How to Reupholster Those Sad, Old, Chewed-on Kitchen Chairs

Hello again! It’s been a while since I’ve posted on here, and that’s due to so much changing in our family. One big change is that we moved back to the city for my husband’s work. It’s nice to have a Walmart within minutes of home rather than an hour, but we do miss the quiet country nights. One of these days we’ll go back. Another is that we are expecting a wonderful baby boy at the end of November (unless he’s stubborn and stays in til December)! He has been healthy and active thus far, even though momma feels like there’s a bowling ball on my hips. Still, we’ve been busy busy prepping for his arrival and trying to get the nursery together. That will be for another post 🙂

Today though, I wanted to show off a project I did mostly myself- even at 7 months pregnant! There were little power tools used yet it makes quite a difference. I love me some power tools (they aren’t just toys for boys!) but with a little bun in the oven, I have to be careful with what I do. So today, I’m sharing how to reupholster your kitchen chairs with ease!

A little groddy after being in storage for a few years…

Here is a before shot of the kitchen chairs. These guys were given to us a few years back, and from that moment, I wanted to redo the cushions. After some moves between states, however, they ended up in storage at my in-law’s barn. As we moved back to Missouri, we finally pulled them out again to found it like this: Covered in cobwebs, hornets nests, and the vinyl chewed away… Not the most attractive chairs I’ve seen. Still, we packed them up and took them with us, and I made it my mission to fix these chairs as soon as possible.

Soon, I had time open up and paid a visit to my wonderful grandparent’s house. With grandparents who specialize and dabble in practically everything (sewing, woodworking, canning, etc), I knew they would be able to help me out. First, we looked for fabric that was sturdy yet attractive- though anything is better than that vinyl. As luck would have it, my Gma had leftover fabric she had used to recover the cushions in their camper and she gave me free reign. If you ave none on hand, look for a heavier cloth such as those found in the home decor/outdoor section of your fabric store so that your chairs will withstand the many people who come to sit there.

Next, it was time to play surgery and detach the cushions from the chairs. If yours were as groddy as mine, give it a good wipe down and make sure there are no hornets still hanging about. Yikes! As you can see in my picture below, the cushion is screwed in at the corners. So easy peasy, grab a screwdriver and detach those guys (just make sure to keep your screws or put them in a baggie if you lose things easily… kinda like me).

After the frame is detached, we are ready to rip that outdated vinyl off! Except, it’s a bit harder to rip because of the hundreds of staples put in place by the original makers -sigh- In this case, you will want to get some pliers and a flathead screwdriver, then spend some quality time listening to music while you rip staples out of all the chairs. The Black Keys always put me in a good mood, even with such repetitive work.

So many staples!!

Wooh! Now that’s done, it is time to assess your seating foam. Despite the chewed up vinyl, the foam was clean and without tears or damage. Not everyone may be so lucky, but if you know how much you foam you need, you can find it at your local fabric store. Or cut up an old mattress pad to use, which is actually what I did in another project… but I’m getting ahead of myself. Measure your seats and cut your fabric accordingly. We made sure to cut it about 2-3 inches bigger than the seat so it would easily cover and leave room for new staples. Position your seat upside down onto the fabric, centering it as shown here.

Then you will fold up your fabric and begin to staple it as if you would stretching a canvas. Wait, what? I know many of you haven’t done this before (benefit of college art classes), so I’ll explain this for you:

Start in the middle of one side and pull tightly. With your staple gun, put in 1-2 staples to tack down that fabric. Go to another side and do the same. Once you have tacked down all four sides, work from the middle and tack down the fabric going towards the corners (make sure you pull tightly each time). Keep rotating in order to have even tightness around your chair. Leave enough fabric at the edges to properly fold- which I will show you, do not fret.

Start in the middle and work your way out

Now that you have these flaps on the corners, it is time to fold them up. This part takes some playing to make sure it is flat without puckering, but you can do it. Make sure to pull on this fabric too, trying to make a smooth finish on the other side. Once you have it nicely folded, staple it like there’s no tomorrow! Repeat this process for however many cushions you have (we have 3, since one chair mysteriously disappeared…hmmm).

