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Another Big Bite

Another Big Bite

Tag Archives: upcycle

Conquering the Ottoman Empire

16 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House, I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo'

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

burlap, coffee sacks, ottoman, reupholstering furniture, upcycle

ottoman4

Think back to the very first piece of “real furniture” you ever bought.  No Ikea Poang chair, no thrift shop headboard, no hand-me-down-getchya-Krylon-on coffee table.

Ah… Did you get it home, put it in its place, stand back and stare at it in wonder and then run over to it and rub your face on it?

I did.

ottoman1

It was a leather ottoman; and it has been with us for about eight years now.  No kidding, I thought our children might donate it to Goodwill after Nae and I passed on.  That is definitely not going to happen.  Because after those kiddies wriggle themselves into the picture, they manage to destroy everything in their path.  Stainless steel, french door refrigerators.  White linen duvet covers.  Priceless family heirlooms.  Sentimental childhood Christmas ornaments.  Even presumably indestructible leather ottomans.

This is why we can’t have nice things.

A few years ago, when covering everything in burlap was trendy, waaaaay before chevron printed burlap was staring you in the face the second you entered Joann Fabrics, I bought a few out-of-comission coffee sacks.  Covering things in recycled coffee sacks was also a design trend that seemed as though it was going to take the world by storm, but it was just a little to early to make its way onto the yet-to-be-embraced Pinterest.  Maybe it would have never caught on; the thought of reupholstering your chair with a piece of fabric that had been slung over the back of an impoverished, sunburned laborer hauling non-fair-trade coffee around in inhospitable working conditions doesn’t exactly scream luxury and good taste.

But we all loose our shit over diamonds, and those are certainly mined by fairly treated workers, right?

Anywho, I had these old coffee sacks in the basement just waiting to be thrown away.  Just about the time Alice decided to ream another hole into the leather ottoman with a toy screwdriver, I was staring at these old sacks thinking about how they could probably stand up to two little people if they were strong enough to transport a hundred pounds of coffee around the globe.

And so another “free” project was born.  Technically, I spent two dollars on the coffee sacks and had four dollars of velcro lying around that had yet to be employed in another half-finished project, but I didn’t have to run to Home Depot or Michaels to pick up supplies.  That, in and of itself, is GOLD.

I didn’t want to ruin the ottoman (any more than it was), so I decided to make a removable slip cover that would velcro just underneath the ottoman.  I sewed assembled five pieces of burlap for the sides and the top, sewed on the  soft velcro around the bottom edge, and then stapled the scratchy velcro around the underside of the ottoman.

Violet helped me measure.

Violet helped me measure.

photo 5 (1)

photo (1)

Meanwhile, the coffee sacks were shedding like crazy.  I just kept sweeping, and sweeping, and sweeping… But the kids were fascinated with all the dust while I was shaking them out.

ottoman2

ottoman3

When it was done, I was kinda pleased with it.  Sure, it wasn’t the most beautiful piece of furniture, but it looked better than impaled leather.

And then I patiently waited for Nathan to get home and say, “Nice…. You covered our only piece of leather furniture with… Rags.  Looks great.  Keep up the good work, Lisa.”

But he seemed genuinely okay with it.  I can never predict his reactions.

IMG_6821

I’m still not sold enough that I am making the jump to get new feet for it.  I would love some chunky, turned feet, but I’m leery about throwing another $40 into an old piece of furniture that isn’t what I really love anyway.

So… I’m mulling it over.

But I also miss my brand-new, soft and supple leather ottoman.  Even though it isn’t really what is in style anymore, I am mourning it just a smidge.  It was, after all, my very first piece of real furniture.  And I just covered it in recycled burlap.

So, tell me… What was your first “real” piece of furniture, and do you still love it as much as the day you rubbed your face on it?  Or did you cover it in burlap, too?

