Tale of a Toile Setee...

Did y'all hear that high pitched noise this morning? A kinda shrill sound that went on for about 5 minutes? That was me sqealing with joy at the delivery of my new antique setee... We've had an empty living room right off the foyer in this house since we moved in 4 years ago. We had big plans to enclose the open room and make it an office, but it never happened. I was looking for something cheap and neutral to put in there for the time being, and that's when I stumbled upon this dreamy old thing in a consignment store. I saw that toile and nearly wet my pants right there. It was so perfect I almost didn't even look closer because I knew it would be way out of my price range. But, it was so cute I had to! As it turned out, the rediculous price tag had allowed it to sit there since November, and they were ready to deal. It's about 80 years old, and was recently recovered and retied by an apparent expert in upholstery. But, I struggled with the fact that it was an antique - that kind of furniture needs a different kind of respect. It's not something to just use for a while, then sell at a garage sale. Not very practical either, with two boys, a dog, and a husband who would never sit on a toile sofa. I left the store. Went back the next day. Spent the next two days in every antique mall in the area searching out pieces like it for a price reference. I won't even tell you about the sleep loss or all the donuts,Girl Scout cookies and Mike & Ikes I had to eat before I decided for sure that I wanted it. I know I've dragged this out much longer than necessary, and I already told you it was here. In my house. So, I'll wind it up for now. It's probably not healthy to love a piece of furniture like this. But the seat cushions are down filled.

And it goes so well with all my stuff. Even Boston Terrier.

Now I'm in search of the perfect chairs to go with it. Cheap, perfect chairs. That might be a crisis and another post for another time. I'm gonna go take a nap now, you know where.

Whatcha Working on Wednesday...

Wow! Has another week gone by already? It's Whatcha Working on Wednesday over at My Country Home, and I have just a few things to share. This is my first Needlepunch project. It's coming along okay I think, though I'm not really sure what I'm doing. I just bought a book at Hobby Lobby, and taught myself. It bugs me that I have to stop punching, separate the floss and rethread the needle so often. I'm really impatient with things like that. I bought the hoop recommended in the book, but it still doesn't hold the fabric tight enough, so I have to adjust that often too. I'm enjoying it though, and I should have it done soon, just a few more little areas and then the background will be black with a little charcoal mixed in.

I've also completed several more of these guys. Some are for orders, and the others I'll add to my selling blog in a day or two.

This is what I should be workin' on. I've started this and need to finish. This is my lavendar bed. Well, there are a few other things in there too, but I have 4 kinds of lavendar that grow really well here. See, that little angel is prayin' for me to please get busy and pull out those weeds and ugly dead stuff. Today would be a perfect day to do it. It's 80 degrees out there, almost too hot in the direct Texas sun! I won't even show you my herb bed. It's crazy full of weeds and parsley, and the little gnome that lives there would be embarassed.

So that's it for me this week. Be sure to hop over to Leslie's and see what others have been working on!

Whatcha Workin' On Wednesday

I've long been a fan of Leslie's Whatcha Workin On Wednesday, and this week I actually finished a project!
I found this sampler at the TS awhile back, it was half off, so I think I paid $1.09 or something like that. It's just stitched on aida cloth, but I liked the colonial design, and knew that the pastels would look as if they were faded after a dip in some tea. Here's the before. And no, that's not my neck that's all wrinkly in the reflection on the glass! The mat had gotten wet at some point and buckled. I'm not THAT old, y'all.

First I just stained it, but decided that one of the mauve shades was too hideous, so I picked those stitches out and re-did them with another floss. (sorry JG, whoever you are) Then I changed the 1993 to 1893 with some excess floss from the back. Then I decided that I couldn't stand the horrible seafoam green that I'm sure didn't exist in 1893, so I started picking those stitches out. About 5 minutes into this, I realized how much extra time I was going to have to put into my "quick" makeover, but it was too late to turn back. Anyhow, after 45 minutes and a crick in my neck, I had them all out, and restitched them in a pretty olive shade. I built a simple frame, crackled a little and painted black over moss green, distressed and all that. So now, much better...I think it loves me too.


The little bunny peeking in was a TS find that I painted this week too. He was terra cotta before. So that's what I finished this week. I'm working on several things for the TDIPT Mercantile, and my sellin' blog (currently bare-I'm a slacker). I'll give you a sneaky peak another time. Get on over to My Country Home and see what everyone's workin' on!

I'm still here...

Well, here it is mid February, and I'm just getting around to my first post of 2009. It's well established that I never keep my New Year's Resolutions. I still let an occasional naughty word slip, and have a pound or 18 to lose. But my plan to be a better blogger won't go completely out the window if I start now. 2009 did not start out as we had hoped, but we remember our blessings in spite of the lowest points and saddest days.

I'm sewing and painting again, so I'll be sharing some things soon. I'm working on some special things for the Mercantile Birthday month you read about above...

Hugs,

Katherine