Give Away!!!!!

I am participating in "Give Away Day" over at SewMamaSew . The giveaway starts May 27th and goes through May 31st. Here is what I am giving away: Winner's Choice!

1) a box of fabrics and trim--see pictures below

4 pieces of a very light weight decorator fabric (200"X16", 120"X 19", 62"X33")

4 pieces lustrous high-end mohair (48"X16", 2-24"X 10", 50"X12")--this is great for teddy bear crafts!

3 yards pompom trim--balls about 3/4" diameter

32" green tassel trim

OR 2) a 20X16 lumbar pillow with feather/down insert sewn inside. This heavy cotton decorator fabric is from P. Kaufmann and is trimmed with beige tassel trim. Same front and back.

All you have to do is leave me a comment below and tell me SOMETHING about aprons. I am looking forward to sewing aprons for my Etsy shop and for local craft shows, and I want to learn all I can about sewing aprons, apron-lore, and fond memories of aprons. So---leave me a comment and tell me something interesting. I love a good story, and I love tidbits. I will pick the one that I like best--or heck, if I can't pick just one--maybe I will give both gifts away! Good luck!

Have a great day, and come back and visit anytime!

Slip covered Rocker

Here is a beat-up old chair that has followed me around since college days. Really, underneath this lovely slip-cover is a natty old wool-blend upholstery fabric that you would hesitate to sit on. Last summer I decided to update this chair. I had slapped together a sort-of slip cover before my first baby was born and that slip cover was worn and faded, and frankly not very pretty.

This chair has always been used in our bedroom for nursing babies at night. It is pretty low to the ground, and you can sit in it half asleep and not worry about the baby falling off your lap. So even though this chair is not worth $10 by itself, I still value it for this reason. Besides, I've nursed all four babies in it and it has sentimental value.

I chose two decorator fabrics from Waverly -- "Country Fair Red Gingham" and "Norfolk Rose". I have always liked this combination since Waverly introduced Norfolk Rose. I made the back with ties not only for the pretty details, but also to hide an expanding panel that allows easier application of the slip cover.

The arms were a real bugger. I cannot tell you how many times I had to redo them. I wouldn't recommend slip covering another chair with open arms. Ugh! I used lots of velcro so that the cover can be removed and laundered. Also, all the cut edges of the fabric pieces were serged before sewing together so that the cut edges will not unravel later. (Oh yes, I forgot to say that I did wash and dry the fabrics before I made the slip cover--very important if you intend to launder the slip cover yourself instead of have it drycleaned).

Here are some of the pleated details. I like pleats this way--they make me happy.

There you have it -- from ugly to beautiful. Glass of lemonade anyone?

How it All Started

Hello, my name is Wendy and I have a fabric addiction. It all started innocently enough. I do a lot of shopping online since it is downright difficult, if not impossible to shop in a real store while stringing along 3-4 kids (depending on the day). So, I turned to eBay. I eventually found a few sellers that I really trusted and would peruse their wares on a regular basis. Seems most of the textile manufacturers, and thus discount warehouses, are back east-- in the Carolinas and Georgia -- so shipping is a bear. At the time I had no interest in sewing apparel, I was shopping for home decor and upholstery weight fabric because I had a new home to decorate and hand-me-down furniture to slip-cover or reupholster. One seller in particular I really liked (and still like) browsing. His name is Ray and he has literally hundreds of fabrics up for bid every week. I was like a kid in a candy store--although with limited money. But over time--I have managed to collect quite a bit of beautiful "I might be able to use it someday" fabrics. I also have some "but it is so inexpensive" and "since I am buying this one fabric..." lucky buys. Here are some of his fabrics for sale this week.




Then, to give credence to my fabric and trim addiction, I decided to start sewing decorative pillows to sell at craft fairs and shows. Along the way I collected an industrial upholstery sewing machine, and industrial serger, and boxes and boxes of down/feather pillow inserts. I have learned a lot, perfected my pillow making technique, and discovered that not everyone shares my taste in fabric selection. Would you like to see some of my pillows?



Now, I am going to switch gears for awhile and start sewing in a different direction--aprons! I can't wait to get started. I still have fabric to shop for though. Oh darn!

Welcome!

Welcome to my sewing and decorating blog! In this blog I will occasionally showcase projects I have completed for myself and others, neat ideas that I have come across, and fabrics and trims that are just to die for.

I love fabrics and I love to sew. I have sewn most of the the soft furnishings in my home and am always scheming up new ways to redecorate my home (not that I get all that much done--but I have plans =). I have quite a large stash of home decor and upholstery fabrics that I have picked up mostly on eBay. Recently I have been buying fabrics and patterns off Etsy. I will do a post on Etsy sometime to introduce you if you haven't already become acquainted with Etsy.

I love to hear from you -- either through comments on this blog, or via email. Thanks, and have a wonderful day!