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Let’s Play “How to Alienate the Christian Home Depot Employee” (AKA: A DIY Capitan’s Mirror)

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in Fixing Up the House, I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo'

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

capitans mirror, decorating, diy, mirror, upcycle

1mirror2

I have had my eye on a mirror from Restoration Hardware forever…  But as those things usually go, there was no way in hell I was going to pay half of my mortgage payment on a piece of home decor.

Still, it is a thing of beauty…

And though mine isn’t near as pretty, it works just fine for me.

belt

It started with an old leather belt that didn’t fit anymore wasn’t in style anymore and a reasonably priced Ikea mirror.  We bought the mirror when we first moved in with the intent to copy the RH mirror.  I even took apart the belt, got all psyched…. And then the project was shelved in light of laying new floors, painting walls and building beds (among other things).

This is what it looked like when we moved in...  Plain circle mirror.

This is what our living room looked like when we moved in… Plain circle mirror, and not many major changes.

A few nights ago, I swapped out the hardware at my desk and realized that the old knobs would be perfect “bolts” on the sides of the mirror.

Eureka!

photo 1 (2)

Under the cover of darkness (kids asleep, Nathan on a business trip), I cut holes in my leather belt, slipped in the knobs…

And then proceeded to hot glue those bad boys to the mirror.  I’m not sure why duct tape is held in such regard when the hot glue is obviously a more versatile adhesive.

I used a nail as a standin, but the next day, I headed over to Home Depot to asses other options.  Actually, I kinda liked the nail…  It was just too small.  I should note that there isn’t any weight on the nail, since the mirror was already hung on the wall.  I wrangled an orange apron in the hardware aisle and proceeded to stumble through my non-jargoned description of what I was looking for.

“I need a really big nail.”

The guy looked at me like I was asking him to point me in the direction of “a piece of wood.”

“You know, like one of those iron, rustic looking ones… But really huge.”

“Well, we have these.”  He holds up a fifteen inch spike that might hold railroad ties into the ground.  It was too big, even for my standards.  That’swhatshesaid.

“Okay, you know those well-meaning Christian kids who make those ugly necklaces made of nails wired together in the shape of a cross?  One of those, but obscenely large.”

Jesus Christ.

Ohmygod.

Holy shit.

OH NO.  Did I seriously just ask the Home Depot guy for a giant, rusty crucifixion nail?  Oh yes; yes I did.

And to add insult to injury, this is the moment I notice the gold, not-terribly-subtle crucifix nestled in his chest hair.  You can’t take me anywhere, I tell ya.

photo 2 (2)

In the end, I went with a regular really big nail.  Apparently, they don’t stock giant, rusty crucifixion nails at Home Depot.  I had the brilliant idea to spray it gold.  It was rather glam at the time and I liked it…  Until I got it in the wall.  Now, from where I sit, it just looks like a big, brown nail.  Maybe I’ll paint it black.

But, if my history is any indication, I won’t get around to it for another nine months.

1mirror3

This probably goes without saying, but no Messiahs were harmed in the making of this mirror.  Loosen the grip on the torches and pitchforks.

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Another day. Another pillow.

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo', The "Joy" of Parenting

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

decorating, diy, kids room, kids rooms, pillow, pillowcase, pillowcases, sewing, upcycle

Another Big Bite - Pillowcase Makeover

Or two.

1pillow6

I’ve been busy getting a duvet cover made for Finny’s Big Boy Room…  I have been looking high and low for exactly the right fabric.  Only problem?  I have expensive taste.  Which sucks.  For me.  And sorta for Jonathan Adler, since I’m not planning on buying anything from him anytime soon, no matter how deep my appreciation runs for white, mid-century-inspired ceramics and cheeky needlepoint pillows.

