SLIPCOVERS AND A CREATIVE SOLUTION TO NOT ENOUGH FABRIC

This sofa and loveseat presented a challenge.  My client ordered all that was available, but there was not enough of the green fabric to make everything.  It helped doing a contrasting welting, but, still, there wasn't enough.  The solution we (my client and I) came up with was to use the same fabric in white on the back sides of the cushions.

My client can kind of mix and match.  In this picture, the back cushions are turned to the white side.

In this shot, the white sides are showing in both the seat and back cushions.

Sofa back, which doesn't show as it is against the wall.  My client's 18 year old son was very sweet when he said, "But all your good work doesn't show back there."  Yes, but the loveseat's back side does show, so all is not wasted!

The loveseat with all green showing.  (To the left you can see a pink chaise.  That is the next project.)

And from the back, the white shows a little, but it doesn't look bad.  

Sometimes there simply isn't enough fabric to do what you really want to do.  If you can be open to creative solutions, you just might get something even better than your original idea.  In this case, my client has kids and 3 active dogs, including a 10 month old St. Bernard puppy, so she chose a polyester fabric that can be washed and will stand up to the abuse it is sure to receive.  

I'M ALSO IN KITCHEN+BATH MAKEOVERS (a Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication)

I'm kind of liking this being magazines so much lately.  3 times in about 6 weeks!  Not bad, if I do say so myself.

This kitchen belongs to Kim Kelly and just to give you an idea of how long it can take for something to come out in the magazine, this was shot a year ago last June.  More than 15 months ago!  This time, though, the pictures are really good (for me.)  This was the first (and I think only) time I've done a roman shade with an attached valance.  It is a little more interesting than just the plain shade.

Another view of her kitchen.

This time they got all my information correct.  Gotta love that.

So, as far as I know, I don't have anything else coming out in any magazines.  I always look, though, because you just never know when something might show up and if I don't come across it by accident, I'd never see it.

THE FABULOUS TERRI BRUSH IS COMING BACK TO SAN DIEGO

Terri Brush will be in Solana Beach Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 19-23 November.  For more information, go to her web site:  http://www.terribrushdesigns.com.

I'M IN THE SEPTEMBER BETTER HOMES and GARDENS!

I received a call this morning from a woman in Michigan.  She informed me that she had seen the white denim slipcovers I made and that she wanted to order some.  She also told me that what she had seen was in the September issue of Better Homes and Gardens.  So I went to the store to check it out.

Okay, the pictures aren't great for actually seeing the slipcovers.  I was a little baffled as to what made her call from these shots.  I looked in the Resource section and, sure enough, my name and phone number, which they got right, and the name of my business, which they messed up, were there.  I guess getting my name and number are more important than the name of my company, right?

The ottoman shows pretty well in this shot, though not as good as if I took the picture!  When magazines come to photograph your home, they have an idea in mind and unless the article is specifically about me, my work is secondary to the story.  Still, it is nice to see something I've done published.

I took these shots (above and below) after I delivered the finished slipcovers.  I was hoping that the magazine would have a better pictures.  And they do, just not of what I wanted.

I have also been informed that another job I did is also out now.  I haven't been able to find the magazine yet, but as soon as I do, I'll be posting those pictures, too.

WING CHAIR AND OTTOMAN COMPLETED

As promised--the finished wing chair and matching ottoman.  The flash has kind of bleached out the welting and made it appear white.  It is actually a wine/white checked.

It kind of shows up better in this photo.  This is a bad angle, as it looks like the skirt doesn't match up properly.  It does, I assure you.

I also made a throw pillow, using both fabrics.  

This is the before shot.  The biggest difference the slipcovers made, besides hiding the damage done by the cat, is the skirts go to the floor, which really changes the whole look of the room.  It is always amazing to me that such a seemingly insignificant thing can so alter the look of something.

A WING CHAIR IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SLIPCOVERED

I actually have finished and delivered this slipcover, but I thought I'd show you the process of cutting and fitting that takes place.

