Friday's Featured Slipcovers

I stumbled on this knitted ottoman slipcover in Biscuit Scout's etsy shop! It's so chunky and she has different colors!


Fern Valley Farms made simple & sweet slips for her dining chairs. She also has a recipe for Petits Pain au Chocolat...sounds so delish!


Isabella and Max made this gorgeous slip for her son's room! I love the gray trim on the bottom and the way she showed the leg!


Lovin' Thread Needle Studio's HOT PINK parson's chair slip! It's so bright and fun!

Dining Table Inspiration

Check out the lamp shades...they have burlap trim. Can I have a belgian waffle, some fresh squeezed O.J. and a cafe au lait, please?

all photos courtesy of Pottery Barn

I could totally see my self out here entertaining...drinking a glass of sangria! Of course, my home is not on a vineyard and I don't have the funds to buy this gorgeous table. I.want.that.bench. {so if you have one, can I have it?}


However, I did find a look alike while thrifting and I'm going to add some white paint with a little distressing. Also, I'm going to paint the chairs to match, recover the seats with a gray damask velour-ish fabric. Trust me, it's really pretty. I'm thinking of just covering the lamp shades in burlap and making burlap no sew roman shades that I saw here. I don't know...any ideas? What do y'all think?

Guest Post ~ Celebrations at Home

Chris from Celebrations at Home is my friend IRL and when I found her blog, I was blown away by her super creative and budget friendly party ideas. We've know each other since 6th grade and were even college roomates for a time. What happens at ECU stays at ECU...nuff said. We ironically stumbled onto each other's blog. She creates these amazing inspiration boards to help you get ideas of what your party could look like...among other detailed party ideas she shares on her blog! So, I asked her if she'd do a Cinco de Mayo inspiration board for me and share a post about it. She happily agreed! Thanks Chris!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a stylish and fun fiesta! Bright colors are the way to set the tone and of course some traditional Mexican details add pizazz! Gather together some friends for margaritas and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Make it easy by purchasing take-out from your favorite Mexican restaurant, or grocery store selections. Spend your extra time on presentation. Fun items like sombreros, serapes, and maracas can be found at many party stores this time of year. Serapes can be draped over the tables. Sombreros can hold tortilla chips, and maracas would make a fun napkin ring addition (just tie a colorful ribbon around the napkin and tie on a maraca). Hang colorful tissue poms, or printable banners from Paper and Cake. Tissue 'flowers' are also a traditional decor item you can place around the party space, in vases, or tie on to the backs of chairs. Take the party outside and set up multiple tables and blankets in the grass for a relaxed atmosphere. Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your guests. Ole!

Photo sources:
tapletop, hanging banner, striped straws,
salsa, layered dip, maracas,
outdoor portable table, fruit in dip cups, fiesta party, margarita
chair tissue flowers, printable circles, printable party banner

Parson's Chair Slipcover

After

I'm slipping a set of 4 Parson's Chairs for a client. She wanted sleek, simple...somewhat mod. She wanted to show some leg. I still need to hem it.

Before



She also wanted it monogrammed for a subtle, sophisticated look. I'm loving how it turned out...however she needs to make friends with an iron in a desperate way!

Friday's Featured Slipcovers

Y'all have been getting your slips on and I must say they look HOT! Make sure to check out everyone's before and after's! Remarkable!

La Maison La Fortune made this gorgeous slipcover with adorable knife pleats! Go check out the before...amazing!


Where the Heart is slipcovered this sofa for $30. Fabulous!


Check out this chair and ottoman slipped by Cyndi's Recreations. How cute is this? It's doll size! What little girl wouldn't love this?


Miss Screaming Meme has been slipping up a storm! Love the detailed knife pleats on these chair arms!

These gals are reusing furniture and making it new again! So can you! Don't forget about my ebook, "The Lazy Girl's Guide to Custom Slipcover's." You can click on the button below and download your very own today.

If you've been featured, grab the Featured Slipcover over there on the right. I linked over at The Inspired Room today.

I'm drawn to the ocean

What are you drawn to when you thrift and yard sale? I am drawn to old pictures of the ocean. I have loved the ocean for as long as I can remember...so much so that I moved to Hawaii after college for 2 years! It was everything and more that the postcards show! So when I thrift, I immediately go to the pictures and frames section and scour for another old ocean pic. And when it has a great frame like this one...my heart goes pitter patter!


