Teresa Porter

On the Cutting Table Today...

2012-01-26T11:25:00.000-04:00

Vintage Quilt Tops

Oh I do Love a good Quilt.

Last year, One of my Quilting projects was to complete this quilt top for one of my lovely clients.

Full story on that quilt here.

My client, Mrs. Ann, shared some of the history of these quilt tops with me. The quilt above, and the one that I'm working on now, were some of the last quilt tops that her mother made. She passed away in her 90's. When she was younger, she made incredible quilts like this one...

Incredible precision... and all done by hand. Every stitch. No sewing machines. The points in these quilt blocks are absolutely perfect. Not to mention the actual quilting. Just beautiful.

When Mrs. Ann's mother could no longer finish the quilts, she still made quilt tops, which were handed down to her daughter. These quilts hold so many precious memories... they are treasures... and I am honored to finish these quilts, so they can be handed down to grand-children, to be treasured for years to come.

So... this is the latest quilt top for Mrs. Ann.

The individual blocks are called "tree of life" blocks. All are set on a diagonal with brown sashing in between the blocks.

The thing about quilt tops...

they must be flat. The blocks must be square. Or else it is a nightmare to try to quilt.

The lady that hand quilted the top was almost blind when she made this quilt top, so there are a few problems. First... there are large wrinkles or bubbles in the top.

Like this...

Second...

that is about as far from "square" as you can get.

As much as I hated to do this...

the entire quilt top had to be taken apart.

There was just no other way. I felt a little bit.. as though.. I was disrupting the integrity of the quilt. After all every stitch was done by hand, in her last days. And that in itself is so very special.

But take it apart... I must.

In her day, a quilter would use many scraps of fabric, of all different sizes to finsh the block, and then trim away the edges to make the block "square".

At her age, and losing her sight, she forgot, or just couldn't see to square the blocks up. So I'll just do that for her.

The blocks on the left have been squared,

the blocks on the right have not.

So now, as soon as I get the top pieced back together, I can get to the process of the actual quilting.

So many of us have quilt tops like this that have been handed down. And I love to finish them, I love the stories behind them, I love the history of each and every one. If you have a quilt top that you would like for me to finish, I would be happy to do that for you... just drop me a line.

Finished quilt photos coming soon!

All in the Details

2012-01-20T10:43:00.001-04:00

Take Two ~

Every detail counts.

There's probably no event which that holds true for,

more than a Wedding.

Aside from my usual sewing projects, you know...

the upholstery, window treatments and quilts, I have my little Etsy shop, where I sell my handmade table linens, cloth napkins, table runners, and the like. I do lots of projects with Brides-To-Be. You can see some of my earlier wedding projects here.

Well just last week, one of my brides (yes they are "my brides" once I work with them), let me know that her wedding was published in "STYLE ME PRETTY"!

SO ~ I just had to share it with you!

First ~ The Bride ~

Location, location, location...

The Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minnesota.

Now, KK didn't want your cookie-cutter wedding or reception. She wanted her guests to feel comfortable, as if they were at a summer party, something unique, with lots of charm.

Milk glass vases belonging to her Mother.

Burlap table runners for some old-fashioned charm.

Roses with Queen Anne's Lace in blue mason jars...

what could be prettier than that?

The brides bouquet wrapped in ticking stripe.

She didn't want to waste money renting the typical reception items, so the ticking stripe fabric was used to make tablecloths...

The cotton napkins were sweet country prints ( I think we used 16 different fabrics ). She'll never have to buy napkins again for the rest of her life!

A sweet reminder of her very special day,

that she can use every day.

The ticking fabric will be used to upholster her kitchen chairs, and outdoor furniture this summer.

Keeping with the outdoor summer party vibe, the menu included fried chicken, mac n cheese, and corn on the cob... YUM!

Even BBQ sandwiches...

Feels more like south Georgia than Minnesota,

and I LOVE IT!

Cotton Candy, too!

Tender moments...

with furry friends, too.

And they lived Happily Ever After.

Wedding Design & Coordination: Elizabeth Anne Weddings / Wedding Photography: Whitney Furst for Laura Ivanova Photography

Baby Love

2012-01-19T09:50:00.000-04:00

One more thing...

Who's the cutest little thing on the planet?

Well now...

That would be little Jewel!

With a sweet thing like this around, I couldn't help but make a few baby things. So... yes, I made the little jacket for her, sash made of ribbon with a big silk rose, and crochet hat, too!

Guess I better add this one to the portfolio.

I'm Back!

2012-01-17T11:54:00.000-04:00

And Better than EVAH!

2011 was quite the rollercoaster...

One year ago, I lost my dear sweet Grandmother.

My Mother, my sisters and I were all by her side. As we had been for so long. Losing a loved one is never easy, but to watch your loved one suffer for so, so long... well... the suffering just seems so cruel, and the point comes that we pray for the suffering to end.

Now her pain is over. But ours still feels so fresh.

I miss her so much.

But we have to carry on.

So much has happened in the last year.
We lost one precious Jewel,

we gained another.

There's so much to be thankful for.

Loved ones all around us...

with new life to celebrate.

And that's what it's all about.

Love

and Life.

Checked one off the bucket list...

Wrongs were righted...

In spite of tweedle dee and tweedle dumb ass...

and their bad intentions.

Kinda back-fired for them...

Didn't it?

(Sorry... I still get a kick out of it!)

My son got his Dad back,

the kids got a new pool...

and Me???

well I finally got my new sewing room!

2012 is shaping up beautifully...
lots of new projects in the works,
and a few surprises that may shock you...

stay tuned!

How to Sew a Tiny Rolled Hem

2011-08-14T10:11:00.001-04:00

This hem is best for evening and bridal wear, prom dresses, etc.

Also great for chiffon, charmeuse, any slippery, or whispy type fabrics.

You will be sewing around your hem 3 times, but only 1 stitch line will be showing.

First, mark your hem.

Cut your fabric 1/2 inch below where you want the finished hem to be.

Now you should start sewing (with a normal straight stitch). You can see that I have the cut edge of my fabric on the 3/8" line on my throat plate (the little silver plate underneath the presser foot).

That's your 1st hem.

It should look like this...

Now you will want to fold your fabric to the left, directly on that stitch line. This gives you a perfect 3/8" seam allowance for the hem. Next, stitch very close to the fold. About 1/8" or less.

This is your 2nd hem.

Next you should trim away the excess hem fabric. Cut as close as possible to the second hem-line. You need a good pair of sharp scissors for this. I like to use my small embroidery scissors.

A closer look.

Now roll the hem to the left again, and stitch as closely as possible to the left edge of the hem. This is your 3rd and final hem.

Press and you are done!

I know... it's been forever since I've posted anything about sewing... Right?

Have a Lovely Sunday!

Thrills N Chills

2011-08-06T22:14:00.001-04:00

THRILLS - check

CHILLS - check

HOT GUYS - double check

Remember this scene from the movie "Point Break"?

Keanu Reaves and Patrick Swayze.

Double Yum.

Did their own stunts, and their own jumps.

You can jump out of that very same airplane at

ADVENTURE SKYDIVING CENTER

in Cedartown, Georgia, about 45 minutes north of Atlanta.

My skydive instructor Johan, was just awesome..

and the video shot by Junior was incredible!

I can't stop watching it! I want to re-live it, over and over..

YES, Skydiving is addictive!

check me out....

My Bff's DH jumped with Scott.

(Scott was HOT!)

Aaron and Junior (videographers) coming in for a landing.

They were hot, too!

It's a Cougar Playground!

I'll keep you posted on the next playdate.

Adrenaline

2011-08-03T10:07:00.000-04:00

JUNKIE !

Always have been.

Always will be!

What's not to love?

Johan straps me into a harness.

Hmmmm....

That's always followed by a good time!

My instructor has been jumping for 19 years, and

has over 14,000 jumps. In case you were wondering if

I was scared, or a little nervous....

I wasn't.

I have been waiting to do this since I was a little girl.

It's like being in heaven.

14,000 feet.

3 miles above the earth.

Way above the clouds.

Johan shoved us off the side of the plane and sent us spinning.

It just takes your breath away.

There is no way to describe that feeling...

It's not like falling.

It's like FLYING!!

We flew so fast toward the videographer (Junior) that he pulled his knees up in front to block us. I think he was afraid we were going to crash into him!

You freefall for about 70 seconds.

Then parachute for 6 - 7 minutes.

Now let's spin round and round, please!

(yes, I'm that girl)

Touch the Sun!

That grin...

You couldn't peel it off my face for the rest of the day!

Gotta give props to Johan, my skydive instructor,

and Adventure Skydive Center, in Cedartown, Ga.

Thanks guys!!! for the most thrilling day EVER!!!!

You guys are THE BEST!

And Junior, my videographer...

(you MUST get the video)

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Now who wants to go with me in September???

It's my BirFFFDAY!

Summertime Fun

2011-07-04T04:10:00.001-04:00

I don't know 'bout you...

but it's Hot as Hades down here in Georgia!

Someone special recommended that I go get one of these pools for my kiddos this summer. I was skeptical, but I concur... This thing is FABULOUS!!

The Rugrats couldn't wait for it to fill up with water.

So until then, it was a slip-and-slide.

'Got ta tell ya...

I swear...

that is the best $300 I have ever spent

in my life. Not kidding.

But I can't take all the credit for all this fun...

On behalf of myself and my children...

