WooooHoooo! I Have Something To Share With You!

Hi Girlies!

I'm all fired up and ready to do some WoooooHooooing and LOTS of braggin'.....because..........this was a reallllllllllllly hard project and I conquered it! I am seriously pattin' myself on the back.


I am joining two parties this week.

Jan at www.bobbypinsboardwalk.blogspot.com



She hosts a Bragfest every week........and, like I said........I am unabashedly bragging.....it's ok....Jan SAYS I can GLOAT....and I'm allll about that today.


And.....


Some serious WooooHooooing is going on over at www.alwaysnesting.blogspot.com.


Marla hosts this lovely party each week........complete with YUMMY treats.


Several years ago I bought that homely little chair at a garage sale for 12 dollars. It belonged to the fellow's grandmother. Ahhhh......


I'm crazy about the little thing. It's the perfect grandma chair and it fits in my bathroom like it was made for the room.


I have had it slipcovered in an old rose fabric for a number of years, but as you know, I'm re-doing the master bedroom and bath in blue. WooooHooooo.....and I'm endeavoring to do it on a dime......well, one hundred dollars (not including the paint).


Ready to WooooHoooo?


I soooo hope you'll gasp............drool???...........Oooooh and Ahhhhhh?



Well, here she is!

All fresh and happy!

Gosh, isn't it amazing what a new slipcover will do for an old piece?

I actually bought the brand new decorator fabric at the Goodwill for 5.99. Three and a half yards........BARELY enough to do this little chair.


I could NOT make a mistake. I had NO fabric to spare.



I worried all the way along that I would have enough to make a generous ruffle for the bottom.



It is a SERIOUSLY tricky little piece.



There is no bottom cushion to hide extra fabric under and the "tuck in" places on the back are very shallow.


I thought I could finish it in one day.


It took four.

A peek at the detail in the back. I didn't want a seam where the back pieces met.........so buttons to the rescue.

It looks like that center piece is crooked in this photo, but really.....it is exactly the same on each side. My photography skills stink.

Three and a half yards is not much........but I carefully cut the bits out so I could center the big bouquets on each piece.

This spot gave me fits. I can't tell you how many times I picked out this part.


It was horrible.


I was determined.


I really wanted this little slipcover to be white....wouldn't that have been cute?.......But, it's going in the bathroom...........where I use LOTS of hair products.......even though I can take it right off for a wash......this blue will camouflage sooooooooo much better, don'tcha think?



I sooooo wish my sweet Mum could be here so I could share it with her.


She'd be soooo happy to WooooHoooo!


I am so happy to have it finished.


So now I can add it to my list of finished items.



And, the bathroom and bedroom are all painted in the most delicious blue.



Lots of cleaning and do-dadding to do before I show it to you.



Don't forget to go visit the other girlies so you can do lots of WooooHooooing.


You'll be inspired.


Really, you will!



Huggies and Lovies!

Spencer

*** Also linked to j-a-girl.blogspot. com***
Show and Share Day



PS...........Glidden is having another paint giveaway. Tightwad Tilly loves herself some free paint! You'll get two of the little sample sizes for FREE.

Pop on over to their website.


www.glidden.com

Hey Girlies! Happy Friday!

Oh my gooooodness!  Can you believe it's already FRIDAY?  

Where did the week go?

I know I've told you that Bobby and Susan are getting married on Saturday....and it's all about the wedding right now!

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself.

And.............

Angie over at Thread Needle Studio.....

http://threadneedlestudio.com/?p=169

 

asked me to do a little slipcover interview!  Whew, did that ever make me feel important.

Ok........in the big scheme of things, I know it's not true, but I was excited just the same and I can tell MYSELF that I'm important, right?    :-)

I still have the slipcover to make for my little bathroom chair, but haven't found the fabric for that little endeavor yet.  I like to buy my fabric on SALE....is there any other way?

So, pop over and visit Angie....she has a great blog and makes slipcovers too.  You'll love 'em.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Big smoochies,

Spencer

xoxoxoxox

Ta Da!!! And, Here's The Finished Slipcover!

Is it Wednesday already?  Wow....time does fly, doesn't it?

I hope your week's gotten off to a great start sweet girlies!

As promised......FINALLY.....the post on the den desk chair slipcover.....

Man, that's one ugly chair, isn't it?  Yep, that's what I thought.......how have I lived with this darn thing for about five years you ask?

Heck if I know......you know how you just become accustomed to looking at something?....Then one day you look again...........horrified there's something so disgusting in your home?

