A new bed for Rusty

 

I've had these two ugly cushions for a long time, planning to make something from them and I finally got around to it! I plan to make one into a cushion for my porch swing and made this one into a new bed for Rusty to match my studio! Thought I'd share how I did it--its really simple and I didn't try to make it perfect. I know some of you who are really good seamstresses could give me some pointers. ha! But it works for me.

 First I found some fabric and a volunteer to help me....I didn't even have to ask him! I laid the cushion on the fabric and cut around it with about ½" extra all the way around. For the back I folded the piece I just cut in half and laid it on the fabric, then cut a piece that size. The 2nd piece for the back is cut like the other, but make it about 2/3 the size of the front. It doesn't have to be exact, they just need to overlap each other. Then I cut a strip about ½" wider than the sides. I didn't have a piece long enough so I cut 2 strips and sewed the ends together.

   

 

  Turn down the long edges of the two back pieces and hem. Next, sew the strip to the front side of the pillow. Be careful to match the corners up and pin if you need to. (See pics above.) In the picture on the left I was trying to show you how I sewed the two back pieces on! Match up the corners and sew on the smaller piece, then do the same with larger piece, overlapping over the smaller piece. When you turn it right side out, it should look like this:
 

  You could stop here and it would be just fine for a pet bed or a cushion. You can easily take the cushion out so you can wash the cover too! I decided to add some buttons to mine. You could use covered buttons with matching fabric, but I liked the look of mismatched buttons on it.

  I made a couple of pillows too while I was sewing. After I started sewing, I was a little worried that they might not match but look how good they match! Next project for my office is to slipcover and chair where these two pillows will go. Rusty wouldn't stay on his bed long enough for a picture. This is the best I got....

Best of all, when you're done you can feel proud that you made it yourself.....and take a LOOONG nap! Now when you're at the junk store, look out for those old pillows! I got 2 for my outside chairs that I recovered for $1 each and I think these long cushions were $2 each. I got the fabric for the outside cushions for about  $1 at the junk store too and it actually matches this fabric!

TGIF!

  The title of my post is pretty funny....my days are all mixed up and I didn't even know it was Friday! My husband was off work yesterday and went back today. When he got home I asked him, "Is today Monday?" I realized after I said it, but he made me repeat myself. ha ha! Now that I know, I'm glad Friday's here....time to get back to work on my studio! I'm thinking maybe I can get some shelves in my closet and if its warm enough finish painting the trim/door.

 This is a picture of Christmas at Momma & Daddy's house....we spent the night there on Christmas Eve and everyone came over to exchange gifts and eat and eat and eat. There are so many of us there are tons of gifts under the tree by the time we all get there. We decided to open gifts in the den (by the way, this used to be my bedroom!) but realized it is too small to fit everyone and open gifts. We had a big pile of gifts and barely any room to fit everyone in there. I guess we'll be moving back to the living room for next Christmas! Momma & Daddy bought me a GPS, which I can really use when I'm transporting animals. No more stopping to ask strangers how to get to some Italian Restaurant at 9 am with a beagle in my lap or trying to get directions from someone on my cell phone while I try to drive and listen to dogs bark or cats meow. And for my birthday, just a week later, I got a wii....finally! I've been wanting one forever and its just as much fun as I thought it would be. Then I bought myself a wii fit last week, so I should have plenty of entertainment for a while.

Back to Christmas....right before Christmas Tara, Tyler & I made a gingerbread house and tree. It was fun, but hard work--I didn't realize how much work it would be. It was worth it though, even with the huge mess we made. (Sorry, Momma!) We sang Christmas carols and ate the little candies as we worked. We also went to the IMAX theater in Chattanooga to see Polar Express. What fun that was! I had forgotten what a good movie it is, maybe my new favorite Christmas movie. We ate at Cracker Barrel on the way home and I bought myself yet another Christmas shirt and Christmas CD. I know Stacey & Clinton wouldn't approve, but I love Christmas (& Halloween) shirts!

 

Happy New Year!

