Thrifty Quick Fix

I am feeling really blessed this holiday season. I know that it has only just begun but I am feeling like I hit the jackpot when it comes to all the family, friends and things I am thankful for. I could go on and on about how grateful I am for my life (because I really really am) but lets get to the dirty details of this post....  I am thankful for Target. They have some of the greatest stuff ever.... The other day when I was mindlessly wandering the isles (one of my favorite pastimes) I came across these two napkins for 3.99.

 

Yes, I know the whole deer head thing is overdone but I liked them and had good intentions for them for the Thanksgiving feast I was throwing. I would use them to cover two chairs I purchased at a garage sale this past summer for five bucks a pop. So I traced over all the gold with my favorite black Sharpie. Then I took the nasty old seat cushions off the chairs which had apparently been recovered several times before. I stripped off the old layers of fabric because for all I knew a cat had peed on them or something.

Then I took my staple gun and covered the foam with an old, clean, white tea towel I had in my kitchen drawer.

Next I took my colored on napkins and I stapled them over the dish towel and placed the seats back in the old chairs.

This was the perfect quick fix for I what I needed. I hosted thanksgiving and needed more chairs. However, I didn't want my guests subjected to the gross old fabric and I wanted chairs that matched my decor. I need to sand and paint the chairs down to a color I like but that is for another day.

Also, whenever I get tired of these covers I can just buy some new fabric or possibly cheap dinner napkins from Target.

Total side note.... One of my dearest friends (whom shall remain anonymous) told me that her husband thought they looked like snails coming up to attack you in the.... you know whats. Now that's all I can think of.

PS.... Happy holidays from my family to yours and yes I had to share this next picture to brag about my bad ass bird.... I got lucky... It was awesome...

 

 

Dinner Napkin + Old Pillow = Beautiful New Pillow

I am pretty excited to share this post with you today. Last night I decided that I should make some great pillows for my new sitting area. I have been struggling with how to decorate my house. More specifically, what color pallets I want to use in my house. So I think I have decided to build off the colors of my walls and dishes (green & yellow). When we moved in we decided to paint the walls on the main level a muted corn yellow. We discovered that Miller paints makes a recycled brand that was super cheap. We couldn't afford not to go with it since we painted the entire inside of the house including the ceilings. Their recycled paint line is called Metro Paint . After talking with a best friend today, (whose style I love) told me that she's been really into yellow and green and I had to concur, which made me extra confident in my color scheme decision.
 Having my colors in mind I set out to make the cheapest pillows I could. I found two really cute table napkins at Cost Plus World Market over the weekend and paired them with like sized solid yellow ones. Then I rummaged around in the garage for some old pillows. You know the ones with the drool stains that would embarrass the pants off of you if your friends ever saw them.

I thought about whip stitching them together really quick but then I thought again. I want to put quality work out there and I am sure that my stitching abilities would never with stand the abuse my family would give them. So I called up my Mom-in-law who pretty much knows how to do it all especially run a sewing machine. After work we went over to their house and I sat down with the machine. I had to be walked though every step. I have used the machine before but its a steep learning curve. I will call these pillows easy to make even though they took me about an hour.

Step 1: Line up the napkins as best you can, inside out.

 Step 2: Approach the machine with confidence and sew some kick ass straight lines along the seams that already exist.

 Step 3: Leave an opening to stuff the pillow with. It's easier if you leave your hole in the middle of one of the sides. Then you dont have to deal with sewing up any corners. I learned this the hard way but I forgot to take photos of the second pillow. Then turn it inside out.

Step 4: Open your old drooled on pillow and stuff the new beautiful, cheap, non-drooled one.

 Step 5: Fold in the opened seams and close the bad boy up!

Or you can pin it like a pro but I wasn't patient enough so I failed at this part. My pillows have some flaws but thats what makes them mine.

Step 6: ENJOY!!! I love them and they match my walls.

Here's a few more pillow pictures for your viewing pleasure. Ahhh and look how nicely they get along with my new coffee table.