Patio Cushions

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Two of my outdoor patio chairs were in desperate need of new cushions.  I bought these chairs a few years ago and the original brick-red colored cushions had become really faded and discolored after a few summers in the sun.

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Here are the chairs before:

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There was no way I was going to put these chairs out again this year looking like this!

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Of course, this project was on my to-do list all winter but I somehow managed to put it off until last month.

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I started by using trace paper and tracing the existing cushions to make a pattern.

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I pinned the patterns to the fabric and cut out the pieces.

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Once I had the pattern pieces cut out, I wrapped them around the existing cushions and pinned the fabric around them so that I would know where to sew.

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Sewing was a bit tricky, but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out - and they definitely look much better than the old cushions!

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Now that these are finished, I am officially ready for Summer.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  My Dad helped me put up a new flag up just in time to celebrate the holiday.

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*** The fabric I used for the cushions is by Waverly from their Sun N Shade Collection.  The pattern name is: SNS Lovely Lattice, color is: Citrine.

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I've Linked up to: Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch, We Did it Wednesday @ Sew Much Ado, The Boardwalk Bragfest @ Bobbypins Boardwalk, Show and Share Day @ Just a Girl, Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design, Transformation Thursdays @ The Shabby Chic Cottage, Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple, Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic, Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous,

Fabric Fun Thursdays @ Cheap Chic Home.

Sew Much Ado - Flashback Friday

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Abby @ Sew Much Ado has a feature every Friday on her blog called Flashback Friday.  Every Friday she selects a blogger to share something that was made for them or that they made for someone else.  She asked me to participate this week!  Head on over there and take a look.  You can see what I shared right here.

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If you have never been to Sew Much Ado, I think you'll like what you see.  This project is on my list to make for next year and isn't the Ruby Lou Doll the cutest thing ever?  What little girl wouldn't love her?  Abby also has a link-up party every Wednesday called We Did it Wednesday.

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Thanks Abby for asking me to participate in Flashback Friday today!

You Capture: Sky

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This weeks You Capture challenge @ I should be folding Laundry is sky. 

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I didn't think that I would be joining this week but as I sat here the sky started turning beautiful shades of pink & purple.  I couldn't resist taking a few shots.  Looks like a beautiful Summer sky, doesn't it?  I hope this means that Summer is here to stay!

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Weekend Kitchen: Mixed Baby Greens with Eggplant

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I make this salad quite a bit in the summer.  It might look and sound a little strange but it's really good!

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Ingredients:

- Mixed baby greens

- Italian style bread crumbs

- Eggplant (a narrow one is best)

- Red & yellow bell peppers

- Cherry tomatoes

- Goat cheese crumbles

- Olive oil & balsamic vinegar

- 1 egg

1/4 c. milk

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Whisk egg and milk in bowl.  Slice eggplant.  Coat in egg/milk mixture and then coat with bread crumbs.

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Drizzle a tablespoon or two in fry pan and cook eggplant.  A few minutes on each side is all it takes to cook them up.

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While eggplant is cooking prepare greens & toppings.

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Look at that pretty lettuce!

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Drizzle salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

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Top salad with eggplant & enjoy!  The warm eggplant melts the goat cheese and tastes delicious.  Now I'm hungry!

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You Capture: Depth of Field

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These are pictures I took last year at our local farmers market.  We were at the market that day to buy cucumbers for making pickles.  I can't wait to start going to the market again! 
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I'm excited to be linking up to You Capture @ I should be Folding Laundry for the first time!

Wrapping Paper & Ribbon Wall Rack

..Wrapping Paper & Ribbon Wall Rack

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What you'll need:

- 36" x 24" open back frame (Mine came from Hobby Lobby and was 1/2 off)

- (5) 28"-48" cafe rods ($2.99 each @ Hobby Lobby)

- spray paint

- mounting hardware for frame

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The cafe rods came with brass hardware that I wasn't too crazy about.

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So my first step was to spray paint the ends of the rods and the included hardware.  I used Krylon in Dover White.

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Before:

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And after:

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Much better, don't you think?

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To paint the rods I stuck them in the ground so the spray painting would be easier.  I think my neighbors may have wondered if the rods were a new, permanent fixture!

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Here's the open back frame I used:

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Next, attach the mounting hardware to the back of the frame.

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Attach cafe rod hardware to the front of the frame.

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That's it!

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Here's the frame hanging in my craft room:

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And here it is with wrapping paper and ribbon:

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I think it would be fun to do this with a smaller frame and use it to only for ribbon.

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Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed this project!

Bye-Bye Brass

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I bought a little brass side table at an estate sale this winter for $5.00.  I knew I was going to spray paint it but I had no idea what color until I remembered Traci's post about using oil rubbed brass paint on her door knobs and faucets.  Perfect!

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Here's the before:

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I used Rust-Oleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint that I found @ The Home Depot.

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And a few after:

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I'm really impressed with this spray paint.  Unfortunately, the pictures don't do it justice.  The finish is so pretty with just a hint of metallic - just like oil rubbed brass!  Now I'm walking around my house looking for other things that could use a little ORB.

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Thanks to my blog friend Kari for featuring me on her blog today in her weekly series called "Magnificent Mondays: Magnificent Blogs" .  Check out her blog Adventures of One Crazy Lady and read about her adventures in everything from crafting to cooking to living in Chicago.  Thanks Kari - you made my day!

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I've linked up to Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays  @ Costal Charm, Be Inspired @ Room to Inspire, Make it Yours Day @ My Backyard Eden, Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic.