More White Denim...

March 12, 2014 Sherri Rice

August Blues - Craigslist chair with old slipcover

Just in time for spring (it is coming, right?), my client has a new set of white slipcovers for her club chairs. But, let's start at the beginning :)

She found this pair of chairs for a steal on Craigslist, complete with slipcovers that were, for some reason, too short :/ Perhaps there was some shrinkage? Underneath, was forest green fabric in pretty good condition.

White denim was the vision, however, so that's what we did...

August Blues - White Club Chair After Front View

The white denim covered the green much better than I had anticipated - yay!

August Blues - White Club Chair After Corner View

Just a note on the fabric: to get enough, my client had to purchase from several different locations of the same store, and there were slight variations in the fabric between the bolts. Fortunately, they were all the same white, but the weight and texture after washing were slightly different. I made sure to cut the pieces so the slightly heavier weight pieces were placed where the green needed to be covered the most. Thankfully, now that it's all together, it's not noticeable. And I'm not sure the differences would have been noticeable prior to washing. So, all this is to say: when purchasing fabric, whenever possible try to get it all from the same bolt, 'cause you just never know :)

August Blues - White Club Chair Kiss Pleated Back Cushion

We finished the down-filled back cushions as they had been done with the previous slipcover - kiss pleats and piping.

August Blues - White Club Chair After Front Skirt Pleat

And made the skirt tall and all the way to the floor - much better! And I love the English roll arms...

August Blues - White Club Chair After Side View

Yep, I love a white slipcover (see more here and here and here)! How about you?

Sherri

Designer Couch Make-over

February 14, 2014 Sherri Rice

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day!

It's also a happy day because I have a new slipcover project to share with you :) Lots of in-process pictures for this one, so bear with me.

Here is the before...

A 30-year old designer couch (which has been reupholstered at one point) - solid as a rock and a very classic style. This is a couch worth investing in! My client had several concerns we needed to address - her dogs (you will see one later) like to lounge on the couch (especially when no one is home ;) ), she was feeling like the color was a little too green, and she had a pair of chairs done with linen-style fabric slipcovers that she wanted this couch to blend better with.

This time she wanted a simpler look - topstitching instead of piping or flange trim. And she picked a gorgeous brushed cotton canvas from Pottery Barn - it's a little more pricey than regular cotton duck or canvas, but SO nice to work with. It washed up beautifully, with minimal shrinkage, and is a great weight for a simple piece with few details.

Oh, the other issue we needed to deal with were a few "leaking" feathers from the down seat cushions. Well upon further investigation, the "few feathers" was actually this...

The fabric encasing the down was completely disintegrating! It's really amazing she only noticed a few feathers leaking out. Time to call in the big guns!

We ordered new down envelopes for the seat cushions (the back cushions were in much better condition; they just got new undercovers to catch whatever stray feathers might happen to escape). My client selected a 25/75 down/feather blend, and when they arrived they looked like this...

The structure of the cushion (minus the original feathers!) just slides right in there and zips closed. Well, "slides" might be simplifying it a little - it takes a little work, but this is what they look like after...

So much better! Now that is something I can work with :)

Instead of piping, my client wanted top-stitching, sort of like a Restoration Hardware look. So I purchased a new top-stitching foot and it works great!

Ready for the After?

Look at the loft on those seat cushions! We tried them out - I could happily sit there for a long time :) And we did a tall skirt this time (part of the simpler look, and it matches the neighboring chairs). Here's a little closer look at the topstitching...

And one more view...

... photo-bombed by the doberman :) They have a pair of them, and they are the gentlest, most well-behaved dogs - when I was on my knees measuring for the skirt, they came to investigate and we were eye-to-eye and they were so sweet. I'll be doing some crate covers for them next :)

So, there you have it!

Just a housekeeping note: my next project is underway and I am booked pretty solid for the next few months (and I even have a project booked for the fall!!). For that reason, I will need to take a break from taking new orders for a couple of months - I don't want my waitlist to get too long! If you have talked with me about a project already and you are on my waitlist, we will be proceeding as planned. Otherwise, stay tuned - I'll be working as fast as I can and will open up the waitlist again soon, hopefully before the summer :)

Have a great day!

Sherri

P.S. Linking up here.

Monday Housekeeping

February 3, 2014 Sherri Rice

(source)

Happy Monday! Or maybe the "happy" depends on how your team did yesterday? ;)

In any case, I have a few things to share with you before I get back to work...

1. Speaking of work, I have the best clients! And I am busy :) As I am working through my waitlist, family responsibilities are ensuring that I maintain part-time hours, but I am doing my best to streamline my processes to make the most of the work hours I have. I will be taking some time off this summer, so if you have projects in mind, let me know and I will add you to my waitlist and let's get those projects done!