A duvet cover is also such a big project, for no other reason than the sheer linear feet of sewing, and it is not rewarding.  Making a dress or stuffed animal gives you a bit of pride; the feeling like: It was just a flat strech of fabric, and now?  (haughty sniff) I MADE THIS.  A duvet cover is nothing but a giant fabric bag – which should be simple, but always ends up a bit off.  I’ve got my share of sewing projects that I am purty darn proud of, but sewing miles and miles of straight lines is mind numbing. Monotonous.  Lackluster.  Unexciting.  Mundane.  Insipid.  Exciting enough that one has time to think of numerous synonyms to “BOR-RING.”

photo (5)

Before. Meh.

I bought a pair of flat sheets to make Finn’s duvet cover.  I picked up a pair of plain, white pillowcases while I was at it.  During all this dull cutting and sewing and sewing and sewing, I thought; Screw this.  I’m taking a break and doing something small.

It started with this tutorial for pillowcases.  I followed her instructions but used slightly different measurements since I was adapting a pair of existing pillowcases.  I had a pair of cases and I have a pair of children; it seemed only natural that each of them ended up with one.  I busted out the scrap stash and got to work.

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I love the pattern on Finn’s.  I want a shirt made out of that fabric.  Which would make me look a bit like a mime/lumberjack.  I’m okay with that, though.

1pillow4

1pillows4

Alice’s is a little -ahem- loud, but since I used some of the leftovers from her quilt I made when she was still baking, it coordinates closely enough.

Every time I make something for the kids, I envision their beautiful, happy smiles on their little cherub-cheeked faces when I show it to them.  This is not reality.  “Finn, what do you think of your new pillowcase?”  I hold it up and smile brightly.  He glances over with glazed eyes and a dead stare that says Oh yes, Mother.  ANOTHER e’ffing pillow.  I’m ever so thrilled.  “Okay.  I have two pillows already, Mom.”  Which is better than what I imagine he is thinking.

Does this child realize that one can NEVER HAVE TOO MANY PILLOWS?  No.  No, he does not.

See? Told ya he was beside himself with joy.

See? Told ya he was beside himself with joy.

And so it is back to the grindstone with this damn duvet cover.  Not that it is anything spectacular.  But I’ve gotten this far into it – and plunked down eight bucks in supplies for it, so I ‘spose I’ll try to see it to the end.

Wish me luck.  Karma.  Victory.  Triumph.  Kismet?

My brain’s got all day here, folks.

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They See Me Strollin’. They Hatin’.

02 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo', The "Joy" of Parenting

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

alice, before and after, crafts, diy, doll stroller, dolls, goodwill, kids, parenting, recycle, sewing, upcycle, upcycling

Another Big Bite - Doll Stroller Makeover

Oh, Alice and her babies.

She’s been enamored with baby dolls since she’s been able to sit up.  Finn suggested we get her a stroller for her first birthday, which turned out to be a stroke of genius.  We ordered a plastic Fisher Price walker-type one from Amazon, and she was on a roll. Once she realized that she had more than just the one baby, all hell broke loose because the other babies were too big.

That one has been banished to the basement for its tantrum-causing tendencies.  Don’t worry; it has the giant cardboard bricks, slot-cars and Hot Wheel track down there to keep it company.

Last week, after my I-should-get-rid-of-my-crappy-Old-Navy-clothes epiphany, I whittled down my closet by almost half and lugged two giant blue Ikea bags full of clothes to Goodwill.  I made the mistake of popping in.  And left $3.00 poorer with this icky bad boy in my trunk.

Another Big Bite - Doll Stroller Makeover before

I scrubbed the hell out of it with Clorox wipes.  Instead of being a regular person and plunking the cover in the wash, I made a new cover.  Just trying to make the world a little cuter, one beat-up doll stroller at a time.

It wasn’t rocket science; I used a seam ripper to tear it apart and then traced the pieces onto leftover fabric scraps.  Oh, yeah, canvas dropcloth to the rescue yet again!  I’m gonna milk that baby as long as I can.  Best twenty bucks I’ve ever spent.  Since the original stroller fabric was finished in bias tape (which tests my sewing skills and frustrates me to no end) and I was fresh out (shucky-darn, motherfucka), I opted to double up the canvas with some cute Amy Butler fabric I had lying around waiting for a project.  That meant adding a bit of seam allowance.

photo 1 (12)

Then traced my canvas on to the cute fabric...

