Variations on a theme...

Yesterday I showed you my vintage patio set makeover. I love that fabric! I chose it because I wanted something with a darker background that wouldn't look so dirty all the time. I'm a big fan of brown. It's probably more of a staple in my wardrobe than black (oh my!) - so I wasn't at all surprised that I was drawn to it in the amazingly vast sea of outdoor canvas that was available at the fabric store this year! Seriously there were at least 100 bolts to choose from that weren't special order! Heaven!

So let it be known, I can't sew. I want to sew. I can more or less sew a not so straight line. I took 2 semesters of sewing in high school, but alas...my mom pretty much did my work. I admit it. I mentioned before that having a mom who sews ROCKS. I promise I will learn to do it at some point - like when I have a PLACE to do it...soon. Soon...

Over the years my mom has sewn clothes for me (from the time I was a baby up until high school), she made a  bed skirt for me when I went off to college, and throw pillows for my bed. She made drapes and pillow covers for me when I bought my house (the very same week I graduated from college no less - speaking of college graduation - she altered the dress I bought for that too). She even whips up heating pad covers like they're going out of style (for my iguanas). She hems my pants, she alters things that don't fit quite right on me...yep - my mom is awesome like that! 

This time I hit her up for removable covers for my patio cushions. You know...like 3 days before my Memorial Day party (yes, she does have a full time job - she also keeps saying she's going to retire - we'll see...) Mom is rarely one to disappoint. So of course I had all new covers for my patio furniture...and even some extra goodies when she showed up (late...because she realized she never  stitched the 4th chair cushion together).

(two before photos of the cushions)

Behold my beautiful porch and deck - and mom's handiwork. 

The deck - pardon the grill cover draped over the deck railing...I promise it's not a Hefty bag! Not a bad patio set for the side of the road eh? No, i'm not Canadian...

Chair cushions re-covered so they can be washed

The vintage lounge chair - thought I would give the retro print a rest and get a coordinating stripe to break it up. Mom had leftover canvas so she whipped up a tie on pillow cover (like you use on a hammock) only she forgot to grab a bag of stuffing- it's on my to-do list.

Better shot of the pattern...pardon the hanging thing behind it. That's the inflatable salad bar that we used at the party on Sunday...has to hang to dry before rolling it up to put away. Don't want any mold...

The bench on my front porch..and a bonus pillow for the rocking chair!

Yes, I realize my porch needs some work. It's going to get extended about 3' so I haven't bothered to stain the concrete since i'd just end up doing it again anyway.

Yes...that rocker is another project...you can see that Mr. Paisley started sanding it...

Mom and I talked about getting more of the stripe fabric and doing a "wrap" for the back and seat of the rocker. I had planned to redo the rush, but maybe not at this point if the cover works :-)

I'm linking up to these parties today -

check out what all the other crafty bloggers have going on!

 

I'm going to submit this for thrifty too - because we re-covered existing yucky cushions instead of buying new ones. It wasn't cheap, but I did get the outdoor canvas 50% off ($8.99 a yard) and it still cost less than buying new cushions - let alone throw pillows. It's a bargain in my book - plus washable! So they'll last more than one season. Go Green!

 

Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Set Reveal!

I'm linking up to several parties with this post - i'm calling it thrifty because the table and chairs were free - I spent $9 on the outdoor canvas to re-cover the seats, and about $50 on spray paint, primer and frosting spray.  


Here and here I posted a project (re-covering patio chair seats) and a hint at an upcoming project. Well today's the day!  Mr. Paisley and I have stripped, wire brushed, heat gunned, scraped, cleaned, sprayed, cut, stapled, primed, and sworn...but it's done - and without injury to either of us! The vintage wrought iron patio set is now gorgeous! Thank you Mrs. Judy Alligood for giving me your mother's patio set some 12 years ago. The older I get, the more I appreciate it!

Before...

I know - I REALLY have to remember to take those before shots...this was when I first got it (1997)...in a kitchen that hasn't looked like that in YEARS (hey I was a single, messy, just out of college...yeah, not really an excuse for that mess, but that's my story). Eww...and I used to drink Diet Pepsi. Gross!

Here's Mr. Paisley working on the table (see I did take SOME before photos). 

and a chair that's rusting (because I started to strip it years ago) and a super faded cushion.

Mr. Paisley working on a chair (that's my Diet Coke with a razor blade scraper on top - I really was helping and not just taking the photos!)

Look at all that paint...

Mr. Paisley with the heat gun...

Me trying to scrape and take a picture at the same time! Those plastic razor scrapers are one of my favorite "tools" they work for so many things! That's Mr. P's hairy knee...not mine :-)

A quick coat of primer...

then on to the paint! I ended up choosing Rust-Olelum's Hammered Brown. My original thought had been a nice Oil Rubbed Bronze, but too many people said "everyone's doing it" Mom always told me I wasn't like everyone else...so brown it is! Which actually came out bronze-ish with the hammered finish. Perfect!

Voila! Here's one finished...3 to go plus the table.

Pretty details no longer gooked up with layers and layers of...house paint. 

Here it is set up for our party Memorial Day weekend

It needs a new glass top cut for it. When I got it, it had a plexi-glass top and I used it that way forever. Then it dawned on me (just last week) I should frost it! That way it'll look better until I get around to getting glass cut for it. I was just going to sand it - but Mr. Paisley informed me that the orbital sander was still at the cabin...in Tennessee. Plan B! Who knew they made "frosting in a can"? Well they do - Krylon does anyway. Mr. Paisley said the guy at Lowe's told him they didn't have it. My guess is, that he didn't ask. I ended up buying it at Joann's ETC with a 40% off coupon. Probably worked out better for my bank account that way. 

So there's my frosted glass. According to the can, it's not supposed to get wet. I guess it'll actually wash off. #1, it's the underside, so it shouldn't get wet and #2, it's usually on the side porch, not out in the yard...so it should be fine. If not, the orbital sander will be back home mid July.

More details that show now that all the layers of paint are gone. I love love LOVE how this turned out!

Also joining the linky party for ABC Wednesday - T is for TABLE this week!