More slipcover madness

I have finally emerged from behind the sewing machine, and it feels like freedom. When I started this project, my goal was to use only materials on hand, not to buy stuff to complete the task. I like the way this type of thing forces one to be creative and to stay within limitations. Often I find this allows me to do my best work. I have spent years accumulating things I could someday use. I had decided that "someday" had come. I am done with buying things for the house. I have everything that I need, and if I want something, like these slipcovers, I am going to invest time and ingenuity, not money to satisfy that desire. Plus I am going through a stage where I crave simplicity. More stuff lying around just complicates life because then I must find a place for it.

When it came to making the toile slip, this became a most arduous task. I didn't like the original band between the top and the skirt. It just wasn't properly proportioned, but I ran out of the toile to make a band from it. The striped fabric was too thin. What to do? I tore apart the first one and started from scratch. I made some piping from white canvas. Then I tried to use some real burlap as the band. What a mistake that was! It shed all over the place, and when I needed to change something, it just shredded. I ripped that apart and went back to the closet looking for some other fabric to use. I finally found this ultra-soft cotton flannel in the right color. Then I assembled the rest. It took me until 10:00 last night to finally finish. I worked on it for 3 hours yesterday morning and 3 hours last night. And there are still things I need to correct. For now, it is good enough.

Each time I put another slip over the ottoman, the cats were all over it. I kept having to pick them up and move them out of the way to try to get a picture. Finally, I just let Ms. Kitty play queen of the mountain and took the picture. This one is made from an old piece of thick linen I have had around for at least 10 years. I don't know what it was originally made for; however, I suspected it was one of those hand towels on a large roller that used to be in public bathrooms. For this one, I just went for the most simple shape and drape, which seemed to suit the fabric. It kind of gives it a casual country look, perfect for summer, I think.

So now, I have to decide what color scheme and look I want to create in the living room and design it around the slip covered ottoman. This is the fun part!!

Stay tuned for more.

Until next time...

Anne

P.S. Does any one have issues with blogger when posting comments? There are some pages where, each time when I go to post a comment, windows begin popping open so fast I can't click out of them. There will be between 15 and 20 before I finally can get the program to just shut down Explorer. What in the world is this? It only happens when posting a comment, and unfortunately on one of my favorite blogs.