Furniture Projects

Our church had a "Really Really Free Garage Sale" today and they had so much cool stuff. I got this love seat for FREE! There was a matching one but someone else snagged it before I could so I made sure to get this one. I plan on painting it either white, black, Celery green or a light teal, I have not decided yet and I will also cover the custions with a much more modern fabric with celery green, tan and a teal print. I want to try and sell it but I know I'm gonna want to keep it for myself. I do not need more furniture in this house!
And about a month ago I bought this oak shelf at good will - $14 bucks plus $10 in spray paint = a much needed shelf for my kitchen. While painting this I did figure out why I never see painted oak pieces - oak is a real pain to paint and seemed to just soak up the paint even with primer on it. Its not the best painting job but it came out ok.

Floor Pillow

I found a tutorial to make these floor pillows HERE at Living With Punks. Since this was a trial run I just used some sheets I found at Salvation Army. I made two and my kids love them. I think they need to be stuffed a little tighter and they look lumpy but I think that is because the material I used is thin. Probably if I used decorator fabric the lumps from the stuffing would not show up as much. The 4 year old girl that I watch everyday wants me to make her a skirt out of the striped material. The stripes are totally her and I will post a photo when I get it done. :)

Fall Skirt

I made this skirt for my daughter - it's corduroy with a very fine ribbing so its not too bulky. There was no pattern just a mish-mash of ideas from different tutorials that I found on the internet. Very easy and fast to make. She looks too cute in it but she refused to model.

Fabric love

I house sat for a friend who was lucky enough to be able to spend the summer in Australia - and looky what she brought me! Half yards of Japanese shirting fabric!!

This one {below} is my favorite!

Foodie Friday

My mom is a master at taking left overs and making them into something quite tasty for the next meal and when ever she makes something I make her write down exactly how she makes it. This includes the ingredients and the process - I do this because I never paid attention when she was trying to teach me how to cook when I was in high school and because she has her own way of cooking food and it almost always comes out great! Here is her recipe for Pork & Chili:

PORK & CHILI BY NELDA

INGREDIENTS:
Left over pork loin - cut into cubes (about 1 lb cooked)
Approx. 1 cup canned tomatoes or tomato sauce
1/2 onion - diced medium fine
1 can Rotel
1 can mild chilies (or hot if you like it spicy)
Tortillas

PROCESS:
Cook all ingredients together (except tortillas) - probably will need to add some water 1/2 - 3/4 cup.
Let simmer; salt and pepper to taste.
Mix 1/2 cup flour with 3/4 cup water (she uses a tupperware shaker) and stir into chili.
Let simmer to thicken up chili some. If the chili is too thin add more flour mixed with water and if the chili is too thick add just a little more water (no flour).

Taste and adjust hotness to suit.

Serve with flour tortillas, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream.

New "old" furniture for Gracies Room

The headboard came from Goodwill and it was $24.99, the posts and top part are wood and the center is laminated wood. It is a very heavy piece and is stamped "Made in America" on the back - you rarely see that statement anymore! I forgot to take a before photo but trust me, it looks much better painted antique white. The dresser I got about 5 years ago at a garage sale for 20 bucks and it has been setting in Grace's closet and it was funky blue color with red painted knobs - quite ugly. And finally the mirror above the dresser is something I picked up at a garage sale about 16 years ago for $5.00. I'm not an expert at painting furniture but I am learning fast and even though some of the paint bubbled when I put the protective coating on - I was able to fix it somewhat and I think it came out pretty good for a first try.

Another Tunic

I like the color combination on this one better and I like the ruffle around the neck and no ruffle on the bottom. One more top to go and it also uses a tank but it is much different.