I am not switching over to French style, it’s just that I keep running into these ridiculous deals.
This French Provincial-style chair was $40 on Craigslist, and I couldn’t pass it up…especially in such great condition and considering how well it goes with the $50 French Provincial couch I got before Christmas.
Of course a new chair needs a new pillow:-) I bought this stack of remnants before Christmas when my favorite fabric store reopened after a fire. Everything is now 75% off with fire damage, and it all washes out.
My plan is to make pillows with down, feathers actually, filling, then make covers out of the fabric. I just can’t choose yet because I love them all.
I don’t buy down-filled inserts, but make them myself out of a larger pillow. It’s really not as messy as it seems, because I sew the edges where I will cut, and that cuts down on the feathers flying everywhere. It’s more cost effective too, and I can customize the size I want.
Another project I’m anxious to get started on is recovering this stool. It has a matching chair, which I had reupholstered in chenille about six years ago. I didn’t have the stool at the time, so this is the upholstery both had. The fabric is circa 1980s, but the chair and stool are actually from the 1940s. I had the chair redone the first time about 13 years ago in white, then re-covered in the chenille. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the chair covering yet, but for the stool I bought a 4″ piece of foam to raise the height, and I’ll probably use burlap so it will be versatile. I’m not planning on matching them — at this point anyway.
The next thing we really need to do is install the baseboards I got out of the old house. The biggest problem we have is the trim is too wide for our miter saw, so we might have to cut it by hand. For real.
I just have it leaned up against the wall (and have had for two years) because even leaning it looks better than the white, which I have never liked. At all. I will use a rubbing stain on each piece to freshen it up and make it all look uniform before we install it.
Now on to some pretties…
A couple from my church gave me this beautiful Mason’s “Vista” pitcher. I was so surprised and couldn’t wait to get it home.
This is the only piece of Mason’s red transferware I have. It goes so nicely with the J & G Meakin “Romantic England” and Johnson Brothers “Old Britain Castles” I love so much.
Another friend, Meg, surprised me with this beautiful hand-painted teapot. Can you believe she was apprehensive, thinking I wouldn’t like it?? I fell in love with it the minute I opened the package.
What a beautiful treasure from a special person:-)
And finally…some of y’all know how serious I am about vintage — so much so that last year, I figured out a 1957 calendar would work for 2013. Who does that, really? This year, I really found a great calendar from 1958 for 2014. This one has Currier and Ives prints, is totally complete and in pristine condition. The lunar cycle is off, but everything else is the same.
I don’t know what it is, but I am fascinated with old calendars. It’s like a visit back in time.
These are a few of the things I *hope* to be working on. I don’t know how other bloggers do it, but there just aren’t enough hours in a day for me to get too much done besides laundry, cooking, cleaning, packing lunches, picking up kids here and there, my music ministry job and the little bit of sleep we try to throw in. Really, where does the time go?
I’ll be joining:
Gorgeous chair and great find! I love your idea about cutting down the pillows – so much more affordable. Lovely photographs. I adore transferware.
Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design
howdy from kansasland!
the chair is a great match to your sofa.
Frankly, I think this style is beautiful and very classy.
I think it's a beautiful way to decorate your pretty home.
God bless and may you have a wonderful 2014,
d
I love, love that chair and cannot believe the cost. That was an absolute must purchase!!!
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
GREAT chair! WHAT a buy!!!! That stool will be great recovered, too. I found enough fabric to match a chair I had and was able to just eke out a full to the floor slipcover with ruffled bottom to match my chair. I do the same thing with pillows-buy them big- sew my two lines down the middle and cut in between. It's a bit of a mess but not bad.
Hope you have a wonderful night- xo Diana
That chair is amazing and I love all of your special treasures Anita!
I love the chair and the price was truly a steal! I need to check Craigslist more often. Looking forward to seeing the finished stool.
~willa~
That chair is wonderful! Love the red transferware pitcher too.
If you haven't already, please show how you make new pillows from one large one. I'd love to see pictures.
i have the wall calendar from the year I was born. My parents saved it. 1966 :o)
It's meant to be your new style obviously. It's not just the great prices, it's your new look coming through.
I personally have a job list as long as five months for sure, if I did nothing but work on it. Being a wife, a blogger, a homemaker, and running my little booth at the local flea market, etc, I don't get to my projects as I'd like. And I'm a reader. I only read perhaps 6 books last year. I made a resolution to read at least one book a week this year. I have tons of them. How to fit it all in?!
It's all wonderful to me! I really love the look you are bringing to your space. I'm cheering on the Craigslist find in a big way. I look and look but all I see is badly worn '90s florals. Ugh.
So many pretty things! Your fabrics are beautiful. Such a great idea to use bed pillows for the stuffing and your calendar too ~ I would have never thought of that. I know what you mean about daily chores taking up most of your time. I always wonder how other people do it too.
Can't believe you got this amazing chair for such a price!
Wow–the chair is such a match for the sofa! Oh oh oh–I love the calendar idea!! wow–I need to do this!!
That chair was made for that couch. Wow! What a deal on that, and it's gorgeous. I LOVE all things French, especially chairs! I'm impressed with your finds. XOXO
Long time ago, we bought quite a few dish towel calendars. Most have significant dates, births, high school graduations, etc. But some we bought in a lot of eBay. Well, we bought all of them on eBay but you know what I mean. Anyway, they were to be like a skirt under a counter on our IKEA island with open shelves for storage. We agreed it would be a neat way to keep dust at bay. Then hubs decided it wouldn't be practical with 3 big dogs we've had for a longer time. ugh They sit folded in a cabinet until I can persuade him to use them. Such a waste. I'll have to see if we got a 1958 in the lot 🙂
Janet
I think that is a capital idea to use vintage calendars! I was born in 1958, and that makes perfect sense to me!!! I think I'll start scouring the flea markets for a 1958 calendar. It would be cool just to have one around the house anyway!
Oh, how I envy your ability to sew (as well as your ability to find great bargains on furniture!!)! What a great deal you got on those smoke damaged remnants!!!