Chair Re-Done

I finished! I’ve had this chair for a month. Here is the re-do in pictures:

Before pictures. Notice how much the seat sags.

The bottom of the seat (after I got through a layer or two) – it was all broken.

About 2,000 staples later, I had just a frame, then I put a new seat in (I got instructions from my mom over the phone and she mailed me a tool I needed).

I used the original foam (I was surprised at how expensive foam is!) I used cotton batting to replace the thin foam around the frame that was too damaged to use. I took my mom’s advice and bought an electric stapler. I HIGHLY recommend it if you’re planning to reupholster something.

I took (mental) notes when I took the seat apart. One of the things was that the seat had to be completely finished in order to put staples in the back. Just in the area where the fabric (or batting) tucks behind the seat.

The back was trickier. There were two long pieces of metal with teeth all down them that hold the sides of the back on. I had to wrap the fabric around them and hammer them into place. I should have taken pictures of that part.

To spray paint the bottom, I had to go to the park (I have no outdoor space). This was my little set up – using everything in my car to keep it from blowing away!

The finished product! I think it turned out pretty well for my first attempt :)

Even though the chair only cost me $5 from Craigslist, the supplies added a bit to the price.

Chair $5

Cotton batting, just for seat and upholstery tacks for seat $12

Material ordered from Canadian company Tonic (because I’m too picky for any of the fabric in stores here) $35 – with a lot left over

Sandpaper, spray primer, spray paint $10 – also used for another project

Total $62 and that includes extra material and supplies for another project.

Crazy Product of The Week

Don’t you just hate when you have a fancy dinner and the gravy in the gravy boat gets cold? Ok – I have one, maybe two meals a year that use gravy and are more formal than just microwaving the jar of gravy. Anyway… apparently many people have this issue of gravy getting cold. Hence the invention of the Gravy Warmer

Now, I’m not sure how many formal dinners involve the use of extension cords on the table, but just in case, you can order this As Seen on TV Gravy Warmer for only $24.99!

New Old Chair

Here is the before picture.  This was a $5 purchase from Craigslist. 

Aside from it being ugly, the seat had broken, so I learned how to reupholster.  I’ve watched my mom do this many times, and it’s not as hard as it seems.  The after pictures will come as soon as I finish.  Right now I’m just waiting for the paint to dry :)

Not Me! Monday

It is (not) that time of the week again.  Where I – and others – tell about all of the things we did (not) do this week.  Head over to MckMama’s blog to read all of the things other people did (not) do this week.

This week I did (not) travel to our Nation’s Capitol for work.  I do (not) work with a fantastic group of folks who (whom"?) I hardly see since they are spread across the eastern US and I am in Minnesota.  (I do (not) know when it is proper to use who and whom.)

It was (not) great to be in DC the week before Memorial Day and had I (not) realized earlier that it was a holiday weekend, I would (not) have thought to stay longer.  I think the ceremonies would (not) be amazing there.

In traveling from the airport to the office, I did (not) take the Metro.  Waiting on the platform at the airport, a large bug did (not) fly into my hair causing me to jump around like a crazy person.  I do (not) think this kept people away from me on the Metro.

Since I do (not) always travel in jeans instead of work clothes, I did (not) have to change in the bathroom before arriving at work.  I had (not) planned ahead and chosen a skirt, ironed it, and set it on top of my suitcase so changing would be easy.  I had (not) tried on this skirt since last summer and it was (not) a bit snug.  If I had been at home I would (not) have changed, but since I was traveling, I was (not) stuck wandering around all day in the (not) quite snug skirt.

When we meet in a large group, it does (not) always surprise me when the gentleman get up and plug in the woman’s computers so the women do (not) have to crawl on the floor or walk around the table.  Did I mention that I do (not) work with a fantastic group of people? 

Almost all of the people I work with are (not) veterans.  Which is (not) appropriate since we work with Service Members of all branches and their families. 

And, since it is (not) Memorial Day and I do (not) want to pretend this is something I do (not) do, I’ll just say it normally -  I want to thank all the Service Members and their families for their service, especially those who are, or have been deployed.  A special thank you to the families of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.   Happy Memorial Day!!

Crazy Product of The Week

Ok – I have to admit it. I’ve seen this one for years and I think it is FUNNY!! I wonder who came up with it and who would actually have it in their homes, but I like it in concept :)

I think it is more fun than a regular knife block on the countertop, but I still don’t think I would ever buy it. Just in case you want to, it comes in black too.

Slowly Going "Green" - Window Cleaner

I like windows. It may not be surprising considering I would like to live in a glass house and have a slight obsession with sleeping outdoors. I hate streaky windows. I will take half an hour and use half a roll of paper towels to clean the windows just so they aren't streaky. So after reading many, many reviews for these microfiber cloths (just wet and wipe the window - no cleaner needed - no streaks) I finally gave in and got them. I LOVE them! I cleaned all the windows in my apartment, the bathroom mirror, and the car windows. LOVE them!

I don't typically clean my car windows. I had heard that windex messed with the tint (not sure if it's true - I just didn't want to test it out). Now they are sparkling - well, actually, they were sparking a couple weeks ago when I cleaned them - I may need to do it again.

And, it doesn’t hurt that they are purple – how fun!

Not Me! Monday

This week there are many, many things that I did (not) do, but I am (not) writing this on Sunday night again and I did (not) block out forget most of them.

I have (not) had my new old desk chair disassembled since two days after I bought it (the first week in May) and sitting in parts in the living room.  I did (not) go to approximately 5 fabric stores in person and another 50 or so online before finding a fabric I can live with.  I am (not) that picky when it comes to decorating my place.  After the fabric arrived this week, I did (not) need to go to three more stores to get other things I needed for the chair.  I will (not) post more later about the chair re-do - just as soon as I finish!