Then traced my canvas on to the cute fabric…

I made sure to add elastic loops, static loops and velcro wherever the original had it.  The original had a pair of D-rings and webbing for the belt to hold the doll in.  Alice would have long outgrown this darn thing before she was able to manipulate those, so I improvised a velcro/fabric belt instead.

1stroller1

Now she’s happier than a brand-new momma with a Bugaboo…  (Probably because she gets more sleep).  And I’m happier because this one folds up and hides in the cabinets in the living room when she’s done.

Ohmygod!  She was so little in December!  And not even walking on her own.

Ohmygod! She was so little in December! And not even walking on her own.

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1stroller3

“Back up, lady. That last Petite Vanilla Scone has my name written all over it.”

No stroller, but I couldn't resist.

No stroller, but I couldn’t resist.

This should stay relevant until she realizes they make DOUBLE strollers for dolls…  I’ll plead with her to reconsider putting it on her Christmas list.  (“Please, Alice, honey.  Your father and I thought we had to have a double stroller for the two of you kids…  And that thing is a bitch to get around.  And takes up too much real estate in the garage…  Even though it is AMAZING.”)  But she’ll be just like her mom – and won’t listen to her mother’s sage advice.

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Woo! Foxy Pillow!

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by anotherbigbite in I'm a Crafty Mo' Fo'

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

before and after, decorating, diy, fox, home, pillow, recycle, sewing, sweater, upcycle, upcycling

Here I come, baby.  I’m comin’ to lean on ya.

1foxp2

As I write this, I am beginning to notice a pattern.  Buying clothes for myself at Old Navy is not wise.  I have countless pairs of jeans and shirts in my closet that don’t fit, are a weird color, are falling apart or some combination of any of those three.  The one thing they all have in common?  Old Navy.

But, hey, they were also all very reasonably priced.  So there’s that.

photo 1 (9)

Here’s the thing; I bought that crap because I thought it was cute at one time or another.  This sweater is textbook Old Navy…  Cute idea, slightly the wrong color, poor quality, ill-fitting…  And only sixteen dollars!  Why yes, ma’am, I’ll take it!

I like the fox, I do, but no one over the age of fourteen (I’m being generous here) should be sporting woodland creatures in the name of fashion.  Since I’m not the greatest at math, I clearly overlooked the fact that I am in my thirties and have no business traipsing around in a sweater emblazoned with Tod from The Fox and the Hound.

Still, it is kinda cute.  So I made a pillow out of it.  Lined with (what else but) a drop cloth.

I was mad impressed with myself when I finally zipped up the invisible zipper that I put in – after ripping it out only twice.  By the time I got around to getting started on the insert for the pillow, I had an epiphany.

Lightning had struck my brain.

Hey, I’ve got 826 down pillows scattered around the house.  Surely I can spare one of them for The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  They are all too big; I’ll just rip one open and make it smaller!!  Easy, peasy!

Do you have any idea how many fucking feathers are in a 20″ down pillow insert?  This many; it fills a bin that is big enough for me to lay down in.

photo 2 (9)So there I am, in the middle of the night, choking on the remains of some unfortunate specimen of water fowl, wishing I would have worn a mask, covered from head to toe in static-infused downy goodness, and it strikes me that some poor soul has to do this every damn day, forty hours a week, fifty-two weeks a year.  And I’m doing it for a HOBBY.  Clearly, I’m a dumbass.

Not that we didn’t already know that about me.  I mean, hey, I’m a grown woman buying clothes from Old Navy without trying them on.

Now I’ve got a pillow – a fox, made out of sheep’s hair (wool), stuffed with a goose. It is the turducken of soft furnishings… A sheeoxaquack?  I dunno.

1foxp1

Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m off to my closet to get a pile going for Goodwill.

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