Reupholstery jitters? Have no fear!

Ever see a chair in a thrift store and think "that would look great if it were reupholstered" and then keep walking? Upholstery can be pricey to out source and intimidating to take on yourself. I have finally tackled this new world of crafting and it wasn't nearly as terrifying as I imagined! It all started at an Antique Mall in Dothan, AL with this sweet little bench they were selling for $35.00.

Despite the loose fitting blue crushed velvet it was in great condition and I had high hopes. Fast forward 3 years and I've finally worked up the courage to give it a face lift. Hey, sometimes you have to be really ready!

OK, I'm not going to step by step you to death about reupholstering something because it would probably bore you to tears and take up 35 pages. I am going to list some tips that I didn't see in any of the YouTube videos I prepared myself with and just a few things I wish I had known before I dove in. Here we go!

1. Start by removing the bottom covering and the legs. That will give you an insight into what piece/panel of fabric you should remove first. You should remove them in the reverse order they were put on so you can see the order they'll need to go back on in.
2. You will spend hours removing staples so get your favorite station on Pandora and sing your way through it. Even better, buddy up and it will fly by!
3. A magnetic flat head screw driver will be great at prying out the staples and help keep track of them once they are out. You will remove 5 million, approximately. Have some pliers ready for the stubborn ones.
4. Take a picture of each piece in the midst of removal so you can reference exactly how it was attached in the first place.
5. Be as careful as possible removing the fabric, you'll need to use it as a pattern for your new fabric.
6. After removing all of your fabric start with the last piece you took off and begin tracing, cutting, and stapling it back on. Give yourself a couple inches of extra fabric when tracing. It is much easier to trim off excess than have to re-cut because you don't have enough. Also, folding an edge over in some places will make a cleaner edge and prevent fraying.
7. Iron all the new pieces before you staple them on!! It will make the finished product look extra crisp and professional.
8. Don't loose hope if you mess up! (It helps if you have extra fabric to fall back on, especially if you're a first timer.) I used a painter's tarp that is 12x12 because I wanted the linen look without the price tag. I used about a third of it on this and will be doing a wing back chair as well.

OK, here is my finished product:

I am so in awe of my "new" bench it hasn't even housed any laundry yet! I also used to let the dog nap on it but he has been banished to the bed (it's a rough life, I know!) I get giddy thinking that I paid about $50 all said and done for this great piece! I hope this inspires you to do a re-upholstery project of your own! I love the stories behind old furniture and decor. (OK, everything can't be an antique- my bed is totally IKEA!) This piece brings back great memories of Antiquing my way through Alabama and now it represents a completed vision. Success!

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year! Saying goodbye to 2012 was bittersweet for me. My husband and I shared an amazing year together after being separated by distance for most of 2011. This past Holiday Season was especially full of family, fun, and laughter for us. I wanted to share with you all something a little unorthodox but something I had so much fun creating. A shot ski!

OK, what is a shot ski? They are usually found in Beer Garden type establishments and consist of shot glasses affixed to a ski. Why you ask? So that a group of people (usually friends) can share and partake together in a fun picture worthy moment. Perfect for a New Year's Eve Party!

Inspiration struck when I stumbled upon a old, beat-up, lone ski someone had abandoned in my garage.

We were due to host a NYE party that included lots of out of town friends and it just clicked that I needed to re-purpose that poor lost ski into something special, a shot ski! Here is what I used:

First I had to remove all of the hardware I could.

Next I sanded it down to remove all old varnish and even it out. I used a sander that has different attachments which cater to the nooks and crannies.

Next up tack cloth. If you are sanding anything this stuff is your best friend! It is tacky (so wear gloves when handling!) After wiping with a damp rag, I used the tack cloth to remove all little dust particles that will bubble up to the surface and ruin your finish.

Next up staining. My husband and I refinished the wood floors in our bedroom last spring so I have some experience with this fickle process. I have learned that the best technique is to brush on (lightly!) in one direction the whole length of the plank or piece you're working on. (Its best to have brushes/sponge tips the same width as the plank/piece) Then use a sponge tip applicator to smooth out the stain. You don't want any puddles or visible extra stain. You want it to look like its been soaked in by the wood. Several thin layers are way better than a blotchy finish, which will be a pain to fix. Do not go over wet stain. Let each layer dry completely, sand lightly, tack cloth, then you can begin the next layer. It is time consuming but if you love a gorgeous stain like I do it is worth the time!

I used a steel brush to get some of the rust off of the hardware that I wanted to leave on.

Lastly I found these tiny beer mug shot glasses online for about a dollar each. 

I snatched them up and one hot glue gun application later, tada!

Our New Year's Eve party was extra special this year because some of my husband's best friends since childhood made the trek to upstate New York to ring in 2013 with us. In light of that we deemed it appropriate to theme our NYE party as an Ugly Sweater Party. Having just created the shot ski for the occasion I decided to break out my hot glue gun again for our sweaters. Here is what I came up with.

Some sequins, felt snow people, glitter glue and peppermint candies, what more could you ask for?

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday and a love filled 2013!