 I haven't been able to log on to blog for almost a month!! I had all kinds of fun stuff going on and couldn't even get on here to tell about it all. Thanks to all of y'all that emailed and wondered where I was and asked about my kitties. We're still here! I made some New Year's Resolutions and been doing pretty good so far. As usual, I plan to lose weight. I started before the New Year but I've already lost 12 lbs. so that's a good start. The other one was to start working on my studio. We have done some work over there. I have just have a few little things to do before I move over there. I cannot wait! This is my "new" desk. You can tell I'm not done--my walls are never this bare! I have a chair to slip cover, an old white table and a filing cabinet to move over there and maybe that will be it. I'm trying to get down to the basics after working in a cramped up room for way too long. Rusty has been roaming around and he likes it. He just wouldn't be still long enough for a picture in my new office. I have to get him a bed...I can just see him curled up on his bed while I work (or my lap, probably!). We went antiquing on my birthday and got some good stuff. I'll share more pics later, but this mirror is one of them. I'm going through my dolls that were left over from shows and trying to get some decorating done in there too. And notice my new wood floors....those were under the layers of carpet, vinyl and plywood! We had to take out a few bad ones and replace with some that Kenyon had saved up. Then we cleaned and waxed it. I love how it turned out! And I have this big kitty keeping me company in my studio too. Ha! He is perfect for this vintage wooden chair, isn't he? I'm sure I'll be sharing more pics through the weeks. My goal is to have the whole studio ready for an open house this fall and I'll share the progress with you. Almost 2 rooms down and 3 more to go, plus the outside. I shoulda asked for a roof for Christmas!!

If any of you reading are from Scottsboro, I have some of my jewelry at Talk of the Town...if you're down that way, be sure to stop in and look at my jewelry!

The Tale Of Despereaux

This is one movie I can't wait to see...I am in love with the little characters on the previews! Click on the image above to go to the website and see the trailer....

Holiday Spirit?

Today's the day to keep my nephew, Jackson....he's always so much fun!He hasn't seen my Christmas tree yet. I can just imagine how much he'll like it. I'm listening to Christmas music this morning. Do y'all have any favorites? I always love Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra singing Christmas songs. When we were little we had 2 favorite Christmas albums--Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry & Rosemary Clooney and a Chipmunks Christmas album. "Here Comes Santa Claus" is playing now (by Gene Autry) and I can just see me & my 3 sisters dancing around to the song and dreaming about what Santa Claus would bring! We LOVED listening to records and dancing....I'm surprised one or all of us didn't end up being singers/dancers! ha! Jackson will be here soon--maybe he'll enjoy some dancing and singing to these song. Too bad the kitties don't enjoy it. They like the singing, just not the dancing part. ;)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

   

Hope y'all are having a good Thanksgiving! We had our family Thanksgiving early so I'm just hanging around the house today. I did a little Christmas decorating--not too much this year though. Instead of putting up my big tree, I bought a small (4 ft) prelit tree and displayed it on a table in front of the window. It was nice that it was only 2 pieces instead of all those branches to sort out! I couldn't use all my ornaments, so I used only red & white. I think its the first time I've ever had any kind of theme. Normally I put every ornament on my tree that I can cram on there, but I knew I couldn't use them all this time. Another good thing was not having to untangle a bunch of lights. 

I put a couple of tinsel trees on the top of my entertainment center, Christmas rug  in front of the fireplace and decorated the mantel and that's it. I may put up my "Dr. Seuss" tree in the bathroom, but I'm not sure yet.....depends on my mood, I guess. lol! I'll share some more pics below and get back to my relaxing Thanksgiving. Hope you have a good 'un!! :)

   

Working at Home....

I LOVE working at home, so here's my top 10 things I love about working at home & being my own boss (in no particular order):

 1. I can work in my pajamas

 2. I can take a break whenever I want

 3. I can take off whenever I want & get to take off on ALL holidays and weekends if (but only if I want to)

 4. I get to sleep as late as I want

 5. I can check on my kitties anytime I feel like it

 6. I can have a kitty on my lap while I work

 7. You know that one person that gets on your nerves at work? I don't have to worry about her...

 8. Shoes aren't required

 9. I have my own "office"

10. No boss to anwer to!

If you work at home--help me think of some more! You don't have to worry about your boss looking over your shoulder, so go ahead!