More DIY

I've been working on more of my decor projects for the living room. I've recovered several pillows, each with a zipper so I can wash the cases as needed. My latest DIY was recovering a footstool, one with a lid so you can store stuff in it. I picked up two of them at a local thrift store and recovered one of them tonight. I can't say I'm particularly proud of my upholstery job. But it's now navy blue instead of soiled olive drab. And I'm now more comfortable sitting on the couch or loveseat, having a footstool to prop my tired feet on.

DIY Afters

Here's the finished projects, the sofa table and coffee table. I'm happy with the results. You can see the love seat and sofa in the background. I have slipcovers for them which are navy, white and tan stripe.

I'm currently making covers for throw pillows for the sofa and loveseat. I've done the blue florals. I have to break down and buy fabric retail (ouch) for the four bigger pillows, a navy solid, as the navy solid I have is only enough to cover three, and I want all four to match. I have a gift card that I can use for the purchase which I received for Mother's Day from one of MBDs and SNL, so my pillow covers will be extra special.

DIY Sofa Table

This is my second DIY furniture refinishing project. My first was our coffee table. I transformed it from green to wood stain to match the wood-stain top. Same thing with this project, the sofa table. I forgot to take before pics, but here's a pic of a before leg so you can see the green. I'm changing color schemes in the living room, so the green had to go.

Here's a pic of me at work doing the sanding with my new Black & Decker Mouse. I love this Mouse, also called a "detail sander". It's light weight and because of it's shape, I can get into all the nooks and crannies to sand. I used MBD's Mouse for my first project, but wanted my own as I liked using it so much and wanted to return hers. I looked at Wal-Mart, knowing they run about $34. Lo and behold I found two for - drum roll, please - $6 each. I bought both of them; one for me and one for my BFF Ruth. Since I dismantled the table, I was able to sand the pieces sitting down. Much easier on the body.

Having the fan blowing directly on me was the only way I could have done the sanding in our Texas Gulf Coast heat. It's an old Kenmore and was my dad's. He had it in his garage or workshop for as long as I can remember. It was comforting having it there, keeping me cool - well, at least not sweltering - while I did the sanding, knowing it was my dad's. I miss him. I think he'd like it that I'm DIYing.

Nesting, Mollie Style

First I have to tell you that Mollie has brought a lot of "happy" into this household. And she's a nester. Throw a towel or blanket - anything - on the floor, and it's her new bed. But she prefers "soft".

I'd shopped for doggie beds, but they're sooooooo expensive. Plus I didn't know how I'd ever wash them. Too big and bulky. I looked at pillow forms big enough for Mollie. A 24" square pillow form was like $24. I had seen some Mollie-sized pillows (two of them) at a local thrift store. Twice I saw them and didn't get them. By the time I decided that was the way to go - as I could make a pillow case that I could remove and launder - I headed back to the thrift store. I couldn't believe they were still there. I grabbed them both and headed for the checkout. They were tagged $6 each, which I considered a real bargain. The girl at the register said furniture was 1/2 off and since this was "doggie furniture", she rang them up at $3 each. Yaaaaaaaay! These are 30" pillows, by the way.

The longest zipper I had was 24". I cut two 31" squares from some fun fabric from my stash, installed the zipper and sewed up the other three sides. It took a little maneuvering to get the pillow in the form as it is quite firm, but I managed. The case is a tiny bit bigger than the pillow, which was a good thing because of the smaller zipper. I presented it to Ms. Mollie and she immediately claimed it as hers.

One down, one to go. This one will be the living room pillow. Right now it's in the living room by day, and goes in the bedroom at night. I'm looking for fabric in our bedroom colors for the other one. Can't believe I don't have some in my stash. On, no. I'll have to go thrifting!

More Decor Updates

I had to outwait the rain, so it took like a week to get the plate easels. The shelves had been up all that time waiting for the easels so I could show off my plates. I think it all looks really good.