Before and After: Make Do & Mend Painted Blanket Box

Wicker Armchairs

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a pair of these priced at $30 each at one of my local haunts, so I jumped on them!

The covers are pretty special, aren't they?  Besides that, the amount of dust stuck in the weave of the cane could have probably padded another cushion (yuck!) I am finding the air gun attachment for my compressor is so useful for lots of cleaning projects, and this was no exception.  The airgun got rid of all the dust bunnies in no time!

I removed the old covers, turned them inside out, and used them as a pattern for my new covers.

I used my (current) favourite fabric to make new covers for these, but didn't have quite enough so had to use a contrasting fabric for the back of the backs.

I have only done one chair so far, here it is...

I am going to leave the frames unpainted at this stage...who knows how long that will last though ;)

...they would look cute in white...

The first time I used this fabric was on a cushion, which I showed here on my Facebook page, and which also made an appearance in my last post.  I grabbed 4 metres each of the blue and cream versions when it was on sale a few months back, not knowing what I would use it for 

(isn't that half the fun when buying fabric?)

The red gingham I used as the backing for the cushion is sold out and discontinued also, which I am not happy about...I have used it to make lots of things over the years, including these cute little aprons for my daughter's 5th Birthday in 2009, a cupcake party.

It was only 3 years ago, but these girls all look so tiny...wow they have grown lots in that time!

Of course I had to make a matching apron for myself too.

I think I might be the only one that still fits mine ;)

Wow, that was quite a tangent, even for me.  Getting back to the subject, this photo shows the most true-to-life colour of the fabric.  I like to put zippers into all my cushions for ease of removal for washing.  Yes it takes longer at the time but sure beats unpicking a seam later on, or using buttons or velcro as far as I am concerned.

Here are both chairs, sitting on my back deck where they will live.  I still need sort out a better table to put in between the chairs, that little Ikea one really isn't the look I am going for.  I have something on the go at the moment that will probably end up there.

So I still have more sewing to do to finish the other cushions, but I am pleased about how the first one has turned out...it is a nice little spot to enjoy morning tea!

Do you have a favourite fabric you have been using for years?  What do you do when you run out of it, or the shop no longer stocks it?  Console yourself with a shopping trip to the fabric shop? 

Yeah, me too ;)

Christmas Raggy Wreaths - 2011 Series

Last year, I gave these a go for the first time.  They turned out very well, and I loved making them.  I made them in small quantities to keep them original and unique - no mass-production going on here!

Here are some of last year's models (all sold):

And here is the first batch of this year's:

I currently have 4 available, and they will be for sale soon on my trademe listings.  I will post them to anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.

Recent completed projects

Hi there :)

I am as busy as a bee completing client commissions at the moment, and I have one to start on tomorrow that I am very excited about, due to a brave colour choice by my client...woohoo!

Hopefully I will be back tomorrow night to give you a peek of the colour...until then, here is what the piece looks like now:

The seventh drawer is with the set, for some reason just wasn't in the picture my client sent me.

Oooooh I just can't wait to get started on this!

So here are some of the other finished bits that have gone to new homes...

It is a noticeboard, in case anyone is wondering...

little wooden clothespegs are the best thing to hold notes on with.

I whipped up some more of these pillows

and then had a play round and came up with my version of the popular Union Jack theme...

I am in love with it, so it is a keeper...but I can always make more!

I am working on this

and it should be finished tomorrow.

A piece from my stockroom has been selected for custom finishing and I started on it today...here it is in its before state...

Don't worry, it is looking much better already.  Actually, looking at this photo again, I have to admire the client's ability to see past the UGLY that this was!

Well, how was that for an all-over-the-show post?  Welcome to my life...hehehe.

Will be back tomorrow with some progress, I hope!

xx Karen

Oilcloth Buntings and other pretty things

You may remember that on the 13th of February I did my first market stall.

After being a bundle of nerves at the thought of it, I had a fantastic time and was determined to do it all over again soon.  The next one was going to be the Swannanoa Country Fair on March 6th (last Sunday) but because of the devastating September 4th earthquake encore on February 22nd, lots of events planned for that weekend were cancelled (and rightly so).

I hadn't been listing much for sale lately because I wanted to save stock for my market stalls, but because we are now heading rapidly into Autumn, there won't be any more until Spring.  

So, here are some shots of what I have for sale...

Shabby Chic Dining Suite

Oilcloth Bunting Handmade by me :)

Along with my perennial favourite red dotty oilcloth, this rosebud one is my favourite at the moment, I just love it.

Vintage Doily Bunting handmade by me :)

Retro Red Dotty Stools - always popular!

Vintage Magazine Table with Oilcloth top

Denim, Grey and Ruffles pillow designed and made by me :)

Paris Pillow designed and made by me :)

Upcycled Chalkboard

The frame was already gold on this print, and while I am a silver girl (or white gold will do, hehe), I did think this looked ok left gold, and figured someone might like it...

Here is another chalkboard that I painted the frame on...

And a frame that I put chicken wire in...

And embellished with a couple of handmade linen rosettes that I hope Jami would be proud of :)

On the subject of fabric, I made this raggy heart-shaped wreath using a few of my favourite natural coloured fabrics, with a few pops of red thrown in.

You can see more of the heart shape better on this one...the 'rags' are shorter and narrower.

After the success of my Christmas Raggy Wreaths, I decided to make some 'Summer' ones.  

 Since starting a blog and getting hooked on an ever-increasing list of great other blogs, I have learnt that in the USA it seems to be quite a common custom to decorate for each 'holiday'.  We don't do that in New Zealand - well, we decorate for Christmas and that is about it.  Maybe some decorate for Halloween but that is an American 'holiday' anyway, not a NZ one.  So anyway, I thought I might try and change that, one front door at a time, with these...

Of course, I may have missed the boat on that somewhat, given that it is now Autumn.  I am not a fan of Autumn colours so don't see an Autumn one in my range at all....never mind, 'only' 6 long cold months and I can bring out a Spring one!  The Summer ones will keep...

Finally, as this post is long enough already, I did this wee phone table quite some time ago. 

This is the second one I have done - the first one was purchased by a lady who makes jewellery (Little Pearls for Little Girls) and she wanted it to use as a place to display her wares at markets.  I was thrilled that one of my creations would be out in public and seen by lots of shoppers!

Here is a link to a photo on her facebook page which has my phone table stool in it

Showing this off at

That is it from me for now...tomorrow is a painting day for me so hopefully I will be back soon with some new finished projects to share :)

xx Karen