2. I learn something new with each project. To complete this latest one (which I hope to show you soon), I needed to order new down envelopes for the seat cushions (see why?)...

... a down envelope goes around a foam core and together it makes for a very comfortable cushion. If you want to add a luxurious touch to your slipcover project, down envelopes are a great option for a very reasonable price. This is what they look like...

August Blues - down envelope for seat cushion

The foam slides right in there! Let me know if you want to explore this option for your project (I'm eying a few pieces in my house that could use an upgrade)!

3. August Blues is now on Instagram! I'm just starting out and still figuring it all out, but you will find me at augustblues :)

I posted these yesterday - Maple Scones (which were easy to make and delicious, by the way!) with the recipe from here.

4. Also, if you are a regular here, you may have noticed a new link on the sidebar. If you are thinking of trying out your slipcover skills and feel like you need a little guidance, check out the link at Custom Slipcovers By Shelley. She has made a great DVD that will walk you through the process in a low-stress, but professional way. She has lots of great tips - I got it when I was just starting out and I learned a lot! FYI - this is an affiliate link, so it helps out my bottom line a little, too, if you click through and make a purchase ;)

And now on to work... Have a wonderful, productive week!

Sherri

Happy New Year! With a Top 5...

January 1, 2014 Sherri Rice

2014-Numbers-Happy-2014-Wallpaper-New-Year-Image

Happy New Year and welcome to 2014!

It feels so strange to write that :) We will spend this first day trying to keep the boys busy (only 5 more days until school starts again ;) ); oh, and there will be a little football watching, too.

I took a little time to look over this past year of blogging (my first!) and thought it would be interesting to share my most popular blog posts:

5. This Brought to You By... Dropcloth!

4. Vintage to Fabulous

3. There's Something About a White Slipcover...

2. Breakfast Bar Transformation

I know - not a slipcover post, but it sure was popular :) I guess lots of people are looking for ideas for their breakfast bars!

And the No. 1 post??

1. Matelasse Project

It has been a fun year - I am looking forward to more great projects in 2014!

What were your favorite projects?

Sherri

Wingchair Slipcover 2.0

December 29, 2013 Sherri Rice

Twas the night before Christmas (well, it was actually the day of December 23...), and all through the house, a sewing machine was humming (and it wasn't a mouse... thankfully!). Yes, I did quickly finish one more slipcover project just before Christmas. And I love how it turned out!

If you have been following me for awhile you may have seen this chair before. Here is the before...

I love this chair! I purchased it through Craigslist a few years ago. The list price was $30. When I contacted the owner to arrange the purchase, someone else was already coming for it. When that sale fell through, she told me I could have it for, get this, $10!! Down-filled seat cushion and all! The scale is great for our house, it is comfortable, and I really like the unusual flared arms.

My first slipcover for it was made of dropcloth...

August Blues - Wing Chair dropcloth slipcover

(see more dropcloth slipcover projects here)

It has worn quite well, but since I moved the chair to our family room, it is getting more use and, therefore, more wear. And I was ready to do something new with it. I picked up some fabric this summer and finally had a chance to put this new slipcover together...

It's a different look for the chair, and I love it (have I said that enough, yet?)!

The chair has a story and the fabric does, too. I purchased a sample of this fabric when I was considering fabric for the family room curtains a couple of years ago. I decided to go with a different fabric and didn't think about it again. Then, this summer when I was shopping at Colorado Fabrics in Denver, what did I find but a roll of this fabric! Sold! It is Richloom Bircham Printed Cotton Twill Drapery Fabric in Cottage. It is a great weight for a slipcover.

The slipcover followed the original upholstery, with a single piece side panel...

...and a simple back piece with corner zipper.

It was getting to the end of my sewing day, so I just went with a simple straight skirt, thinking I might add something different later.But, once I got the slipcover on, I decided I quite like the simple look for a change :)

Yep, it just might be one of my favorite projects this year :)

Did you do any last-minute projects this year?

Sherri

P.S. Linking up here...

and HERE and HERE.

A Little Bit of Everything :)

November 25, 2013 Sherri Rice

Thanksgiving break is here and I have a little break between projects, so I thought it might be a good day to check in here, 'cause it's been awhile (and I know I still owe you an office reveal post)! It's been a busy few weeks since I last wrote. So here is a little update...

1. These cushions are finally finished!

It was a great opportunity to put my new machine to the test and to work with Sunbrella Canvas. Machine works great; the fabric is a little tricky since it doesn't have much "give." But, it does feel better than just printed polyester versions of outdoor fabric.