Ok.........you probably don't, but I sure do.

I had a little desk that I just loved, but something was just "off"....well Spencer, have you noticed the pulls are UGLY?

See, that's what I mean.     :-)

Enter a lovely (ok, not lovely......but CHEAP) dropcloth, some cording a stencil, a couple of vintage buttons and we're off.........

 

Now, things are starting to come together.....

I'll put a little pillow on it too........I should have done that for the photo, but totally forgot.  It would have been so much more smashing, don'tcha think?

  

 Profile view....    :-)

Curvy little gal, isn't she?

  

  Ahhhhhhhhh...........I saved the best 'til last.  Isn't that cute?  Do you really think so?

You know how all of the packaging now is that hard plastic stuff?  Well, Tightwad Tillie here saves allllllllll of it.  (That's why you'll NEVER see pix of my garage.......SCARY).........anyway, I found a cute little fleur de lis on the net, copied it and traced it onto a piece of that 'ol plastic cut it out and stenciled this little cutie onto the back piece of my slipcover.  Then I stitched around it to puff it up a smidge...

 

I'm a girlie who loves details........so I added this little do-hickey with buttons too.

And, since my chair will usually be pushed into the desk, this is what will show.

I'm happy to check one more thing off of my list.  Now, tomorrow it's onto the curtains.  I've been procrastinating forever on those.......but the time has come to cut into that fabric and go for it.

Measure twice, cut once.  Boy, that's some good advice!  Glad I reminded myself of it.

I'm always afraid to mess things up.

But I'm going for it.

Tomorrow.

Really, I am.

Ok, girlies........I'm going to go to bed now so I can get up bright and early and get to it.

Huggies and Lovies,

Spence

xoxoxoxo

Oh Girlies! It's Pink Saturday!!!! And, I'm A Cath Kidston Wanna Be!

 

 Hi Dear Girlies!

I hope you've been having a glorious week, and that you're warm and cozy.  I can't imagine being without power when it's soooo cold, and I've heard some folks still are.  Brrrr.

It rained a TOTAL Pacific Northwest rain today.....pouring.......and the raindrops were each the size of a golf ball.  Ok, that's only a SLIGHT exaggeration.  It was horrible.  Puddles everywhere.

Could it be on a "stay home and be cozy day"??  Oh no........it was a "have to stop six places" kind of day.  Great.

I looked like a drowned rat by the time I got home.

YIKES!

Ok, that's enough whining, don'tcha think?    :-)

  

 A while back I told you about the black tapestry chair in my sewing room and the effort to decorate around it.......Well, I just couldn't.  YUK.....So, I've decided to slipcover the chair so I can have a cheery and bright room.  YIPPEEE!

I ADORE Cath Kidston.  She has wonderful things and awesome fabrics.

However, I am on a budget and can't spend forty nine gazillion dollars on fabric and then add sixty four hundred thousand dollars more for shipping.......so I'm a girl on a mission.

DO IT ON THE CHEAP!

So, I guess we'll call the new room Cath Kidston-ISH...   :-)

  

  I dug through my fabric stash and found LOTS of fabrics that will have the Cath sort of look.......and I've been to a couple of thrift stores too.....NATURALLY!

Don't they look happy?

  

 Nope, not a Cath Kidston bowl, but it sure looks like it doesn't it?  1.99 at the thrift store....as was the little spotted (The Brits call polka dots spots, so I'm just getting in the mood)...box.  I was so excited to have found it.

  

  The green storage box is from Joann's....I need LOTS of storage. 

I'm also re-working some baskets.  I'm anxious to show you those too.  I've been collecting them for a couple of months now.  That's a whole other story....I'll try to keep the chatter on the minimal side............Ok.........that was a fib.  I HAVE to talk a lot...it's in my nature.    :-)

 

Look at this old rick rack.........isn't it divine?  Eight cents?  Isn't that hilarious?

I have some that is marked 13 cents too.

I think the old stuff is so much better than the new stuff.

Gotta love vintage.

So, I'm pretty well stocked up on supplies for all of my sewing.

And, I did finish the slipcover for my desk chair.

I'll be showing that to you really soon.

It was a trial, but I prevailed.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend Sweet Chickies!

Huggies and Lovies,

Spence

PS

Lots more delicious pinks at www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com

www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com 

Thanks again Beverly for hosting!

Miss Beverly's just had her gall bladder removed. 

OUCH!

Please send her get well wishes!

xoxoxoxo

My Dad Always Used To Tell Me........You Can't Make A Silk Purse Out Of A Sow's Ear......Wanna Bet?