Pull fabric while folding to get a nice finish on the other side

Almost done, I promise! With your lovely cushions covered anew, time to put them back onto your chair frames. Simple enough, just line them up and screw them back on. And with that, your chairs have a total face lift; just look at the difference!

Isn’t it beautiful? Gone is the dark, chewed-up chairs of yesterday. Now we have kitchen chairs that I don’t want to hide away. The floral fabric goes wonderfully with the medium wood color, and it’s not overly girly for my husband to object to (he usually gives me free reign on this stuff but I try to be courteous and use bold patterns sparingly). So here is my simple way of reupholstering those sad kitchen chair cushions! Hopefully this tutorial was helpful to you, and if you have questions, feel free to message me.

Have a great day, and happy fall! Do some crafts with the windows open- the weather is great!

Recent Refashions– aka How to Use My Husband’s Clothes

The sun is getting hotter here in Arkansas, and I find myself inside lately from 11am-5pm. I usually love summer, but with my pregnancy, I tend to overheat more quickly than I used to. So what to do with that time? Naps are wonderful but not the most productive; reading is nice but I’ve run out of books to read at the house. Well, I guess it’s time to whip out the sewing machine!

At just 15 weeks pregnant, most of my pants and skirts don’t fit anymore- bummer. My solution normally is to be a thrifty individual and peruse Goodwill, thrift stores, and consignment shops. However, living in such a rural area now surrounded by farmland, the closest store is about an hour away and such trip usually entail more important errands (groceries, doctor’s visits, etc.) What’s a girl to do?

Well… I turned to my husband’s wardrobe! He has many dress shirts and t-shirts which he hasn’t worn since high school (or at all, even). With his current attire consisting of Army shirts and cowboy boots, I didn’t think he’d mind me weeding out his piles of old clothes. Disclaimer: Always ask your spouse/significant other for permission to use something before cutting it up. I nearly made that mistake with a beloved dress shirt he doesn’t wear, but he swears up and down he likes. Woops!

Here is a refashion I did with a pink plaid dress shirt. He would never be caught in pink nowadays, so it was a safe bet. Obviously it’s quite large on me, but I liked the length and the amount of fabric on the bottom (trying to prepare for the growing tummy). After searching around Pinterest, I found this link on Cotton and Curls, which has many wonderful maternity sewing tutorials among others. By following the instructions and adjusting the sides to keep the full length, I was able to turn a large, unappreciated shirt into a tank dress perfect for summer! Just add some shorts or yoga pants (my favorite) and enjoy!

I also made a simple ribbon of leftover fabric to create a tie- gives more shape!

My second refashion is with one of his old t-shirts. He wears Army shirts, but has received several shirts with different military branches over the years. So with a light blue Air Force shirt, I decided it was long enough to make a simple skirt. I cut the shirt just under the armpits, keeping the length of the t-shirt and leaving the hemmed bottom. Then after creating a casing at the top, I simply measured around my hips (since my waist is quickly expanding outward) and inserted 1/2″ elastic using a trusty safety pin. Sew up the opening, sew on the elastic to secure, and presto! But then it seemed a little bland, so I made small pockets using yellow floral scraps from my mother-in-law. After hiding the raw edges and sewing onto the skirt, I was done!

This oversized shirt makes for a comfy summer skirt!

These are just two projects that you can use to refashion those clothes laying about. I plan on making much more this summer- while I still have the energy to do so. Now this thrifty girl can be slightly more comfortable as I change size frequently, and it cost me nothing since I already had the elastic from a project a few years back. Hope these inspired you to reevaluate those old clothes and bring new life to them!

 

Big News! And A Shift in Interests

Hello all! It has been quite some time since I’ve posted anything on here. With a move, getting situated, and life changing quickly, there hasn’t been much time to hop online. One very big change occurred and will arrive in about 5 months… a baby!That’s right, my husband and I are expecting a sweet little one at the end of November. We are very excited for the new addition, and can’t wait to meet Baby M!