I'd sincerely like to thank my exhusband's wife...

Thanks, ya stupid beeee-otch.

My kids are loving the new pool.

I'm really going to love the new sewing room this fall, too.

Can I get a witness??

Life

2011-06-19T00:42:00.002-04:00

Father's Day -

This is new...

There's a man that I call my Dad.
I only met him when I was 16 years old.
Not my biological "donor".... mind you.
I've got a few other names for that one...

This was a white knight, in shining armour...
He arrived on a stallion, a Hero,
and rescued the Queen (that would be my Mom),
from the Hell that her life had been, for so long.

I've never believed in fairy tales.
But ~
There is something that I have learned.

There can be happy endings,
after all.

If there is one thing that I can believe in,
it is this ~

Every tear,
every joy,
every mistake,
every heart-ache,
every lesson learned,
happens for a reason.

Call it God, fate, or karma...

Our lives unfold exactly the way they are meant to unfold.

What is meant to be,
will be.

Into each life, some rain must fall.

Without pain, we can't know true happiness.
Without loss, we can't appreciate what we have.

We all at some point, have to deal with those who would only bring us pain...

And sometimes...
When the wicked step-mothers in life,
would break the hearts of our children...

Good things can happen.

Maybe forgiveness,
maybe healing,
maybe peace.

The greatest happiness of life
is the conviction that we are loved...
loved for ourselves,
or rather,
loved in spite of ourselves.

-Victor Hugo

Her Name Is Jewel

2011-05-11T17:35:00.002-04:00

And that's exactly what she is.

I'm a Great-Aunt again!

My sister's daughter, Keela, gave birth to this perfect little angel, late last night. She is named after my Grandmother, who just passed away this past December.

10 perfect little fingers.

10 perfect little toes.

Perfectly healthy.

Perfectly beautiful.

When I look at this photo...

my heart is full of hope.

Today...

I am thankful for ~

My family.

Simple Country Style

2011-05-09T18:35:00.003-04:00

The Latest Sewing Room Project: ~

My client (and gardening friend), Mrs. Ann L,

wanted a country style guest bedroom. I've done several other projects with my sweet friend, but she wanted this room to have a more masculine feel.

She already had this fabulous wrought iron bed, painted ivory.

L.O.V.E.

Perfect fabrics for a (manly) country bedroom:

Natural flax color linen,

deep red burlap,

with taupe ticking stripe.

I made the duvet and shams with the ticking stripe.

I wish I could take credit for that FAB red & taupe quilt on the foot of the bed, but I believe it was from either Rich's or Macy's. It was the perfect inspiration, and all of our projects were designed around that.

The linen drapes were tab top, and hemmed just below the lower edge of the window. The valances were finished with a simple linen stripe a few inches from the lower hem, with center pleats. The toss pillow on the bed was finished with the same linen stripe, as was the bed skirt.

I didn't get a photo of the bed skirt,

because Mrs. Ann wanted to share a little history, and some of her treasures with me,

and this is the kind of history that I love.

Her grandmother's name was Matilda.

She was born on December 26, 1862.

She passed away on Dec 18, 1940.

And she was a Quilter.

This quilt is almost 100 years old.

It is quite delicate,

but there isn't a single hole in this quilt, anywhere.

It is in pristine condition.

A real treasure.

Mrs Ann has stacks of these incredible quilts that were made by her Grandmother, Matilda, as well as her Mother. Matilda continued to make quilts until she was almost completely blind. I feel absolutely honored that Ann allowed me to finish the last quilt top that Matilda ever made.

She made these quilts entirely by hand.

The precision on these points...

well....

I'm all about precision.

Especially when it comes to quilts.

Hundreds of tiny little triangles, and diamonds, perfectly stitched.

And all of that perfect applique,

makes me swoon.

You fellow quilters know what I mean.

Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.

And this is the work of a true artist.

This next photo is the back of the quilt.

You can really see the quilting on the back.

Those tiny little stitches...

so perfectly spaced...

I am in awe...

My quilting is all done on my trusty Bernina.

But one day, when I'm old(er)...

I hope I can slow down enough to master the art of hand quilting like this.

That's one for my bucket list.

My dear friend has entrusted me to finish several more quilt tops that were made by her Grandmother. The next one is more beautiful than the last.

I will have photos to share in a few weeks.

Stay tuned!!

That's Right - I'm Hot!

2011-05-05T12:53:00.001-04:00

Ooooh!~

Look at ME!

Yesterday, I was featured on

The Handmade Gift Guide!

Okay... not really Me...
but my best selling item on etsy.

Backyard BBQ - Handmade Gifts for Grillers

Red Gingham Napkins {$24} Cherry Checkers

Along with these other handmade goodies.

PBR Beer Bottle Cap Coaster Set {$20} Zipper8Design

Zipper8Design has The Cutest coasters and trivets that are made with all sorts of interesting items, like corks, scrabble pieces, and my favorite... botanical flowers and leaves. L-O-V-E it!!

BBQ Invites {$8.50} Print Your Heart Out

Mason Jar Solar Light {$34.50} Treasure Again

I am drooling over the mason jar solar lights!

Want it bad!

BBQ Sauce Gift Favors {$.25} DaSweetzSpot

Love the labels...

"Eat Me"

All of these items are great for BBQ's.

But not just BBQ's...

Barn Weddings, Country themed parties... you name it.

Thank You! Anne Hayman of Lillian George,

for including my etsy items in your wonderful feature.

Muchas Gracias!

But that's not all...

Oh no!

Also yesterday...

I found out that I won an original oil painting by

Barbara Wurden

The Handy Goddess!

Oh Yes I did!

How sweet is that?

If you haven't checked out The Handy Goddess,

do yourself a favor, and get to it!

Not only is she Hilarious,

but so talented!

I'm telling ya...

She is an artist,

a woodworker,

she sews,

does upholstery,

masonry,

You name it!

The woman can build anything!

Barbara is an inspiration for all Women.

I you think you "can't" operate power tools,

or other things that typically are done by men...

She's here to show you...

Yes! You CAN!

Buzzzzzz

2011-05-03T11:13:00.002-04:00

Ahhhh, the hornet.

Fascinating little winged creatures.

The sting can be quite painful.

Unlike honey bees, they do not die after a sting.

The hornets sting is not barbed, so it can sting a human multiple times. A hornet can even bite and sting at the same time. Ow-eeee!

Most hornets, are relatively passive.

So, if you see a sight like this....

Good advice would be to keep a safe distance. Those hornets - are just doin' their own thing. It's okay to marvel at the power and toxins these little creatures have in their arsenal.

Provoking ...

yeah...

that's not such a good idea.

If you kick a hornets nest,

you should be prepared to feel a sting.

And those stings carry toxins.

Like I said ...

NOT a good idea.

Bin Laden kicked a hornets nest.

And the Navy Seals delivered the sting.

Go Navy!

I want to take this moment to thank all of our armed services.

And a President that knows how to take care of business.

We can sleep soundly because of these brave men and women. It's easy to forget sometimes... But there are still Armies of Men and Women out there, that have HONOR, and VALOR. A code that they live by.

I SALUTE YOU!

There's a simple lesson here, too.

We have a saying down here, in the South.

(pay attention now)

Don't start none....

Won't Be None!

April Showers

2011-05-01T15:20:00.000-04:00

Bring May Flowers

Indian Pinks (Spigelia Marilandica) - which aren't pink at all.

One of my very favorite native wildflowers. From my favorite place to shop for native plants...

My Dad's land!

I love this dark and velvety purple Iris with my peach heuchera. And just on the other side is purple heart wondering Jew. Peach and Purple may be an odd combination, but I just love the contrast.

When I purchased this iris 2 years ago, it was simply labeled "pink iris". Which, it quite obviously isn't. And that's the kind of surprise I love to find in my garden! I had been looking at all of my local nurseries for this cultivar of Louisiana Iris - "Black Gamecock".

This little beauty came from my father's land, as well. I found a tiny little patch of this native called Arisaema. Or, Jack in the Pulpit. This plant would be so easy to overlook. Each stem is topped by a single leaf, divided into 3 leaflets, only a few inches high, 8 - 10 at the most, and a single petaled flower underneath the leaves. It's such a delicate and exotic flower. It dies back in the heat of the summer, but comes back strong every spring.

What's blooming for you today?

She's Just Giving It Away!

2011-04-25T09:12:00.002-04:00

Bunny Love!

The Handy Goddess

is giving away this sweet little painting!

Just follow this link to her facebook page and sign up. Be sure and tell her that I sent you. For each person you refer, your name will be entered again in the giveaway.

And who doesn't love bunnies?

A PROMISE

2011-04-22T13:34:00.000-04:00

Is a Promise.

I did promise my girlfriends that I would never again,

address the heffer that picked this fight with me,

on this blog. And I keep my word.

I do apologize my dear friends, but I must leave a little

message for her husbands attorney.

Please follow this link for a special message.

Back to my life.

These beautiful flowers are for you,

my sweet friends.

Have a sunny, warm, beautiful weekend!

I certainly will.

I'll be outside...

with these little babies.

Happy Easter!

Every Quilt Tells A Story

2011-04-20T14:04:00.001-04:00

This quilt is one of the latest projects I've been working on.

Quilts have to be the projects that I love best.

Every quilt tells a story, has a history.