Hi darlin' Girlies!

I finished this little project a few weeks ago, but I've been soooo busy, I haven't had a chance to share.

Hope you're all well! I'm missing you. :-)

Sooooo...........I bought this little desk years and years ago. it's one of my favorite pieces, but it needed the perfect little chair to go with it. A regular height chair just doesn't work...it needed to be a bit lower. I always look at furniture when I'm at the thrift store. Crazy, I know. The cottage is super tiny and it's FULL....but somehow I can't resist.

I swear I could hear this little cutie calling me from the other side of the store.

What??? $19.99??? It can't be! I knew the Hubbs was going to see stars when I unloaded this little beauty. He likes to kvetch when I haul home "new/old" things, but he does love the finished products and after all, I had a plan!

See! What a bargain!

See how well it fits?

How on earth could I have left it behind?

Since I've finally finished some of the projects for the den, I'm all amped up! Yipppeee!

I didn't think I'd ever get my mojo back.

I got busy. I cut. I sewed. I marveled at the change.

So, what do you think darling little chickies?

The legs of this little gal had been painted an ishy brown, so I mixed up some paint and matched the fabric but I'm going to repaint them black. I just think it would have much more zippppp!

Do you like it? I took pix as I worked so I can do up a tutorial for you as soon as I get an extra moment.

Don'tcha just love a slipcover?

I have the new chair for Hubbs and the dog (they like to be together).....the little ottoman, (from a couple of posts back), four pillows and this chair finished. Moving right along, huh?

Lots more coming!

I can't wait to share it all with you.

The teesie little den at Bellamere Cottage is getting a beauty makeover! (on the cheap).... :-)


I have a couple of Dr. appointments this week to find out about the sore throat and earaches, I sure hope they can figure it out.........and I have a massage to try to make the owies from the wreck feel better. I think I'm falling apart. YIKES!

Have a wonderful day little Sweeties!

Huggies and Lovies,
Spence

The Little Bathroom At Bellamere Cottage For Pink Saturday!!!!

Happy Pink Saturday! I'm going out of town today, so I'm not going to be able to peek at everyone else's beauties until I get home......but I'll sure look forward to it. I've decided I'm a busybody.......isn't it fun looking into other ladies' homes? I've gotten so much inspiration by the love that all you gals put into your homes and gardens. Lovely!

Above is an adorable little A.E. Mitchell plaque my daughter bought for me. We love them and collect them whenever we can. God bless her, she has such an eye for these things. We were at a flea market several months ago ..........I went into a booth, came out..........she went in and danced out with an adorable little plaque. DANG!

This is my bathroom.........my husband has his own. It's not

soooo girly! :-)

I love not sharing. Isn't that bad? But all that steam in the bathroom when you're trying to get ready? And, he is not a five minute bathroom guy. He takes longer than I do!

Shhhhhhh.......don't tell him I mentioned that. ;-)

If you click on my photos you can see a bigger image. I'm hoping you'll be able to read this motto......it's one of my very favorites and I read it often. Words to live by!

This would be the "potty" shot........I tried to leave that little lovely out of the pictures. It's just not pretty, is it??? :-) I love this tole tray. As I've said......I have them in EVERY room! I bought the little shelf years ago at either Joann's or Michaels'.....And, I bought the little clock a zillion years ago at Mervyn's. I neeeeeeeed a clock in the bathroom. I can dink around so long and if I'm not careful, I'll be late. The little drawer do-hicky came from Target quite a long time ago.

The curtains and shower curtain are made with vintage white linen damask tablecloths. The have such a lovely look to them. I really didn't enjoy sewing on it, however. It's a big wonky.




Can you see the little buttons crocheted on the edge of the center towel? Towel bar from Ikea. I just couldn't find anything and this will work for now.




Oooopsssssss..............potty shot.




When I got married my daughter gave me the little charm with my initials on the front and YDLY on the back. From the time she was little I always put YMLY on everything for her.......YOUR MAMA LOVES YOU.......on lunch sacks, presents, hand made things......whatever.....so she did YOUR DAUGHTER LOVES YOU........for me. I wore it on that special day.




I use lots of hair product. It gets everything dirty, so I love things in jars. Easy clean-up.





I bought this little cabinet at Home Depot. Another great spot for keeping things out of the hair spray zone. Little "stuff" inside.......I love all that little stuff.




Another shot of that little cabinet. I added the little knobs. Actually, I bought them at a little store called Keepsakes in Buckley, Washington. (Now closed). The adorable gal is Debbi Bock and has a bloggie now of her own........check her out! Just click on the link on my favorite girlies titled Garden Party.



