It's Saturday. A day when one has more options than during the work week. The schedule, if there is one, is a little more relaxed. For some reason, today, there are too many choices rattling around in my head and I haven't settled on a single one. So far, all I have managed to do is pick up the dry cleaning.
This morning when I was eating breakfast I noticed a couple of Blue Jays. First there were two, then four, then five. There may have been six, but he may have been hiding just out of my view. They were so pretty. Their colors flashing in the light and their peaked hats. And just as quickly as they arrived, they were gone again.
I finally took some pictures of the two most recent chair covers. I think they turned out nicely. These two chairs are a little smaller than the four around the table, so the covers are a little large. I decided to make them all the same size anyway. I can throw them on any chair after washing and not worry about whether they are on the 'correct' chair.
The Unusually Helpful Helpers have discovered these. One chair sits in a Southwest corner which picks up the afternoon sun - when it decides to come out. They have determined this is a great spot for a little siesta. Which means I needed to get out the lint roller before I took pictures this morning.
I used a water soluble marker to line up the patterns for these. I got the biggest kick out of spritzing them with water and watching the marker disappear. It was a blast.
"Look Sweetie! Disappearing ink! Isn't that just the coolest thing ever?!"
The Sweetie seemed amused but not nearly as excited as I was and gave me one of those worried looks. You know, the one that looks concerned about ones mental state. I don't care. It was cool and I had great fun with the water bottle. It doesn't appear to take much to amuse me.
This never fails. I have a plan. Let's call it Plan A. And in my mind it's wonderful - sometimes for a few minutes, even sometimes for a couple of days. Then there's a new thought that creeps in and before you know it, there's Plan B. I love Plan B. It's better than Plan A. And then another thought or suggestion creeps in... and you can see where this is going, right?
I am still working on seat covers for the dining room chairs, but the plan seems to have changed a tiny bit. Here's the first image (which is right in line with my original sketch).
Then the Sweetie says, "Are you goin' to make them all the same?"
"Sure. This is what I sketched out, remember? It's mimicking the wallpaper. Remember?" Little did I know that the Plan B seed had been planted. Sneaky little bugger.
I began to lay out the leaves for the second seat cover... and I start to think, "It might be boring to work on this project if all of them are the same." Whammo! Plan B!
Plan B was all sandwiched together and I begin the third. "Hmm, should I do two patterns or three? I have two different chair styles so two patterns would work. Or... I have six chairs. There could be two of each if I do three patterns." KaPow!! Plan C!
Now you know that can't be the end of the story.
Plan D. Bamm!
Plan E. Zammo! (I have no idea why Blogger has decided this image should be Portrait rather than Landscape.)
Plan F. Crash!
I may need a cocktail when I finish quilting Plan F. This one certainly has more twiddly, fiddly little pieces than the others. And none of the pieces connect. Heck, I might need one just for cutting out all of those twiddly, fiddly pieces.
Now should anyone ask why I have six different chair covers I will reply, with my readers low on my nose, "I decided to explore the pattern possibilities using a simple shape and two colors. They are simple repeats, based on the original idea of 'wallpaper'." Gah! What a snob!
But we will all know the true answer is has more to do with the power of suggestion, a short attention span, and boredom with Plan A.
So I got to thinkin'. Perhaps I should try machine applique before I cut out a gazillion leaves. Some times a tiny voice of reason sneaks in over the din.
I had some scrap squares from a recent project. I thought I could make a quick drink coaster.
Here's the front;
And the back. All of the directions I've read, say to go over the applique piece two or three time.
How about a close up view? Not so good. Thank goodness this is a practice piece.
My first attempt. My stitching is all over the place!
My last attempt. Things are starting to improve a little.
I think this is going to take a little more practice before I begin on chair covers.
A set of Wonky drink coasters anyone?
Hi. Me again.
I've recently begun a new project to create seat covers for the dining room. When the Sweetie asked if they should be called chair cushions. I said, "Sure, but I'm not sure how much cushion there is." The Sweetie is skinny and may be looking for cushions.
We have ladder back chairs we purchased shortly after we moved into our house 20+ years ago. They have rush seats, which is essentially twisted grass. Surprisingly, they lasted 20 years. But after the Kidlet, cats, many dinners, and years of homework at the dining room table, they were starting to wear out. It would be really bad to have someone fall through (pause to visualize), so we had them re-rushed (not sure that's a word, but I'm goin' with it). The cost to have them repaired was nearly as expensive as the original purchase. Yikes! I have no plans to do that again any time soon.
Yes, we know we have two different chair styles. Our decorating style can (ahem) be best described as eclectic. But I digress. Hey, but don't those new rush seats look nice!
The Unusually Helpful Helpers (Jupiter and Max) discovered shortly after the chairs returned from the shop that these were fantastic scratching posts. I just don't think so. Our short term remedy (um, nearly a year now) was to place old napkins over the chairs. Presto! This worked. The Unusually Helpful Helpers weren't interested in them once the rush was covered.
The napkin trick worked, but once you leave the table they frequently look like this:
And more frequently like this:
Not exactly projecting the swanky high class establishment vibe we've been going for. Just kiddin'.
So I drew up a design (I just love graph paper!), which is loosely styled after the wallpaper above the chair rail. I calculated the yardage needed.
And head off to the fabric store where these lovelies were just waiting for me to pick up and take home. Funny how fabric just jumps into your handbag!
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
