Project Update & Free Supplies
I finally finished
. I am in a garage organizing mode, and I was not going to trip over this thing one more time. How's that for motivation. Since it isn't mine, I made an
top in a style that would suit my friend.
I used a remnant piece of tapestry that I knew my friend would love.
I finished it with antique gold
nailheads
for extra interest.
Now that this project is over, I have decided to clean out some of my supplies...
.
and you can have them, if you want. This stool used 33
nailheads
, so I made packages of 40. I also have too many cord cleats and plastic rings for roman shades. And about 500 drapery hooks.
If you would like any of the supplies, just leave a comment...
.
first come, first served basis (one bag of
nailheads
per person). Please make sure I have your email address. This is for the US and Canada, only.
I'll be pinning the stool to my
...leave your
ID if you want to be a
pinner
.
Enjoy the last full weekend of August...wow, did I just type that :(
A Moment of Blue & White Silence
You are looking at the most beautiful custom fabric I have ever seen. It was designed for me by my favorite graphic artist, Jennifer @ The Pink Pagoda. She asked me what my thoughts were for reupholstering my stools. Thoughts? I'm a single item collector... the big picture gets a bit fuzzy for me at times.
Stupid, I'm not...I gave Jennifer complete freedom and control over this one....wouldn't you?
This is her original design. I have no idea what her plans are for selling this? You can visit her Etsy store to see her prints that she does sell on a regular basis. As of now, I have an original one of a kind Pink Pagoda Blue & White fabric design. That's the name I gave it.
The hardest decision for me was to decide how I wanted to feature this print on my stools. For most upholstery projects, I like to focus on a single item and let the rest of the pattern fall all around it. I selected two different vases to feature.
This one
And this one.
I plan on adding some micro-mini pom poms.
Remember what my stools looked like?
I removed the tops and started to reupholster them. The only thing I saved is the black fabric from the underside.
When I started to remove the staples, thinking I would reuse the wood(?)
I found this mess...crumbling particle board.
I purchased a new piece of real wood, and took it over to my friend's workshop to cut it to size. One day I'll give you a tour of this workshop. It is through the roof filled with whatever you could possibly need for any project. Nat, the owner of this space, has a big NYC job and can't play out here as much as he would like. So....he actually loves when it gets used! Happy to oblige, Nat.
I am using a 3" piece of high density foam. Here are my thoughts about replacing foam.
The batting doesn't need to be super thick, just durable.
As you can see, the batting is what shapes the foam into place. The number (1) on the wood is because I have two stools, and each one is a bit different in size.
Now you can see that the top has shape to it, but not the final shape. Yes, I see those wonky edges.
Here is the secret to a smooth finish. I like to put a layer of lining over the batting to help shape the top even further. If you are using heavy upholstery fabric, you can skip this if you would like.
This is where you pull and staple to give the surface a clean shape.
A nice smooth shape.
And now for the dreaded corner. I'll show you how I like to do it, but I want you to know it takes a lot of practice getting the look that you like. Be kind to yourself, each time you will get better.
I pick the center of the fabric, and tack it to the underside.
Folding a nice pleat, I pull it in the direction of the corner. I do this about six times or so until I get the fold I like. Then, I staple it down.
This is the part that I don't see many people doing. I go back and remove as many staples as it takes to have a smooth clean side. The instructor that I learned from would make us take out an entire row of staples if necessary. Professional upholsters do this all the time. Be prepared to staple, remove, and re-staple wherever necessary.
Cut away any bulk that will keep the corners from laying flat.
This is what the corner looks like. Three more to go. For more tips on how to center your fabric, etc....you can read the tutorial I did for Tobi Fairley's blog. I still can't get over that one!
Here they are.
One centered vase.
Another centered vase.
The picture that I would want to see as a DIY'er....the corner.
These stools are so beautiful, I think I could put just these in my entry and call it a day. I may have to. I hope you come back on Wednesday for the final post on the One Room Challenge.
If you still need more upholstery information, you can check out my 31 Days of Upholstery.
Silly Boys!
Last week, my friend dropped by with this little stool. She asked, "can you save her?"
Two different {male} contractors said she can't be fixed. Now you DIY-ers are already seeing all the possibilities.....me too! It would not be a good idea to try and repair the split top
It would probably split again over time. However, is that where your imagination ends.....boys? Have you seen her legs?
What about those feet?
She's Cinderella, and those are glass slippers! I will be working on her and posting the "after" in a few days. How wold you fix her? What would your plan of attack be?
Dining Chairs, a tip...and some Thank You's!
Before I tell all of you about my dining chair make over, I want to give a huge thank you to Serenity Now and Craptastic for featuring my china hutch. It made my weekend!
