No Fear!

 Well here's my first big project for 2013.  I don't know how to upholster a chair.  I've read lots of great tutorials in the world of blogs.  I've watched YouTube videos.  I DON'T KNOW HOW TO UPHOLSTER A CHAIR, but I decided to approach it with my new motto for the year.  No Fear!  People do it everyday.  I'm a smart girl.  I can do this.  How hard can it be?

This is what I started with.  Ugly.  Fabulous bones.  Cheap.  And let's be honest that's what it's about.  Taking something from cheap to outstanding.  It's a comfortable chair.  It could be lovely.  It cost $43.

I sewed what seemed like million miles of welting.  It always seems like a million miles when you are sewing welting.  I hate love sewing welting.  Honest.

I started taking off the old fabric and thought I was smoking it.  I reupholstered the sides, back and arms.  Look how fabulous that welting looks!  I thought WOW! this chair is going to be amazing.

After pulling a gajillion staples.  After pulling ugly fabric off until I was short of breath.  After trying three different staple guns to find one that sorta worked.  After I made it all work and it looked so pretty.  THEN like so many other things in life I discovered the error of my ways.  If it seems too easy, it is.  Count on that.   Write it down because it is reality missy.  I discovered all the upholstery in the center front of the chair is attached from the front to the outside of the frame.  As in it goes from the front all the way around the frame to the back and is attached under all the lovely new upholstery I just finished.  I wanted to wail, nash my teeth and weep.  I did none.  Oh I whined, but I didn't pitch the hissy fit I wanted to.  So what's a girl to do?  I ripped it all off.  All of the new lovely back breaking work.  Work I did with energy I really don't have to spare.

So here is where it is at now.  Evil. Naked. Chair.

Here is the only thing I could save from my first start.  Isn't it lovely?  

So.  Tomorrow I start with a naked evil chair.  I'll be taking my sore, beat up, crippled hands and sewing another million miles of welting.  I'm deconstructing the original cushion and using the pieces as a pattern for a new one.  I'll then start putting it back together.  I will get this chair reupholstered and looking like a million bucks.  I will go forth with NO FEAR!

How was your weekend?  Bet it was better than mine!

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM

P.S. - The Nelson is doing really great and back on the road to recovery.  Praise God!

Another Chance to Start Fresh

It's been forever since I've posted a thing.  The last three months have been nightmarish at best.  There really hasn't been anything great, or fun, or fabulous or anything anyone would want to hear about.  The Nelson has been really sick for several months and that has taken every bit of my energy which was in short supply to begin with.  I'm not sure what is going to happen with The Nelson but I can't change anything about it so I have to turn it over to God and have faith.  

The good news is it's a new year and I want to look at the positive for a change.  I'm sick to death of the bad and I don't want to dwell on it anymore.

First good thing is I finished CHEMO!!!!  Yeah for me!  Yippee! WOO HOO!  Zippity Do Da!

I will start radiation sometime this month but I'm one step closer to being done with the whole cancer nightmare.

New Years Eve we spent with the BugEaters at one of my all time favorite restaurants Crechales.  They have been in the Jackson area for over 50 years and still going strong.  They are moving in July and I fear it will never be the same so we wanted to all go and New Years Eve seemed like the perfect time.

This was the view outside my studio window this morning.   In a way it's magical and mystical looking.  In reality it was cold and wet but I appreciate the first description so much better. 

 And here is the first project of 2013.  A chevron pillow.  I know big damn deal, but when you haven't crafted, sewed, copied from Pinterest, something in forever it feels like a big deal.

I bought this great pillow to put out for Christmas that was linen and in silver said Peace.  It's actually one of the few decorations I even had out.  I went to put it away and realized I really liked the shape of this pillow in this spot.  (The spot is another new thing you'll see more of this year.)  So I just got up and decided to make something that worked year round.  It even has welting.  Are you swooning and impressed yet?

 One final thing.  This sweet ride should be arriving at the house tomorrow.  I wanted it from the moment I saw it at Target when they opened the Neiman Marcus line on December 1st.  It's by Alice + Olivia and I am in lurve with it.  It is technically my Christmas present but with all the shenanigans this month we didn't order it until last week.  I can't WAIT for it to get here.  I'll probably look like a hippo on a hip bike but what the hell, you only live once and it is considered exercise right?

So here's to a new year and a new slate to start writing on.  LB has a couple more days off before things gear up again so I plan to spend some much needed down time with him.  Did you do something fabulous to start off the new year or are you starting slow and steady?

LOVE, LOVE, KISS, KISS!

SNM