Chewed Paper

I remember making paper mâché in elementary school.  It’s still just as fun.  Recently, while checking out Target’s dollar spot, I spied a cute hexagon tray.  For a buck, I had to have it.  I think I’ll use this one in the kitchen, to hold our oil bottle, salt, and pepper.  But I got a two for one special by using this tray as a paper mâché form.  I dug out a few sheets of newspaper, mod podge, an old brush, and got to work.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray-Supplies

To protect my tray, I wrapped it in aluminum foil and 1/2 inch-ish strips of paper.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray-Supplies-Ready

Laying all strips in the same direction, I mod podged one piece on, then covered it with another layer.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray-Layer-1

For each following layer, I rotated my strips to cross the last.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray-Fourth-Layer

After about 10 or 12 layers, I called it quits and let it dry.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray-Last-Layer

After letting it dry for 24 hours, I used a utility knife to cut the edge.  I slipped in a few places and some corners don’t quite line up.  But it’s a fun little project.  I painted the inside gold and the outside navy.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray-Side

I’ve got plans to jazz up the entry, so this dude will come in handy.

Paper-Mache-Key-Tray

And I can make more.  I might try one with prettier paper and skip painting…  Have you made any paper mâché recently?

Oh, and the Spruce book giveaway will end this Wednesday, so go enter to get your hands on an awesomely useful book!

Paint, Tassels, Plaid & Zippers

This all started with Nate Berkus and his pretty pillows.  Specifically, this one:

For some strange and irritating reason, our Target doesn’t carry most of Nate’s line.  This pillow included, so I’ve never seen it in person.  Or his amazing task lamp.  Anyway, I loved the look of this pillow and set out to make something similar.  I started with white cotton fabric, Martha Stewart gold craft paint (the label says it’s good on fabric), a small paint brush, and a yard stick.  Using my yardstick, I eyeballed the spacing and painted X marks.

Painting-X-Pillow

They’re super rough and not exact.

X-Pillow-Painted-Detail

Then I cut pieces for the envelope back closure and sewed, right sides together as usual.  Except I stopped about 1/4 short of each corner. Tassel time!  I placed the tassel inside the pillow (remember, what’s on the inside will become the outside) and hand stitched the tassel in place.  Voila, a somewhat Nate-esque pillow cover.

Painted-X-and-Plaid-Pillow-Fronts

While looking for upholstery fabric for the bench, I saw a row of wool plaid.  All 50% off.  This was my favorite:

Plaid-Pillow-Fabric-Front

But I also really liked the softer, fuzzier pattern on the inside.  So I made a reversible pillow to get both looks.

Plaid-Pillow-Fabric-Inside

Because this is reversible, I didn’t want an envelope back.  I found this magenta zipper in my bin and loved the bit of color it would add.

Painted-X-and-Plaid-Pillows

Paired with a Target clearance yellow striped throw, this bench is a pretty cozy nook.

Spruce & Giveaway

If you thrift shop, garage sale, or antique shop, I’m guessing you’ve run into the same situation I have.  You see a piece of furniture with great lines, but terrible, horrible, no good, very bad upholstery.  You love it, but it’s complex upholstery isn’t an undertaking you’re comfortable with.  This exact situation happened to me just a few weeks ago.  A disgusting chair with great bones.  Atrocious fabric riddled with cat hair, but neat shape.

Five-Dollar-Upholstered-Chair

Even though the chair was only five bucks, I didn’t get it.  Why?  Fear.  I’ve never upholstered something this intricate before.  And I worried I’d screw it up.  So I walked away.  But the very same afternoon, I got the perfect book in the mail; Spruce, a Step By Step Guide to Upholstery and Design by Amanda Brown.

SpruceCover

Amanda is an expert upholsterer, with her own shop, Spruce in Austin.  She even writes an upholstery basics column on Design Sponge.  Basically, if you want to learn upholstery, Amanda’s your gal.  This is exactly what I needed!  In Spruce, Amanda covers everything, soup to nuts.  Or should I say, springs to piping.  Seriously, this book is a one stop reference for all things furniture.  If you need to tie springs, no problem.

Spruce-Tying-Springs

Upholster a wingback chair, step by step with picture and text explanations?  You bet!

Spruce-Wingback-Chair

Or create a custom tufted ottoman.  Whatever your needs, this book has you covered.

Spruce-Tufted-Ottoman

I stopped in the thrift store the following day, armed with a new book and confidence, but the chair was gone.  Womp, womp.  I guess I’ll have to do something to this eight dollar number I found a month or so ago.

Thrift-Chair-to-Upholster

While not entirely hideous or in bad shape, the shabby paint job must go.  I’m debating colors.  I could paint it black for drama and a fun fabric.  Or a bright color paired with a neutral fabric.