Most of us have quilt tops that we've inherited from Mothers, Grandmothers, or Aunts. This quilt top was made by my clients mother. I'm working on the 2nd quilt at the moment, and I'll share those photos as soon as it's finished.

The quilt blocks are simple.

And simple can be beautiful.

The design isn't intricate or complicated.

Yet... this is a treasure.

You can see in the following photo, just how many pieces of fabric that she used, in order to make the size needed. For example, if you'll notice the brown triangle in the lower left of the block. She used 6 tiny pieces of fabric, hand sewn together, just to make a 3 inch triangle.

It reminds me of how much we take for granted.

And how plentiful our lives are.

I can only imagine what she was like...

She didn't waste even the smallest scrap of fabric. Some of the pieces are only 1/2 inch square.

The blue fabric that she used for the sashing...

(for you non-quilters, thats the strips between the blocks)

must've been a dress. You can also see in the photo below, how the strip that is horizontal, above the quilt block, is faded, compared to the strip that is vertical.

Was this a favorite dress?

Is that why it's faded and worn in places?

Or was it that she had few dresses, and this one was just no longer wearable? I wish I knew more about her. My client did tell me that when her Mother made this quilt top, she was nearly blind.

That - to me - is amazing.

For me - when I've finished a quilt...

the magic happens when I give the quilt it's first washing.

I use old fashioned, unbleached quilt batting. 1/4" thick cotton.

The kind our grandmothers would have used.

When it's washed and the dryed, it shrinks, just slightly.

Just enough to give it a little bit of puckering.

The same area of the quilt after washing ~

Now it looks like a vintage quilt that's been around for years.

I love that.

When I think about women from that era, it absolutely amazes me that they made beautiful quilts like this. Every stitch by hand. No sewing machines, no rotary cutters, just a needle and thread, fabric from feedsacks, or worn out clothing, never wasting a thing.

That is why this is a treasure.

Okay, Okay....

2011-04-15T17:29:00.003-04:00

I'll stop making fun of the morons!

It's just so hard to stop when they make it so easy!

We all know mean girls,

and bullies....

Remember this kid?

Even the Mother of the bully spoke out,

and said her son got what he deserved.

I concur.

We all know that kid got what he deserved.

Well now...

My bully just keeps coming back.

And while I haven't kicked her ass...

It's hard not to make fun of her.

Especially when she clicks on the "dumbass" label 9 times in a row!

Which....

by design,

goes right back to where she started!

Over, and over, and over.

She can't stop herself from picking up

every little crumb that I leave for her!

How to confuse an idiot!

I'll try to stop,

really I will.

But when you've been the target of a bully,

it's hard not to enjoy it when they make a fool of themselves.

Repeatedly.

But empathy or pity for her....

Nahhhh!

Love for my Stalker

2011-04-14T12:00:00.010-04:00

Hi Kristy!!!

Let's see if you can read between the lines....

Today's Show is Brought to You By the Letter X

2011-04-05T12:09:00.010-04:00

More Fun With Website Tracking :

Are you being stalked by an ex?

Or his wife?

Or his sister?

Wanna have some fun???

Include their name in the post label...

Now sit back and watch how many times

she clicks on her name...

Now that's good entertainment!

A Different Kind Of Upholstery Tutorial

2011-03-25T00:25:00.001-04:00

.Have you laughed today?

No, you say??

Well allow me to introduce you to ~

The Handy Goddess!

Today I was searching the internet for ways to build a tiled concrete fountain for my garden. And I found a great one - courtesy of The Handy Goddess. As I started watching the video, I had to chuckle a little bit. Don't think I've ever seen anyone quite like this lady. Wish she had been here the other day for my "witness" visit. Oh the fun we could have had.

All of her power tools are pink!

As are her boots, gloves, hard-hat, and lipstick.

All of her tutorials are... ummm, let's just say "different".

This particular video ... well,

you've just got to see it for yourself.

Now, if you can stop laughing long enough,

She really does have some great upholstery tips.

This is the best ply-grip tutorial I've found... Honestly!!

I can promise you - There is NO SEX or nudity in this video.

But if you are easily offended,

well... lighten up and have a laugh.

The show is called ~

The Handy Goddess Show
A home improvement show with a feminine, flirtatious twist!

And yes I am a fan!

Witnesses

2011-03-22T09:08:00.002-04:00

Gotta love 'em.

Everybody does, right?

I mean, come on.....

when people talk about Jehovah's witnesses,

it's always in glowing terms,

right?

They rank right up there with door to door Amway people.

And we ALL just LOVE to see them coming.

Because of course...

we NEED

someone else to

tell us what to believe and why.

Apparently...

their GOD told them that the rest of us weren't given brains.

We can't think for ourselves.

We NEED them to come to our homes....

and convince us.

Yeah.....

Gotta love em.

I'm thinkin'.....

"How can I make them feel more WELCOME?"

Maybe their first impression of me could be better.

Spruce up my front door just for them.

Or if I'm feeling a little....

yeah, like that....

I'll add one of these...

just for good measure.

Can I get a witness?

Bloomin Tuesday !

2011-03-15T11:57:00.000-04:00

Down here in the South,

Bradford Pear trees are really popular.

That's why you won't find one in my yard!

I'd rather be original.

SO ...

This is the Star in my yard!

Pretty in Pink.

You like?

I L-O-V-E her!

Beautiful blooms all the way to the very tips of every

single branch. She is gorgeous!

Okay, I won't keep you in suspense any longer,

she is a "late double red peach tree".

In any catalogue, the description says she blooms on new

wood. Well, I'm here to tell you....

NOT!!!

This little darlin is taller than my house, and I only trim the

smaller lower branches to keep the junk off'a her trunk.

Her top is untrimmed and wild!

Want one?

I have lots of these little babies sprouting in the flower bed

below. So if you're in the Mid-Ga area, give me a shout.

I'll share if you will!!!!

Pillowcase Dresses

2011-03-14T10:27:00.004-04:00

How to Make One ~

This one is made entirely from remnants,

so think of it as "Zero cost!"

Start with a piece of fabric measuring 14 x 28 inches.

This piece is a little short, measuring only 10.5 x 28".

It's easy to make up that difference by using more remnants to add to the hem..

Here, I decided to add a 2" strip of yellow fabric, folded in half lengthwise, layered on top of a 3" strip of red fabric, which I hemmed and gathered.

Next, cut out the openings for the arms.

Fold your main piece of fabric in half, then fold in half again,

like this...

You can see the 4 layers of fabric above.

Cut out a small section measuring 1.5 x 3 inches,

in the shape of a "J", like in the next photo.

Now when you unfold your fabric, it should look like this...

For the shoulder strap, I'm using red fabric measuring 3 x 36".

For the arm hole binding, my yellow fabric measures 1.25 x 10".

Next, I've attached the ruffled section to the main section of fabric.

For the arm openings:

Lay the binding strip face down on the inside of the dress,

so that the right side of the facing is against the wrong side of

the dress. Stitch using a 1/4" seam.

I find it's easier to do this freehand (no pins).

The easiest way to work around the curved area, is to keep

the binding strip straight, and to gently pull the curved section of

the main fabric to the left, so that the cut edges are even. Sew

just a few stitches at a time, then re-adjust your fabric.

That may sound confusing, but it's really easy. The photo

above should make it easier to understand.

Once you've done that, lay your piece right side up,

just use your fingers to fold your binding like the following

photo... You have a 1/4 inch seam allowance, now

fold 1/4 inch from the raw edge toward the seam allowance.

Then fold it over again, and you have a nice 1/4" binding

for the arm opening.

Topstitch just along the folded edge.

Next, stitch the center back seam.

Fold over 3/4 inch hem along the top, front and back.

Next,

Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew your piece for the

shoulder strap, turn inside out and press.

Pull the strap through the top casing, and you are done!

How cute is that??

And made entirely from remnants!

In total using less than 1/2 yard of fabric.

Once I got started, it was hard to stop...

My sister has 2 grand-daughters under the age of one,

and another due in 6 weeks, so these will come in handy.

And if I do say so myself...

I think this is the cutest way ever to use up all of those

little scraps of fabric and trim.

Six dresses in two days, and I think I may be everyone's

favorite Auntie after this.

Now I have to get some real work done...

Have a Lovely Day!!

Edited to add adjusted measurements for other sizes ~

For the main fabric piece (body of the dress)

Up to 6 months - 14 x 28"

12 months - 16 x 30"

18 months - 17 x 32"

2T - 18 x 33"

3T - 19 x 34"

4T - 20 x 35"

WIFE VS. HUSBAND

2011-03-06T22:13:00.003-04:00

A couple drove down a country road for several miles,

not saying a word.

An earlier discussion had led to an argument and
neither of them wanted to concede their position.

As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs,

the husband asked sarcastically, 'Relatives of yours?'

'Yes,

the wife replied,

'in-laws.'

MEN

2011-03-04T11:05:00.003-04:00

(this one is worth sharing)

WHY MEN ARE SELDOM DEPRESSED:

Men Are Just Happier People --
.

What do you expect from such simple creatures?
.

Your last name stays put..
.

The garage is all yours.
.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.
.

Chocolate is just another snack.
.

You can be President.
.

You can never be pregnant.
.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
.

You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.
.

The world is your urinal..
.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one
.
is just too icky.
.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
.

Same work, more pay.
.

Wrinkles add character.
.

Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
.

One mood all the time..
.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
.

You know stuff about sports.
.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
.

You can open all your own jars.
.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
.

