Where I Blog

This is the space I have designated to blog and write and be inspired. I clip my inspiration on the board above. I.Love.This.Desk. Before and After Here. Most of the time my laptop sits there tuned into pandora on "Kings of Leon" radio station. Also includes Modest Mouse, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers...and no Jonas Brothers. Sorry Jo Bros. Right now, I'm working on a quilt for one of my littles while my laptop chimes out!

Usually, I'm found here blogging away or stalking all of you! Yes, I'm drinking a glass of wine and no it's not the middle of the day. It's evening as a matter of fact...dinner has been eaten and children are outside playing with friends! Yay!

Kate over at Centsational Girl is having a "Where I Blog" Party...so I thought I'd join in on the fun! Make sure to go check out everyone's Blog Hot Spots!

*Don't forget about the Slipcover Party this Friday, Sept.3rd! Get to slippin'!

Where is my sofa?

Where is my sofa, you ask? Maybe you did not ask yourself that. I just sold the sofa I slipcovered and also the chair. I currently have a sofa in the garage...along with some friends...2 dining tables, a bed, end table, chandelier, chest of drawers and a coffee table. You laugh and wonder how my husband puts up with these shenanigans. I don't know why he does, but he does. And I am grateful.

It's so bare and echo-y in here right now. I'm trying to clean my jute rug...and doing a little re-arranging. I'm also looking at this picture and thinking I REALLY want to paint this room gray. And I've been searching hi and low for shutters to cover up that big TV hole...like I did here.

The pieces in my garage are all going to be painted and/or slipcovered. I'm thinking about hosting a re-purposed furniture sale along with a friend...probably in late October. What do yall think? Would you come? Would you buy some furniture? What are you looking for?... so we can be on the look-out! I would love to meet you! And who doesn't want to cozy up their home with some new duds before the holidays?! Oh...and we'll have coffee too.

*Don't forget - we're having a Slipcover Party this Friday, Sept. 3rd! Show us your slip!

Friday's Featured Slipcovers

Love these flirty dining chairs from The Charm of Home! She even did a stencil on the front!


Our family unit has some great tips on how she re-purposed her cushion stuffing. So elegant!


Here's another cute dining slip over at you can make this. {i'm not being paid for this}.

Amy ala Mode has instructions on how to make this adorable easy lamp shade slip! Go check it out!

You know what I just realized? That we were supposed to have a slipcover party today...since it's the last Friday of the month and all. Sorry. We will do it next Friday, Sept. 3rd! So get you slips on!

* If you've been featured, please be so kind as to grab a button or text and link back, so everyone can see all the fun talented slipcover gals out there! Thanks!

You can also post a pic of your slip at The Lazy Girl Slipcovers flickr group!

Slipcover your Car Seat

photo credit House Beautiful

Check out the slipcovers on these car seats in this month's House Beautiful. See? I told ya...once again...you CAN slipcover anything! My husband might draw the line at cabbage rose slipcovers on his car seat. However...I don't draw any line when it comes to slipcovers! Check out the spread in House Beautiful of A Pure White California Beach Cottage.

School Year's Resolutions

I'm not much for making New Year's Resolutions...I guess I'm rebellious like that. However, I'm feeling the need to make some School Year's Resolutions. This summer has been a little hectic and out of the norm with my Aunt Pearl passing and 2 of the 4 of us having the chicken pox {not at the same time, I might add}. I've been waking up at around 3AM...for some reason and have not been able to go back to sleep. So I've used it to have a little convo with God. I figure He's the one waking me up.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

1) Do something for my spiritual & physical well-being every day.
2) No computer in the morning, until kids leave for school.
3) Give complete undivided attention to kids from the moment they get home from school. {This means if I'm in the middle of painting a room or sewing a slipcover, I stop. That's it.
4) Prepare dinner early in order to help with homework.

Have you made any school year's resolutions?

Friday's Featured Slipcovers

How fresh is this geometric green patterned slip from Emily at McKevitts?

La Maison Reid created this oh so chic settee slip from muslin and burlap! Darling!

You, too, can make a slipcover like French Buttons! She calls it her cheater slipcover...go see how she did it!

Make sure to grab a button below, if you've been featured!

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

Lazy Girl Slipcovers ~ Flickr Group

Introducing the new Flickr Group for Lazy Girl Slipcovers! I want you guys to brag to your heart's content! I love seeing everyone's slipcovers and we all love being encouraged by all the great talent out there. I've posted a few pics...just to get started, but please go add your slipcover picture so we can all share in the joy of slipcover's! I will still be featuring slips on Friday's and on the last Friday of each month, we'll have a linky party...so you can feature your slipcover. So...get to slippin'!

Beach Thrifting

This is our last week of summer before school starts next week...so we took a trip to the beach for the day to squeeze out the last moments before it disappears. We spent all day at the beach, then went to K38 for dinner. Lastly we hit goodwill before heading home. My daughter said, "Beach Thrift stores are the BEST!" She's right. I scored this ship. I've been looking and looking. I may paint it white...like everything else??

See the 4 shades of gray on my pukey pea green wall. It's a little challenging finding the perfect gray. I have:

-Pearl Gray by Martha Stewart
-Seagull Gray from Seaside collection
-Dolphin Fin from Seaside collection
-A mix of Pearl Gray, Seagull Gray and Dolphin Fin...i think I like the mix.

All these colors are from Lowe's Home Improvement. Are you as in love with gray as I am right now? It is the new beige, right?

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...

