A Chair, A Chalkboard, And A Cheaper Option

by | Jun 1, 2010 | Miscellaneus | 43 comments

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I finished one of the slipcovers for my dining room chairs!
Well, almost.  I need to make ties for it, but I couldn’t help showing it off. 
Click here for a tutorial on the finish on the chairs.  Click here to see how I made my hand painted “grain sacks” for the seats.  I’ll be posting a tutorial where I share tips about working with drop cloths soon. 
I made a simple fitted seat cover with a piping edge and pleated skirt. 
I used the first and middle initials of my family members for the letters on the “grain sacks.”  Now, everyone has “their” chair.
I drove 45 minutes to Hobby Lobby this morning to get the leafing adhesive, so I could finish my chalkboard frame.  It was killing me to have it half finished.  I love the gold against the black chalkboard.  Definitely fancy meets simple.  I purchased the frame (along with about six others) in an auction lot for a quarter.  The frame was a dated, speckled gold with a fabric border, but gold leafing all of it disguised the 1970’s look.
I wrote a quote borrowed from a sampler made by my husband’s grandmother.  It hung in his dining room when he was growing up.  For those who can’t read my writing, it says…
Christ is the head of this house,
the unseen guest at every meal,
and the silent listener to every conversation. 
What a great reminder.
I had a question from a reader about the “neatness” of my writing with chalk.  Well, it’s not chalk.  I cheated.  It’s a really cool marker called “Chalk Ink.”  It comes in all sorts of colors and looks so much neater than chalk.  You can purchase it in a pack of four at Michaels for $12.00.  (Use your 40% off coupon and it’s even less!)  It is located with the paint pens…trust me.  I was sent to three different aisles by three different associates until we found them. 
So, for the curtains and pillows in the living and dining room, I had my heart set on a Waverly print, but those hopes were dashed when I saw it was almost $40/yard.  I needed 20 yards.  Sigh.  So, just when I thought all hope was gone, I saw this same print in the summer clearance section with the outdoor fabrics.  It was only $10/yard and was even wider than the decorator fabric.  I don’t care if it resists moisture and fading.  Why would I?  With toddlers, it’s even better!  And it looks EXACTLY the same, it’s just made of a canvas instead of a linen/cotton blend. 
Let’s do the math. 
20 yards x $40/yard = $800
20 yards x $10/yard = $200 (I purchased 10 yards from JoAnn Fabrics, but I used a $55.00 gift card, so that was only $45 out of pocket.  I ordered 12 yards off of Fabric.com, using $100 of birthday money and a coupon code.  Woo hoo!)

It’s Waverly’s Tucker Resist in Chambray.

Miss Mustard Seed
I’m posting this to the CSI Project’s Fabric Week.

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    43 Comments

    1. Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures

      I have been looking for something like a screen (acutally 2) to put on either side of a sofa table and add interest to a large wall. I was gonna do seasonal wreath on it too. You beat me to it. Looks great. I want to do it even more now.

    2. Lisa

      Your little corner looks gorgeous! Your slip covers are divine!! I really love the door and wreat combo. It's all terrific Marian!
      Lisa

    3. 406 Olivia

      Great job on the slipcover. But that blue/white fabric is divine!

    4. Jenna @ The Wannabe Cottage

      I love it all! 🙂 I had no idea there was such a thing as a chalk pen! I am definitely going to have to get me one of those!

      I really LOVE how that framed chalkboard looks! You did such a great job on that. 🙂

    5. Theresa

      The slipcovers are beautiful, I love the intials for everyone! At our house, probably like many others, the kids have their own spots at the table even though we have benches! The frame is pretty too, funny… our chalkboard in the dining room is a huge gold frame and your right the contrast between the gold and the black chalkboard looks wonderful together. Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to see it all together, Theresa

    6. Jan @twoscoopz

      The chairs look fantastic!
      And I'm so glad I just read that you'll be posting some dropcloth tips soon as I honest to God just bought one today to fool around with. ha! Perfect timing!
      I shall wait (impatiently) patiently 😉

    7. Jan @twoscoopz

      oh! and I meant to ask, is the cheater chalk erasable? Like a whiteboard marker type thing?

    8. oneblessedmama

      I love the slip cover- looks great! heck, it all looks great!

    9. Anna

      wow, I love the slipcover! And I will have to find a chalk pen for writing on our chalkboards.

    10. Miss Mustard Seed

      Yes, J, it's erasable and very similar to a white board marker. I cleaned the board using a wet paper towel.

    11. Southern Lady's Vintage

      I will have to make sure to get some of the board markers. They do write so much more neatly. Love the chair covers and the curtains. I have been looking for a toile bedcover in black and cream. Waverly used to carry them, but I can't find any. Hubby is getting impatient with me! But I want what I want, right?

    12. Centsational Girl

      Gorgeous fabric, beautiful sentiment. One to remember always !

      xoxo
      Kate

    13. Angela

      You did a beautiful job!! The cabinet door and little wreath look so good…love that blue and white platter!!

    14. TheVirginiaHouse

      I love that saying that you wrote. My Grandma always had that hanging in the dining room as well.

    15. Marianne@Songbird

      Can you believe I can't buy dropcloths over here. Nope I searched and its plastic everywhere here.
      I love how your chair turned out. Wow woman, you do work with the speed of light, and that while you were driving to hobby lobby too (we don't have that either 🙁 ).
      Love, M

    16. Funky Junk Interiors

      I canNOT wait for the tutorial on working with dropcloths. Those chair slipcovers are the most adorable things I've ever seen!

