Farmhouse Slipcovers

Hello!
Are you busy doing spring cleaning and repairs before your summer begins too?
I've been slowly working on my to-do list.  It seems like it grew instead of shrunk.  Once you get started on tasks around the house you realize what didn't get put on the list.  This is a great time of year where we live, for major spring cleaning and interior repairs.

This was a big one.  I've been planning on making new slipcovers for the couch and love seat for some time.  I love our furniture, the shape, the size and the level of comfort, but those covers, they gotta go.

Last summer we replaced the seat cushions.  An easy fix if you have a foam store in your area. They cut the foam to the exact size needed. The construction of this furniture is still very strong and sturdy, also important.  Some of the throw pillow inserts have been replaced, and I should probably replace the others. I'll be watching the sales! 

Click the picture to see my last slipcover set made.

Above is my last slipcover set that I made, the ones I am replacing,  just click on the picture if you want to see more of that post.

Finally, I decided they couldn't be neglected any longer, I headed to Fabricland to check out fabric and cost.  I felt like I won the lottery when I found exactly what I was looking for  $5/meter.  Can you believe it! Not enough to make both covers, but I  knew there would plenty for the couch.  The next day I grabbed the same fabric in white, at $8/meter.  Still a good price.  Total spent was $160.

After pre-washing the fabric in hot water, I estimated and tore  cut the fabric, pinning it roughly on to the furniture.  This speeds the whole process up.  I pinned and basted the main pieces together, when I was happy with the fit I used my serger on all the seams.  The seam between the back-front piece and arm rest piece should be joined before going up the back-back seam.  It just leaves the back profile much neater.

If you are making slip covers there is  a lot of putting on, fitting, pinning, taking off, basting and putting back on, repeat, repeat, and on and on.   And on.  It's actually not that bad, it's fun to see it slowly take form.   A couple of thoughts, if this is your first slipcover, stay away from any sort of pattern. This fabric has a prominent  grain to the  fabric so before pinning I always had it pinned level. And it was also suggested that I take apart my old covers and use them for the pattern. Such a great idea, but I didn't want the same style as before.

When I pre-cut the fabric, I tried to really over estimate the amount needed. I almost short changed myself on this arm, a close call. Eek!!!!

I wanted the slip covers to have a casual, farmhouse style. A nice loose fit. I ended up using the edge of the fabric as the hem of the slipcover.  That simple step saved a ton of time and fabric. 

All done!
We use throw blankets to cover the seats because of our fur baby.  I know they are slipcovers, but I don't want to be washing them too often, and spring is a messy time of year for fur babies....and humans!

If you were wondering, my afghan is done, yaaaay!  Three skeins total- and on the couch, and so cosy.  I did the granny stitch as a square, very quick and easy to make.

Hope you enjoyed my rough tutorial, if you have any questions just comment below I'd be happy to try help.  Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Nesting!

Kitchen Makeover

Boy oh boy,  this has truly been a labour of love. Before the kitchen felt so dark,  even with the sun shining in,  the cupboards seemed to absorb all the light.   It took a LONG time to talk me into painting these cupboards. I enjoyed the warmth that the dark wood brought into the kitchen, and I was afraid that by painting the cupboards that feeling would disappear. AND it felt very taboo to paint a new kitchen.   Believe it or not, my husband talked me into it. Apparently, now, after all this time, he loves white cupboards!  I never thought he even cared what went on in here!  Huh.  Well, I absolutely love them too. So bright and fresh and yet it still has that cosy feeling.

Yes it took a lot of paint four coats to be exact. And then a few touch ups.   In our last house we painted our cupboards a creamy white and every spring I would touch them up with a bit of paint. Very little effort for so much satisfaction.

Here's what the kitchen looked like when we first bought our house.  No offence to anyone with a gold kitchen, but eeeeeek! This was the only colour I was told never to wear when I got my colours done way back in the 80's!  And here it was all over our brand new house!

Good thing I'm not afraid of a paint brush, cause the whole house needed a paint job. Yup, brand new house with crazy paint colours.  

That definitely helped, but it took a couple tries to get the right greige on the walls for my taste. I can't remember the name of it.   I'll have to go look for a paint card, or paint can to find the name again, comment if you want to know.

The light just bounces around this space now.  Everything that was in here before has stayed.  The tobacco basket was added as a homage to my dark cupboards. 

I think those jars on the stove will get some spring time colour soon.  Originally I was planning on using them for herbs, but I don't think they would do well on the stove with all the heat.  We ended up putting sticky tack on the bottom of them so they'd sit on this tiny ledge.  Worked like a charm.

Being an open floor plan I put a lot inside the cupboards. Even inside on the cupboard doors, love letters, notes,  pictures, even our meal plan and grocery list. Making full use of hooks and shelf extentions in and on my cupboards to create more space and better organization.

With the door closed,  no one would be the wiser!

All our little signs and touches have stayed in their spots.
That tiny little ornament by the heart is a witch's ball,  I filled with salt, a tiny rose bud and petals. I've charmed it with some positive intentions and it sits at this window without taking up any space at all.   I have a few scattered around the house in special areas. The heart has been in my kitchen for a long time,it makes me happy every time I see it.

If you have been here before, then you already know I need plants.  My husband built me these shelves a few years ago. all my succulents LOVE this spot.  I love this spot.
Our winters are long and this helps shorten this season.  In a few weeks after I'm finished spring cleaning, I'm going to start  more of my seeds.  Scallions have already been started and sprouting as I type this.  They took off on me, but they'll get trimmed down and used in  salads, sauces, even soups.