If someone forgets to invite you,
.

he or she can still be your friend.
.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough..
.

You almost never have strap problems in public.
.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes..
.

Everything on your face stays its original color.
.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
.

You only have to shave your face and neck.
.

You can play with toys all your life.
.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives

On December 24 in 25 minutes.
.

No wonder men are happier.
.

Men Are Just Happier People

NICKNAMES

* If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call
each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
.

* If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer
to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman .

EATING OUT

* When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in
$20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything
smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
.

* When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket
calculators.

~

MONEY

* A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
.

* A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but
it's on sale.

BATHROOMS

* A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and
toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel.
.

* The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom
is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these
items.

ARGUMENTS

* A woman has the last word in any argument.
.

* Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new
argument.

FUTURE

* A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
.

* A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

MARRIAGE

* A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he
doesn't.
.

* A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but
she does.

DRESSING UP

* A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty
the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
.

* A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL

* Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
.

* Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING

* Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She
knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite
foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
.

* A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the
house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people
remembering the same thing!

gotta love it....

Almost Pee'd My Pants

2011-01-25T00:43:00.001-04:00

Do you remember paddle balls???

Have you tried that lately?

Meet my parents...

Sometimes the most simple things can be the most fun.

Inspired?

2011-01-24T09:38:00.000-04:00

Window Treatment Patterns

Sewing is almost a lost art. I love it when I inspire others to do-it-yourself. One of these days, when I'm all caught up on sewing projects... yeah, right!... I plan to teach, have some classes here. My dear friend Kimber, wanted to make a window treatment like the one I did here, so I just copied my pattern and sent it to her.

It is FABULOUS !!

I love it!

I am so proud of her!

I'm proud to see my design done so well, too!

I am always here to answer any sewing questions for you, or give any advice that I can. If I have inspired you to take on a sewing project, well that's just a feather in my cap! I'd love to see some photos, too.

I make all of my window treatment patterns... maybe I should start selling them in my etsy shop. What do you think?

Upholstery Class ~ Part 5

2011-01-19T13:16:00.002-04:00

Flossie Gets A Skirt ~

Ready class?

Now I will add the banding to the lower edge of the chair. I like to begin and end the banding near the center back of the chair. I'm going to place the flange of the cording so that lines up perfectly with the very bottom of the wood frame. You want the cording to be snug, so pull it nice and tight as you staple every few inches, making your way around the chair.

Now you will want to measure from the seam line on your cording to the floor. It's important to measure all the way around the chair this way. The measurement across the front of the chair will be the same, of course, but sometimes the sides of the frame are angled slightly downward. You can see in the photo that this particular chair frame is 11 inches from the floor at the front edge of the chair. The back of the chair was only 10 inches from the floor. So keep that in mind, and check your measurements.

Oh... one more thing...

Any excess fabric that is showing below the cording,

(like in the pic up there) can be trimmed away now, or stapled underneath the chair.

Now let's get a look at that skirt...

You could go with a smooth skirt, with no pleats....

But I think Flossie wants to kick up her heels a bit,

so pleats, it is!

The skirt is applied in sections,

1st - front

2nd - sides

3rd - back

The last thing you apply, are the corners.

8 separate pieces.

Don't let that scare you.

You can do this.

I like to use a nice wide hem, like this....

Temporarily pin your pleats in place, beginning and ending at each corner. Then secure by adding tack strip and tacks. But don't tack down the corners just yet.

Hopefully you can see in this next photo...
I have secured the front and side sections, which I've pinned up out of the way.
Each corner will be finished with a section of skirt about 8 inches wide. You can see that it's folded down in this photo.

I fold it up out of the way with the rest of the skirt, and then tack the corners down.

The last thing you should do, is to add 1 more piece of fabric to the very bottom of the chair, to cover up those burlap straps.

Step back and admire your hard work...

You are done!!!

A star is born!!
Ain't she sweet?

I hope I've encouraged some of you to give it a go.
Remember how Flossie began?

Find an old chair and give it a new life. If you need any help, just let me know. And I want to see some before and after pics....

Otay?

Upholstery Class ~ Part 4

2011-01-18T13:11:00.001-04:00

Good Morning Class!

Today we will cover Flossie's Bottom.

Use your foam as your pattern. Lay your foam on the wrong side of your fabric, and trace around it, adding 1/2 inch all the way around for a seam allowance.

The first thing you need to do is to sew the cording around both pieces of the seat pattern. Clip the cording to ease around curves. Like this....

Now we can add the banding.

You should clip your curves after you've added your banding.

This next photo isn't the best, so I'll try to explain in great detail...

This little trick will help you to match all of those corners and curves on the top and bottom pieces.

Take the piece that you've added the banding to, and place it on top of your foam, right side up. Fold the banding down over the sides, so it will be out of the way for the moment. It should look almost like the finished product at this point. Place the bottom piece, right side down, over the top piece, matching all of the corners and curves.

I temporarily pinned my pieces together.

When I pull the banding strip back up, you see that makes it much easier to match all of the corners and curves. Pin the banding to this side of the cushion now.

See how nicely those corners and curves match up?

Remember to leave an opening to insert your cushion.

Stitch it up, clip your curves and corners.

This is not necessary, but I like fat cushions.

I add several layers of batting, so the corners are more rounded.

Now this next little tip isn't necessary, but is something I like to do. If you have ever tried to wrestle a fat piece of foam into a cover... you'll appreciate this.

Before I insert the foam, I like to cover the foam with another piece of fabric.

Use an old sheet if you want to. Just hand baste it all the way around. Your stitching here doesn't have to be perfect, no one is going to see this.

Think of it like this....

You know how, when you wear a slip, your dress just slides on effortlessly? This is flossie's slip. You will thank me for this later on.

Now you can insert the cushion and stitch her up!

A curved needle makes this SO much easier.

Again, use long stitches. About 1/2 inch long stitch in the cording fabric, and then 1/2 inch long stitch in the banding fabric.

YEEE HAW !!

Flossie's lookin' good!

We'll have to do the skirt tomorrow class.

Teacher's dryer kicked the bucket - gotta deal with that.

Any questions?

Upholstery Class ~ Part 3

2011-01-17T12:20:00.004-04:00

Let's get to it, shall we?

This is one of the areas where I like to use the tacking strips. It really helps to secure your fabric firmly to the frame. I use tacks to hold the cardboard strips into place. Staples are too short to secure something this thick.

Now we can cover the outside of your chair.

Measure the area to be covered, and add several inches to each side. We will begin by securing the fabric to the underside of the armrest.

Just enough staples to secure it into place. But notice that I haven't used any staples near the very front of the arm. Now, when you let the fabric fall into place, you can see how the staples sort of pull the fabric, and it just doesn't look good...

This is one of those areas where the tacking strips make all the difference. So I fold the fabric back over the arm, and add a piece of tack strip right over the area that I have just stapled. Use tacks to secure the tack strip to the underside of the armrest.
This will give the fabric a much smoother appearance.

Once you have done that, you can wrap the outside arm fabric around to the back. I've secured mine with 1 tack at the top.

Now, turn your attention to the front of the arm. This is where those curved needles are a must. Fold your excess fabric to the inside and use pins to temporarily hold in place.

I begin hand sewing in the area that the last staple was placed under the armrest.

Take long stitches. About 1/2 inch into the upper fabric,

then 1/2 inch along the fold line of the lower fabric.

Then you will change directions and sew down the front of the arm rest.

When you stitch through the cording and front area, make sure that your curved needle goes deep, through all of the layers from the front facing. It gives your stitching much more stength.

Stitch all the way down. Now we can staple the outside of the arm to the underside of your chair.

This part of the frame is probably a quality hardwood. Therefore difficult to get the staples in. You can use your hammer to gently tap them down flush.

When you get to the back of the chair you will have to cut your fabric at the legs.

I have stapled under the side section, then folded the remaining bit of fabric up and stapled it to the back of the chair.

This will be covered by the back fabric later on.

Lookin' Good!

Finish your other arm, and lets get the back done.

Hopefully your foam is still good. I added a 2inch layer of foam to my chair back, then a layer of batting to cover the whole piece of foam.

You will need a piece of fabric that is wide enough to cover and wrap around to the back.

I find it much easier to make my cuts to the lower edge of the fabric this way. Measure the lower edge of your back cushion. Mine is 14 inches.

So I find the center of my fabric, and cut a slit 7 inches to the left and to the right, about 5 inches deep. This will tuck in under the cushion and be secured to the frame.

You will have to do the same for the areas where the wood frame of the arm meets the wood frame of the back, as marked in the photo above. Do this to both sides and temporarily pin into place.

Now you can staple this to the inside edge of the frame.

And trim away the excess fabric.

Work your way up both sides of the back, pulling your fabric around smoothly and staple into place. Pull the fabric over the top and secure it down as well. Trim away the excess fabric.

Now to add the red cording around the back. First I lay my chair face down on the table and then attach the cording across the top of the back, and down both sides with staples.

Now is the time to add the buttons, if you are going to do so.

A really long needle helps.

A little batting helps to secure your knots.

Now for the back.

First I pin it in place.

Then I hand sew along the top with my curved needle, removing the pins as I go. You may or may not want to add a piece of your tacking strip at this time. If you do, just fold the fabric over the top and apply the tack strip right up next to your stitching line.

