Ideas and suggestions for window treatments, slipcovers, nursery decor and bedding...and other thoughts and inspirations for your home and garden...

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Washed Linen...makes a Fantastic Slipcover!!

While you were away.....at the lake or beach or with family and friends...I completed this slipcover!  I do believe it is my favorite to date....I think I say that very same thing each time I complete a project :)  But it is the linen-the washed linen...and in natural-such a beautiful, neutral color.  It can't be wrong anywhere.  As a matter of fact---I think it is absolutely perfect, especially for Betty Jo!









This 2 cushion sofa is showing a bit of its age in its red stripe upholstery...and the seat cushions are worn and sort of  thin.  When Betty Jo called to ask about slipcover options for her sofa-I immediately suggested linen.  And not a crisp pressed linen...but a fabulously casual, washed linen-in natural!
This sofa required about 18 yards of fabric....for the slipcover in a tailored style.  Cushion covers with cording and zipper closures-and an extra piece of  bonded poly batting added about an inch to the cushion....and that gives the sofa a little more personality and comfort.
I made the slipcover for the main sofa body with a little bit of oversize...not too much....just a bit....for a casual appearance-and, to be able to remove the slip for necessary washes.
 My workshop is rediculously packed with too much fabric....and supplies and pieces of furniture to slip...and nursery bedding...and pillows.  So please understand if you come my way or notice the backgrounds in the photos I post....that everything you see has a purpose...or, just maybe, a potential purpose as a part of a sewing project...or furniture re-do.  Thank you, God....for work and clients!  I love what I do!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Artsy Potting Table

Just in time for your Springtime gardening projects-an artsy potting bench!  Bobby made this one with salvaged finds including the old wood door with great single pane windows-leaving the door knob and lock intact, rough wood re-purposed from a shipping crate,  some random vintage iron pieces to add a bit of personality, and even a few pieces of  old kitchen flatware....flattened and shaped into hooks for functionality.
This piece is a large one...measuring 78" tall and 31" wide.  The table area allows 25x24" of work space at a comfortable height  of 35".  There is a lower shelf of equal size below to hold potting soil and extra clay pots.
A couple of great add-ons for this piece include the side mounted iron towel bar....how cool is that?...made from an old iron rod...and the wood box to keep your scissors, twine, and small garden tools in check. Bobby even made a small shelf and attached it to the window area of the door--this shelf could hold small bedding plants, seed packets and even a little topiary for decoration.  Bobby added a pale antiqued aqua to the work table and accessories for a little color and fun!
Use your own ideas, too...to make this unique piece work into your porch or patio!  Aside from the traditional  gardening use, this table could function as an outdoor grilling "prep table"...or beverage center....or a serving  table loaded with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails for an outdoor get-together around the pool.  Bobby has an early Friday delivery planned for this piece...to his booth at Old South Antique Mall in Dothan, Alabama...stop by and take a look if you are close-by! 







Have a great week-end!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Bobby's Latest Tables from the Workshop!

Bobby has been quite busy as of late....and, I do mean late....at night... :)
And he has a couple of great new tables available...they were delivered to our new booth at Old South Antique Mall in Dothan, Alabama...just this afternoon.  I think you will agree that each has a unique style...and each could serve most any purpose you could imagine.  So...a few photos to share...and I will give you sizing details...just in case you are wondering...
The long buffet style table would be great at just that....a serving table.  It would also function equally in your entry or mudroom...with baskets on the lower shelf to hold just what you need.  An old shutter door serves as the top of this piece.  The buffet table measures 16x78x34 inches tall...
Table #2....oh...this is a great one!  A beautifully rustic foyer table...or that's what I call it!  A vintage window 45x23 tops this handmade item...and with Bobby's carpentry skills...farmhouse style legs have been added along with a skirted surround below the window top.  This table has a finished height of 35". 
So...use them as you would like...in a new home, your cottage...or at the lake or beach...these tables can suit most any purpose and be great conversation pieces to add to your collection!
Check out our smaller...down-sized booth at Old South Antique Mall in Dothan....334-794-7568.
We will be adding original pieces and slipcovered items as our time allows :)







Or call Bobby (334-268-0114) if you have a special request for a piece of farmhouse or cottage style furniture!
Hope you have a Happy Easter!!!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

