This year got off to a productive start.  I always start the year with a list of projects I want to complete over the course of the year.  Some items have been on that list for several years, so clearly I am over-ambitious and optimistic at the beginning of the year, but I don’t think this is a bad thing. It keeps me motivated, looking forward and creative.

These are the projects I have completed for January.

Window Treatments: This guest bedroom needed  a little something to cover the top section of the windows on the sunny side of the house. I wanted to keep the color very neutral and thought a good quality drop cloth would make inexpensive, readily available and  natural looking window treatments.  I knew I probably wouldn’t actually wash them, so I just constructed them with a fold-over panel to double up the fabric to block out the sun even more.  So that the panels would slide easily across the pole for easy closing and opening, I added drapery clips every 6″ or so.  Perfect.

Pool table cover:  One of my favorite things this past winter has been the red and black plaid that you see popping up everywhere.   I have a shirt dress with this print but I’ve seen jackets, scarves, dog wear, etc.   So when I found this print in a flannel-backed vinyl tablecloth from JoAnn’s after Christmas for 70% off, I snatched it up.  I wasn’t exactly sure when or where I would use it but for a couple of dollars, I would find a use.

While taking down the Christmas decorations in our basement, I quickly pulled it out of the bag to spread out over the pool table to protect it as I packed up the Christmas crates.  Then it hit me.  This would actually make a great pool table cover. So with three tablecloths, this is what I made.  What do you think?  Can you see me?

Chair cushions: My kitchen table has two chairs from a previous table that sit a little low.  My initial plan was to reconstruct them to fit and recover them.    I decided it would be easier to just make new ones but would use them as a template on how to do it. I made a template of my chair seat and used a basic drop cloth for the fabric.   I stuffed them with the batting from the purchased cushions so I would feel like I got my money’s worth.  I then tufted them just like the original and put  Velcro tabs to attach to the chair spindles instead of ties to keep it clean and simple. They turned out great! BUT….I forgot to get a picture before we left the lake, so you will have to wait a couple of weeks for an after picture.

Parson chair slipcover: I found this basic parson chair at a thrift store for $6 (you can see why below).  It would make a great desk chair in our lake basement pseudo-office/nautical themed bedroom.  I decided on a blue duck cloth with red ticking welting and a cute nautical themed lace-up tie back for easy on and off.  Since the original chair was vinyl I stapled batting onto the seat and back of the chair to prevent the slipcover from actually “slipping”.

Bed skirt: My last project for the month would be a bed skirt for the same bedroom/office in our lake basement. I used the same drop cloth I purchased for the chair cushions.  I wanted a standard skirt with box pleats at the corners and in the middle of each side, but I wanted a little more pizzazz. So I painted on a double red stripe positioned on each side of the pleat to tie in with the welting on the parson desk chair and also pull in the red from the pillow. I opted to Velcro the skirt to the box spring instead of making a fully constructed bed skirt. Cute and super easy to get on and off without having to remove the mattress.

Serging:  Since I was on a roll and was getting comfortable with my new serger, I also tackled my basket of clothes that needed mending over the last year. It’s empty!

I also decided my drop cloth slipcovered chair at the lake needed to be washed (that’s the beauty of slipcovers).  So I slipped it off and threw it in the washing machine.  It came out great, except I realized I never finished the seams so I had a messy inside of tangled strings. SO….I walked over to my serger and proceeded to serge all the seams. It looks so pretty and clean again.  I can’t believe my serger is celebrating its first birthday and I am only now brave enough to use it.  I LOVE it and can’t believe I got along all these years without out.  Never again. It’s my new favorite thing.

Now to set my focus on February.  I have a few projects in the works for my home and a few for some clients, but still have time for more! What can I do for you?