nursery swivel rocker

My client wanted to slipcover her nursery swivel rocker in a gender neutral color, since they weren't finding out what they were having. I forgot to take a before pic--it was just a muslin covered chair ready for a slipcover.



She chose a great grey diamond fabric.





I did do velcro under the bottom edge to keep it all tight and in place.



I love the mural they painted on the wall! It's perfect with the crib and dresser.

Side note-- She also had me make a few pillow to finish off her front room. She chose some great fabrics! You ALWAYS need pillows to finish off a space. I always use down inserts in my pillows, so you can fluff them and they always look great. Polyfiber fills, just go flat and hard over a few months time.

Side note-I am booked till January. Email me if you want to get on my list. Thanks!

Wood Arm Chair

Happy Black Friday Weekend! Use promo code APPRECIATION to receive 30% off any of my tutorials!

1.How to Slipcover DVD
2.Get it Covered-Advanced Slipcover Guide
3.Pillow Talk--Sew pillows with piping and a zipper ebook
4.Whole 9 yards--starting and running a successful slipcover business


 My client picked up this wood armed chair off a local Facebook Yardsale page. She wanted to redo it in a brushed white denim with ties and box pleat skirt.

Chair--BEFORE

Chair--AFTER! Her room was BEAUTIFUL!! It fit right in! We decided to ditch the saggy back cushion and replace it with a 24" down pillow with 1" ruffle.

  I did 1.5" blind hem on the skirt to eliminate bulk. The fabric was a decent weight and with the pleating--self lined wouldn't have worked.

Side note #1--- Many of you know of my bestie, running partner, other half-- Camille about 4 years ago I slipcovered her sectional in a turquoise canvas. She loved it, but it has faded being next to the window and she decided to switch it up! She tested the arm pads 1st with some Navy Rit Dye to see how it would work out. AMAZING!!! She dyed the whole slipcover Navy blue with Rit Dye. Here's her instagram post! It is seriously AMAZING in person. Best idea ever! Now it'll hold up at least a few more years, and every time she washes it she can add some more dye to keep it from looking faded and worn.     

Side Note #2-- Last month I turned 40! I decided to plan my own party! Eight of us girls flew to LAX and rented a beach house in Newport beach for 3 nights. BEST TIME EVER! Hot tub, beach, bikes, ferris wheel, treats, naps, and sleeping in!

bikes on the boardwalk at Newport Beach

Side note #3--the week after my bday in LA, my family and I drove to Seattle for my nephews wedding. It was an amazing wedding with the best Dance Party EVER! My boys didn't know what to think watching their mom and dad dance like it was 1999!

 

Christmas isn't an excuse for a free for all!

Ok--I've been called a scrooge in the past, because I don't enjoy the commercialization of Christmas. Here are my thoughts on the whole Christmas thing...Heber and I haven't bought gifts for each other for years--In the early years of our marriage we just did stalkings for each other, now we forego all gifts and go on a couples trip every January together instead. I'd rather put $ into making memories than filling up our house with more stuff.



Christmas isn't an excuse for a free for all! Just because it's Christmas, doesn't mean you should spend $ you DON'T have on gifts. If you don't have much $ and are feeling pressure to put gifts on credit cards, because you feel obligated. This is WRONG! It is not a NEED to give gifts! No one wants you to go into debt to give them a gift they didn't know they needed or even wanted.

To be honest in years past, we have bought the kids random trinkets and gifts and they always end up lost/broken by the end of January--we should've saved our $!

 Just because it's Christmas, doesn't mean we are entitled to buying more stuff! Somehow the following answer is always accepted, "Oh, we are getting that for Christmas"--like that makes the $ magically appear that you didn't have. We need to change this upcoming generation to be more grateful than entitled. Ask them, "What are you giving for Christmas?" instead of "What do you want for Christmas?"

 How many times have people asked you what you want for Christmas or a birthday? And you answer "nothing" because you really don't NEED anything. Why are we all scurrying around buying stuff that isn't needed or wanted?

 I am not saying to cancel Christmas, just be more creative/frugal in the gift giving. Our kids don't need $500 worth of stuff each to feel the Christmas spirit. "If you can't find the Christmas spirit in your heart, you aren't going to find it under the tree" said one of my son's friends.

Here are some of my favorite ideas for Christmas.

Free Christmas-Name of the game for the whole family, $0 gifts. It's a fun game. Find stuff you have and "gift" it. Maybe it's a jewelry box you've had kicking around that you don't super love, but you know your niece would LOVE it. Maybe it's an old soccer jersey that you wore a ton and have outgrown, but know it would be your younger brothers new prized possession if you gave it to him. -

Homemade Christmas--I love making/receiving homemade gifts, I always feel like they mean more. Baked goods, sew a purse, make a knife (my sons latest obsession), tie a quilt, repurpose stuff you have around the house, etc. There are always tons of ideas online. wallet made out of grandpa's old shirts apron made out of grandma's old table cloth

Sentimental gifts--I love these the most! I've cut up my grandma and grandpas old clothes and have made the grandkids aprons, wallets, teddy bears, etc. I've put old letters in a photo box for my mom. I've made stuff out of Heber's Grandma's old linens (turned a table cloth into an apron for his sister). Memory jars were a HUGE hit with my parents--all the kids wrote down funny memories or stories from when we were growing up and put them in a jar. My parents relished these for the whole afternoon, reading them and laughing and crying, and learning about all the naughty things us kids did. Much more heart warming than a new set of knives!