 Since the news, we have been trying to find better employment and figuring out the many things a baby will need (clothes, equipment, bedding, etc). So many things are expensive nowadays! Don’t they know raising a child is expensive? With that in mind and some time on my hands, I’ve searched the interwebs and decided it was time for me to pick up sewing. My first article was on how to sew baby burp cloths (which I have made several more for my expectant friends), but I needed to venture outside the simple straight stitch and believe that I can make better things.

What am I saying with all this? Could be pregnancy brain making me get off track a bit, but here’s the news: I’ve had a shift in interests. This blog will still have art and projects- I’ll never stop being an artist- but you will likely see a lot more sewing projects and ideas here for a while. Once we have a baby room set up, you’ll see more art and decor posted here. I will try to have good tutorials with many of the articles,

Change can be very good, and I think this blog will be better than it has been with the change. I’ll try my best to keep up here before our bundle of joy arrives, and there will be many projects and ideas ahead. Art is in everything we do, even sewing a straight line.

Open to the Transitions of Life

      

Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

  Hello all, sorry I haven’t written in a while. My coffee table project is almost finished, and I will have pictures up soon. However, even with some more free time than I know what to do with, I have struggled to create or start a new craft. A lot has been on my mind here of late, and I thought I’d share it with you. Maybe getting it out there will help me free my mind to create again, maybe.

My husband and I are soon moving from our apartment in Missouri to farmland in Arkansas. Due to some health factors and possible opportunities, we are moving down to live at the family farm with Luke’s parents. I grew up in a small farm town myself, and living in the country has its many qualities: fresh air (unless you’re near a turkey farm), wide open space, dirt roads and peaceful nights. I’m thrilled to be away from the constant noise of the city and not waking up to train horns, but part of me is… scared? Unsure? “But why”, you may ask, “if you grew up in something similar?”

I admit, I had my own set of plans of things to accomplish by this age: teaching job squared away, saving up for a house, baby on the way. Plan A, if you will. We try to make plans for our lives, and sometimes it works… and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t work, change it. Take on new opportunities and be open to new things, right?

But here’s the thing: I’m scared of change. A change in lifestyle, changing the path since Plan A didn’t seem to work out. Change can be scary, and when things don’t work out, it can be discouraging at times. We are told change can be good, and there are some things you shouldn’t stress about. Try telling that to a chronically stressed out person. Being chill came easier in college with little to worry about besides tests and art projects being due; true adulthood has bills, taxes, rent, gas, work stress, lack-of-work stress, and much more. Everyday stress piled on with the dominating thought of things not working in your favor, it can really bring you down. At times I’ve felt inadequate for Plan A not working out; not the way I wanted it to, anyway. You may think, “Why make plans if it just won’t work?” It’s an easy mindset to get into, and it’s not a good place to be.

But then I realized, after much worrying, crying, praying, and talking with my supportive husband, you have to have trust as well as hope. Trust that things will get better, trust that God has a plan for you. Trust that this move and change will be best for me and the family. When things don’t go our way, it’s easy to be doubtful and down- it takes greater faith to push past that and have hope in a better future. It doesn’t mean life will immediately get better, but with hope and trust, we can embrace the changes that come and use it to find a better path.

So my hope is that you too can be open to change and transitions in your life, and don’t let the stress of the world keep you from doing what you love. So here is to country living, changing things up, and not losing that sense of hope!

Peaceful creek on the family farm

Aurora Borealis and Star Map-Inspired Coffee Table

Hello again! Sorry I haven’t posted in a while- my husband and I moved from a cramped one-bedroom apartment to one with two. So much more room! But with all of this space, we have a larger living room and realized… we have no coffee table. The small glass end table my sister gave us has worked adequately, but we need something that makes a statement and is functional. But where to get a coffee table?

