Seashells, Slipcovers and Ticking. . .

Sorry for the poor lighting. First glimpse of my slipcovered sofa and toss pillows. I hope to have time this week to post some how-to's.

Seashells, Slipcovers and Ticking. . .

I have mentioned before that I have to be ruthless in terms of editing decorative items because the house is so small. Here you see a few of my favorite things. . .

Books I love.

A cast iron owl, that was in my paternal grandparents house. Originally a black trivet, I spray painted it white. I suppose it could still be a trivet but I've always just loved how pretty it is. I've always found it very thought provoking for some reason.

Some dominoes. I don't know how to play. But I'm hoping sometime a friend or acquaintance will visit and show me how.

A punch cup and glass party tray. I have a set of these and I love them. They are very 1950's. I got them from a flea market/antique dealer in Huntingdon a few years ago. I would imagine they are quite common based upon the price I paid.

Seashells, Slipcovers and Ticking. . .

I adore ticking.

Seashells, Slipcovers and Ticking. . .

I opted not to make slip covers for these two little chairs (yet). I really like how they contrast with the blue ticking. Plus, they add a little bit of fancy to this space - which is really a glorified pass-through to the kitchen. The chairs are comfortable. Just this weekend, my Mother and I had iced tea and lemonade and snacks here. It was very civilized. Haha. To gain extra space, I just opened one of the leaves on the table. It was just right for a few snacks on a hot lazy afternoon.

As with all the photos, you can double click the pic to make it bigger.

Seashells, Slipcovers and Ticking. . .

There's been a lot of HomeEckWreck-ing going on here. Not doing a great job of sharing lately. But I'm going to attempt to do a better job of sharing my doing. . .

As you can see in the above-pic, I've finally gotten the house in her little summer sundress of white slipcovers, seashells, and ticking.

I wasn't lucky to find this sand dollar in its natural environ. It was purchased. In the past, I have purchased shells.

However, due to my concerns about sustainability, try to rarely purchase shells or sponges, or corals. If you are looking for instant beach chic consider small pebbles, sea glass, driftwood, and sand.

I consider collecting shells that washed up on the beach acceptable so long as it's allowed at that particular beach. Just be sure to take only what you need.

Sunday Brunch #4

Sunday Brunch #3

Soooooo pretty. . .

Sunday Brunch #2

Juniper Berries at the Hampton Historic Site.

Sunday Brunch #1

A little late in the day for brunch. . .but thought I'd share some pics from the gardens at the Hampton Historical Site, located near Towson, Maryland. The magnolia tree was in beautiful bloom.

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 7

Let's stuff the pillow insert in the cover and admire our handy-work shall we? Yeah! Just the little confidence boost I needed to tackle the rest of the inserts and the other slipcovers. Perhaps the same will happen for you?

Couple of thoughts/tips:

1. Pinking Shears - GET a pair pronto. They are great for cutting edges you don't want to fray. This isn't a substitute for actually hemming fabric to a finished edge but it's a nice time saver if you need it. Or are just lazy like me.

2. Super sharp dressmaker's shears - GET some. I got my Gingher's at a serious discount at Jo-Ann's. This is also where I got my Gingher embroidery scissors which are great for trimming small threads.

3. It's so much easier to operate a sewing machine when you know how and why it works. I've used my sewing machine "green" and I've used it after I read a little about sewing machines. I had a lot more success after doing just a minimal amount of reading.

4. Don't get tense! I realized I used to get very nervous about sewing a straight line. I was looming over the machine like some kind of hunch-backed ogre. My entire body was tense, my jaw was tight, my fingers where cramped. The dogs (the little teeth beneath the presser foot) do a pretty decent job of feeding the fabric straight. Relax. No one will notice a bit of an errant stitch anyway. They will be too busy being impressed with your handiwork.

5. Luckily, this didn't happen to me this time. . .BUT. . .You can always rip out a stitch. Just make sure you have the tools for it. How often in life do you get a "do over"? In sewing, you do. What's not to love?

6. Never, ever, underestimate the power of preparation. It's so much better to take the time to think things through, to measure twice, to iron and launder properly than to have your hard work foiled by a silly but serious miss-step.

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 6

When you're done sewing, pull the pillow cover right side out through the back slit. You should have something that resembles this. (Or better, if you're much more skilled than I am). Give it a light pressing. . .

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 5

I pressed the inside "quarter" edges. The "outside" edges were already finished since it was a dish towel originally. I sewed the "inside" edges I cut to form the open flap where the pillow insert will go.

Then I lined up the fabric as best as I could. And pinned the quarters to the front half. When you are sewing like this, the outsides of the fabrics go face to face "inside" so you can sew around the perimeter.

With this type of pillow - where you have a generous opening for the pillow insert, you can sew around all four sides.

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 4

Plus this: Last summer, C and I checked out the Maryland Historical Society. That place is amazing! If I knew how to link or cross-post, I'd direct you to my "review/tour" of the place at HomeEckWreck. At any rate, my souvenir was a dish towel that resembled the vintage towels with all the attractions from the state on it. It wasn't cheap - nearly $25! - but when I purchased it, I knew. . Just knew. . .I could make it into a pillow cover. One year later, I was up for the challenge.

Here you see I have very bravely cut the towel into several pieces.

I had a pillow insert that I knew would work size-wise. So I folded the towel in half. Ironed. Cut on the crease. Then I took the "non printed" side of the towel and folded in half again. Ironed. Cut on the crease. This gave me three pieces.

The two "quarters" would form the back of the pillow with the "euro-sham" slit that could accommodate the pillow insert. The printer "half" would form the front of the pillow.

I never measure anything and typically this results in my being a huge fabric hog. This time, I had very little room for error so I sewed my seams very very carefully.

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 3

Intimidated by the zipper and figuring it would be less expensive if I didn't have to purchase a bunch of zippers, I decided I should make all the pillow covers and cushions with the fold-over "euro-sham" type closure. I love, love, love ticking. So I purchased some of that. I also purchased some crisp nearly white chino and some pretty brown linen. I wasn't sure what fabric went where when I started but as with most things. . .If you love it, you will find a way. . .Add to that a bolt of snow white muslin. You can always use muslin. (I hope?)

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 2

So I have this awesome upholstery on my very vintage sofa that my Husband and his Brother refer to as Margaritaville. (I'm sure they are being affectionate when they use that term). I adore it but I though for summer, we should have something "lighter." And so it begins. . .

Sumer Spruce Up Project - Slip Covers #1

Don't worry. It actually gets slightly more exciting. . .

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Table

This is really how all my grand slip covering craziness started. We got a new counter height table for our kitchen. We really needed a more comfortable place and more space to eat.

The table and stools were much more economical unfinished. So I painted them white. When the paint dried, I placed some brown kraft paper down the center to fashion an impromptu table-runner. And that simple piece of paper on the white table inspired me to make the decorating scheme more casual and neutral for the summer months.

Me and my bright ideas. . .

Summer Spruce Up Projects

So we have how many things going on? And I decided to add one more thing to the chaos. I decided a few weeks ago that it would be a good idea to change curtains, slipcovers, etc for the summer months. The only problem is I didn't actually have these items to just "switch out." And because our furniture is old and oddly shaped, I just can't purchase a standard slip cover. See where this is going?

Sunday Brunch #2

Speaking of design. . .Yikes. I'm not sure if this is comfortable? Surely it's not practical. It certainly would be a conversation piece.

Sunday Brunch

A couple of snapshots from our last visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art. Here, the sculpture garden. It backs up to the Hopkins Homewood Campus and is close to a busy street but still seems peaceful and serene when you walk through it.