Thrift-Chair-Upholstery-Set-Detail

Thrift-Chair-Upholstery-Side-Detail

Upholstering around the arms should be fun.  Probably not as terrible as I’m imagining.

Thirft-Chair-Upholstery-Details

Watch the book trailer to learn more about Amanda and Spruce.  Love that she’d rather update an old piece of furniture than buy new.  Then check out the Spruce Ugliest Chair Contest.  You can add your chair for a chance to win prizes, design recommendations from Amanda, and a signed Spruce book.  And a few social media links, too:  Facebook: Storey PublishingSpruce Upholstery, #SpruceBook  Twitter: @StoreyPub@SpruceHome#SpruceBook

Blog Tour:

Monday, 11/4 Bromeliad
Tuesday, 11/5 How About Orange
Thursday, 11/7 Inside Storey
Tuesday, 11/12 Making It Lovely
Wednesday, 11/13 Our Style Stories
Now, how about a giveaway?  One lucky US reader will get their own Spruce book.  Just leave a comment on this post to enter.

MCM Bench, Version 2.0

If you’ve followed along for a few years, you may remember the free MCM couch I found.  Before I rescued it, it was in the elements, used as a smoking bench.  And in very rough, stinky shape.  Think hazmat suit to touch the cushions gross.

Free Outdoor Couch End

So I pitched the cushions, upholstered a long, single seat and refinished the wood.

Outdoor Bench After

When we moved it was still in great shape.  Because we have a covered deck area, I put the bench out there.  Despite being covered, the elements took a toll on the poor guy.  Sun beaten and driving rain doesn’t do a body, um couch, good.  Time to refinish it.  Again.  I lightly sanded it all down and gave it another coat of Minwax Dark Walnut.  In lieu of a polyurethane finish, I used Watco’s Teak Oil.  

Watco-Teak-Oil-for-MCM-Sofa

We used it on the wood kitchen counters at the last house and loved it.  Minimal sanding required and it can be applied as needed.  After two coats, the wood has a soft, low sheen.

MCM-Sofa-in-Living-Room-Arm-Detail

When I decided to refinish this sofa, I knew he wouldn’t be going back outside.  No siree.  Our living room furniture needs serious help (as in replacement) and this is one small step in the right direction.

MCM-Sofa-in-Living-Room-Overall

Sleek lines, dark wood, and navy upholstery.  I’m channeling Emily Henderson, folks.

MCM-Sofa-in-Living-Room-to-Dining

I’m undecided how I feel about the upholstered seat versus a removable, flippable cushion long-term.  This was much easier.  If I want to make a cushion, I’d have to add cross supports then plywood for the foam to rest on.  And then buy new foam and sew a cushion.

MCM-Sofa-in-Living-Room-Angle

Maybe I’ll get the urge to try it.  What do you think?  It’s actually really comfortable with a pillow as the back and keeps it looking light.

MCM-Sofa-in-Living-Room-Detail

Unlike out hulking sectional.  Getting a new sofa would make such a big difference in here.

MCM-Sofa-in-Living-Room-Back

Sadly, this room hasn’t gotten much attention in the time we’ve lived here.  The entertainment center is new and we took out the small arch above the railing.  As you can see, that hasn’t been finished.  Drywall dust is a serious mess and I don’t have the patience to deal with it yet.  Once I make one change to a room, I want to rework the rest of the space.  Like maybe painting the railing and new color on the walls.  Eventually we’ll replace the windows (these two front ones don’t match the rest of the house) and we want to build a window seat below with bookshelves on either side.  And that chair needs some lovin’.  Maybe a fun paint color for the frame and a neutral fabric?  Suggestions?

Gimme a Giveaway: Girl and Parrot

If you’re looking for fun, affordable art, check out Girl and Parrot.

An underwater painting like All the Cool Kids is a conversation piece.

Elephlower would be really sweet in a nursery.

I Picked You Something is moody and light, all at once.

Or for something simple, Gray Feather.

Like what you see?  Here’s how you can enter to win!

The Goods: One $30 shop credit good for or toward anything in the Girl and Parrot shop.  

To Enter:  Leave a comment, which can (but doesn’t have to) include our Just for Fun question.

Just for Fun: Do you have a favorite Etsy shop?  Feel free to leave a link, including your own!

For additional entries:

1.  Add Girl and Parrot to your Etsy favs and leave a comment.

2.  Like Our Humble Abode on Facebook, and comment again.

Contest Closes: Thursday, November 28th, 2013.

Number of Winners: One lucky duck.

Ships: Anywhere on earth, so international folks can get in on this action.

Other Info: We will select the winners using random.org and announce on Friday, November 29th.