to and watch the best riders in the world teach! AHHHH! I know, this is spanish to you but I love it!!

So, I figured if I have to make the trip up there I may as well fit some slipcovers too! I was originally planning to fit 1 sectional and pick up a chair to bring back with me. Well, once word was out I was up I was SWAMPED from the moment I hit Utah County! Saturday I spent the day selecting fabrics for clients, dropping off drapes, fitting an ottoman, cushions, 2 couches, 2 wing back chairs, a swivel rocker, windsor chairs, measuring 2 sectionals and picking up 2 existing slipcovers to take back, rip apart and make new covers for. Not to mention make a slipcover for a client in 1 day! Lets just say I am exhausted! I am so lucky that my parents were excited to see their grandkids…because they pretty much had them for 2 days straight. I am thrilled to have a garage full of stuff to sew. Remember.. I can't sit still..

The chair I had to fit and make in a day belonged to a wonderful client of mine. I did a bunch of stuff for her a few years ago. She had this swivel rock her that belonged to her mother who had just passed away. She wanted a slipcover made for it so that it would look nice in her guest bedroom and when she saw I was going to be up she jumped on the chance to have me slipcover it. I showed her a picture of my swivel rockers and she fell in love! When she went to order the fabric for the chair she was too late. The remaining 8 yards online had been purchased, so she went with the next best print. So the plan was to ship the fabric to me and to take her chair home and cover it there, but when I stopped in at the Orem Home Fabrics they had my very same print with grays and browns! So I got her on the phone, texted her a picture and before I knew it I was walking out with fabric for her chair. It was a miracle! But that meant I had to bust it out in 1 day because I was heading back to St. George Monday. Here is her chair that she dropped off

Remember..I have a love affair with a good swivel rocker.. they seriously are the best!! I kept the lines as close to the original lines of the chair. It had an attached back cushion that was tufted but I know I could hide it if I created a band along the top and sides of the chair. I also kept the look of the box skirt the chair had. Here is how it looks now:

It will look so great in her home! I can't wait to see it in her house.

On another note, I have been eyeing up Ballard Designs Original Home Office desk system for months and I finally pulled the trigger yesterday!!! I can't wait for it to get here!

Last note...I am planning on making another trip up next month to drop everything off and fit 2 sectionals. If you are wanting on my schedule up north contact me so we can get the process rolling! You just need to have your fabric ready to go, I will take care of the rest! Also, Home Fabric in Orem and Midvale have AMAZING stuff right now!!! I may have brought home more fabric for me.. Its a sickness, I know, and the only cure for it is to make more things!!! So check back as I'll be posting more things this week as they get finished.

Also, I have 2 over-stuffed rolled arm chairs with white legs on casters that I got from Thanksgiving Point. They are amazing chairs and are available to be slipcovered. They just need better fabric (in my opinion).. Once I figure out the yardage I'll get pics posted. They will be $500 ea plus the cost of fabric. Here is a picture of what you could have to get your mind rolling….

Peace out!!

"agreeable grey"

I am loving our new house. Sure my heart was set building our (my) dream house but when this opportunity to move to St. George popped up we had to take it. Even if that meant buying an existing home. Lucky for us we hit the jackpot! We found a house that fit us perfectly, did not look like the typical "St. George" house and it was new construction! Umm, not to mention, people down here love LOVE their RV/toy garages. No joke, some houses down here are all garage in the front. And not like the typical 3 car garage. Im talking 2 story garages! anyways, back to the point.. Every house we looked at was painted in that awful beige almost pink tone. Sorry if you dig that but no bueno for me! Porcelain tile and beige pink carpet... So when we walked into our home I immediately love it because it had dark hardwood thru out, travertine in the bathrooms and the walls were grey!!! Actually, "Agreeable Grey" to be exact. Our builder laughed at me case I told him that color can "go both ways"… But it really can! You can play with neutrals and greys. SOLD!

The house was pretty much finished when we looked at it but we were able to pick out our back splash for the kitchen. I was stoked! I immediately knew what we (I) wanted. subway tile with a herringbone pattern over the cooktop. Simple. Clean. Easy. Right? When I went to pick tile I ran into a problem. White subway tile was too bright against the countertop. So the sales lady showed me a white glass subway tile that was softer and would still have that impact we were looking for with the white. Problem solved. Well the tile had to be ordered and finally after waiting a month or so installation day came! Monday they came and installed the tile. It looked great! After they left i cleaned up the plastic to see what it looked like against the countertop. I about died! It was horrendous!! It was SOOO bright! With a hint of blue. And "Agreeable Grey" was not being very agreeable.. Seriously, the lady said it would be a "soft white". What did I do?? My first thoughts were 1. Steve is going to kill me and 2. How many slipcovers will I need to make to replace the countertops so it will look good together? Ya, because my first thought was to replace the countertops, not the backsplash.. The next day they came back to grout the tile. All I can say is I dodges a HUGE bullet! The grey grout softened up the bright white and it looks awesome! I love it but I honestly about died!!! Here it is!

See. I was freaking out for nothing. And it made me replace my slipcovers for my IKEA barstools! Remember these?

Time to say bye bye.. in with the new! Remember that I got some pretty great grey fabric over christmas break? I finally made something out of it yesterday. I only had 6 yards to work with split between 2 fabrics, a geometric print and a stripe. So I had a little fun with it and mixed them together. I used the stripe for the seat backs and the piping and the geometric print for the seat and the skirt. I have just enough fabric left over for a nice comfy dog bed for Buba!

Just the right amount of obnoxiousness.. Lol! I no longer need my old covers, they fit this IKEA barstool. Hit me up if you want them, $100 for the 4. They are washable and velcro on under the stool for a nice snug fit.

I am working on some curtains over the weekend for me and a client. I am going to be up in Utah County Jan 18-20 to do a few couch fittings for clients. If you want something made contact me ASAP so I can get you on my fitting schedule. Have great weekend! I know I will.