Before I show you the chair and the rugs, I had to share a sweet gift I received in the mail yesterday.  It’s an ironstone thimble!

Look at the little mark inside.  And it was wrapped with a paper tape measure bow.  I swear, I have some of the best readers.  Thank you, Susan.

Now, on to the slipcovered chair.  Any guesses which one I pecked away at over the holidays? If you guessed one of the green velvet chairs, you’re right!

I know a lot of you loved them as is and I’ve used them that way for a while, but it was time to change them up.  I don’t mind a touch of green in the paintings and from the boxwood, but I’m trying to de-green a bit.  Here’s the result…

I know you perfectionists are looking at that crooked piece in the front.  You know who you are.  I’m at peace with it.

I used some antique hemp sheet and a part of an antique duvet cover for it.  I upholstered the back and arms, but slipcovered the seat.  That makes it washable and I just love the ruffles and ties on a chair like this.

The dark wood is a little scratched and worn, but I kept it as is.  Would you believe I got these chairs for $10/each at a yard sale?  Yes, I did.

And there’s a little surprise on the back.  It’s a lovely embroidered linen fabric by Williamsburg Deane from onlinefabricstore.com.  At $41.25/yard, it’s a splurge, but you only need a little bit for the backs of chairs like these…maybe a yard.  I’m going to use some for pillows, too.

The ties are made out of grosgrain ribbon I purchased a few years ago from a ribbon outlet.

The gimp is Ivory French Gimp from onlinefabricstore.com.  It’s just hot glued on.  Believe it or not, that’s how it’s done!  You can add some tacks or trim staples, but I’ve never had hot glued trim come loose.

Now…it’s time to work on the next one!

When I put the brown needlepoint pillow in the chair, I realized that brown was a natural complementary color choice for this room with the dark wood floors.  It gives a break from the blue and white and gives me another fabric to work with.  So, I bought a couple of yards of this fabric by Richloom to make pillows out of.  I love that it looks like old crewel work and introduces some other colors in small doses.  The brown leather sofa I’d like to get is the medium light brown in the vines, so I think that will be enough to tie it in.

And, when I get tired of it, it’s just a few pillows, so I can fall in love with a new fabric and make some different ones.

Now, to the rugs I have for sale.  I have quite a stash and I decided it’s time to sell them off.  It’s nice having a stash, so I have options when I change my mind, but it’s stilly to have really nice, practically new wool rugs hanging out in my basement when someone else can enjoy them.  They are all in very nice condition and come from a pet-free, smoke-free home.  This isn’t a people-free home, though, so there are a few tiny spots here and there from the drip of a drink, but no big blemishes.  I’ll remove the rugs from this post once they are sold, so if you see them, they are still available.  I’m only selling to people who can come pick them up near Gettysburg, PA.  Shoot me an e-mail if you want one!  (marian@missmustardseed.com)

I love this rug, but the colors weren’t quite right for my room.  8×10 100% hand knotted wool Brindle Stripe Sea Rug by Dash & Albert.  New, it’s $1140 and I’m selling it for $500.

Target 100% wool hand hooked Azul Floral 5 x 7 rug.  This one is no longer available from Target and is probably the hardest for me to sell.  It’s $150.

All of the proceeds from the rug sales will go to my leather sofa fund!  Isn’t purging fun?