I've been trying to collect enough so that I can do somewhat of a collage over my bed. I found one yesterday. It needs a coat of paint on the frame, but it thrills me! Actually, Im thinking of painting all the frames...but I love the gold patina of that first one! I haven't painted them nor have I hung them because my room looks like someone threw up green split pea soup all over the walls. We've been in our home for almost a year and our bedroom and bath are gross! Next project is to work on those without spending a dime! I think that will be a challenge, but it's do-able.

So, what are you drawn to? What do you run to first when you enter a thrift store?

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Custom Slipcovers ~ The ebook

Could I not come up with a longer title? Seriously. I have gotten so many emails from all of you thanking me for the tutorial I posted about almost 2 years ago. I'm so glad it has helped so many of you. And I absolutely LOVE seeing all the pics of your slips! I've also gotten tons of questions...that I just felt like I couldn't answer in one post. So, I decided to write a more elaborate ebook because inquiring minds want to know all the innermost workings of how to make their very own custom slipcover. There are also detailed pictures because if you're like me...you're a visual learner and you need to SEE how it's done. I've been working on this for over a month. I'm a slow writer, then I would procrastinate by baking brownies and then eating them...all the while googling what Rob Pattinson is up to. Just sayin'.
So...here it is and you know you're dying to be conversant in how to sew those inside corners of the frame together! I am a self taught custom slipcover-er. I learned through trial and error and hopefully this book will give you the in's and out's so you won't have to waste fabric like I have or other mishaps I've made. I really just want you to benefit from my mistakes and encourage you that you CAN do it! You can make a slipcover even with the most very basic sewing skills. You can have a new sofa for a pint-sized price. If you want to update your home for spring, this is the most economical and dramatic change you can make!


I can't wait to see all your pictures. I've set up a forum on ning. You can add pictures of your slips, we can chat, everyone can post questions and we can answer each other and give tips. It's like a little slipcover community.


Oh Snap!...here is a free link to an Upholstery Chart. It also tells you how much to buy for bedding, shower curtains...etc. I meant to put it in the book, but I was googling RPattz.

So click on that little "add cart" button and for only $10, you too can know how to make your very own slipcover!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

This weekend I made homemade laundry detergent and homemade dishwasher detergent. I got the laundry recipe from Raleigh Brigg's Book and I got the dishwasher recipe from a friend.

All-Purpose Laundry Soap

1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup castile soap bar
1/4 cup washing soda
1/4 cup borax

Use 1/2 cup per load. This recipe makes enough for 3 loads, but I doubled the recipe. I used a bar of castile soap, grated it and then ran it through the food processor to make it a little finer. I couldn't find washing soda. Guess what? You can substitute soda ash for washing soda. Soda ash is a sodium carbonate and can be found in the pool supply section. Washing soda is also a sodium carbonate. They are one in the same...so my friend, Mrs. Jones says. She's a hospital worker and likes to research stuff. Mix it all together. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to scent your laundry soap. I put mine in a tupperware bowl and put a label on it of how much to use...so that my husband can still do laundry.

Dishwasher Soap

1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt

Mix together. Use a 1 Tbsp. per load. I put it in a labeled tupperware bowl under the sink. Use distilled white vinegar in the rinse / jet dry section.

*I just found this DIY household cleaner post for Spring Cleaning.

Friday's Featured Slipcovers

My fairy blog mother makes over more than blogs...check out her slips


Check out Our Nesting Ground's adorable burlap and muslin ottoman.


Heidi slipcovered her headboard with a cozy slip here


Robin of Happy at Home reveals her sofa slipcover made of drop cloth.

*If you've been featured, you can grab a featured button...it's over there on the right--->

**Also, head over to Nester's if you want to join in the slipcover party May 1st.

How to Make a Ruffle Video

Please, please don't laugh at my super boring 1 minute and 47 second video! My face isn't even on it, but I was so nervous! Anyway, here goes...how to make a ruffle video! I hope it helps someone in the world:0). If it helped you, let me know. If you laughed, don't let me know.

Trash Diving in the neighborhood

Are you embarrassed to trash dive in your neighborhood? I was walking Ally yesterday morning and happened upon a cute little kid's kitchen. Now, my kid's DO NOT need a kitchen, but it pained me to think this was going to sit in a landfill somewhere...wasting away. It's totally un-necessary waste. It is missing the faucet and the sink, but that's an easy fix!