Yep, they are for a boat :)

2. We have continued working on the playroom - a trip to IKEA yielded these shelves, which fit perfectly (you can see the rest of the room here).

The toys have been sorted, so I am just waiting to get the bins that will go on the shelves. I'm thinking of these.

3. If you have been following on Facebook you may have seen a few updates on this project...

These are 4 dining room chair covers that I did long distance - the chairs are in Alabama! Hopefully I'll be able to share pictures of them in place when my client gets them.

4. Speaking of projects, I am now booked into March of 2014!!! Looking forward to some great projects :)

5. The boys are off for Thanksgiving this week, so I am looking forward to this down time, before my next project comes in. Maybe I'll even take a little time to get some of my own projects done (I have my eye on a Craigslist wing chair...)

So, in case I don't make it back here before then, Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

And a challenge: if you need a book to read while you travel or hang out with your family, read One Thousand Gifts. Ann writes:

"...in this counting gifts, to one thousand, more, I discover that slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life... life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life unless unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time."

Consider starting your own list of specific gifts - can you make it to 1000 before next Thanksgiving?

With thanks,

Sherri

Friday Five (with a Slipcover!)

October 25, 2013 Sherri Rice

Good Morning and Happy Friday! 1. I have a new slipcover project to quickly share. Remember this chair?

Well, my friend has a couple of rocking chairs from her home county of Honduras that she wanted seat covers for.

She wanted them in a similar style, so we had just enough fabric to do two of these...

Look at the beautiful hand-carving on that chair! And, of course there had to be pleats :)

And I should have gotten a better picture, but here you can see some of the beautiful art from her home country that graces this room...

And the best part of this kind of delivery? The chance to visit over a cup of delicious coffee :)

2. Another client sent me this picture of her chair in its home...

Perfect in that spot!

3. Another project follow-up... These cushions have found their home in a church nursery :)

4. Did you know how you can revive tired foam cushions? With steam! Just run a steamer over the foam and it will pop right back into shape (well, close).

See the part on the right that is bigger/puffier? Yep, the steam did that (y'all probably knew this trick, but this was my first real opportunity to try it). My current project required a lot of steam!

5. And my new sewing machine and I have had our differences this week. We are working things out, and will try again next week. Today is fabric cutting day - hopefully the scissors and I get along :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sherri

Workroom Reveal

October 16, 2013 Sherri Rice

Finally done (mostly :) ) - my new workroom! Remember the "before"?

This upstairs room has been the boys' playroom. It has undergone a bit of a transformation and here it is now...

It needs a few finishing touches, but it's functional and working here is definitely a pleasure :) Let me show you around (I'm in the middle of a project, but I tidied up just for you)...

This table is actually the Norden dining table from IKEA. We purchased it for our last house which had a large dining room. Until we have another dining space that is suitable, it makes a great cutting table! The skirt is just stapled to the bottom of the table top. It makes for great (hidden!) storage underneath.

These are the two machines I have had for years, since August Blues 1.0 with my mom. And the bench works really well for moving between them (the table and bench were both Craigslist finds). I think the pegboard needs a little something...

See the trees out the window? Almost like working in a tree house :) These curtains have found a home in all of the houses we have owned - first they covered closets in our bedroom, then they curtained the front window in our front porch. I was so excited when I remembered I still had them - they are perfect for this space!

On the other side of the window I created this little storage area. We have had the shelf forever, but the bins are new (from Lowes). They hold fabrics. The hat boxes and clock are also from IKEA. The curtain to the right conceals a yet-to-be-organized storage area for my personal fabric and craft supplies.

Here she is - I'm still getting used to her, but she is a hard worker :) The table on the right is where homework happens in the evenings. It will be replaced with a smaller, rectangular table that fits the space a little better. And just for a dose of reality...

Yes, this is the sad state of the rest of the room. I did take over half of the boys' playroom - my youngest watched me measure the space out and then reported to Grandma that he now only had 9' of space to play in! Never fear, I have a plan for this space, too, and it does include the toys and space to play ;) I will share it as soon as we get it finished (and you can hold me to that!). I think the boys will be quite excited when they rediscover their toys :)

One last view...

MANY thanks to the boys for agreeing to share their space with me and to the Professor for all the help and heavy lifting he provided (do you know how much that Juki weighs?)! And now I need to top up my coffee and get back to work (I am now booking projects for January)!

Have you made a workspace just for you?

Sherri

P.S. I linked up here :) Check out all the other great projects!

Welcome to August Blues - I'm so glad
you're here! August Blues Slipcover Studio strives to enable your home to better serve its purpose, by providing you with quality custom slipcovers that enhance the appearance and functionality of your furniture pieces. Established in 2011 and located in Denton, TX...Read More

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