Needs--stuff you'd buy anyways! Socks, underwear, a new coat, etc.

Thrift Store christmas-- My kids and I love shopping thrift stores. Look for the good, quality brands. I can always find something anytime I stop in. Eddie Bauer Sorel boots $6. REI outdoor shirt $5. Rubbish brand jacket $6. Spider brand ski pants $20. You'd be surprised with what you find and how little you spend!  

Christmas at a beach house in California

Trip--One of my favorite Christmas's was when we decided to make memories instead of give gifts. It was MAGIC, we rented a beach house in California for the week with my sister's family. We did stockings for the kids and that was it. We went for walks every morning and collected shells, watched the dolphins, went to the tide pools, made cinnamon rolls, hot tubbed 3 times/day, and had campfires. Yes, I understand this isn't cheap--but I'd rather spend $ on a trip than buy extra clutter and stuff for the kids that they don't need.  

Sledding the driveway at the cabin

-Gift of time together--with extended family, plan a day to be together and eliminate the unnecessary gift giving. Sledding, movies, stories, dance party, crafts, card games, etc.

drop cloth slipcover

My client wanted something washable for her couch, she decided to do a drop cloth slipcover. She needed something washable because her cat loves the back cushions! I cut off the attached back cushions, so I could cover them separately. Much better fit that way.

Couch--BEFORE

She chose to use a drop cloth for her fabric. Forgive the basement lighting, it's hard to photograph in.
AFTER--We kept it simple with no skirt.

She had some AMAZING family heirloom linens (runners, table cloths, napkins, etc.), Her designer talked her into taking them out of the trunk and letting me cut them up and make pillows. Better to get some use out of them and enjoy them, then keep them boxed up.

She was absolutely thrilled with the outcome and the option to take it off and wash it.

SIDE NOTES--I am booked until Decemeber. Get on my list if you want something slipcovered before Christmas! I have a few spots left.

Slipcover Workshop Nov 6-7, 2015

I'm excited to offer another slipcover workshop Nov 6-7, 2015 ! I have 15 years of slipcovering experience and would love to show you some tricks of the trade, whether you are interested in making your own slipcovers or aspire to start your own business at some point.

Workshop Testimonial

I did my first paid job for 2 chairs and ottoman for a neighbor, she loved them.  Bought a couch made for a slipcover at an outlet yesterday for our new house.  Busy sewing all weekend. Guess I'm hooked!

Thanks again for everything, it was a lot of fun!

DETAILS

*Nov 6 and 7th, 2015 (2 day workshop--to ensure everyone isn't rushed and has time to finish their project)


*9am-4pm both days

*Bring a chair, pre washed fabric, thread, tape measure, scissors, quilting pins, and sewing machine with zipper foot (If you are flying in from out of state, I will provide chair and fabric for you)

*Choose a simple lined chair. I wouldn't recommend a wingback for your first project. Wingbacks have a lot more seams and curves and are more time consuming.

*I"ll supply piping, zippers, and serger

*1st day--sew piping, pin fit, and sew main body

*2nd day--add skirt detail and sew box cushion.

*Class sized capped at 4 spots

COST

$250 (Includes lunch both days)

LOCATION

On site at my work studio in Eagle Mountain, UT

What you will gain from this experience

-Basic slipcovering skills

-Learn how to make piping, install zipper with ease, and complete your 1st slipcover

-Skills to recover your own stuff over and over to your hearts desire

*Workshop is for beginner to intermediate sewers--you need to be familiar and comfortable with your machine and have basic sewing skills.

*Please email me to secure your spot. $250 will be due via paypal (heberj1@yahoo.com) to confirm your reservation. Non-refundable.

*Currently 3 spots left!

*Click here to read about a past workshop! Search #slipcoverworkshop on instagram to see photos from past workshops

Cream wingbacks

My client wanted to update her 90's plaid chairs to cream wingbacks. I had some cream twill on hand that worked for what she needed! BEFORE---Plaid wingbacks

AFTER---Cream wingbacks, we kept the legs showing.

These finished off her room beautifully!




Side Notes-- Well it's hunting season here in Utah and my two oldest got to go this year! Love this pic Heber took of them! They are heading out again this weekend for anterless elk tags...hopefully they get something! They've been watching hunting shows since April!





My youngest is super crafty and is always trying to make something out of anything else we own. He was set on making a knife blade and needed some steel--he asked if he could have the table saw blade! That was a definite NO! He settled on an old piece of skateboard rail that was kicking around. He's been filing this thing for days!