Summer Ottoman

Yes I change the room from winter to summer every year and every year I change something . . .


So as not to be outdone by the Indian Pillow ottoman, mine needed a fresh cover for the summer (the previous one was never long enough - ok so math isn't my strong point).  And it's off into slipcover mode I go . . . 1.5 metres of fabric, $20.00 and an hour later I have this . . . LOVE it!

Winter Look

Summer Look

And yet another ottoman . . .

I started this project for my boss who was retiring in January.  I started it before he retired but kept having to put it aside due to other priorities.  He wasn't coming back from his trip to Australia any time soon so I thought I was good to go . . . nope, wrong, I had issues . . . with the project not me personally . . . LOL . . .




I wanted this to be special.  I'd previously sold him a couple of lounge type chairs for his upstairs balcony so I knew I wanted it to be orange and turquoise.  And I knew I wanted it to have some contrast.  In the meantime, I also needed to buy a new sewing machine so that set me back a bit too (computers these days)!




Long story short - I made the covering (piping and all) and I made it too small (there goes that math thing again) so I had to have my brother cut the base down by an entire inch all the way around.  Finally got it all stapled on and then realized I didn't like the underside so had to go out YET AGAIN and get something "appropriate".  He loves crosses so that's what he got.

Start off by spraying the legs

They needed more than one coat

Finished top (before legs were finished)

Classic fabric for underneath

Special personal touch

Last minute addition - but so glad I did it!

Reinvented Ottoman

I love slipcovering ottomans and completely taking them apart and redoing them for that matter. Heck I love upholstering small projects (big ones too but I'll stick to this for now). A few months ago my sister walked up to my house with (from what I could see) a stack of beautiful beaded and sequined fabric. I was so excited - I thought they were for ME! I was wrong. She was helping one of her clients furnish a new build and the client has recently returned from India. She had purchased all of the pillow cases (16" X 16") and wanted me to create something . . . ok can I have something to go on ? ? ?

I stared at the fabric for about a week and decided to call the client to see what her wishes were. One of the nicest people to talk to even though I had never met her and after brainstorming with her we came up with a couple of ideas but we decided we should meet at the new build before going ahead.

Stencil placement (very random)

So we set a date and the three of us met up. What a beautiful area, a kind hearted and lovely client and after a very animated conversation between the three of us we decided to take 7 of the pillow cases and use them in her basement bedroom, and use the rest (6 for recovering an ottoman) and the balance to cover a 7' X 30" X 4" frame and insert a mirror behind it.

Original Specimen

Here's the before and after of the covered ottoman - I actually sewed and stapled the entire thing down before dismantled everything I had just done (except for the main foam part), and then reupholstered it (including stapling it down with my handy dandy compressor and stapler). It's what happens sometimes - I am compelled to make as perfect as I can - I always want to do my best . . . and I LOVE doing things twice . . . NOT . . . but I do LOVE the finished product. The legs were painted by mixing silver and black as the base, stenciling them in gold and varnishing them with a high gloss varnish.

NEXT . . .

Update

OK so it's been a while.  Yes I've been busy.  I'm always busy.  Shortly after my niece's wedding shower my beautiful 15 1/2 year old Shih Tzu, Kenzie, had a heart attack in front of me on the morning of September 18, 2015.  She had been having seizures in the middle of the night (not many but I'd say five in the past year), had developed a heart murmur in the last six months of her life, was in diapers on a daily basis (because she had the run of the house and I didn't want her peeing anywhere - the poop I could scoop and she was managing to poop out the tail hole of the diaper) and I was tending to her glaucoma twice daily by putting drops in her eyes.  She had a great life and sher gave me a great life.  She was loyal to and I was to her.  I was pretty sure when I took her to the vet that day she wasn't coming home with me.  She didn't.  She not only had a heart attack that morning, she also had a growth in her intestine and they suspected without any tests that at her age it was likely cancer and I didn't want to know.  I made the decision to put her down and grieved like I have never grieved over ANYTHING or ANYONE!

This picture was taken in the vet clinic just before she died.

So, it was, the saddest day of my life  . . . I mourned her often, maybe a little bit too often (and still do); at red lights, in bed at night, watching dog commercials on TV, seeing other dogs, while eating lunch one day, every time I talked about her . . . until December 4, 2015 when I finally found a new love . . . not one to replace Kenzie just a new love . . . I named her Charley.  What I didn't realize until I went to meet her was that as Kenzie was on her way out, Charley was on her way in.  Charley was born September 19, 2015 and after being turned down for 7 dogs in my search for a new companion (three rescues and four I was trying to buy but missed them by days (or hours) for numerous reasons) . . . she wasn't ready yet . . . and I kept trying to keep that in my mind but didn't believe it until I finally found her.