She's a sweet little Christian gal........you'll LOVE her.




One of my dear friends always tells me......."and God is still in control" when things are out of whack in my life.......it's in the little frame in this snap...inside the jar. You know, it's all about keeping things safe from the hair goo.....

More of the jar.........like I really needed to add another picture of it???

That little curtain under the sink?? Yeah, storage. As I've said my little cottage is pretty small and I have to make every area pay! This holds one of those little plastic drawer do-hickeys for beauty supplies and my little stool. I sit here every single day to put my make-up on.

The bottom of the shower curtain. This is an example of measure twice, cut once??? :-) I had intended a solid strip across the area where the little points are. In the end, although a lot more work, this came out just fine. I can't tell you how many boo-boo's I've made when I'm sewing.

And, finally, my little chair. I LOVE this little cutie. I bought it at an all-city garage sale several years ago for 12.00 and made the slipcover for it. It is my very worst slipcover, but I love it anyway. This was a tough chair to do. It doesn't have a cushion which hides MANY little problems. It's on wheels, so I just shoot it into the closet when I clean the bathroom. I never use all matching fabrics. I like to "shake it up"........or, as my friend Jan says......"add a bit of poisen"......it makes everything much more interesting and achieves the cottage look much better, I think.

I hope you've enjoyed the little bath tour today.

Now, go and have a great time checking out all the other fabulous girls and their Pink Saturday posts.

For a list go to:

http://www.howsweeththesound.typepad.com/

Thank you Beverly!

Many blessings,

Spencer

Show and Tell Friday. A New Bargain For Bellamere Cottage!

I have looked for a chair for this little desk for a zillion years, without success.

I had a VERY early appointment on Wednesday and got finished much faster than I anticipated........well, DANG......what am I going to do with 1/2 hour until my next stop? Hmmmmmmmmm............well, will 'ya just look at that nice little 'ol Value Village over there????????

I was looking at two adorable little kitchen chairs for SEVEN dollars each and trying to figure out if there was anywhere in my little cottage where I could possible stick them in..........when...........I spotted this little find. The desk is rather low, so finding a chair that sits low enough was the problem.

$19.99??????? REALLY. It WILL be mine! Now it's going to have a beauty make-over. I'll strip the paint off the legs and make it a slipcover. Oh, how I love a slipcover. I've made quite a few of them now. It's amazing how easily they change the look. I looked for fabric yesterday with no luck, so I'll be on a quest to find the perfect thing.

What a great price! I'd much rather buy a used piece that I can re-do myself than buying something brand new. Sometimes, though, you need to look for quite awhile before the perfect piece presents itself. We just bought the new chair for the den, but we rarely buy brand new pieces. Had I been able to find something old to slipcover I'd have been much happier........and would have had much more moolah!



Now, don't forget to go see all the other great girls on Show and Tell Friday!

Thank you so much, Kelli for hosting! I'd add her little button, but I'm a miserable failure at techie stuff and mess it up every time.

www.kellishouse.blogspot.com




Have a wonderful day and do come back tomorrow. I actually will be here for my first Pink Saturday!


Blessings!
Spencer

PS.........you can click on any photo for a bigger shot! :-)

My Sweet Friend, Jan's House.......

I'm so tired I'm about to fall asleep sitting up, but had to say how dang proud I am of myself! I figured out how to make a new header. Boy, was that ever challenging! But, I persevered and have success! I'm nothing, if not determined! I do, however, have that nasty little box showing up underneath it. I don't know how to get rid of that, and I can't get the darn thing centered. I'm thinking it's a size issue. I believe I have overrun my space! I'll have to dedicate myself to figuring that out next!

And, I figured out how to fix all my "Blogs I LOVE".....so they show up right. Simple fix.....I had two areas so some were in one and some were in the other......leaving me thinking that the second group weren't showing up at all. Silly.........

In the meantime, I have an adorable little child's rocking chair that I'm supposed to be making a slipcover for........it's a friend's, darn it, not mine. I just may have to tell her it got lost in the sewing room so I can keep it.........well, that may not be a fib.........

My husband and I watched Fireproof this evening. It was a darn good movie. If you haven't seen it yet, it's out on video now. I'd say it's about a two hankie movie.

And..........we went to dinner at this fabulous little Italian restaurant for Valentines Day......It was one of the best dinners I've ever had. YUM!

Hoping you and yours had a wonderful V-Day too!

Warmly, Spencer