The couch!!

Before
It's dingy, and the cushions were deformed. I think there was a permanent butt imprint. You can just trust me on this, no close-ups!

During
Phase 1: Covering the body. The white is from Ikea and I used about 6 yards. I did this back in May (??). It needs to be washed. And hemmed. 

Next I remade the cushions. 4" foam, batting, and a white muslin cover sewed on. I just made 2 long cushions instead of 3. I was going to do the back the same way, but I didn't think it would look right. So I bought 3 24" square cushions from Hancock. They were the right height, but too narrow. So I went back for 3 27" square pillows. These were too tall. So when I made the cases, I cut them 25" x 28" and just squished the pillow in (not a problem at all).

After:
If you are ever at Ikea buying fabric to recover your couch, you should not let this conversation happen:
Me: I want to cover it in white.
Boy: No, it will get too dirty.
Me: But you can wash it.
Boy: No, I don't want to worry about being messy.
Me: Fine, which one do you like


* Here is the important part *
Boy: How about this one?
* If he points to stripes say NOOO. Unless you have lots of time, are a perfectionist, and like tedious sewing. 


So here it is!

It turns out, after looking at these pictures, that I don't actually like it. But that's the good thing about slipcovers, right? As soon as I have the right fabric & energy, I can easily make a new cover. I have templates to use now!!

House. One Day

So I just got married. Which means gifts that we have NO ROOM FOR. But thank you for the gifts! We're making the 8 hour drive to Ikea next weekend to pick up some cheap Gorm bookshelves. 

We also had a store credit at VivaTerra. Eh, I'm not too impressed with them and I'll leave it at that. Farmhouse Wares has similar items at better prices. Anyway. Here are the items I bought.

The point? We have NO ROOM for these items. I mean, they will look great in my house one day, but that day is a few years off, at least! One day I will live in an awesome house in an awesome city. For now I'm stuck in Albuquerque.

More positive now

Has anyone been to Pottery Barn lately? Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel really do it for me. They are both mostly out of my first-year-teacher price range. But I can idea shop there for free. And I don't feel guilt because I admit where I get the ideas.


Some eye-candy that I can make myself!

Burlap back, a wood frame, 2 metal rods, little buckets (you could get those at ikea), and a burlap sac.

Wonky stripey quilt. I need to work more color into my quilts. I've noticed that I stop at 3 colors/tones.

Wooden thread spools as wall hooks. Brilliant. I have TONS of these!

Some day

Well really, most weekends, I hate where I live. No matter how many cool gadgets I have, no matter how great my husband is, no matter how much I love where I work, I feel like I won't be completely happy.


I NEED to own a house. NEED. 

Something like one of these: (all images courtesy of Chattanooga MLS). Look at those built-ins around the fireplace. Of craftsman style, you have my heart. Or all that green, and the deliciously WHITE kitchen. 


Sigh.


How many more years of this shitty city?