A woman at my office did (not) stumble across the most perfect apartment ever!  It does (not) sound like it has everything I wanted plus some.  It is also (not) about $200 over my price range.  I have (not) been wondering if I should make the woman show it to me even though I don’t want to pay that much.  I do (not) dream that she will rent it to my at MY price.

I did (not) spend WAY too much time on the computer this weekend looking at all the pictures on desire to inspire. It does (not) have the best collection of interior photos.  This was (not) my way of procrastinating apartment hunting.  I did (not) forget to wear my glasses for this and now do (not) have a headache.

There are lots more things that I did (not) do this week, but rather than try to remember them all, I’ll just send you over to MckMama’s blog to read all the things other people did (not) do!!

Visit

My sister just booked a flight up to visit! Yay!

Crazy Product of the Week

This may not seem like a crazy product….. until you look at the price tag.

These lovely porcelain sculptures of pears, apricots, horse chestnuts, and fig range in price from $72 - $400 EACH! I typically prefer real fruit over fake, but who pays $400 for fake fruit & nuts? Maybe someone who is nuts?

Slowly Going "Green" - Freecycle/Thrift

I don’t really like to throw things out, and I hate the idea that there are items just sitting around that other people could be using.

When I discovered Freecycle I was excited. You go online, list the items you want to get rid of, and put them out for pickup. Craigslist also has a “free” area. I’ve gotten rid of hotel soaps, kitchen appliances, photo frames, other random items. There have been a few times that people don’t come on time (or at all) and my building doesn’t really care for “stuff” just sitting out in the hallway.

Thrift stores are actually a little easier. You just load it up and drop it off. I’m starting to like this way of doing things more and more. No waiting :)

I do attempt to shop at the Thrift store as well, although I’ve only really bought corkboards there recently. My desk and chair (more to come on the chair) were from Craigslist. Of course, I don’t have a No New pledge, but it’s nice to help out those that do :)

You had me at…

Sleeping Porch!! I’ve mentioned once or twice (or three, four, or five times) about my weird desire to sleep outside (not camping style).

Check out this prefab home from Michelle Kaufmann Designs.

It has a screened sleeping porch!!

I love how it’s a modern take on a farmhouse. Isn’t it cute?!?

sigh – I always find the best homes when I’m apartment hunting.

Hmmm, need to start looking for the perfect piece of land and the winning lottery ticket.

But first, I should probably find an apartment to live in between now and then.

Sigh……

Not Me! Monday

It’s time again to tell you about all of the things that I did (not) do this week.

I did (not) go to a block party in St Paul this weekend expecting, well….. a block party. I did (not) arrive to see a band, a beer truck, and two booths selling beads. That was (not) all that was there. My friend and I showing up did (not) double the size of the crowd. We did (not) have fun anyways.

I did (not) spend the rest of my weekend avoiding apartment hunting. I have (not) been living in my current apartment because I do (not) hate apartment hunting. There is just something about the thought of packing, moving and meeting new (potentially noisy and nosy) neighbors that’s just so much fun.

I am (not) watching Friends reruns as I type this. It is (not) one of my favorite episodes. I do (not) still laugh every time I watch this show even though I have seen it a million times or so.

There is (not) this very important customer at work who insists on calling me Liz. I do (not) HATE being called Liz. He did (not) start it on a conference call in a way that I couldn’t correct him and now it has (not) been going on for too many months for me to correct him nicely. I do (not) want to scream every time he does it. I do (not) understand why people insist on calling me a different name than I introduce myself as, sign all my emails as, and that everyone who knows me calls me. As you may (not) be able to tell, this is (not) a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Now that I am (not) done ranting, head over to MckMama’s to see what everyone else has (not) been doing/ranting about :)

Crazy Product of the Week

I get that this is intended for a zombie-themed wedding, but even so, this seems a little over the top. Do you think so too?

Only one of the doves still has their head. The seller has other “Day of the Dead” wedding items as well. Seems like an ironic theme for a wedding.

Wall Art – DIY

After putting up this picture of my blank wall at home, I realized that I had to do something right away. It’s so ugly! I’ve already mentioned how I feel about white walls.

My plan for the wall was to just buy some fabric and hang it up on canvas. One long story and a bunch of changing my mind later I ended up with this:

I started out with my pretty green fabric $8.99, some plain white fabric $5.99, and two large corkboards I got at Unique Thrift $5.60 for both.

I took off frames of the corkboards off – planning to paint them and put them on the finished product, but I managed to break one of them in the process, so now they are frameless.

I saw this post over at Ish and Chi and this is my attempt at making it my own.

Here are my progress shots:

The supplies (from when I had intended to paint the frames and put them back on.

Broken frame :(

Template for cutting out the leaves

All lines up and ready to pin and sew – turns out I’m not as bad at sewing curves as I thought I was

Gluing it on the back

Hanging on the wall :)

Not Me! Monday

It’s back! MckMama and Stellan are back home so Not Me! Monday is back up and running :)

There are so many things that I did (not) do since the last Not Me! Monday, but we’ll just focus on the last week.

This week my sister was (not) nice enough to point out to me that I do (not) take after my mother – evidenced by my desk purchase (except she doesn’t usually drop them). Much to my dismay, I had (not) already had the same revelation.

I did (not) go to my first Kentucky Derby party. I did (not) try a mint julep and decide they taste like minty paint. We did (not) have a blind draw for “betting” on horses and the horse I drew did (not) run in second place for the majority of the race only to finish eighth. It was (not) more exciting than I thought it would be!

There are plenty of other things that I did (not) do this week, but I am (not) typing this Sunday night and I am (not) too tired to think of more.

Now head over to MckMama’s blog and read about all the other things that were (not) done this week!