Now you will tuck your fabric in, down both of the sides. Trim away some of the fabric if necessary. Pull fabric to smooth it across the back, but don't pull it so tight that the fabric is stressed. Pin into place and hand sew down each side with your curved needle.

Next, you staple the lower edge underneath your chair.

Tomorrow, we will tackle the seat cushion, and give this girl a skirt.

Any questions class?

Upholstery Class ~ Part 2

2011-01-16T14:26:00.004-04:00

Good Morning Class!

Before we get started, let's check to see if you have everything that you need. If your chair is about the size of mine, You will need about 7 yards of fabric. Do you have your cording (if you plan to use cording on your project)? I'll share a little secret with you here... I don't buy my cording at the fabric store, where you have to purchase by the yard. If you will go to your local dollar store, you can find either cotton or poly "clothes-line" cording. It's the same thing, only way cheaper. About $2 for 100 feet.

You will also need curved upholstery needles. You will have to do some hand sewing. No way around it. You can find these at most fabric stores. I ordered mine from http://www.beaconfabric.com/. They will send you a free catalogue, and they have absolutely everything you need for upholstery.http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html

I will be using self covered buttons for the back cushion. I also order my upholstery button shells from Beacon. You want to make sure that you use good upholstery button shells that have teeth.

Please do not use button kits without the teeth around the rim. Trust me on this.

The next item that I use is tacking strip. This is not absolutely necessary, but it really does give your chair a professional finish. I highly recommend it. Also from Beacon. You can purchase this for about 35 cents per yard. 10 yards is more than enough.

You will also need upholstery tacks. You can go to your local hardware store and purchase these in small packages for $1 - $2 each. Also referred to as carpet tacks, or cut tacks.

And of course your staple gun with 1/4 to 3/8 inch staples.

Now we can get started.

If your seat and back cushions are in good shape, and therefore don't need to be replaced, that's great. Mine, however, were not. So the first thing I will do is make a pattern to use when I cut out my new foam.

(My foam supplier is Foam for You ) ~ But most local fabric stores will have lots to choose from.

To make the pattern, I used 2 scrap pieces of fabric sewn together, just to get a piece that's large enough to cover the chair bottom. You can use anything to make a pattern, newspaper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, etc.

Next I trace around the seat and around the front of the armrest to mark my pattern.

Cut out your pattern. Here's another little tip.

Fold your pattern in half and check along the cutting line. Make sure that the left side and right side are the same. You want your pattern to be symetrical. Trim up any uneven edges.

I'm using 3" foam for the seat, so I lay out my pattern on the foam, and mark it with a sharpie.

The best way to cut foam is with an electric bread knife.

If you have a self healing mat, you will want to use it underneath.

Check for fit.

Perfect-O !!

Now, my chair's original seat cushion was not removable. I didn't like the way it looked...

There is no way that fabric which is gently curved around a cushion, is going to pull down over a wood corner, and look good. See what I mean? I decided to make the seat cushion removable. So I will put the seat cushion aside for now.

I added a layer of heavy duty fabric to the seat base, just for a little more stability. Then a layer of poly batting to the arms. Stapled under the armrest.

Now to measure for the arms. These are covered in 2 sections. The first will cover the front of the armrest, the inside of the arm and wrap over the armrest, stapled underneath. The second piece will cover the outside of the chair. To measure for the inside piece - start at the seat and measure up and over the armrest.

Add a few inches to tuck down and secure to the inside of the chair, and a few inches at the top to be sure you have enough to tuck under the armrest.

Now I measure the widest part of the front of the armrest. This one is rather narrow, only about 4 inches. I want a piece about 2 inches wider to cover this. I've added a strip of my red cording to one side of my arm piece, then sewn the piece for the front of the arm rest to that.

Like this ~

Please note that your cording will be much longer than your fabric pieces. The fabric will only cover the front and inside of your arm, but the cording should be long enough to go completely around the front of your armrest and to the bottom of the chair, with extra to tuck underneath.

Before I show you how to secure this to the inside lower edge of the arm, I want you to see what the end result should be...

You need to be sure that you have a few inches to tuck into here...

and secure with staples or tacks to the frame.

Like this...

So let's get to it...

(in this photo I have already trimmed away my excess fabric)

turn up your extra few inches of fabric and secure with a tack to the lower edge of the arm.

Now you can pull your fabric up and over the arm.

See that your cording is properly placed along the inside edge of the arm.

You'll have something like this.

Beginning at the lower edge of the outside of the arm, fold the front of the armrest fabric around to the ouside and staple on the outside edge of the frame. These staples will be covered up later on. Continue up the front of the armrest. You want the front of your armrest to be covered smoothly, don't pull too tight.

There will be excess fabric that you will need to trim away, like this ~

Now you can smooth the fabric over the armrest, to secure it underneath.

Staple or tack into place. Your cording should be long enough to go to the bottom of your chair and tuck underneath.

Go ahead and add your new seat fabric at this point. I added a few layers of batting to soften the hard edges around the front of my chair. You will have to cut notches in the fabric so it can slide smoothly through the openings at the back and sides of your chair. Staple it down.

Now you can secure the lower edge of your arm fabric.

You will have to clip the lower edge of your fabric where ever your fabric meets the wood frame, in order to pull your fabric through.

Same process for the back of the arm.

You can see where I have cut slits long enough for the fabric to be pulled smoothly through to the back. Now I can secure this to the back of the frame.

Next, smooth the fabric over the top of the armrest and staple underneath.

Trim away excess fabric.

You should have something like this.

Now getting the arms done is probably the most difficult part.

So it's all down hill from here!

For homework you should finish the other arm, and we will pick it up here tomorrow.

Teacher has to get to work now.

Any questions?

Upholstery Class ~ Part 1

2011-01-15T16:15:00.003-04:00

Before we get started, let me just say this...

Don't be overwhelmed by the gazillion photos here. When I upholster a project, I take tons of photos. I will go over each step in great detail, to hopefully answer any questions you may have.

If I can do this ~ You can too.

Just take it one step at a time.

One more thing before we get started.

Yesterday, I did forget to mention one of the tools that I find most helpful.

A digital camera.

Now, in truth, this is NOT a necessary tool.

However, it is the MOST helpful, in my book.

Now, are you ready to get started?

Lets go.

I like to do this part outside, because it is the messy part.

You will probably want to do the same... trust me.

Remove any loose pillows or cushions.

First, we remove the old cover, in the reverse order of how it was covered. In other words, the last piece of fabric to go on the chair, is the first piece to come off. In most cases, the last piece of fabric to go on, is either the back, or a piece of fabric covering the very bottom of your chair (closest to the floor).

With this chair, I removed the bottom (black fabric) covering first.

You should begin taking your photos now, and at each step along the way. This way, when you re-assemble your project, if you have any questions of what to do next, all you have to do, is go back to your photo journal, to remind yourself.

If you have a covering like this, once removed, just toss it in the garbage. Now, you will have to remove as many staples as possible.

Trust me on this... you REALLY want to remove as many staples as possible. I learned this the hard way. Don't try to cheat, and leave those staples in there... You may think that "No one will ever know, besides, they'll be covered up later on". Uh-uh. Later on, when you are affixing your new cover, and you try to staple it down... and all of those staples are in the way... You will understand.

You can remove most of the staples with pliers. Some staples will be rather flush, and hard to get a grip on. For those staples that are difficult to remove, use your flat head screwdriver to wiggle it up a bit, then you can pull them out with pliers.

But DO NOT remove any of those large brass staples that may be holding webbing or strapping in place.

(Unless the straps are disintegrating, and you are willing to replace those as well). Straps like these are part of the basic structure of the chair, so you don't want to remove these.

You can easily see the difference in staples. The smaller aluminum staples are the ones that you should remove. NOT the large brass ones. But DO remove the aluminum colored (smaller) staples from the webbing.

So that only the large brass staples are left.

Like this.

Now, look for the next-last piece that was added to the chair.

In my case, it was the pleated skirt. You can see where the skirt began and ended.

See?

So that is where I begin removal of the skirt. Use your pliers.

If you want to keep the old skirt to use as a pattern for the new skirt, you can do that. I usually toss it.

Next ~

The backs of chairs like this are usually hand sewn down each side, then stapled underneath.

The hand stitching will look something like this...

Remove any staples from the underside of the chair, that are holding this piece of fabric in place.

Loosen the hand stitching.

Cut all of those threads.

Once both sides have been released, you will probably find that the top of the back piece is secured with more staples, and probably cardboard strips.

Like this.

Now you have to remove all of those staples, as well as the cardboard strips. Don't bother trying to save the cardboard strips. That is just NOT possible. Then you should be able to remove the back. If the upper edge is secured with hand stitching, just clip those.

You may want to save this back piece as a pattern for the replacement. I usually toss it. But you may want to keep it.

If you have cording around your back, like I did, remove it, toss it.

Now ... If your chair has button tufting, like mine did, You will see something like this, securing those buttons in place.

Go ahead and cut these ties, along with any wadding (like in the photo). Toss it.

While you're at it, if the seat has button tufting, like this...

Remove those as well. I will not be tufting the new seat. Personally, tufting on seats, to me, is just a place for crumbs to gather. Ewwww.

Next, remove all additional staples along the back of the chair.

Now, I want you to notice something here ~

In the area that I have marked #1 ~

This is the back of the arm rest. You can see that the fabric that covers the arm rest was secured first. Then the fabric covering the side of the chair was next. Above that, the fabric for the front of the back cushion wraps around to the back of the chair.

