#168...quick dog bed cover

Since getting my new couch cushions, I decided to try to keep my dogs off of the couches, (unless Tyler or I invite them up to sit with us). I pulled out an old dog bed, and put it near the couches. It was plain and ugly......as you can see here in the before shot.

I decided to recover it, and figured the easiest and quickest way was to make a big sack-like cover that tied together on one side for closure.

I bought a chenille leopard print throw from Ross for $7.

 I also used a yard of Ikea canvas-like fabric for the back and 2 yards of grosgrain ribbon. I opted for the chenille throw for the front of the bed instead of another yard of cotton because the dogs really like soft blankets.....and I really wanted them to sleep on the bed!

To sew the cover I cut the ribbon into 12 inch pieces, turned over one edge of the blanket and back fabric and sewed the ribbon pieces to the back and front, making sure they were in the same location on both front and back, so they would line up when the bed got sewn together.

Next, pin right sides together and sew around three sides. Turn the bed right side out, stuff the bed in and tie the ribbons to close it.

Here is a close-up of the ties and the back fabric

Success! She's sleeping on it!

#167...chaise turned bench

I own two of these Applaro Chaise lounges from Ikea, with these cushions.

The chairs and pads are a few years old, and the wood looks faded, and the cushions look beat up. Inspired by the photo below (I apologize for not knowing where it is from), I decided to revamp one chaise into a bench, recover the pads, and add some throw pillows to disguise the weathered wood and rain stained cushion.

chaise and pad before

I made a tube style slipcover for the cushion from striped Ikea fabric and sewed ties onto the ends, making it easy to get off to wash. The pillow covers are also made from Ikea fabrics, except for the center flower panels on the striped pillows. The flower fabric is actually two napkins (like these) from Anthropologie a few seasons ago. I bought the metal artwork above the bench at HomeGoods on clearance for $11. I considered spray painting it a bright color, but ran out of time before my Easter company came for our annual crawfish boil, so I hung it as is for now.

#166...flowers for my kitchen (take two)

Remember this rug I bought for my kitchen.....

Inspired by the rug in this designer room

Well, after a few days of having it in the kitchen I really did not like it, and the cotton cloth was bunching and moving around, so I decided to alter it with paint, hoping to achieve more of the look of the inspiration rug.

I used latex acrylic artists paint to paint the oversized flowers onto the cotton cloth. I used latex enamel semi-gloss to paint out the black portions. I coated the whole rug with this latex Polycrylic varnish. While it looks more like the inspiration, I still don't really like it in my kitchen. I was hoping that the paint and Polycrylic would make it as durable and functional as my painted sisal; however, I can already tell that the black paint was a bad choice, as it is already collecting dusty foot and paw prints, that are easily visible, and I am constantly wiping it off. I'm marking this one as a failed project, since I'm so annoyed with it, and it now cost me double what it originally did in painting supplies.

#165...update on my vacation shells

In preparation for the upcoming holiday weekend and visitors, I decided I needed to do something with the seashells that I collected on vacation a few weeks ago. They have been strewn about my dining table since the trip, and since I'll need use of the table this weekend, I got motivated to find homes for the shells.

I framed the tiny pieces of rainbow shells and beach glass in this glass 5x7 shadow box frame. First, I used handmade paper that I ripped and layered to create a backdrop for the shells. Next, I laid the shells out on my backdrop and using tweezers and hot glue, I tediously glued the tiny shells to the backing. I am sending this little shell art piece to my cousins, who did all the organizing and planning for our memorable BVI sail.

The rest of the shells and bits of coral that I brought home, I arranged inside in a glass ball terrarium, like this that I got here a few years ago.

#164...new sofa cushions

My couches have been looking a little sad lately. The cushions, which I covered myself 7 years ago, really needed a facelift.  Additionally, each couch had a bunch of loose cushions across the back, which always end up on the floor, and constantly needed arranging. I decided to have new cushions made for my couches. My couches are covered in marine grade textured pleather (vinyl) and have held up really well for the people and pets that use them; so I went with the same fabric for the new cushions, but decided to go for a cleaner, more modern look, opting for much fewer cushions. Also.....I decided to use a professional and not try to make them myself. 
I had the cushions made at a local upholstery shop, and while it was not an inexpensive endeavor, it was much less costly than buying two new couches. I decided to have the cushions made so that they could be reversible, offering a variety of looks for the couch. I am really pleased with how they turned out, and how much they changed the look of my room.

#163...houseplant success

I really like houseplants, but I have not had that much success keeping them alive, until I came across Zamioculcas. I have three of them growing very nicely, and they have been so easy to care for. The plant tag even says "wants minimal attention"......it does not get much easier than that. I bought one of the plants at Ikea and the other two at Home Depot.

#162...flowers for my kitchen

Inspired by this photo from the mother/daughter design blog good bones, great pieces of a room done by Marc Blackwell for Diffa Dining by Design in New York..........

I ordered this cotton rug from Urban Outfitters for my black galley kitchen

The pattern is not nearly as large of a repeat as I was hoping for, but the price is great for the size, and I'll keep it for summer or until my dogs manage to ruin it.