A Slipcover for the Lake House

This one-of-a-kind daybed started as most of my other slipcover projects...a phone call, an email with a photo or two, a few more phone calls....thank you to all my clients who understand that I don't have time to personally meet with each one of you to discuss your project...and I digress :)  I work for myself, by myself...with no other help....well, except for that of my super wonderful pick-up and delivery man husband and friend, Bobby!  But he does not sew...well, not yet, anyway.  Slipcovering projects are very time consuming...and I so try to keep my prices affordable so that I can continue to have work to do.  But, although I know that it means a lot to everyone to take "only a few minutes" to discuss your particular project...those few minutes always turn into at least an hour....and I do not necessarily charge for my consult time...so, I am actually loosing time from my sewing business when I am not sewing.  I guess that is confusing, at best...but it makes a whole lot of sense to me...I have, at any given time, about 10 projects in line....some small, some large...but to take an hour or so away for consults gets me "off task" just enough to slow my production.  It is not that I do not want to meet with anyone at all-I love people and I enjoy sharing my home and workspace-messy as it is :)   But I am already running a bit behind...and then I get a little nervous when people start calling and wondering about their items...so, again, I say-thank you for understanding my business-small and simple as it is!  I can always take a little time on the telephone and email for ideas, discussing your yardage requirements, fabrics, style, and any other important and not-so-important thoughts...some of my clients have even been so kind as to have forwarded photo ideas for me to consider in other projects...so, back to this wonderful daybed.
This client so understood my time dilemma...and gave me time to finish my other projects....and that allowed me time to concentrate on hers...and she also allowed me a little "artistic license"...although most of this project was my client's idea.  We agreed on a warm white prewashed linen for the daybed base...I was thinking  a tailored style...but I am so happy that we decided on the gathered skirt...a wonderful cottage-y, romantic look for this piece...Mary Lynn had previously bought the quilt that I used for the mattress cover...I made a box style cover...with zippers on both ends....to remove this enormous mattress for washing the slip...no cording on this mattress cover...the quilt is so very thick that I felt it was unnecessary...I think the look is spectacular-cozy and relaxed! 
The bolster pillows....our plan was to use left-over quilt pieces around the pillow with a ruffle of linen...but, there was no left-over quilt.  I am always getting requests for burlap pillows-so I thought about that fabric for the bolsters...only instead of natural burlap...we used white.  This added another wonderful texture to the mix!  The two Euro pillows seemed to call for my standard "Etsy" ruffled pillow style...the ones with the 1" ruffled edge around the perimeter...so there.  I made each pillow with a zippered closure...so that the slips are removable...the linen covers are washable...the burlap-maybe just spot clean.




I only wish I had been able to take this piece out onto the meadow for a real photo shoot - it would have been lovely out in the green grassy pasture...instead, a few shots from my messy workroom...and, I could not get the whole piece in a photograph!  I hope to have a few photos from the proper home of the daybed...if so, I will share...
Call me...or email anytime (cottageandcabin@gmail.com) to discuss your slipcover project....just remember that you must allow me to use your furniture piece for fitting purposes...I do not make "long distance" slipcovers with measurements only-I wish I could...but I will leave that to anyone else who might want to try :)
 We offer limited pick-up and delivery options...Thanks Mary Lynn for allowing me to work with you on your project!  It was so much fun!  Debbie

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Projects for a New Year






So it's back to work here...we had a super Christmas and New Year with our family-you know, it is great to have all of your grown children at home again :) And, Brantley-such a smart young man...spent Christmas Eve at home with me and Bobby....and, he knows that if you believe (and play the part)-Santa always pays a visit :) As long as you believe, Santa is real!!!
OK-with the decorations finally put away-I have finished a couple of projects that I thought I would share.
One- an Etsy custom order- nursery bedding...my favorite...you know, the ruffled edge bumpers and crib skirt. This client requested natural handkerchief linen -- here is the listing:
Classic nursery bedding in natural handkerchief linen, all prewashed and dried before construction. These softened linen nursery bedding pieces are finished with a 1" gathered ruffle edge. The four bumper pieces are made as separates...each with a zipper closure encasing the covered padded inserts. The bumpers are sewn with wide self-fabric ties that are made long enough for large bows. The crib skirt has a drop length of 17.5" including the ruffled edge.
I so enjoy making these sweet nursery pieces...and the softened linen is wonderful...in any color choice.
My other finished project is an ottoman and slipcover using medium weight chocolate brown linen. I made this slipcover in a simple structured style with a 1" gathered ruffle hem. This ottoman and slipcover will be sold together...but I would be happy to make a slipcover for your existing ottoman-for a great update! I have this ottoman and slip ready to deliver to our booth at Old South Antique Mall in Dothan...tomorrow :)