Easy Denim ottoman slipcover

 
For Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special, week 3 Anything Goes, I thought I would show this ottoman that I made a  denim slipcover for. We've been pretty busy here with all the trick-or-treaters (we get over 150 kiddos) so I'm reusing some photos  from earlier in the summer. I have since made pillows for this little bench at the end of our bed, but I need to upload the photos.

 White denim was the fabric I decided on and I'm very happy with it. So easy to wash when the kids spill the food or drinks they are not supposed to bring into our room.
This was the ottoman/bench that my friend from work gave me. The velvet fabric was in great shape but I was wanting something a little more neutral.
It was really quite easy to sew, just a simple gathered piece sewn onto a semi-fitted top. For those of you with access to a sewing machine and afraid to sew, this is by no means a pro job. Everything was fitted by eye, no pattern and all sewing involved straight lines. Pin, pin, pin and sew. You can see photos of the pinning here.
 Be sure to stop by Funky Junk Interiors hosted by the fabulous Donna to see the rest of this weeks Saturday Nite Specials. And if H1N1 is in your area, take care and be well!
Edited to add Jan.2010: I'm linking up to Angie at ThreadNeedleStudio's Slipcover Show-Off Linky Party.

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Easy Denim ottoman slipcover

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Az. Blogger Lunch

Our group photo. From left sitting is Oliva, Majia,Laurel,Margarite and Ceekay, then standing is me, Linda and Laura. On the right we have Jamie, Aiyana, Myra, Karen, Cyndi, and Sherry hiding in the back. Standing is Char and Liz.


Yesterday we had the Az. Bloggers lunch, and what a great time we all had. It was fabulous to meet fellow bloggers and make new friends. We had lunch at a cute little Tea Room call Gooseberries in Phoenix. There were 17 in attendance and just the greatest and most fun ladies you could ever meet. We all had such fun.

We had huge surprises in store also. On the left is Cyndi (Applestone Cottage) from Wisconsin who was here visiting and on the right is Karen (Some Days Are Diamonds) that drove over from Calif. to surprise her. They've been blog friends for years but had never met. It was a wonderful meeting and surprise. Tons of laughs and hugs.


Ceekay was also so surprised that Karen drove all the way over here. Keeping this a surprise was hard, but such fun.


Everyone talking at once and getting to know one another, you can just imagine all the laughs and giggles.


Jamie, Char and Liz.


Myra,Sherry and Aiyana.


More posing for pictures. Seems like we've known each other for years.


Cyndi and Karen.


Laurel and Margarite.


Ceekay, Linda and Laura.


And of course when you get a bunch of bloggers together there are always gifts. This is Laura showing some darling "Boo" letters.


Myra and Aiyana unwrapping their treasures.


Jamie showing her teapot tassel.


Char with a darling burlap pumpkin.


and I'm overjoyed with my treasures of candy, a bundle of wheat, a lovely halloween box, halloween flag, a pendant and sparkling cider. I was definitely the most spoiled of all.


Just the neatest group of ladies you would ever want to meet. Everyone one of them so charming and warm. It felt like we had all know each other forever.


This is a look at all my stash of goodies that I came home with. Aren't bloggers just the most generous people in all the world.


Here is a list of all these wonderful ladies blogs. If you havn't met them, please go by and get acquainted. You will absolutely love everyone of them, and such fabulous and talented ladies. I sincerely thank each and everyone for a wonderful day. I had the greatest time.

Majia (maigirtz.typepad.com) Char (someplaceinthyme.blogspot.com)
Jamie (queenmimicorner.blogspot.com) Linda (lindathompson.blogspot.com)
Liz (rosevignettes.blogspot.com) Sherry (countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com)
Ceekay (thinkinofhome.blogspot.com) Margarite (pudgeduck.blogspot.com)
Myra (nevely317.blogspot.com) Oliva ( olivascreativequest.blogspot.com) Laura(decortoadore.blogspot.com) Karen (somedaysarediamonds.blogspot.com)
Cyndi ( applestonecottage.blogspot.com.) Aiyana (waterwhendry.blogspot.com)

P.S. Does anybody know why the first picture isn't always showing up on the dashboard directory? I see that some pictures are just a sliver and others don't show up at all. Anyone have a clue?

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Tablescape Thursday - Happy Halloween

Today is another one of those fun days when we get to play with our dishes, thanks to Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch. Be sure to go by her blog and see her gorgeous tablescape and a list of all the other participants.

Just a fun tablescape for Halloween.


A happy Jack-O-Latern, all aglow.


I placed the pumpkin on a cake stand in a bed of faux leaves and surrounded by a variety of pumpkins and corn from the Dollar Tree.


Black tablecloth and orange napkins and candles for a real Halloween color scheme.


The candles give such a pretty glow in the evening.


I've used the little leaf bowls from Walmart to hold the candles.


The black stemmed wine glass and the clear goblet both came from the Dollar Tree.


Each placesetting is set with my everyday flatware, orange napkins from GW and wood napkin rings from Pier One.


The leaf plates came from Marshalls on sales for $1 each.


The black and white plates are also from Marshalls for $1 ea and the white plate is the famous Gibson dishes from Big Lots all sitting on a rattan placemat.


This is the happiest pumpkin, he just loves to be all lit up.


A view of the table all set for some ghosts and goblins to join the table.


Thanks so much for stopping by, I always appreciate your visits and hope you come back soon.

