Slipcovers by Shelley

Pair of Matelesse chairs

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My client was having a big holiday party at her house…so it was crunch time. Her husband said she couldn’t have people over with their torn, faded slipcovers. I was able to squeeze her in and get them done.
Slipcover–BEFORE— she has had these for about 12 years and the arms had taken a beating….threadbare and faded and torn.

 SLIPCOVER–AFTER—she got a great Matelesse fabric that will hold up over the years.

She was concerned about the back getting worn and dirty again…so I made a topper out of the tan toile.

The linen gingham skirt ties in the topper. We also did gingham on one side of the cushion–so she can flip it.

She also had me make arm pads to help with the wear on the arms. We laughed when I brought it back…because basically we made slipcovers (topper and arm pads) for the slipcover. Hopefully this will help with high traffic that this room gets.

SIDE NOTE-

#1–I submitted a “we paid cash story” about our new car to Money Saving Mommy and she featured it this past week! 

Besides sewing…saving $ and being debt free is my other passion. Everyone always asks how I do it….here’s my advice–maintain the same lifestyle…when you get a raise or bonus–put that $ towards something specific (loan, cc debt, savings, etc.) , don’t absorb it and “spend what you make”.  Yes we can probably afford a bigger house than the one we bought 13 years ago—but we do we NEED it? Nope—all my boys keep migrating back to sleeping all in the same room anyways. I choose not to afford lots of things—just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should.

 I always pack a lunch, buy most stuff used, freeze milk and bread (eliminates unnecessary trips to store), make dinners from scratch, use snowball effect when paying off debt, set goals, stay focused, make lists, use mint.com, reammoratize (calculators online) every month when paying off large loans to see progress, pay off credit card in full every month, set up separate savings accounts for car, house, vacation, etc—that way the money’s there if something goes wrong and you don’t go into debt for emergencies or trips… I LIKE TRIPS.

Just yesterday–I headed to DI (thrift store) to pick up my son some church shoes…his other’s are too small.  Got a pair of hardly worn ones for $6, then grabbed three pairs of Old Navy Jeans there as well for the boys next size for $6/ pair. I try to buy ahead of time when I find things for cheap. I figured a new pair of church shoes would’ve cost about $25….but I got the shoes and 3 pairs of jeans for the same price.

#2–My work Studio is coming along….We just had our first inspection (4-way). So the electrical, framing, and ductwork are done. This week is insulation. Then the following week is sheetrock—if I can get any of these contractors to call me back with a bid. Spent and hour or so checking out flooring last night at Home Depot.

#3–Our youngest son was baptized about a month ago before the holidays. He is very picky about what he wears…so this was exciting for me to see all my boys in suits!  Love how handsome they all look. That morning, I went downstairs to help him get dressed and I found my oldest had already gotten him to put on the suit and was helping him put on his tie….tears to my eyes! What a sweet moment! I love when they are being sweet and not pounding on each other!

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Sunroom Slipcovers

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To help you get your house put back together and freshen up your decor after the holidays!
— Use promo code NEWYEAR to receive 15% off my “How to Slipcover DVD” Or “Pillow Talk” ebook or buy the bundle and save more. Promo code good till Monday 1/7/13 at midnight MST. 
I did this set of chairs for a darling grandma in Sugarhouse. She was so appreciative and grateful, she sent me home with a bag of homemade caramels. My boys loved them!
CHAIR #1–BEFORE—english rolled arm, my favorite. Faded, tired, and scratched up from the cat.

CHAIR #2– BEFORE—faded, worn, and she removed the skirt because the cat had gotten to it.

 Chair #2– AFTER— great green/ cream check with skirt. I had enough fabric to self line the skirt.

Chair #1–AFTER—loved this fabric, oatmeal background with cute green floral. It washed up great. Did 1 1/2″ blind hem on the skirt. Just a bit of matching :)….barely had enough fabric to center the floral on the throw pillow. She ordered 17 yds of this fabric which had a 27″ repeat.

She wants to do her couch next and switch out the rug…you know how it goes- you change one thing and then it’s a domino effect.

I like the eclectic look of these two chairs together….
SIDE NOTES—-Lots going on in December…took about 3 weeks off work and started on our new garage and work room. We also spent Christmas week at a beach house in Southern California.
BEFORE—- had to remove fence, some concrete, and huge willow tree

                                     

DURING—Concrete pad was poured, and somehow I managed to do some man work and dismantled and removed the garage door—-which I sold on KSL.com— I was pretty proud of myself.
 
AFTER—new garage went up in a day! A-shed built it. Then they came two days later and installed the garage door and electrical and rain gutters. Super impressed!
Here’s my dad, he came to help for a day to help frame new wall in the old garage for my new WORK STUDIO!!! I can’t tell you how excited I am. I have decorated it in my head 100 times!
I ended up going with a set of french doors that both open—Furniture go be loaded straight in…no more hauling chairs through the house, down the hall, and down the stairs to my basement work room. We still need to have someone come stucco around the doors.
Inside of french doors
Here’s the inside—can’t wait to make curtains for those windows. I will have 500 sq. ft!

SIDE NOTE- #2 Christmas week was magical! We stayed at a beach house on the sand with it’s own private beach and hot tub. It was on beach road in Capistano Beach, Ca. My sister and her family came as well…so the kids had a great time with their cousins.

I don’t think I’ve ever done almost nothing for 7 nights– we had no plans, just hang out at the beach house.

We went on walks, read books, hot tubbed 5 times a day, went to the thrift store, cooked, made cinnamon rolls, checked out the tide pools, watched the dolphins in the surf. We even saw a whale spout right in the breakers! I LOVED IT!!!!

The kids loved looking for cool moon rocks and sea glass.

 We even got a few really sunny days…here are all my boys soaking up the sun on our last day.

 This was our view every night! Magic, I tell you!

 The boys even ventured out and paddle boarded one day.

 HEAVEN—this was our view after getting out of the car after driving for 10 hours. Blue skies, sunny, 60 degrees—compared to our 25 degrees at home.

 We even had our own fire pit on the sand—made smores and hot dogs a few nights.

 Boys enjoyed the tide pools too!

                                         
 When we got there,  I told Heber to get ready to fall in love again….I have loved the beach since I was a little girl growing up in Southern Cal. Super romantic!

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Cream Linen Loveseat and Chair

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 Chair—BEFORE–muslin covered ready for a slipcover

 Loveseat–BEFORE

 Chair–AFTER

 Loveseat–AFTER– cream linen with a 7″ gathered skirt.

Whole room—light and airy.

 Front of arm

The following is some pillows and pad that I dropped off a few weeks ago—I loved all these colors together, my client did a great job picking out fabrics!

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