Monday, June 14, 2010

Reap What you Sew

I completed a sewing project about a year or so ago that I am pretty darn proud of, considering that I haven't touched a sewing machine in over 20 years!  I desperately wanted a slipcovered white couch ever since I laid eyes on Rachel Ashwell's beautiful Shabby Chic couches.  Unfortunately, they have been waaaaay out of my price range for quite some time.  It has only been recently that I have started to feel that the eight plus years I spent in higher education WILL actually pay off.  For at least a decade of my life however, the shabby chic look fit perfectly with my low budget lifestyle because you can find such great items to decorate with for a very inexpensive price.  LOVE IT!  Anyway, I thought since I couldn't afford to buy the couch I wanted, maybe I could make my own slipcovers.  When I began to price fabric I  realized that even making it would cost a pretty penny.  I began to research and found a woman online who had made slipcovers out of white cotton sheets.  I thought it was worth a try so off I went to Target to buy my supplies.  I believe it took about three queen sheets to complete the project at about $15.00 each.  Not too bad huh?  I also found a tutorial video online that showed how to make slipcovers step by step.  Want to see the finished product?  Here she is:






They may not be perfect but overall, I am happy with the results.  They are great too because you can bleach them when they become heavily soiled or stained.  They have stood up to it very well. 





That comes in real handy seeing that my four legged children seem to think it makes a perfect doggy bed.  I promised myself when my Yorkies were puppies that I was going to train them to stay off of the couch.  But come on, look at that face?  Could you resist it? 
     One day, I WILL have my dream couch with washable slipcovers.  But for now, this one will work just fine.  Amazing what you can come up with when you put your mind to it!

Check out more great creations bloggers have made to save a penny at: http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/

I am in the process of putting my townhouse together since my husband and I recently moved into it.  Believe it or not, we had just moved into a townhouse about four months ago and then the landlord informed us it was being forclosed on.  I hope that this will be that last move for awhile as I am definately all moved out!  We have finally broken down most of the boxes lying around and now it is time to focus on decorating the place.  I'm excited about a find I discovered in a drawer today that I totally forgot I had.  I found it at a thrift shop awhile back and I thought it would make a great curtain for the living room window. 


It's lace, white, and cotton.  For me, it doesn't get much better than this!  I am always amazed at the great fabrics I have found at thrift stores to decorate my home with.  This one is actually already a curtain so that means less work for me. Yeah! 

The walls in the living room are still looking pretty white and bland and the only other thing that I have attempted to decorate in the area so far is a small table at the foot of the stairs.  It was also bought when my budget was very small.  It was actually a sewing machine table at one time.  




I love the look of candles in a room.  Can't get enough of them!  At times, some of the rooms in my home look a bit more like midnight mass than a home living area.  What can I say?  To me, they make a space feel so serene and calming.  I decided to top this small table with a potted bunch of branches that sport a small string of white lights.  I saw this idea in a magazine awhile back and I was hooked!  I think it adds a romantic bit of flair to a room.   




I will leave you with some pics of a few new finds I recently posted in my Etsy shop. 


Old Tobacco bags at $2.99 each.  I love the aged look of the fabric!


Shabby Ice Bucket, $20.95


Chicken Feeder, $11.95.  These things are so great to hold
various things in any room in the house!



Vintage Large Wooden Beads, $6.95 for 6. SOLD  Great for
mixed media/altered art projects.  Did you see what I recently
created with one of them?  Check out last post.


Vintage Green Flower Frog, $9.95


Vintage Train Case, $17.95.  These things are so great to use as
storage for supplies in your craft studio.

It's getting late so I am off to bed.  Have a great week guys (all two of you who follow this blog.  hee hee).    -Angie

10 comments:

  1. Love your couch ~ love your fur baby, too! You got some wonderful finds. The chicken feeder and spindle beads are my favs! That train case is great ~ I just bought one, too. Trying to decide if I should paint it!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great job on your couch cover Angie! I think you did a great job and I love the idea of using sheets to reduce the cost! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your slipcovers came out really nice. If I had white covers they would be in the wash every day with the kids I watch and my dogs. I don't think I knew you had a Yorkie....so do I. Yours looks so tiny. I really love your style. I am still so excited about my gifts. Hey, you have more followers than I do. I can't believe you had to move so quickly. Geez, that wasn't fun. Have a great day ((((HUGS)))

    ReplyDelete
  4. I want a slip cover...do you take orders? :)
    Great blog, girl! Hope we stay in touch!
    L from Sage Patch

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! You did a fabulous job on your couch slipcover!! It looks so shabby chic and comfy!
    I so want a slipcover for mine and my mother-in-law just sent me a sewing machine. Only problem is I don't know how to sew! lol!
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  6. It turned out very nicely! I was very afraid to make one but started with a smaller settee slip (posted about it this month) and am just finishing a wing chair. Not as hard as they look...right? I may have to jump in like you and do a bigger piece. Thanks for the tips!
    xox
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow Amazing job on the slipcover! I think it looks fabulous! I would love to slipcover alot of things but am kinda chicken to start the process. It took me a few years just to get up the courage to make a pillow lol! Also love love love that train case! I look forward to reading more of your blog. ~Stacey

    ReplyDelete
  8. I looove that slipcover Angie!! I don't blame you about that sweet lil face either..aww! I love Yorkies! All of these photos are terrific and I so much enjoy your blog and you have an amazing Etsy shop! I'm happy to be your newest follower!
    Hugs! ~Terrell @ FrouFrouDecor~

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amazing slipcover! Great job! :-)

    Have a wonderful Wednesday!
    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, look at those vintage items! They seem very sweet and nice for designing your new townhouse. Scented candles are great in the bathroom, too. It will add some freshness to your comfort area. The chicken feeder is the most unique find there, I must say. :) ♥

    ReplyDelete