As luck would have it, my Grandpa James is an artist/wood worker/jack-of-all-trades, and while out finding materials, he found a topless coffee table on the side of the road. What luck! We discussed some ideas, and since I’ve been in a painting mood, he suggested I paint the top and we then attach it to the table frame to create a personalized piece of furniture.

We started off by cutting out the shape of the inlay from a piece of sturdy plywood. Just like painting with canvas, you will want to paint 2 coats of primer in order to prep the area for painting. For this, I plan on using acrylic, as it dries quickly and I enjoy smearing it with my hands (I’m odd, I know. The artist in me likes to get messy).

Oval plywood top with white primer. Looks like it got some stain on it from being in my Grandpa’s shop, but I’m not concerned since I’ll paint over it. No biggie!

Next, I made some sketches of what to put on this long oval piece that would soon be the center of our coffee table. Recently, I have been intrigued by pictures of the galaxies, stars, and Aurora Borealis: the vibrant colors, the complex planets, the mysteries that keep us wondering. Small fact: my husband and I had an Astronomy class in college together, and since then, I’ve been in love with the subject. Anyway, here is the sketch I ultimately went with:

Basic sketch with mountains in foreground, planet-like shapes and spaces for star maps, and aurora background.

   After deciding on the sketch, I carefully drew it to fit the scale my plywood top. I adjusted it and tried to create balance with the circular planets/star maps. I drew at it a few times to get it how I liked (I’m a perfectionist). One way to get nice round circles is by using objects around the house (small plate, tin can, cup, etc) and tracing around them. Then comes the fun part- painting!

  I started with a dark blue-black background, then looking at a picture of Aurora Borealis, I just began playing and layering in hopes of it looking right. Once I got frustrated with the sky and had to work on something else, I moved onto the mountains for a while. Using a combination of blue, black, and white, I tried to make nice snowy peaks with hints of dark and light to contrast the bright colored skies. As for the planets, I tried to bring more colors into play (oranges, yellow, greens) to give the piece a celestial feel not entirely realistic.

  This is after a few days of painting and playing around. Wondering why there are still white spots left? Well, those are for the star maps, of course!

  To be continued… I will show you how to touch up the table with sanding and stain, then the final product. Hope you enjoyed this idea, and see that it’s simple to make personal furniture to accent your home.

First Sewing Project: Baby Burp Cloths

Greetings everyone! This is my first entry, and I wanted to share with you my first sewing project I’d done in ages. No, I’m not expecting but I have a friend and a sister-in-law who are both due sometime in February. Having finished school and having a lot of open time on my hands, I decided to try out a hobby I left behind years ago: sewing. My last attempt was when I was much younger, with my Gma trying to teach me to make a quilt. I pulled it out recently (and am continuing to work on it, as I’ll show you later), and I was slightly horrified at my crooked stitches and misaligned patches. Still, I wanted to sew and was looking for an easy starter project. Searching the wide web, I happened across instructions for baby burp cloths. Brilliant, I thought, every parent needs some of those! Let’s try it out!

With assorted baby-friendly fabrics at hand (cotton fabric for the tops and soft fleece for the bottom), I started sewing the fabrics together with right sides facing inward, with batting towards the top. After leaving a 2-3 inch space open, I cut the corners and inverted the fabrics so the batting was inside. Using scissors, I gently pushed at the corners so there was a nice rounded edge. Looked pretty good so far, but it needed more stitching to keep it together. After ironing the burp cloth, I set to sewing the cloth again, leaving about a half inch from the edge to give a nice border. A few times, the opening did not close with the second sewing, so I had to whip stitch the opening on a few.

With a few hours and some fabric, I created 8 burp cloths! It was super easy to make, and very much appreciated- I’ve got two happy mamas using these rather than the flimsy store-bought ones. The effort is much appreciated, no matter your sewing skill!

An assortment of boys and girls burp cloths!

Let me know if you would like more information on the process or the exact measurements (need to look at my pattern again). Have a great day!