This little Lady has been hanging out here for some time, maybe a month!  I've shared my apple with her and she seems to be okay.  How long do lady bugs live for?   I've no idea but I'll do my best with her so she can head outside when it warms up.

On the shelves I not only have plants but I hang my fung shui crystals and other crystals and they cast some beautiful rainbows all over our walls and ceiling.  Another recommendation- get crystals! Lot's of good energy comes flooding in on a rainbow.

Well that's it! Hope you enjoyed seeing our transformation. Maybe it gives you that nudge to paint something that you have been thinking about or do a little switcheroo,  whatever it may be, love your home!

Until next time, happy nesting!

Happy Valentines

Happy, Happy, Valentines Day!

What are you up to for Valentines?  I've got something very exciting planned for the day!  What's that,you ask?  My husband is busy all weekend playing in a hockey tournament  so I'm going to be sewing, painting and probably a little crocheting.  Then after getting all my projects done, or almost done, I'm going to take a nice bubble bath, probably put some rose quartz in the tub too, and relax.  And that my dear, is my idea of a self loving Valentines.  Creating and then relaxing.  I hope you find some time to do what makes you happy and give yourself some love as well.

Now what we are really here for, some pictures!

For Valentine's, even though the snow is still coming and it is super chilly, I've decided to put some spring into our home.  I love pink but it isn't always my colour of choice. However it works with my blues and greys nicely.  The runner below is just a folded table cloth that I got at a second hand store in the fall.   With no idea where it would go or when i would use it, I bought it anyways. Of course!

Once I have pulled in some new items it's the domino effect.  It ripples right through this house.  Immobilises me sometimes!  My head starts spinning with new looks, new projects ,fresh ideas!  A trip to Micheals was in order, I purchased Chalk paint- two cans, and a ball of yarn.  YUP, just one skein.  I had no idea what to do with it, most likely crochet pillow covers.  But once I got started crocheting, I couldn't stop, so I'm now making an afghan.  It'll work in a few different areas of our home.  And yes, I did go back and purchased more yarn.  As a side note the velvet yarn is incredibly soft, really nice to work with.

The box of old Valentines cards and pictures always makes an appearance.   Our girls are well into their twenties, but I absolutely love the nostalgia they bring out.  I fall right back into those years.

The white hearts were made many, many years ago.  I made them to hang on everyone's bedroom door, similar to  a door wreath.  Actually I think I made even more than that...there are a lot.

A smokey quartz heart on the picture frame that my husband made me.  It's a great frame because I can easily change it out to a picture or card if I would like.

A huge hanging heart from our daughter from a LLLOOONNNGG time ago. So cute!

More hanging hearts that I had sewn are hanging from the front closet door.  I put some lavender drops on the back fabric- love that smell!

If you look closely past the hearts you see a square-that's the start of my new crochet project.
The granny stitch is a fast stitch once you get going on it.  It just grows so quickly, and very satisfying.

You can see how velvety the yarn is, it will be cosy when completed.
That's it for now! I hope that you have an amazing Valentines, alone or with people, make it a
LOVEly day.

Life is all about change

There have been some serious, life altering changes going on in our home. Big stuff.

First, after much hesitation and debate, I have retired from hairdressing.  Not to date myself, but I have been doing hair since 1990!  I did take a break to be a stay at home mum when we started our family, heading back to work when our youngest was in grade 4.  At the time I worked at a lovely little salon that was very family oriented, so flexibility wasn't a worry.  As anyone with a child or children knows, that's important.  Since that time we have relocated to a new city and I've worked in a few salons here as well.  Hairdressing isn't easy on your back or an empathetic personality.  It is time to retire.  I gave my notice at Christmas and said goodbye over the last month to some very lovely people.  I had a very sweet and understanding clientele and I will miss them.  

And the other big change is my choice to go plant based.  I feel really good about this choice.  My husband enjoys a lot of what I create to eat but always appreciates a roast or steak once in a while.  Yes, I will still cook meat on occasion for my people....until I can convert them!  It's crazy how fast your taste buds change. 

It isn't always easy but I feel really good about this choice.  Dining out is a bit of a challenge and  I usually end up going vegetarian on those occasions.   At home it's just normal now, and I'm going to make an effort to share some of my favourite dishes here.  Plant based is a lot more work then throwing a chicken in the oven. There is a lot of chopping and prep work however it is so worth it.  And  I have been told it is environmentally friendly.  So that's a win!

Enough chit chat, I am still here, still obsessed with nesting!  Lot's of nesting and collecting and a bit of painting. And now with retirement, more sharing.  So let's share!

My indoor plant collection is still growing. I couldn't pass this cute little guy up in the grocery store.  My lovely little green friends!

A lot of my collections are growing. There are always key pieces that I just love and don't want to exchange but there have been some changes as well.

This guy is just quietly growing despite the snow happening outside.

I have recently become aware of LED grow light, light bulbs. What the heck and why haven't I been aware of this before???  Needless to say, a have a few through the house now. This lamp has a full spectrum bulb in it.  

With it snowing outside I've been really appreciating my house plants and upon closer inspection most of these plants are giving me some new growth.  laaaaaaaa!

And here's a question....What have I been painting?  Pretty sure this is going to be much more exciting for me than for you.  But the changes will shock and amaze. Hahaha

Until next time, have a great day and happy nesting!