Now, onto my dining chairs for the One Room Challenge. I love vintage chairs, like most of you (I read all of your profiles). However, vintage sets usually only have 4 side chairs and 2 head chairs. Today, most of us want 6 side chairs and 2 head chairs. This is the best tip I have ever received.....vintage head chairs are the SAME SIZE as their matching side chairs....only they have arms. What does that mean? If you remove the arms, and patch the holes, you will have 6 side chairs! Hello Craigslist.
Disclaimer, pictures were taken long before I blogged.
Potential side chairs
This is what the set looked like when I bought it from a neighbor.
4 side chairs, 2 head chairs
The various stages of the painting process. I cut a 1/4" thick piece of wood for the center and upholstered both sides. Now, they look like this
6 side chairs. In the beginning of the One Room Challenge, I showed you the head chairs that need to be reupholstered. Now, aren't vintage dining sets get a whole lot more appealing?
***Linking to***
Project Queen
A Bowl Full of Lemons
My Uncommon Slice
Kammy's Korner
Debbiedoo's
DIY Home Sweet Home
Funky Junk
Serenity Now
2805
Chic on a Shoestring
Miss Mustard Seed
Common Ground
French Country Cottage
My Romantic Home
Saved by Suzy
Semi Home-Made Piping
I needed some maroon/burgundy piping, and if you read my post yesterday, you can guess which room I will use it in. During my 31-day's series, I shared with you how to make custom piping. I also shared the wide assortment of ready-made piping that is available. Well, I forgot to mention another option, semi home-made piping. OK, I made the name up....but that's what it is! Here is what you need;
Several packages of wide bias tape (the less folds, the better)
Now, how to make it...
Press open all the bias tape. Note, be careful with your iron setting. There is a high polyester content, so keep it low.
To make one continuous length of piping, you will need to join all the strips together. Bias tape (hence the name) is cut on a bias, so you will need to sew the strips together on the bias. This will alow the strips to have some give and also keep your seams less bulky. With right sides together, and allowing an overhang on both pieces, sew along the white line (corner to corner)
Remember to take a few stitches backward so your stitches will be locked in place
Press it open
Place the cording inside the bias tape and fold over
Using a zipper foot, position the needle of the sewing machine as close to the cording as possible
Here is the trick to getting it tight; give a slight pull on the bias tape while sewing. You will need to pull from the top (behind the needle) as well as the bottom. This slight stretch of resistance will give you a nicer finished product.
13 yards later
You have piping the color and width you wanted. Now think of all the fun things you can do with contrast piping. Are you tackling any projects before the New Year?
***Linking to Addicted 2 Decorating***
Several packages of wide bias tape (the less folds, the better)
Cording the width and length you desire
Press open all the bias tape. Note, be careful with your iron setting. There is a high polyester content, so keep it low.
To make one continuous length of piping, you will need to join all the strips together. Bias tape (hence the name) is cut on a bias, so you will need to sew the strips together on the bias. This will alow the strips to have some give and also keep your seams less bulky. With right sides together, and allowing an overhang on both pieces, sew along the white line (corner to corner)
Remember to take a few stitches backward so your stitches will be locked in place
Go all the way to the corner, and back-stitch, again
Trim off the excess
Place the cording inside the bias tape and fold over
Using a zipper foot, position the needle of the sewing machine as close to the cording as possible
Here is the trick to getting it tight; give a slight pull on the bias tape while sewing. You will need to pull from the top (behind the needle) as well as the bottom. This slight stretch of resistance will give you a nicer finished product.
13 yards later
You have piping the color and width you wanted. Now think of all the fun things you can do with contrast piping. Are you tackling any projects before the New Year?
***Linking to Addicted 2 Decorating***
Upholstery 101 (week 10)
Hello, and welcome back...in case you are new here...this is an on-going upholstery series. To start at the beginning, go here.
Today will NOT be the last post....I don't know what I am doing I was not sure how to handle the arms, so this week was a lot of trial, and luckily not too many errors!
I decided to use Mackenzie-Childs as my upholstery influence for this chair. On the seat, and probably the back, I am using a camel colored velvet I had in my hoarding collection. Velvet fabric has a nap (a specific texture), and working with it is not hard, you just need to take the an extra step or two when you cut it. For more information on cutting fabrics with a nap, go here.
Jumping in...I placed a piece of the fabric loosely over the seat, tucking all around and making cuts like the lining
Using the piping that I made (now this is the part that I am experimenting...not sure how to finish the arms), I decided to staple it along the top inside edge of the chair. I started at the inside portion where the side fabric would also get stapled to the front side...