This technique is the reason why I MUST go to your home to be able to make a slipcover that fits your particular piece of furniture.  A wing chair is a perfect example.  There are about as many different styles of wings chairs as there are people who have them.  

This fabric is a really heavy duck cloth that has been pre-washed and shrunk.  I cannot emphasize enough that it is not possible to cut a slipcover to allow for shrinkage.  All fabric shrinks at different rates and it would never fit properly if I tried to figure out how much it would actually shrink.

As with all furniture, except a one-arm chaise, I cut only half of it because the other half is a mirror image.  If I was not putting buttons down the back, which in this case are just decorative, the back piece would be all the way across.  After I cut, I carefully label each piece.  Once I have it home and begin work on it, it's just flat pieces of fabric that would be a lot more challenging to put back together without knowing specifically which piece goes where.

Tomorrow I'll post the finished chair and ottoman.

SLIPPER CHAIR AND OTTOMAN

I finally got this chair and ottoman finished.  I think I originally cut them at the end of May.  I did have other jobs ahead of them, but it was never supposed to take as long as it did.  If it wasn't for my back, they would have been completed about 2 months sooner.  Luckily, every single one of my clients has or has had back trouble themselves and were beyond understanding of my predicament.  I have always had, and continue to have, the best clients.

It's always a bit of a gamble when you send people out the get their own fabric.  What seems obvious to me is not always the case with everyone else.  You cannot tell from the photos, but the fabric is a kind of almost open-weave, gauzy synthetic.  Not really a first choice of mine for slipcovers.

I think I am making it sound much worse than it really is.  It's not bad and shrinkage will definitely not be a problem.

In any case, my client was happy with the end result.

And, really, even with a less than desirable fabric, the 'afters' are so much better than the 'befores.'  I forgot to take a picture of the chair, but you can see it in the background.

Her lamp also got a new slipcover.  This did not photograph very well.  In person, it looks much less like a silk sack and more like a lamp shade slipcover. As with the furniture, the finished product is a vast improvement, even if it doesn't show that way in this picture.

GOOD FRIENDS ARE THE BEST

A couple of weeks ago, my very good friend, Lisa Michelle, who actually lives in Miami, was in Los Angeles for a job, so she hopped on the train and came to visit me.  We met as models in Barcelona in 1989 and have been friends ever since.

We acted a little like tourists while she was here.

There is nothing like having your picture taken while driving across the Coronado Bridge.  I thought it best to keep my eyes on the road!

This was taken in March 2001, right after I moved to West Hollywood from Chicago.  Lisa decided that I was NOT driving out alone and flew to Chicago to make the trip with me.  We took 7 days to drive, 3 of which we spent in Santa Fe.  Anyway, this is us all dressed up with someplace to go!  

The glamorous girls!  For sure not my usual style, but when someone offers to lend you diamonds and furs to attend Oscar parties, you don't say no!  

IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG

I cannot believe the last time I posted was 11 August.  Where does the time go?  I had every intention of posting yesterday and, well, that just didn't happen.  Oh well.  I am finally getting back in the swing of things and posting here is a big part of my 'normal' routine.  My back is so much better.  I have started on some core strengthening exercises that will, hopefully, keep me from EVER ending up in bed again with  a thrown out back.  It was not fun.  As for my mother, she is healing as well.  Maybe a little more slowly than she'd like, but getting better nonetheless.  Thank you again for all your messages and e-mails and positive thoughts and prayers for both me and my mother.  

Now back to my work:

I delivered this sofa last Saturday morning.

Back view with the ever-present buttons.  In this case, they were actually needed to get the slipcover on.

There are two of this chair.

In the case of the chairs, the buttons, though functional, are strictly for looks.

Even the chairs at the bar in the kitchen got new clothes.  

It's kind of hard to tell from the pictures,  but the fabric is linen.  

Below are the sofa and chairs that I slipcovered.  What a difference!

And this sweet little face belongs to the son of my client.  Isn't he just the cutest?

Not only have I not been posting on my own blog, I haven't even been reading anyone else's either.  My other intention is to catch up with all those blogs that I love.