I know that sounds very confusing. I just want you to pay close attention to your chair in this area. Take lots of photos here. This tends to be one of the more confusing areas when you are ready to recover.

In the area that I have marked #2 ~

I just want you to take a mental note. You see this is where the inside of the arm rest, and lower edge of the back cushion is tucked through, and secured to the back of the frame. Pay close attention to the way your chair is done in this area. Get lots of pics.

Now ~

Remove all of those staples that are securing the fabric from the back cushion and arm rest, (or side of the chair). Also, remove any staples securing the outside (or chair side) fabric to the underneath of the chair.

Next ~ the outer side of my chair was secured with more hand stitching near the front of the arm rest. Clip all hand stitching.

You will want to pay close attention in areas like this. Notice that you have the front of the armrest, the outside of the armrest, the seat cushion fabric, the cording for the lower edge of the chair, all coming together in this area. Lots of pics.

The outside of your chair, or armrest will look something like this.

Then I fold this piece of fabric over the armrest to expose the cardboard strips and staples that is securing this piece of fabric to the underside of the armrest.

Like so ~

Take note (and lots of photos) of the way that this piece is secured to the underside of the armrest and back of your chair.

You see how the cardboard strip is stapled under the armrest, and then wraps around the back? When I recover the chair, I will do exactly the same thing.

Now, remove the staples, cardboard strips and any hand sewing. You can keep this piece to make your pattern, if you like. I toss it.

Next ~

More cardboard strips and staples to remove.

Still more pesky staples...

and more.

Take note (and photos) of the way that the front of your armrest is covered.

Because you will recover it in the same way.

Now, the inside of the armrest will be tucked in, most likely between 2 pieces of wood on the lower side of the chair, and stapled. Remove those staples and your fabric should be free. Once again, keep it for a pattern if you like, I toss it.

Next, I removed all of the old cotton that was covering the lower outer edges of the chair frame.

The original seat cushion was stapled to the frame, I removed all of those staples and the seat cushion was free.

Free at Last!!

I left the original cotton on the arms and upper edge of the back, because it was still in good shape, and I like the shape that it has.

WHEW!!

Now you should take a broom and vigorously give her a once over. (Think 40 years worth of dirt).

I think that's enough for today. We will get started on the new look tomorrow.

Any questions, class?

MOOOO !

2011-01-14T11:04:00.002-04:00

Upholstery Class is now in Session.

Want to learn how to upholster from a professional ?

(no snickering in class)

I am too a professional!

(sort of)

Got a great old chair that needs a facelift??

C'mon ~ You can do this!

I'll be right here to help you, and answer any questions you may have along the way.

I've been promising this online tutorial for a while,

so here it is.

(before and after)

In reverse.

I am in lurve with this chair!

Which I've affectionately dubbed

"the cow chair".

When I met her, she looked like this....

Yeah, it was time to have some work done.

One question I am frequently asked is whether a piece is worth recovering, or not. Almost always, my answer is YES! Older furniture pieces have so much more charm than typical pieces made today. Not to mention... the quality of older pieces far surpasses the quality of most furniture made today.

So think about it like this... You've got this great old chair, but she's not lookin' too good and you're too embarrassed to be seen with her. Don't toss her out! If you do the upholstery yourself, it's really very inexpensive. Your only investment is fabric, and probably foam & batting.

For example ~ fabric for 'Flossie' up there was $7 per yard, I purchased 7 yards. Plus one yard of red canvas for the cording, which was about $7 as well. Do the math... that is only $56 in fabric cost.

See what I'm saying??

YES, it's worth it to recover great old pieces like this.

Now... Who's ready for class???

For your homework ~ Go out in the garage, or storage, and get that fabulous old gal.

Oh... one more thing.

There are NO special tools required.

Here are the tools that I use.

Hammer,

pliers,

flat head screwdriver.

Staple gun, either manual or electric.

I have a few extra tools, which are optional, and not necessary.

You do need a sewing machine, cause you will have to do a little sewing too.

Be ready for class tomorrow.

We're gonna roll up our sleeves and get busy.

Any questions, class?

Guess ~

2011-01-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

~ WHO?

Little Bity !

The Blur above just could NOT

CONTAIN HERSELF !!

Yes I know it's January. But life was just too hectic to get this posted back in December...

and I don't want you to miss a thing!

So... our elementary school put on a production of...

you guessed it...

Sugar Sweet was SOOOO excited to be a narrator.

Yes, I am partial...

but I do believe she was the cutest little Who in Whoville!

Of course I made the ensemble, with all the trimmings.

That big smile there...

That's the good stuff.

Isn't she sweet?

OOOoooopsie ~

2011-01-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

Daisy!!

Did you see that???

almost

LOST

WHEW !!

Glad that's over....

Enough Said

2011-01-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

Memory Quilt Number Six

2011-01-10T21:11:00.009-04:00

My Favorite Kind of Sewing Project.

Memory Quilts.

About 2 years ago, I met a really sweet lady named Joyce.

She was trying to make a dress for her 50th wedding anniversary, when her sewing machine quit working properly.

( When people in the area have sewing machine problems, they bring them to me. I have a sewing machine mechanic on speed dial! )

Anyway... she was the sweetest thing. We must've sat here talking about sewing for 2 hours. I told Joyce to just take one of my machines home, to finish her dress, while her machine was being repaired. I didn't want her to worry about having enough time to finish her dress. It's not everyday that a girl has a 50th wedding anniversary!

Fast forward to this past summer... Joyce's grand-daughter, Crystal, contacted me and wanted to have a quilt made for her grandmother. We discussed the options, and I came up with a design that she really liked.

Mrs. Joyce had always made her own clothes, and things for her two daughters, and then of course, all of the grand-children. I told Crystal to go through all of those special things, and pick out any items that she would want included in the quilt. Even t-shirts... if it holds special meaning to someone in the family, I would work it in.

On the quilt top, each star is made from fabrics that Mrs. Joyce had used before.

Recycling at it's best.

Love squared.

I used old fashioned hand embroidery to add the names of everyone in the family.

Even the background fabric was remnants that Mrs. Joyce had in her stash.

For the reverse of the quilt, I used at least a little bit of each piece of fabric . Remember Holly Hobby fabric? It's in there. Retro prints from the 60's and 70's, curtain fabrics, dress shirts, you name it. Even suiting fabrics. When it comes to memory quilts... I say there are no rules. As long as the fabrics can be laundered, I will put it in there. I like using random patchwork for a quilt back like this. The way women would have done 100 years ago. I'm kind of old fashioned like that.

Now for the quilting. I learned a long time ago, the importance of prewashing fabrics before sewing them. ~The hard way.~ So I prewashed everything that I could before I cut anything out. Especially the blues and reds, 'cause we all know they are the most likely to bleed. Some of the fabric pieces that I had were to small to run through the washer and dryer. So I tried to just wet those thoroughly and heat set, then hope for the best. So before I put too much quilting into the project... I did all of the basic quilting. In the ditch. Then added the binding.

I always prewash and dry my quilts before delivering them to a client. I don't want them to get any nasty surprises later on. Also, once a quilt goes through the washer and dryer, the batting shrinks just a little bit. About 5%. THAT is when the magic happens for me. That is when it get's that old fashioned look, and the fabric just puckers up ever so slightly away from the batting.

After about 2 minutes in the wash....

this is what I found.

Can I just tell you ...

I was done.

Stick me with a fork.

I was sooo careful.

But there is that ONE piece of fabric that didn't get prewashed.

All of that hard work.

RUINED !

It bled right through.

You see... it can happen to anyone.

Even I, do make sewing mistakes.

Another lesson learned. This will never happen to me again.
On the up-side...

I sure am glad that I didn't put a whole lotta quilting into it already. It can be repaired. I can remove the orange fabric from the back. And thankfully I have enough fabric to replace what is ruined on the quilt top. But it is NOT going to be a quick fix.

(sigh)

It did break my heart though.

Another reason this quilt is so special to me...

My own grandmother, the last few months of her life...

She could no longer get up to her sewing machines.

She loved sewing so much. Every time I would see her, she would light up, then she would always ask me, "What are you working on now?" When ever I could, I would take my projects over to show her. I took this quilt over to show my Granny, in the week before she passed away. She ran her hands over the quilt blocks, then pulled it up close to her. She said "Those sure are some good points on those stars."

It's just a little thing... I know. But it's one of those little things that I will keep with me forever. And this is the last project that I will ever get to share with her. I miss her so much.

Cool As A Cu ~

2011-01-07T00:45:00.011-04:00

KIMBER !

How cool is this?

This is a little project I worked on with my new friend, Kimber.

For this project I made a duvet, sham, bolster,

and had a matlasse sham Monogrammed

with her daughter's initials.

I'm drooling over this bed with the sweet rose carvings.

Her ceiling is my favorite color.

Love the framed

Audrey Hepburn ~

Yes, I am back. The old me, that you all know and love. Maybe now, I can get back to doing what I love. These last few months have been very difficult. I am soooo behind on my sewing projects. I'll be working overtime to try to catch up. I'm sure I have missed a few emails. Please feel free to contact me again, if you haven't gotten a response.

2 Cents

2011-01-06T09:56:00.010-04:00

Here it is ~

This is the post that struck a nerve,

for my ex-husbands current wife.

originally posted on Feb.26, 2010

A Few Good Men

Fashion Hound?

Not me.

