Move Mountains In Your Home
When I was a newlywed, I traded my mom my rollerblades for her sewing machine. I wanted to learn to sew and make things for my house. And she wanted to...well...rollerblade. I don't know if she ever took up rollerblading around the neighborhood, but it was a great trade for me. Today, I helped her hem 12 premade drapes for her family room and that trade paid off for her as well. Hemming … [Read more...]
A little over a year ago I made a six part video tutorial series on making slipcovers. I used a wing chair as an example, but you can take these skills and make a slipcover for any piece of furniture. I've received so many wonderful e-mails and comments from people with all level of sewing ability who used this series to make their first slipcover. I thought it was time to put them in one … [Read more...]
I get a lot of e-mail and comments asking questions, but the most common one I receive is, "Where did you get your curtains?" Since I originally posted about them over a year ago (Has it been that long?), I decided to share the tutorial on how to make them again.When I was looking for a fabric about 18 months ago, I wanted a large-scaled paisley print in blue and white. Well, I didn't … [Read more...]
Alright all of you wonderful readers out there...I need your help. Remember those mossy green pillows I purchased at TJ Maxx a couple of weeks ago?I used them on my living room sofa and now I want more. In usual bargain store fashion, though, the ones that I passed by are no longer there. If you think of it, would you check out your local TJ Maxx or Home Goods to see if there are … [Read more...]
For those who have been waiting for a tutorial on how I made my dining room chair slipcovers, the wait is over. I got the green light from my editor at Cottages and Bungalows to share the tutorial I wrote for them on my blog, since the issue is no longer sold on newsstands. If you would like to order a back issue of the April 2011 magazine, visit Beckett Media's website. Here's the chair … [Read more...]
A few days ago, I got a new toy from Artograph and I couldn't wait to put it to work. I've been eyeing a light box for a long time, but it was always bumped down the priority list after lenses and sewing machines and other tools of my trade. My new Artograph LightPad A930 arrived on my doorstep last week and I knew my days of taping things to a window to trace were over. Can you … [Read more...]
It's finally here. The last installment of the video slipcover tutorial series. I really hope this has been helpful to those who are making slipcovers for the first time and still informative for those who have made them before. I've loved reading all of the comments from you about the projects you're about to tackle and I can't wait to see them. I think I'll have a link party in a week or … [Read more...]
First of all, thanks to Steph from Somewhat Simple for featuring an "oldie" of mine, my sheet music side table. Steph writes an awesome craft/DIY blog and I am honored to have my work featured there. Second, for those of you waiting for the mystery paint to be revealed, it will happen tomorrow. Yay! I can't wait to share it with you. Also, a lot of readers have asked me about waxes and … [Read more...]
If you've been following the video slipcover tutorial series, welcome to the next installment. I received a semi-frantic e-mail today from a sweet woman named Maureen, informing me that she is in the middle of a slipcover and needs the next installment. Believe it or not, I have received several e-mails like this and I love it! I love that many of you are engaged and playing along. This is … [Read more...]
Welcome to part three of the video slipcover tutorial series. First, I'm going to share the "after" picture of the wing chair I used as my example in the video. Didn't it turn out great? It's currently for sale at the Old Lucketts Store. I forgot to get a picture of the row of ribbon ties down the back. They look so good! Bummer. I didn't take a "before" picture of it, so here's … [Read more...]
Welcome to part two of the slipcover video tutorial series! If you missed part one, how to make custom piping, make sure you go back and watch it first. In part two, I share some tricks on cutting the drop cloth and show where to position piping on the chair. Enjoy! Here is a full transcript of this video - MMS-Slipcover-Part2 Ooo...I mention wanting to get a serger … [Read more...]
It's finally here!! At long last! I know I have been dragging my feet on this one and I finally took the time to make the first segment in my promised video slipcover series. (I told you I would get a lot done with my mom here!) We're going to start this journey where I always start when making a slipcover - sewing the custom piping. Click HERE for a transcript of this … [Read more...]