WASH YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU CUT IT! You'd think after all the times I boss you guys around telling you what to do with your fabric, I'd actually do it myself. No, I was so excited to cut into that gorgeous gray linen...that I didn't even wash it before I made that sweet little ottoman cover. It looks like it's waiting for a flood. Maybe I can add something to the bottom so it won't feel so insecure about it's highwater skirt.

I've also decided that we're going to do a Slipcover Party on the last Friday of every month. That way, everyone can get motivated to start and finish and be ready by the end of the month. And if you don't make it one month, then you know you can do it the next! Looking forward to seeing everyone's slips. You girl's are amazing seamstresses! Just make sure to wash your fabric before you cut. K? K.





If you need help, you can download The Lazy Girl's Guide to Custom Slipcovers by clicking on the button above...for only $10. I try my best to answer everyone's emails and questions about slipcovers. If I haven't answered your question, please shoot me another email. I'm not ignoring you on purpose, I promise!

Slipcover Party!

I found this gray linen on sale at Walmart and snatched the entire bolt up...faster than you can say Shazam! It's an ikea ottoman and I just wanted to slip it in something a little loose and a different color. Gray is my ab.so.lute favorite right now!!!

An up close and personal look...I adore how the pleats came out! So, show us your slip and link up below. Make sure you link to your slipcover post or I'll have to delete it:0( And make sure to grab a button, below, linking back here so everyone can be inspired by all the mad slipcover skillz going on!

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

How to Make a Ruffle ~ the video {RePost}

This is a re-post of how to make a ruffle ~ the video! Can't wait to see all of your slipcovers this Friday the 13th! Don't forget to link up your slipcover!

How to Make Knife Pleats

I hope you are diligently working on your slipcover for the Slipcover Party this Friday the 13th! Yes? Great! I wanted to show you how I make knife pleats. First measure around where you want your pleats to go and then double it plus about a foot or so more.

Decide how wide you want your pleats. I wanted mine about an inch wide, so I cut my fabric at the length above and about 2.5 inches wide. Fold your fabric in half lengthwise and iron. Then start folding your fabric in pleats about an inch or so wide, iron and pin...as shown below.

Use the previous pleat as a guide for your next pleat. If you're like my neighbor {Ms. Jones} then you can use a ruler and measure each pleat precisely to have them all exactly the same size OR you can be like me and just eyeball it and let that be good enough. It's your pleat.

Then iron each pleat and pin. It takes some time, but it's so worth it. When you see what I put these gorgeous gray linen knife pleats on...you will know why it's worth the iron. {I know I'm a self-professed loather of the iron} Seriously, it's becoming a friend.

Just a little sneak peak at what I'l be showing at the Slipcover Party this Friday! I'm in love with this gray linen fabric right now...actually anything gray!

I want to move to France and buy this house

I want to sell everything, move to France and buy this house! As soon as I saw this house, my heart started palpitating. I started thinking...can it be done? Would I be brave enough to be "Frances" from 'Under theTuscan Sun?' You know...with my family of course! Could my children handle it? Could my husband? Could I? Really? It's nice to dream and hope that maybe one day it could happen.

How would you like to come home to this lovely door? Swoon!

Living in a French Villa with a little guest house...so, you could all come visit:0)

All photo credit to My French Country Home

I imagine myself walking the grounds with my daughter's and picking flowers here. I would bake bread and go to the village to trade garden vegetables and french linens. I think I need to catch up to my heart!

*Don't forget that we're having a Slipcover Party this Friday the 13th...So get your slips on!

Friday's Featured Slipcovers

Cute and Ruffly seat slip by Alchemy Fine Living.


Another Deployment Project: Dining Slips by Design Intervention.


An English country slip that makes you want to sit and have a cuppa tea...by Slipcover Chic.


Anyone can do this easy cover up slip like Trash to Treasure.


Don't forget to grab your featured button. Just click the buttons tab at the top. Next Friday we're going to have a Slipcover Party. So get your slips on and be ready next Friday the 13th!

Desk Before and After

I just finished painting my desk and re-vamping my inspiration board. Picture of the entire Studio...still to come, but here's a peek at the finished desk!

Remember how it looked before?

And, now...After! I big time heart this desk! It has such great lines.

Remember my DIY inspiration board? See the How To and then I just stapled a piece of fabric to the back of the frame...that's it!

I was trying to find plate hangers to hang that plate on the wall. I bought it at an auction for a whopping $25. I know...crazy! It has never seen a wall...it's mostly been in a cabinet hiding out. I just thought there was too much pink in the plate...to put out in our home, but my studio is the place where I can do too much pink! So, out it came. I'll have to make a run to Dollar Tree today for some plate hangers.

Do you have a space to create...even if it's a corner? It's your corner or your desk! I think I'll do a linky party next week where everyone can post their spaces! Let's inspire each other to create!

Beach Thrifting

This weekend, I went to the beach with my sister for much needed R & R. We went to see a Bon Jovi Tribute Band at The House of Blues. We ate {steak & lobster}. I slept until 10AM. We relaxed at the beach and did our mutual favorite thing...went thrifting. We couldn't find any great places at first...just lots of consignment stores that were all VERY high priced. Finally I googled goodwill, we called them and B-lined straight over there. We only had about an hour, but we both walked out with something. Me...two powder blue pillow shams for $.99 cents.

See that orange sofa? It was only $5 dollars. It was a prime piece to slipcover! My sister drove, so I couldn't load it into the back of her Honda Accord...I should have driven that huge earth destroyer of mine, so I could've loaded up on some furniture. I saw plenty of great furniture at Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity. What did you score while thrifting this weekend?