Make a $15.00 Oval Mirror Frame

October 17th, 2011

In my weekly IndyStar column, DIY Journal, I’ve tackled my whole house for a decorating series. This week I came up with an idea for “stretching” the length of a Goodwill mirror to make it fill the space between the bottom of the light fixture and the back of the sink. It was a solution disguised as design; Form Follows Function, you might say.
The photo above makes it look a little bit off center because it was difficult to get a head on shot.
Remember, those rings could be painted any color you want. Click here to see what I used and how I did it.

Photo Image: IndyStar.com

Learn to Upholster: The Ladies of Weekend Bootcamp

July 25th, 2011

Left to right: Jaime “The Refurbisher”, Cincinnati, “Lounge Chair Pam”, Chicago, Me, “New Jersey Jean”, Alexis “The Knitter”, Chicago, aka “Alexis from Texas”, and Jen “The Concentrator” also from Chicago.

It happened again. Three days of upholstery instruction, home cooked meals, home baked desserts, upholstery instruction, blisters, talking, laughing, making new friends and a strong sense of accomplishment by Sunday afternoon. The campers came from Chicago (3), Cincinnati and New Jersey. Two ladies from Chicago discovered they live within blocks of each other.

There’s a very palpable vibe when like minded, creative people get together. It makes you realize how alone you feel when you’re NOT around kindred spirits.

Five campers arrived with completely different projects. In a perfect world, they would have brought similar chairs and we could plow through them together. However, the objectives are to learn upholstery basics and have fun. By the end of the day Sunday, I would like to think their objectives were met, even though a few left with some unfinished homework. (We may have spent too much time enjoying Mr. Mod’s delicious meals and desserts and not enough nose to the grindstone.) As they walked out the door to my studio, I assured them that I’ll be available to help them through upholstery questions or challenges they have. Well, not forever, but at least until they have the confidence to work through their immediate upholstery issues.

“New Jersey Jean” had to leave early so we had to get our parting photograph prior to a few of these chairs being completed.

I couldn’t do it without he help of my mod mate, Ed. He worked his culinary fingers to the bone and provided all of the delicious sustenance,except for the pizza, so we could work on.

THE MENU

Friday Lunch: Bazbaeux Pizza and salad
Afternoon Snack: Red Velvet Woopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

Saturday Lunch: Homemade Chicken Salad on Croissants
Raw Veggies
Chips
Afternoon Snack: Berry Trifle Parfait with Sweet Cream and Homemade Banana Bread

Sunday Brunch: Breakfast Casserole (hashbrowns, cheese, mushrooms,peppers,
onions, and more)
Fruit
Afternoon Snack: Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Hot Fudge

Before and After: Biscuit Tufted Upolstered Wing Chair

July 6th, 2011

As of tomorrow, one of my very BFF students will be moving away to embark on his new career as a professor of Anthropology at Duke. Harris has generously shared his lofty humor, intellect and crafty goodness with us for almost two years. He has become a friend I cherish and will miss terribly.

1. Right here, Harris has just finished making and attaching the velvet covered buttons right smack dab at the intersections of his padded and sewn front cushion cover. He reused the old foam that padded the front of the orange chair. The new inside back was first attached to the top rail on the back of the frame, the necessary cuts were made and the fabric and padding was threaded through the side rails and attached on the back of the chair. The bottom (you can see it here) was folded under and stapled so the seat would have ample room to slide up against the inside back of the chair.

A few of us are already thinking of a road trip to the High Point furniture show. Really, I just want to go visit him in his Mayberry-esque bungalow in Raleigh and sit on the front porch after dinner while neighbors stroll by and say “Hey!”

Here’s a way to look at it, it’s just another stop on my “Upholstery Class Will Travel” traveling show.

OK–back to Mr. Brainy Biscuit Tufting’s upholstery. When he lugged in the orangey velvet caned wing chair (above), I said, “Sure, (ha ha) we can get that done before you move.”
Well, yesterday was the day. I skedaddled down to my studio to get things set up so we could knock it out. (See, that’s the kind of nice upholstery instructor I am.) Plus, I wanted to have time to visit with him before the big move.

2. There isn’t a photo of him sewing, but he had to sew in the tufts for the biscuit tufted seat. He used the old seat cover as a pattern. After measuring and marking the button locations, he stitched slightly curved lines in between each button mark. When he was finished, he covered the old piece of foam with fresh dacron and then carefully pushed the fabric in place and biscuit tufted the seat.

3. Once the buttons were securely attached to the seat padding, he wrapped it around the drop in seat frame and stapled the seat cover in place. He had to make sure the vertical and horizontal stitched lines stayed aligned. The last step was to make a piece of covered welt cord and a front band to attach around the front of the seat. He added a strip of dacron under the band for softness and a nice finish.

I wish him the very best, but he’s not heard the last of this naggy teacher.

Redesigned Sewing Table

May 18th, 2011

Remember the gaping sewing table from yesterday?

First, I spray painted the entire table with primer and then shiny silver paint. Next, I glued the flip floppy top securely in place.