But I must admit...

lately I've been addicted to the show "Project Runway".

I just recently started watching. The commercials are what got me.

The flamboyant and hilarious designer from Georgia, "Anthony" in particular. I have been amazed at some of the designs. The fact that those designers sketch their designs, shop for fabrics in under 30 minutes, and finish their designs in under 24 hours just blows my mind!

24 hours! are ya kiddin' me?

So I decided to challenge myself this week.

Instead of my usual home decor, I decided to make Little Bity something special to wear to the

Father - Daughter dance, which was last night.

Design to completion in 24 hours!

BooYah!!

Instead of the "Father - Daughter Dance", let's just call it the

"Someone she can look up to - Daughter Dance" or maybe the

"Someone she can actually Respect - Daughter Dance"... or how about

"Someone who actually has HONOR - Daughter Dance".

Alyssa was so proud, as through-out the dance, one person after
another would come up to her date, just to say "Thank you, for what you do for our country."

There's far too many fatherless little girls. Too many little girls that have to ask their grand-fathers, or step-fathers, or uncles to stand in at times like this.
Here in the land of dead beat dads, I just cant say enough about this wonderful young man who was kind enough to take my little princess to a dance, and make her feel so special.
... I have to say...
Thank you Andy, for honoring a little girl,
thank you for protecting our freedom,
thank you for having "the right stuff".

there it is ~

She knows about the son we have together. She knows that her husband has never made a single effort to know his son. I have never interfered in their lives. Yet here she is, suggesting that

HE has honor?

Come on Kristy.

All I Have

2011-01-05T03:37:00.000-04:00

Is a Picture.

Now they are gone.

She lived to see her Great Grandson marry.

And to hold her first Great Great Grand-Daughter.

She was the most giving person I have ever known.

As well as the most forgiving.

While I can forgive those that have hurt me -

I will never forget.

I have tried so hard, to be strong...

now, I question how to move forward,

my next move...

But move forward, I will.

It's All in the Details

2010-11-21T11:33:00.008-04:00

I know it's been a while...

I've been busy working, just haven't been blogging much

lately. My heart just hasn't been in it. Some of you know,

my Grandmother, my mentor, has been in very poor

health. I had a little reminder this morning, of how

visiting with my blogging friends can lift my spirits,

remind me of what is important, and inspire me.

Thank you Mrs. Magpie. Now, there is a Lady

that appreciates a properly set table!

With that in mind, I'll share a few little projects I've worked on

lately. When it comes to weddings, every little detail counts.

Right down to the napkins. With wedding favors in little

picket fence themed baskets, place card holders in the form

of topiaries with little birds, and woodland centerpieces, Kim

wanted her cloth napkins to add that final finishing touch.

So I helped her to find just the right fabric,

(little love birds in a swing) and rushed

these out to California in time for the wedding.

Thank you for sharing the photos Kim!

I am every bit as proud of my little projects, like this,

as I am of the larger projects that I work on.

Some of you know that when I'm not working on my

upholstery projects, window treatments, or quilts, I make

cloth napkins for my etsy shop. Cloth napkins are such a

simple thing, but something I believe in. I would never

serve a meal with paper towels, paper plates, or plastic

utensils. Eeeeeew!

This wedding was for a lovely Lady named Sarah,

from Massachusettes. Her wedding was held in

a Historical Inn. The bouquets and centerpieces

were bright and beautiful mixed flowers.

The tablecloths were white, with long burlap tablerunners.

The napkins were bright mixed prints.

Every detail counts!

Now what could this be?
What is it about a Big Red Barn that we all love?

Maybe a reminder of yesteryear...

A beckoning to the country, down a little dirt road,

away from the hustle and bustle...

to a place of quiet and serenity,

and a paring down.
Getting back to simplicity,

and to the things that are truly the most important.

If I had a dream wedding...

it would be just like this one.

To Me....

a wedding is NOT about the huge production,

NOT about the Grand Cathedral,

NOT about the huge reception hall,

NOT about limousines and grand processions.

This is what it's all about....

a man and a woman...

and a promise to each other.

THAT is what it's all about.

Thank you Gretchen for choosing me to add the finishing

touches to your perfect wedding day!

For this project, I made the extra long, extra wide muslin drapes,

for the barn doors. Inside the barn, there were haybales for

seating. I made covers for the haybales in yellow and brown

to match the sunflowers held by the bride and bridesmaids.

The reception was held outdoors. The tables were covered with

long white tablecloths, the haybales were covered with red

cotton covers, tied on the corners, and old fashioned

red and white gingham napkins.

If you're looking for just the

right finishing touches for your wedding, be it tablecloths,

barn door drapes, burlap table runners,

or cloth napkins...

I can help!

My Mother's Eyes

2010-09-20T23:35:00.004-04:00

Roy and Jewel Turk

on their first wedding anniversary

in 1937

My Grandparents.

Alzheimers took him away many years ago.

She turned 90 this year, on April 3, 2010.

You could never meet a stronger woman.

Just a year ago, she was still strong, still a go-getter.

Still going to the farmers market and putting away

vegatables for winter, still "in charge", still sewing,

still going to church every Sunday.

Nothing shook her foundation.

Nothing could ever shake her faith.

I would say that "her faith carried her through the hard times".

But it's more likely that she was the one doing the carrying.

She taught me how to sew when I was just a toddler.

I remember going to work with her at her "Singer" store.

I loved every second of it. She would let me sew on all of the

new and very latest Singer sewing machines... with fancy

stitches, and attachments that would whip up ruffles

lickety split. I could play on those machines all day long,

and sew up as much fabric as I wanted to. Big bowls full of

buttons that looked like treasure chests to me.

After working all day, back at home, after dinner,

it was time to read the Bible. When I started school, and was

learning to read, she would let me read it to her. I couldn't

pronounce many of the words, and she'd have to help, but

she loved to have her grand-children reading the Bible to her.

If we wanted a snack, she'd make a pan full of biscuits and

serve it up with a big plate full of Georgia Cane Syrup.

She taught me so many things. And then...

She loved me, when I was truly unloveable.

She says She is ready to go to Heaven, she's just waiting

for Jesus to open the gate. I know she's ready.

I want to tell her that "It's Okay." If she's ready to leave us.

But I can't bring myself to say it. I see the heartbreak in My

Mothers Eyes, and I know, I'll never be ready to let her go either.

Be Still...

2010-07-10T15:51:00.004-04:00

... my chairaholic, fabric lovin' heart!

If LOVE was a chair,

she would look like this...

Can I get a witness??

She's way out of my budget,

but if you're interested...

you can find her here.

Mama Mia! I could design a whole room around that chair...

know what I'm sayin'?

You Lookin' For Me??

2010-06-11T06:09:00.006-04:00

I'm hard to catch...

especially this time of year.

With distractions like this...

and this...

it's so easy to just spend the entire day outside.

Doing nothing else, but enjoying Mother Nature's gifts.

I'm a happy girl when I can spend the entire day with my flowers.

Even when I have so much work to do...
and I know I should take care of that first...

I peek out my window,

and see things like this...

calling to me...

"Come out and play!"

I can catch up on my work later...

right?

Right!

My good friend Julie, reminds me of how lucky I really am.
You see, other than gardening, my passion is in creating. I

have always loved to create beautiful things. I am

incredibly lucky to make a living at what I love doing.

I'm so lucky to be able to work from home.

To spend my days with my children...

or spend my days in the garden.

I'm so thankful for the talent I was given.

And thankful that I finally had the courage to persue that passion.

Thankful for the everyday beauty that surrounds me.

If you need me, I'll be outside for a while...

but I'll be back soon.

Hope you have a lovely day!

Queen of Pink

2010-03-23T12:30:00.010-04:00

I have met the most amazing friends through this

blogging world...

It's our sisterhood, where like minded individuals come

together. Gathering with other women, kindred spirits,

that I feel like I've known my whole life. Friendships that I will

treasure forever.

Many of you know Claudie from Bubbling Over.

To know her is to love her. Well... Claudie came all

the way from Canada to celebrate her birthday in

Saint Augustine, Florida.

And celebrate, we did!!

We had Deborah from Vintage Soul,

Lisa from AKAWEST,

Jeanne of Backyard Neighbor drove from NC,

Julie made the trip from Canada, too.

This hunk of burning love was there waiting for us.

Lunch ~ carribean salad with shrimp ... looks yummy, right?

It was deee-licious!
Pink Flirtini's for everyone!!
Flat Stella had a little too much, got a little crazy. First she
nibbled Julie's ears, sat on Deborah's hat, fell down my shirt,
then she was caught trying to get Mr. Magpie's wallet!!
Stella, Stella, Stella.....

Then we were off to Mrs. Magpie's for the Party!

If you know Mrs. Magpie, then you know that every detail
was attended. And I do mean "every" detail.
Mrs. Magpie made all of this possible. What a
beautiful party. We all wore our pink flower headbands.
Deborah with Becky from Holiday in the Sun.

And the Pinkest of them all....
Claudette.

It was the most wonderful weekend in St. Augustine,
with all of these other lovely blogging ladies.

This pirate ship passed by and we could hear them singing

pirate songs!!

I couldn't leave St. Augustine without riding the carousel.

We had sooo much fun!!

Meeting in person for the first time was such a treat!

Bloggers are the best people... don't you find??

Aye ??

Important note~

I borrowed the best photos from Julie...

try as I might, I just am not a great photographer.