The staples do not need to be close together, this is only for holding the piping into position
Here goes the next part of my experiment, I placed the arm piece long that same edge, folding it over (right sides together) along the inside arm. It is how you would put the pieces together with the piping sandwiched between if you could magically sew them while on the chair
Using cardboard stripping (a common upholstery supply)
I placed the tack stripping along that seam (this is the magical sewing..only using staples) and stapled
...making sure that the staples are close together, like stitches. When the fabric is folded back over, it looks like this
Once I folded the fabric over, I felt it could use a thin layer of foam/fabric (sold at most craft stores). I lightly tacked it in place (maybe a staple every 3" very close to the edge). I trimmed it while it was on the chair
Now, back to the experiment...the rest of the arm. I could not keep applying the piping all the way around the arm in the same fashion....each piece covers the edges of the next piece...until you finish it with a gimp, double-welting, or fancy trim.
So I made a slit in the piping (careful not to cut into the finished roll) where the inside arm starts around the circle of the arm...I also slit the fabric at the same place
Now I am stapling the fabric and piping down the onto the side of the arm (no longer under).
When you examine these photos, you can see that it would not have been possible to tuck it all under, the way the inside piece was done
Also, note that the piping was tacked along the edge. Again, this is to hold it in place...more staples to come. Moving onto the seat....you have seen me do this many times....just like the seat in the Tobi Fairley chair...and then cutting when you are done
A few staples in the front to hold it
CORNERS ON THE FRONT.... This is the difficult part....I promise you will get better with practice!!! Remembering that the staples you put in may need to be re-positioned from time to time....working from the front center out....pull the fabric at a downward angle toward the arm....
At the arm, tuck under and trim off unseen bulky fabric and fold and tuck until you have a fold that you are happy with...I like this fold, and can adjust the rest of the front
So I tacked it into position
This is where you can see the nap of the fabric, it needs to be brushed out...the marks are not permanent. Here is the chair with a finished corner...you can predict how the other corner will get worked, and maybe re-worked!
I want to point out that the circular ends of the arms are charming, and commanding for your attention....I tried to cut the fabric for the arms with this in mind. I wanted both circles to have red berries and similar patterns on them. If you have a project that has a prominent feature, try to cut out your fabric with that feature in mind.
Hope to see you next Wednesday for what MUST be the Finale! Is anyone trying this at home?
Today will NOT be the last post....
I decided to use Mackenzie-Childs as my upholstery influence for this chair. On the seat, and probably the back, I am using a camel colored velvet I had in my
Jumping in...I placed a piece of the fabric loosely over the seat, tucking all around and making cuts like the lining
Using the piping that I made (now this is the part that I am experimenting...not sure how to finish the arms), I decided to staple it along the top inside edge of the chair. I started at the inside portion where the side fabric would also get stapled to the front side...
...I stopped at the top tassel
Here goes the next part of my experiment, I placed the arm piece long that same edge, folding it over (right sides together) along the inside arm. It is how you would put the pieces together with the piping sandwiched between if you could magically sew them while on the chair
Using cardboard stripping (a common upholstery supply)
I placed the tack stripping along that seam (this is the magical sewing..only using staples) and stapled
...making sure that the staples are close together, like stitches. When the fabric is folded back over, it looks like this
Once I folded the fabric over, I felt it could use a thin layer of foam/fabric (sold at most craft stores). I lightly tacked it in place (maybe a staple every 3" very close to the edge). I trimmed it while it was on the chair
Now, back to the experiment...the rest of the arm. I could not keep applying the piping all the way around the arm in the same fashion....each piece covers the edges of the next piece...until you finish it with a gimp, double-welting, or fancy trim.
So I made a slit in the piping (careful not to cut into the finished roll) where the inside arm starts around the circle of the arm...I also slit the fabric at the same place
Now I am stapling the fabric and piping down the onto the side of the arm (no longer under).
When you examine these photos, you can see that it would not have been possible to tuck it all under, the way the inside piece was done
Also, note that the piping was tacked along the edge. Again, this is to hold it in place...more staples to come. Moving onto the seat....you have seen me do this many times....just like the seat in the Tobi Fairley chair...and then cutting when you are done
CORNERS ON THE FRONT.... This is the difficult part....I promise you will get better with practice!!! Remembering that the staples you put in may need to be re-positioned from time to time....working from the front center out....pull the fabric at a downward angle toward the arm....
At the arm, tuck under and trim off unseen bulky fabric and fold and tuck until you have a fold that you are happy with...I like this fold, and can adjust the rest of the front
So I tacked it into position
Going back and removing (be careful not to scratch that painted frame) some of the previous staples, re-position and pull the fabric in the opposite direction to work out any wrinkles until it is smooth.
This is where you can see the nap of the fabric, it needs to be brushed out...the marks are not permanent. Here is the chair with a finished corner...you can predict how the other corner will get worked, and maybe re-worked!
I want to point out that the circular ends of the arms are charming, and commanding for your attention....I tried to cut the fabric for the arms with this in mind. I wanted both circles to have red berries and similar patterns on them. If you have a project that has a prominent feature, try to cut out your fabric with that feature in mind.
Hope to see you next Wednesday for what MUST be the Finale! Is anyone trying this at home?