      Sigh.. wonderful.

      Donna

    17. Razmataz

      You did a wonderful job as usual. Love the skirts.

    18. janet

      Love the seat covers and this is so timely. I am in the process of turning my green/gold outdated dining room into a calm dining retreat. I was going to recover the seat cushions, but after seeing your drop cloth masterpieces, I am reconsidering. I really need to take a drive to visit your shop!!!! Beautiful post.
      your friend,
      Janet

    19. Proper Prim

      Oh those seat covers are to die for… I absolutely love that look. I can't wait to see the whole room complete. Love the curtain material also.

      Chalkboard pen??? that is a new one to me too… I have to get me one of those for sure.

      Hugs, Deb

    20. Mikal

      Drop cloth tutorial please! I thought I was just "procrastinating" on making some slipcovers for my chairs… now I know time was just waiting for me to see this post!

      They are adorable and I can't wait to make my own!!

      Thanks for sharing all your lovelies,

      Mikal

    21. Shaunna

      I ADORE the slipcovers!! What special touches you added with the initials and the lovely message on the chalkboard!

    22. Tania

      Really beautiful!

    23. Kim @ Cheap Chic Home

      I can't wait to see how the window treatments turn out. I'm happy you got a good deal on fabric, I know how that can add up. The chair is fabulous.

    24. Vicki K.

      The dining slip looks wonderful! In a recent post you mentioned bleaching your drop cloth – will you talk about that in your soon-coming tutorial?

      Is it to brighten up the color? How long do you let it soak? Have you washed your slips with the paint on it? Have you ever bleached your slips with the paint on it already?

      I've done one dropcloth project – kitchen chair toppers – but I'm a little nervous to wash them now.

    25. Katie

      I love it all and I have to get those pens I love them. They look so neat and I love the saying. Yes a great reminder indeed.

    26. wunderkammer

      i love this idea with this grean sack. Something completely different.Thank you regards jürgen

    27. Cara @ Whimsy Smitten

      Oooooh, I LOVE the chair slipcovers. I'm not exactly sewing-machine savvy, but I am coveting the adorable ruffled cushions — love the personalization, too. AND, love the modern twist on an old sampler sentiment that will always have relevance. Thumbs up!

      Looking forward to following your blog and getting to know you. I'm over at whimsysmitten.blogspot.com.

      Now I'm off to check out your glazing tutorial!

    28. SueAnn

      Loving the slipcover and the drapery fabric is fabulous! I think I already told you I am in love with the gold leafed chalk board…but I am telling you again. Wow!! Perfect!
      Hugs
      SueAnn

    29. Leslie Z

      wow, between the look of your blog and the look of your crating projects I must say you are a TRUE talent. thanks for sharing.

    30. Kacey

      So looking forward to your dropcloth slipcover tutorial! They are gorgeous!

      Kacey

    31. Tamra

      Love, love the gold chalkboard, but then again I'm a sucker for anything gilded!

      Tamra
      The Gilded Barn

    32. fairfieldhousenj.com

      Miss Mustard Seed,

      You have outdone yourself! The seat cover is beautiful and I look forward to the tutorial as do many other bloggers! Your chalk board is devine. The material you scored is beautiful.
      The room is going to look like it is straight out of a magazine when you are finished.

      Deborah

    33. martha

      I just found your blog and my heart is racing! It's as if I had a secret sister….(except I don't have the talent with a fine paint brush) I have the same gold framed chalkboard, red toile, blue and white dishes, creamy/distressed furniture, and the precise blue/white fabric you just posted. It's almost weird.
      Needless to say I'm bookmarking this site, and will be back often.
      Thanks for the inspiration.
      P.S. My grandparents are immigrants from Germany and Sweden…. it looks like you have European heritage too?

    34. Miss Mustard Seed

      Oh, Martha, I love finding other bloggers with my taste. It sounds like we could've been twins. 🙂 Yes, my maiden name was Wagner and I grew up in Germany, so I definitely have an appreciation for European design. I look forward to hearing from you often.

    35. Gill

      absolutely beautiful – love reading your blog, Gill theshoogliebrush.com

    36. Secret Garden Cottage

      Hi there! I stopped by from Funky Junk Interiors SNS party. I LOVE your slipcovered chair!! I especially love that vintage door…so gorgeous!!
      Hope you have a great weekend!!
      ~ Jo 🙂
      P.S. Would love for you to stop by some time. 🙂

    37. Secret Garden Cottage

      Hi there! I stopped by from Funky Junk Interiors SNS party. I LOVE your slipcovered chair!! I especially love that vintage door…so gorgeous!!
      Hope you have a great weekend!!
      ~ Jo 🙂
      P.S. Would love for you to stop by some time. 🙂

    38. Clenbuterol

      Ultimately, a problem that I?m passionate about. I have looked for info of this caliber for the final various hours. Your internet site is drastically appreciated. 😉 😉

    39. Michelle M

      I’m so glad that you mentioned the outdoor fabric version of the Tucker Resist!! I did a google search for pics of this fabric bc I think this is what I want in my breakfast area. I have 3 littles so you just saved me $$ and heartbreak when PB&J fingers wipe down one of my panels! LOL Thans!

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