Looking forward to seeing all of the great photos on Julie's

blog when she gets back to Canada.

More to come...

Shabby Chic Slipcovers

2010-02-15T17:37:00.003-04:00

Even though Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc,

and I've had a nasty cold for the last week...

I did manage to get a little work done.

Washed ivory linen slipcovers for 4 dining chairs.
Quite frankly, I think they're perfect for my dining room!

Seems I always do my before and after photos in reverse.
So here's the Before pic.

The chairs are lovely already, but it's so nice to have options.

See you this weekend Lori!

Hopefully Mr. Man won't think these are 'too' feminine.

Deep Freeze

2010-02-14T13:49:00.002-04:00

This week in Georgia...

in Georgia!!

Shorty had a blast.

She ended up soaking wet, her fingers were frozen and red, and she squeeled with delight for 2 days. It's not very often that we can build a snowman here in the deep south.

As for me... I am sooo ready for warm weather and sunshine and time spent in the garden.

Turquoise and The Blues

2010-01-22T15:36:00.009-04:00

Turquoise has been named Pantone's 2010 color of the year!

I do love turquoise!

I love linen, too!

Mama got a deal on this beautiful white linen with turquoise damask print, so we've been busy stocking up the etsy shop.

These linen napkins are available in 2 sizes. I have these listed in

sets of 6. If you'd like a different quantity, just send a quick convo

and Mama will fix you right up!

Maybe you prefer a vivid turquoise, this set is made from

100% Cotton with a linen weave, in more of a medium weight.

This is the last set of 6 Glacier Blue Damask print napkins!

This lightweight cotton is more of a
"sleeping beauty" turquoise color.
Lightweight 100% cotton.

I love this sweet bandana print in a pale turquoise.

Now I'm not a turquoise snob...

No, no, no ... ( in my best Amy Winehouse voice).

Mama listed lots of other pretties today, too!

Check it out - set yourself a pretty table...

Hmm?

A little side note here~~

Crank up those speakers, ladies!

I thought I knew every Ray Charles song ever made...

don't you just love it??

Just try and sit there without dancing in your seat!!

Can I get a witness~!

My Regrets

2010-01-20T09:40:00.002-04:00

You know I do love to make beautiful things...

Be it slipcovers, window treatments, upholstery, or anything I can with fabric.

And I LOVE, love, love that so many of you think enough of my work, to want little ole' me to make something beautiful for you.

After so many requests about slipcovers on sofas and large chairs,

I have to say, though I wish I could accomodate every request, it is almost impossible to make a properly fitted slipcover long distance. I have taken the time to study some of the paper patterns that are available, and most of those patterns have bad reviews.

So my regret is to inform all of you that I just can't make large slipcovers 'long distance'. I live in the Middle Georgia area. So... for large projects like this, I must have the actual piece of furniture here in my studio.

It is possible to make smaller slipcovers long distance. I can make slipcovers for some dining chairs, and some parsons chairs long distance. As always, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to contact me.

Slipcover Love

2010-01-13T21:10:00.008-04:00

Something about slipcovers that just makes furniture instantly more comfortable, more cozy... like your favorite pair of worn out jeans, or soft cotton pj's.

I get lots of questions about slipcovers. I have a folder full of beautiful slipcover photos that I've saved while cruising the internet. I don't remember the websites or particular blogs that I saved these photos from... If any of the following photos belong to you, please tell me so that I can properly credit you. And don't sue me, 'kay? We all save photos of things that we like... right?

To be clear... this particular post is not my handi work.
However, I would love to make each and every one of the items in these photos.

I am for hire!

(hint,hint)

:-)

In this next photo, I am in LOVE with every single piece in this room.

So cozy!

Sweet and simple.

Oooh, La, La!!

Tea anyone?

Flirty skirts and bows!

'Little classic, 'little shabby.

Perfectly feminine.

Sofas are fantastic slipcovered in white linen.

I really, really want to make this one!

Check out the ties on those legs!

Sexy Baby!

Crisp and Tailored.

Short and sassy.

In this next photo, I'm lovin' the black rattan chair with cream twill ruffled skirt.

Not lovin' the fabric on this parsons chair slipcover, but the pattern is pretty sweet.

I'd have to name this next one 'a little risque'.

Hot Mama!

Off to my studio to make a slipcover now!

Photos coming soon!

Kung Fu Chair

2010-01-12T15:02:00.003-04:00

Why do I call this Kung Fu Chair?

Because it kicked my Booty!!

You see, this it how it looked before...
(pretend you don't see that trash can in the background)

Who ever upholstered this chair before, simply wrapped fabric
around the arm rest and side pieces, then attached the arms in a rather odd way.
It was time to replace that fabric, too.

Time for T to do some upholstery...

She's as good as new now.

This chair belongs to my Great Aunt Ola Nell. She rocked every one of her children, and all of her grandchildren in this chair, so it's holds many special memories. One grand-daughter has asked that this chair be left to her.

These are the kinds of jobs I just can't say no to.
I'm a sentimental fool.

I Do Windows

2010-01-03T16:36:00.003-04:00

One of the reasons I began this blog,

was to have a way to showcase my work for potential

clients. With that in mind, allow me to share my latest

window treatments.

Remember these cute little stools?

I made these window treatments with those same fabrics

to finish off the room.

This cornice box was built into the frame of the house.

I had to sew the individual fabric layers, and then attach it

to the cornice in place. I made gathered panels for each

end, with shaped lower hems to match the hemline of

the upper valances.

Yall know I'm not a photographer,

but here's a closer look.

One for the kitchen window as well.

Ta - Da!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T14:12:00.002-04:00

Happy New Year Friends!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas

and a safe New Years Eve.

Time to take down the tree, put away the train,

and start the new year fresh.

Like the new look?

What better way to start anew.

In Case You Missed It

2009-12-10T07:37:00.004-04:00

Heeeeere's Layla !

These photos are from the show that Layla filmed for

the 700 club. My 'now famous' pillows are: the navy

lumbar pillow on the bed, the pillow shams that are

sandwiched in the middle ( can't really see those, but

trust me, they were cute ), and the striped window seat.

TA-DA !!

Want my autograph?

;-)

TLC on ABC Family

2009-12-08T09:16:00.003-04:00

Today's the day that Layla from The Lettered Cottage

will be on the 700 Club, and so will be my little contribution !

So tune in yall!

It's Layla's debut on live TV!

I'm on the east coast feed with dish network, so I'll be

watching at 10:00am. How 'bout you?

Update: If you missed the 10:00am show, it airs again tonight

at 10:00pm. Layla and Kevin's segment is about 20 minutes in,

after Pat Roberts version of the news.

My contribution is the widow seat with striped fabric and rope

trim, and the cream and blue floral pillow shams, and the navy

plaid pillow with rope trim.

Kevin and Layla are so stinkin' cute!

Chilly Day in Atlanta

2009-12-06T11:26:00.008-04:00

Part 2:

After meeting with Layla,

I was so happy to go visit with one of my best friends

on the planet.

Meet Elisha ~

Don't you just LOVE her hair !

I have never been brave enough or bold enough to pull

off something like that. And she's not just wearing it...

she's rockin' it !

Looking at this photo, I can't help thinking...

when did I get to be so "vanilla"?

Maybe I need to rethink my make-up choices...

be a little more bold...

who wants to blend, anyway?

Alyssa and Dylan with E.

We had killer cuban food at LaFonda Latina on Ponce.

There isn't a cuban restautant within 150 miles of home,

so I was lovin' this!
LaFonda... it's been too long.

After our delicious cuban dinner, we headed over to

Zesto's diner for ice cream.

McBig Mouth.

Now let me take you on a little tour...

We had to go by our old home.
The Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts.
By far the coolest apartment I ever had in Atlanta.
I had always wanted to live in a loft, and loved every second of
it. This cotton mill began operations in 1881 and
Cabbagetown was built as the surrounding mill town and was
the first textile processing mill built in the south. .
This area is home to many artists, musicians, and now
professional people as well. (Yuppies)

Now the area is affectionately referred to as the

Yuppie Ghetto.

I'm not kidding.

Check the next photo.

Only a few blocks from historic Candler and Inman Parks,

and Little 5 Points.

This home belonged to the founder of Coca Cola.

Just blocks from the Ghetto.

I used to love driving by these homes everyday,

taking my son to school. Beautiful victorian homes painted

vibrant colors and covered with gingerbread and fretwork.

And only blocks away from Martin Luther King's birth home.

I love the little shotgun houses through out Cabbage town.

I know that some people cringe at the sight of it...

but I even loved seeing all of the graffiti art.

This was one of my all time favorite pieces, painted on

the wall next to my loft apartment.
"The angel of cabbagetown."

Just past this wall is the Krog Street Tunnel.

To a tourist, this is probably a scary place.

A dark tunnel underneath the train tracks, and in

the Ghetto. But to many in Atlanta, this has long been

a sort of 'public art' space. A ghetto landmark.

You may disagree ~

but this is art.

And I love it.

And it is ever changing.

Always, within a few days or weeks, kids will start

"tagging", and covering over the nicer art.

But the artists always come back, cover the graffiti,

and paint new murals.

Wish I could have seen this one before it was defaced.

Bob Marley.

I love Atlanta.

I love the diversity.

I love the vibrancy.

I love the culture.

I love my pinkest best friend.
Hope you enjoyed this little tour of East Atlanta.