$2 Chair Transformation

 In November I was at a garage sale and found a chair for $2.  I was really excited about it, as it had so much potential.  My husband was mortified that I'd bring something that disgusting home.  (for the record, it was very, very worn, but not as disgusting as it could have been; however, it was not allowed in the house)  :)

 We started by removing all of the cording. 

  

 The filling was pretty awful.  We probably should've worn masks...  This particular part wasn't too bad.

 My husband spent hours removing hundreds and hundreds of staples.  They were spaced out about every millimeter and were in a groove, so it was very hard to remove them.  He eventually used a Dremel tool to clean out the grooves.  At this point, it was ready for paint.

 Several coats of white paint had it looking much better.

 We kept all of the old pieces of fabric in case we needed the patterns for the new pieces.  This is from the arm (yes, very nice old fabric--I'm sure you're wondering why we didn't use it!)

We did the arms first. 

We then started stapling the fabric to the back.  We got this far and decided that it needed to be ironed.  Ironing right there was our only option.  (this picture is pre-ironed)

I used an electric knife to cut the foam and stuck it in the back.  I used 2" foam from Hobby Lobby and it seemed to fit well.

 For the seat, I used 3" foam.  I also wrapped some batting around it.

 I decided that cutting the exact pattern from the old fabric wasn't great for this part as I needed some extra to allow enough fabric to staple into the groove.  This was before I did any cutting on this piece!

This was prior to gluing on the cording.  The hardest part of this was cutting the edges of the stapled fabric that were hanging out of the groove.  I used little tiny scissors and carefully cut it so it wouldn't be seen once the cording was glued in there.

 I'm sorry that I didn't get a picture of the next step.  It was gluing the cording into the grooves.  We used a hot glue gun and stuffed the cord in.  At the ends of the cord, we used a lighter to glob it together so it would cut without fraying.  Luckily it did not catch us on fire and it did firm up the cord quite well.

 I haven't quite figured out where to put it yet.  Here it is by the front door without a pillow.

  

 And with a pillow....

 Here it is in our bedroom, where it will probably stay.

So now my husband is impressed.  He had been telling me that I was crazy to have bought the chair thinking we could redo it.  (I figured we could, and if not, we were out $2!)  I think it turned out beautifully!  With the fabric, foam, and batting, I have about $35 in it.  

Thank you for coming by!  I really appreciate your visits and comments.   

Don't forget to enter my Giveaway    
HERE

Pam


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Potpourri Friday at 2805

My Blog-iversary Giveaway and a Lovely Honor

Today marks one year since I started blogging.  What a joy it's been to join in the party!  I've met so many great friends and have been so inspired.  I spent the last year doing more crafts and projects than ever.

So, to celebrate my 'blogiversary', I am hosting a giveaway.  I was out shopping today and found this pillow and wire cloche to send to the winner.  I will pick the winner on Friday, January 27th via Random Number Generator.

*** Update--We have had a death in the family so I can't pick a winner on the original date.  I will pick a winner on Monday, January 30***

 




It's easy to enter:

• You need to be a follower of my blog and leave a comment.
• This giveaway is only open to US residents.   
• Please be sure that I have a way to contact you via your blog or an email address.

Good luck!


The other part of my post is in regard to a huge honor that I've been given.  When I was in high school, my basketball team won the state championship.  It was the first championship to be won by any girls' team at my school.  This weekend, they are inducting our team into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.  I am so honored and so grateful for the friendships and memories I have from that time.   Unfortunately, I am not able to attend, but many of my former teammates will be there.  My Dad is standing in for me.  I am thrilled and so is he!  :)


Here we were way back when. I'm holding the trophy.  Those were some short shorts we wore!  :)

Thanks so much for coming by.  And thank you for making the past year so much fun!

Pam

Hooking a Friend Up

Last summer we took at trip to the Palm Springs area to visit friends.  My friend and I were shopping at Pottery Barn and found these numbered hooks on sale.  I was thrilled that the numbers 1-4 were available.  I wasn't sure where I'd use them, but loved how crisp the numbers were and how sturdy the hooks were.

 They stayed on a shelf until right before Christmas.  I decided that the perfect place for them would be in my friend's house.

My husband cut a board and routed the edges.

 

 We painted it white and measured very carefully to space the hooks across the board.

Holes were drilled on the ends to attach it to the wall.

 And off it went with anchors to attach it to the wall and plugs to fill the holes.  She hung it today and says she loves it! 

 

I'm sure she'll play around with what to hang on it.  I think it looks great!

Thanks for your visit.

Pam

I am linking up to the following parties:

 

 

Back in the Saddle Again...

Right out of college and up until my daughter was born, I worked as a Financial Analyst.  I loved the work, but we had our two year old son and our daughter on the way.  We decided that I would stay home with them.  Over the years I worked some part time jobs, but generally I was home.  Now that both kids are in college, I felt the desire to return to work.  Well, on Monday I'm jumping back in.  It's a new company for me, but the work will be similar to what I did so many years ago.  I am very excited!

My good friend Cindy sent me this box of gifts the other day in celebration of the new job.  

 A new scarf, some notepads, a clipboard, and a rooster for the house.

I will be wearing the scarf and using those cards!  I think the rooster is awfully cute on my island!

 Obviously there are some downsides to taking on a full time job.  One of them is blogging.  I plan to continue, but know that it will take a bit of a backseat for awhile until I figure my schedule out.  Since the kids are both in college, that's not an issue (but let's be real--a big reason to go back to work!)  The biggest issue we have is that our dog Max will be missing me like crazy!  He's 11 years old and is never far from my side all day and all night long.  Hopefully his new Christmas toy will soothe him during the day during my absence.  :)

 Thanks for your visit!  

Pam

Old and Beat Up Makes for my Favorite Birdhouse

I collect birdhouses.  I am obsessed with love birdhouses.  My favorite birdhouse of all is the most beat up, rickety thing I own.  I found this years ago from Natalie at Sparrow.  (LOVE her stuff!!)  She is one of the regulars at the BarnHouse Boys' sales.

 

 

For awhile I had it outside, but with our extreme weather conditions, it was getting to the point of having enough character.  :)  

 

I cleaned it and cleaned it and brought it inside. 

  I love the perches and the worn wood on the sides and top!

 

 I needed to put it some place where it wouldn't get bumped, since the wood is so fragile now.  I don't think our old, fatty cat can get up there!

 

Thanks for coming by!  I appreciate your visits and comments!

Pam

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Built In Wine Rack

My husband's friend is building a new house by himself and wanted a wine rack.  My husband built it last week.  They had the perfect place for it...

He started with sheets of birch plywood. 

He cut and polyurethaned the shelves.   Here they are hanging to dry.

 Lots and lots of gluing and clamping.

The face frames were made out of solid birch.  Lots more gluing and clamping.

It needed an area in the back to be less deep to accommodate some pipes and cords.  The bottom few shelves easily hold one bottle of wine.  The higher shelves hold two. 

 

A perfect fit!

 

Thanks for your visit!

Pam

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Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style