So, Ally and I quickly walked home. I couldn't get home fast enough. I was trying to beat the trash pick up and any other person who might try to score what I spotted first. I grabbed my keys and drove back slyly...making sure there were no other cars coming down the street. Then quickly got out, opened the back and tossed it gently in the truck. I did get snagged by a neighbor soccer mom driving a mini van. I've been to other neighborhoods and totally picked up furniture and not been embarrassed one bit! What is it about trash diving in your own community? Oh well, I did it. I scored and some other kid will benefit from me picking it up!

Multi-grain Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies were so good! And I felt good about my family eating them. Somehow a multi-grain oatmeal chocolate chip cookie didn't sound so bad. I am in the process of transitioning me and my family to REAL food. This counts...doesn't it? No more junk, fast food, processed, soda...etc. It's been easier than I thought. I've become convicted about what we put in our bodies...hence the reason for me giving up caffeine. I really have been less foggy and it's been easier to wake up in the mornings. There can't be that much caffeine in chocolate chips...right? We definitely need a de-tox after being on vacation!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup salted butter softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cups Trader Joe's Multi-grain Baking/Pancake Mix (similar to Bisquick)
  
• 1 cup oats
  
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
• 1/2 cup nuts, chopped, if desired (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. In large bowl, mix butter, both sugars, vanilla and egg.
3. Stir in Trader Joe's multi-grain Pancake mix, oats, chocolate chips and nuts.
4. Onto parchment lined cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart; flatten slightly.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack...then to mouth!
   

Enjoy!

I'm participating in Edie's Christmas Cookie Exchange! Go check out all the yummy recipes!

Friday's Featured Slipcovers

Swooning over the ruffle trim on this ottoman by Time Worn Style.



How funky is the colorful fabric on this slipcovered chair by Cyndi's Recreations?



Here's a coupla slips by Cozy Cottages Slipcovers! Totally transformed office chair!


She also did this fabulous monogrammed slip on a headboard. Great inexpensive way to get a new look!

*If you're slipcover has been featured on Friday, please feel free to grab a "Friday's Featured Slipcovers" button. Also, if you have a slipcover that you'd like to be featured, shoot me an email!

<a href="http://pinkandpolkadot.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/carriesue425/Pink%20and%20Polka%20Dot/fridaysfeaturedslipcoverscopy.jpg" width="125px"/> </a>

Thrifting in Florida

Tuesday, we went thrifting. There was this place that was only open on Tuesday's from 9am-3pm. Kinda random, but hey...who am I to judge. Today I went to a yard sale...on a Wednesday? If you have it, I'll come! I scored those black converse for $2 bucks and that flower painting for $3. I have friends are are grossed about about used shoes...are you? Obviously, I'm not...I'll be wearing ankle socks and they were washed...like I have to justify it. I.love.them.


I also gave my kids $5 bucks each, so they could have fun too! One spends her money like there's no tomorrow, the other wants to spend MY money and save every cent she gets. What does that mean?


Have you ever been overwhelmed in a thrift store? I think I met my match at this Good Will! It was seriously...like the size of a Super Target! Humongous! I bought nothing and got outta there quick! It was also a little on the pricey side.



There was a thrift store, no better named, than The Yard Sale Shop. Bummer it was closed.



For lunch, we hit this cuban joint...the.best.cuban.sandwiches! This sign greeted us as we entered. I.heart.the.beach.

The Beach Cottage

I adore small little quaint places on the beach...the beach cottage! I, indeed, am at Madeira Beach in Florida and as I drove around...took some snapshots of some cute and interesting cottages. Orange doors on lavender homes are soooo courageous and something that you can only pull off at the beach!


This is named Lucy's Cottage and I was really taking a picture of that fantabulous chandy hanging from the tree! I love when people name their homes! It's like that in England...all the homes are named. It was a little too garden-y for me...but a cute cottage.


Painted Pink with a Mint green door...adorable. Needs some love, but any house at the beach is a GREAT house to me! It backs up to the sound.

This was an interesting one that my girl's loved. See the large Peace sign in the middle!


The majority of the homes are street level. Sometimes a buyer will buy a home just for the land and when they rebuild, it has to be like this. They're required to build on stilts...if you will...to avoid floods. This home is gorgeous with it's wrap around porch. Do you think they'd let me come in and look around? If they do, I'll take pictures...of course! Would you downsize your home to live at the beach? Me: YES, in a hot second!