I promised I would share all of the details of my living room makeover, so here is the second installment. This sofa was given to me by my awesome Aunt and Uncle. They brought me a truck load of furniture in May including the corner cabinets in my dining room, a great chandelier that's in Wild Rose and this sofa. It belonged to my Uncle's mother and it's got some good … [Read more...]
The dentist office called......they want their fabric back. Oh, why on God's green earth would someone want to cover a chair in fabric that looks like it belongs as wallpaper in a doctor's office? Why would any doctor or dentist want that on their walls, anyway? I don't know, but they all do. Anyway, someone did this horrible thing to these chairs. It's like a pretty … [Read more...]
As most of you know, I have been a busy girl making things for Lucketts, for my new booth, for clients and writing tutorials for HGTV.com, so my poor house has been neglected. I'm ashamed to say that there were a few weeks where I hardly cleaned the place. (I did clean my bathrooms, but the dust, the carpets and the floors were a disgrace!) I finally got caught up with my … [Read more...]
As most of you know, I've been working like a maniac to get as much done for Lucketts as I possibly can. It's next weekend and the anticipation (and pile of stuff) is building. This is the latest addition.This is how this love seat looks underneath the slipcover. It reminds me of something that would furnish a dentist's waiting room. You know that textured pastel … [Read more...]
First of all, the winner of the Well of Creations camera bag giveaway is Teresa! Congrats! I do not have an e-mail for you, so please send me an e-mail to claim your prize.Well, I have been a busy girl, so I've been a little quiet on my blog the past couple of days. You lovely ladies have not been quiet, though! Holy Cow! I can't believe how popular "Miss Mustard Seed … [Read more...]
First of all, can you believe how cheap the contestants made drop cloths look on HGTV Design Star! I kid of course. Well, sort of. Drop cloths are cheap, but they don't have to look like it. If you slap a drop cloth from the package directly to the window (especially with some pieces of a taxi cab bag tied to it, a la Design Star), it's going to look cheap. If you reuse them in creative … [Read more...]
There are times when a new blogger comes along and you just know their blog is going to be awesome and a daily read. Jami from Freckled Laundry is one of those special bloggers. She has a beautiful style, great pictures, and informative content. Jami has a passion for textiles that rivals my love of furniture. She also knows her stuff and was willing to share that … [Read more...]
I had so many people send me e-mails and comments asking for a tutorial and fabric source for my dining room curtains. Come on, ladies! You're my girls. Do you really think I would leave you all hanging like that? All you have to do is pay $50 for the e-tutorial and I'll tell you everything! Just kidding. Here's the dish...for free. 'Cause you're my girls. Don't be scared if you're … [Read more...]
I had no idea there would be such an interest in learning how to work with drop cloths in a home decor application, but several readers seemed very excited about it. I aim to please, so here it is! First of all, let me say that I was skeptical and hesitant to jump on the drop cloth bandwagon. I have always made my slipcovers out of white cotton twill and you can purchase that for about … [Read more...]
This week has been a flurry of DIY activity in the Mustard Seed household and my guest room is almost completed. This was a totally unexpected makeover that grew out of one idea, but aren't those the best? Here's a little sneak peak for you... Such a tease, I know. A makeover that started out with painting and construction soon called on my sewing skills. I made these curtains with … [Read more...]
I'm not good at decorating marathons. I'm much more of a sprinter. I like projects that I can complete in a couple of hours, maybe days. I don't do months or years. I want instant gratification, which is why I'm a painter, not a quilter. So when I found a couple of unfinished needlepoints in my grandparent's attic, I knew they were destined to a life where they … [Read more...]
I absolutely love being able to make slipcovers. If you don't detest sewing, you really should try your hand at making one. When we purchased our house 3 1/2 years ago, we were moving from 1010 square feet to about 2500. We needed furniture, but buying new was not in the budget...nor is that my style. So, we started hitting yard sales and we came across this chair for … [Read more...]
I have received a huge response from my half canopy, so I am following up with a tutorial. I try to keep all of my posts from being too wordy, but this one will be the exception. Now, I did not take pictures while sewing, but I've included a drawing and I'll talk you through it. The sewing part of this tutorial assumes that you have some sewing skills and can figure it out. … [Read more...]