She's special.  She's spunky and funny, fast and obedient (as well as a five month old can be), learns quickly and forgets just as fast some days; she's perfect . . . for me . . . she's gotten me off my butt and some days I'm exhausted when I finally get to bed. 

Here she is!  If I can figure out how to turn the picture the right side up Ill do it but for now you have to turn your head sideways!

Back Yard 2015

I worked my "you know what" off in my back yard this summer to get ready for my niece's wedding shower.  In doing so it probably looks the best it has in 5 years.  I even power washed the decks (which took me several tries), I tried to buy one (that didn't work), then I tried to buy one on sale but couldn't get enough information to make the purchase and finally borrowed one . . . which now makes me want to OWN one so once the sales are on again I will do just that (and maybe purchase a shop vac at the same time but that's another blog).

I had asked my brother in law to take the photos for the wedding shower and while he was in my yard he discovered a lot of things I just take for granted but here's what he captured from his perspective.

Now I really need to relax!

Wedding Shower Delivered!

Well I promised a wedding shower and I'm pretty sure I delivered.  And I have to start by saying a big THANK YOU to my brother in law (father of the bride) for taking all of the pictures and getting them to me so quickly.  Also a thank you to Sydney and Megan for helping with the set-up; to my sister Paulette for helping me assemble all of the food and hand out the halos; and to my daughter Kristen for all the clean-up after people ate and before she left for her night shift!

The invitations read "whimsical and enchanted" and while it turned out to be bright and beautiful I think it was a bit more bohemian than anything else.

You can't have this size of a party without help . . . and here we are all in our "before" glory - it's true it takes a village.

Me / my daughter / my sister / my niece / my friend from work
Lynne / Kristen / Paulette / Sydney / Megan

It all started with directions on where to find us!

Veil hanging on a floral wreath - a sign that says "we are in the back yard" and another pointing in the direction "This way to the Party"

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and something Blue!  Sydney (niece - bride's sister) and Kristen (my daughter), both very awesome bridesmaids - I couldn't have done this without you (and of course my equally awesome sister)!

Gift from the bridesmaids, g'ma (on Dad's side) and Bride's Mom

On to the halos (p- mostly the inspiration for the shower.

Everyone got one and everyone wore theirs the entire day!

This is Lindsay trying to pick one!

While I had everything "ready" for placement into the yard, the weather still had to cooperate.  And it DID!  and it was AMAZING - plus 30 degrees Celsius (will check for spelling later).

Lanterns, Tissue Balls, ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon, cloth seating and cushions for every bum to sit on and a netted backdrop for photos.  Thank God for the younger generation (and if I forget to mention, Megan from my full time job played a HUGE part in helping with the set up).  Here are the pics of all that.

Initials of the Bride & Groom

Hi I'm the Bride

Garland to hang the picture game from

Seating around the fire pit

This is really one of my favourite photos of the day

Directional signing

Netting hung from the large tree branches

And who could forget the flowers - five vases all the same in Mason Jars

Food Prep was in order; What's on the menu you ask! Sandwiches, Salad, Monster Cookies and an assortment of drinks.

Keeping the sandwiches cool on our +30 degree sunny day

Inside each picnic bag (and they were each marked "Pastrami, Ham or Veggie") was a sandwich, a salad (tossed greens with strawberries, cucumbers and candied pecans) (thanks to my most awesome niece Sydney) and two monster cookies (baked by my sister because baking is not my forte).  

This proved to be a great way of serving lunch - not a lot of options and the line-up went really fast.

Keeping the masses hydrated! Lemon Lavender Infused Water, Watermelon and Mint Infused Water, Prosecco and juice (for Mimosa) and a San Pellegrino for the non alcoholic version.  We also had Ras-Ber-Itas, Corona and Breezers if you wanted (thanks to my sister for supplying all of the booze).

Date Jar - not that you can't see that from the sign!

Fill your name in on the card so the Bride can send thank you's!

And let's not forget the people pictures!

Grandma (Maternal)

Grandma (Paternal)

Mom/G'ma/Bride

G'ma / Bride / G'ma

Bridal Party

Am I tired . . . you bet your bootie I'm tired - I still haven't put everything away and I've saved enough that wasn't used for a "party in a bag".  It's for sale if you contact me with your details I can provide you with what all is included.