Here she is all dressed up in mirror tiles. Yep, all I did was go to Lowes, buy a pack of 12″ x 12″ mirror tiles and score, cut and glue ‘um on.

I figured out a simple pattern with paper, measured and drew lines on the mirrors with a Sharpie.
Next, I carefully scored the surface with a little glass cutting tool (read the directions!). After cutting glass, CAREFULLY rub the edges with a fine sandpaper, being careful not to cut your hand!!!!

Snap off excess mirror at the score lines and glue on to the surfaces you want to cover. I started with the top, let it dry, flipped the table on one side, then the next and then the front.

For a little pizazz-a-roony, I added one of my handmade vintage polymer/vintage earring knobs. What was once a big, brown box became a glittery, glammy bedroom side table.

Holly’s Shabby Ottoman Makeover

April 18th, 2011

Holly has become an upholstery wiz. You barely have to tell her how to get started and she’s off and running. After her mod desk chair makeover, she brought in this torn and tattered ottoman from one of our favorite antique markets, Midland Antique Mall. Midland is one of those partially occupied old factory buildings I would pay money just to be able to investigate the empty floors and basement. However, I’m digressing from the point.

The ottoman had that horrid pillow top. Holly was eager to make it cleaner and more modern looking. By the way, this girl does her homework. She takes her pieces home, sands, paints and brings them back ready to go.

You can’t tell from the photo, but the After ottoman has turquoise glossy legs combined with a nice charcoal gray basket weave fabric that has metallic threads running through. The upholstery is superb, but look at that double welt cord application!! Holly moves to the front row of the class.

Before and After: DIY Upholstery Classes Yield Big Results

March 23rd, 2011

Kate takes upholstery classes at my studio. She began collecting furniture to outfit her son’s apartment. Before she knew it, she had an entire garage full of living room furniture that needed updating. She decided to take upholstery classes to learn how to do it herself.

As classes progressed, she didn’t stop her Craigslist shopping for affordable Mid Century Modern pieces. Prices for this era of furniture are still very reasonable around these parts. In addition to finding great deals, she’s met some interesting and crazy furniture folks, a side benefit to thrifting and hunting for unique pieces.

The chair seat and back came out as separate upholstered pieces which made spray painting the cane frame as easy as pie.

The red fabric and black frame turned out clean, modern and perfect for a college student’s first pad.

Now let’s take a look at her first chair. She brought in this Martha Washington open armed side chair. She sharpened it up by painting the wood a glossy black. Surprisingly, the arms on these chairs can cause some frustration. It’s trickier than it looks to get the fabric tight, smooth and attached at the front and the back while keeping the design aligned. It was a learning experience and Kate gained some valuable upholstery savvy in the process. Now she’s unstoppable.

Before and After: Modern Office Chair Refresher

February 17th, 2011

To start things off on this warm February morning, here’s the sad Before state of Holly’s thrifted office chair. As you can see, whatever is supposed to support the seat is not doing its job. After removing the seat cushion and taking a quick glance at the frame, it was obvious that old, dried out, rubberized webbing was the culprit.

After rewebbing and cutting new foam, Holly got to be the first one in class to try out the OLD industrial Consew sewing machine we purchased from the previous tenant. She handily sewed her new cushion cover, upholstered the seat and Voila’.

Make Play Kitchens from Old TV Cabinets

January 11th, 2011

You just have to appreciate the love that went into both of these play kitchens. Here are five good reasons to make one of for your kids or grandkids.
1. Clever reuse of hideous old TV cabinets
2. Create a high quality play kitchen you’ll pass down to family
3. Creative thinking and building exercises the brain and brings a sense of accomplishment
4. The joy it gives the DIY-er as well as the recipients
5. It’s a one of a kind

Read the full post over on my Curbly blog.

A Before and After Master Bedroom That Will Make Your Head Spin

September 15th, 2010

The dreadful master bedroom BEFORE the transformation with the help of Eddie Ross.

This master bedroom makeover is so full of rich Before and After projects, if this doesn’t get you on your way to the Goodwill, I don’t know what will. Each re-do turned out polished and professional.
This is what we’re shooting for.

Furniture Makeover Tip: Shapely Legs

August 30th, 2010

Mondays are always difficult. Coming back from a short vacation doesn’t make it easier. However, I am excited to get busy with all things Mod Home Ec after last week’s Design Sponge DIY project I had featured.
Thank you Grace and Kate for giving me that opportunity to share with DS readers. There’s no better exposure than Design Sponge and ApartmentTherapy for my type of work.

Oddly enough I started getting some emails about those atomic legs.
I absolutely am not peddling my wares here. It’s just amazing how a fresh leg design can spruce up a piece of thrifted furniture, or one of your existing pieces you’ve decided to make over. The unfinished wood is so pristine, it’s open to all sorts of stains or paint color. Don’t overlook nice legs on a bad body at the thrift store. Shoppers tend to pass by good legs or a nice base if the upholstery is a mess. That’s good for you.

Don’t you love how the light wood stands out against the black construction paper? I felt very sassy that I was able to get some decent shots of these legs thanks to Photoshop.

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