Hugs, Marty

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Tablescape Thursday - Happy Halloween

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Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special~~Vignettes

I'm joining Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special featuring vignettes hosted by the super creative and humorous Donna. Donna not only has a fantastic home and blog, but she has given some incredibly helpful tips on improving your blog that I have been so happy to take advantage of. Her Passion Series is very inspiring also. This weeks Saturday Nite Special is all about vignettes around our homes.
While I have always loved accessories, it has only been since I started blogging that I have felt a tiny bit more comfortable creating vignettes. Before, it was put some nice things here and there and that's it. Now, I am trying to use my favourite bloggers' tips to use height, repeated shapes and colours etc.
I love this area on our countertop~with some of my favourite elements, white, black, blue, wood, metal...
A work in progress are these display and storage shelves in the eat-in area of our kitchen. I'm thinking now that the shelves are spaced too far apart. The white brackets are from IKEA and I am deciding between painting the shelves white and staining them to keep a rustic pine look. The wall behind will soon be BM Stone House. Another glass canister, this time to hold cookie cutters and cake decorating tips. The large charger is a match to the one on top of the fridge. I'm keeping my eyes open for a larger round silver-plate tray to layer behind the charger, some layerin' lovin' courtesy of Donna.
The rustic finish on this tray made by my friend Julie makes me very happy! One of my favourite pieces is this bread box she gifted me with when I made a multilayer bedskirt for her.


I was inspired by Kim from Twice Remembered and her What's on top of my fridge post to create this vignette on top of our fridge. We have a love of agriculture in our home, especially horses, cows and anything dairy farm, hence the milk bottle from a local dairy and one of my cows. There is still tweaking to do. I hope to soon make a rustic pine box to lift the vase in the back left corner and to bring some of the wood elements to that corner. I have been searching for some vintage boxes like Donna/Funky Junk's here, but have not had any luck.
These great glass canisters keep my baking ingredients close at hand for an after school triple batch of cookies (the largest canister holds whole wheat flour that we go through quite quickly.) Now all I need is to replace my B&D hand mixer with the KitchenAid Professional mixer that is on my wish list;)
I also collect 'Cream Lace' by Skye McGhie and recently added the blue 'Cottage Rose' also by Skye McGhie to this pie safe I painted for our kitchen. The yellow (BM Concord Ivory) walls are on their way out. Most of our main floor is now repainted Benjamin Moore Stone House that you might get a peek of in the back corner of the above picture. The last two kitchen walls and backsplash still need to be completed.
This vignette is on a small cabinet in our dining room. I picked up the lamp for $4 and spray painted it. I'm looking for a more interesting lampshade and just borrowed this one from another room. Maybe a drum shade? I saw one at HomeSense, covered in burlap. What do you think? I also think I need a taller mirror or framed piece to rest behind the other photo. For some reason, I just realized now, the cabinet is pulled over too far to the right. It usually does not sit in front of the wall opening, but centers nicely. I'll have to fix that.
And below, a little tray vignette I pulled together to photograph the coffee table I just painted. My parents gave me a pile of green, burgundy and my fav, blue, leather Reader's Digest Select Editions. I'm learning from Donna and I too will be on the lookout for more trays to layer. The black tray on the black coffee table could use some layerin' lovin'.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to see more Saturday Nite Special vignettes hosted by Donna at Funky Junk Interiors, one of my favourite places in blogland. And please feel free to leave comments or make suggestions. My hubby and boys are off to the arena to watch our local Ontario Juniors Hockey League team and since I was at the arena this morning with our boys at 6 a.m. and again today at 1p.m., I'm making myself a nice pot of tea and checking out the rest of the Saturday Nite Special participants.

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Fall Decor Finished And A Home Tour

I finally changed out the Living Room to all the fall colors and decorations. It's been so warm, it's taken a while to get into the mood. Our weather is gorgeous now in the mid 80's. So many of you have asked to see a tour of my home, so I thought I would do a small preview. It's a small home, very builder basic with no architectural distinction such as crown moldings or trims. All of the walls are painted in Valspar Fioli Antique Lace, soft cocoa beige carpet and beige Travertine tiles.

This is a view standing with the front door opened. You can see all the way through the house to the outside. All of the rooms are very open to each other.


To the right of the front door is the Living Room. All of my furniture is very tonal, so it's really easy to change the look by just using different accessories.


The Dining Room and Living Room are all one room. It's a nice size area allowing me to have a table and 6 chairs and still use the buffet against the window.


I mix and match a lot of fabrics for texture, color and interest.


A few more views of the Living Room. We have a lot of windows, and the rooms are always bright and sunny.






As you enter through the doorway from the Living/Dining areas, the Breakfast room is on the right and the Kitchen is on the left, with the Family room straight ahead. All of these areas are completely open to each other.


The Family Room is only seperated from the Breakfast area by the use of carpet instead of the travertine tile. I love having all of these areas so open to each other.


This view shows how the Family/Breakfast Rooms connect to the Kitchen area.


A view of the Kitchen from the entry door.


That's a small tour of part of our home. It is very typical of a lot of homes in Arizona with the use of open spaces and a lot of windows. Nothing fancy or grand, but I enjoy my little builder basic, hope you enjoyed the tour.

Thanks so much for dropping by, I always appreciate your visits.

Hugs, Marty

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Fall Decor Finished And A Home Tour

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