Rocking Chair Redo

A few years ago, I bought a glider rocking chair and ottoman off of Craigslist.  It was only $10!  The fabric was worn and old, but it worked just fine.

Remember this?  Worn out green fabric and a lumpy/flat seat cushion.

When I was getting Andrew's room ready for his arrival, I came up with a plan for the glider.  I was going to recover the cushions with much better/cleaner/newer/prettier fabric!  As I thought about it though, I realized that I needed help.  I also realized that the seat cushion needed to be replaced completely- it was just so flattened and flimsy.  Also, I didn't think my sewing machine would be able to handle sewing through the foam on the back cushion.  And I needed a staple gun.

Well, it just didn't happen before Andrew was born.  In March, there was a sale on home decor fabrics so I went fabric shopping with my mom and sis-in-law while Aaron, Austin, and my dad stayed home with the kids.  We found the perfect one for my glider and it was super cheap too- if I remember correctly it was under $30 total.

Over General Conference weekend, my mom and I tackled the project.  We ended up buying new foam for the seat, as well as some more foam to supplement the back.  We also decided not to sew though the foam, like it had been on the old cover.  Anyway, we finished the cushions that weekend, so all I had to do was make straps with velcro for fastening the cushions to the chair, and the ottoman.  I borrowed Dad's staple gun and brought everything home to finish up.

Well it took me a few weeks.  I decided to make the straps by hand because I didn't want the hassle of getting out my sewing machine for such a quick job.  It turned out to be not such a quick job because of it.  Sewing by hand takes a long time!  But finally I finished the chair, after watching a lot of Netflix during Andrew's naps while sewing with a needle and thread.

I was always afraid to use the staple gun while Andrew was asleep- I didn't want to wake him up and that seemed to be the only time I had to work on projects like this.  Eventually I sucked it up and did the ottoman after he was in bed for the night.  I listened carefully to the monitor for the first few staples, but he didn't stir at all.

So FINALLY my project is done- just in time for me to not need it in the middle of the night anymore...  of course.  I still use it occasionally, but most of the time during the day I nurse Andrew in the living room.  Oh well, it is much more comfortable now and much more attractive too!

Total cost for this project: about $55 for chair, fabric, and foam.  I already had the velcro and thread, and I borrowed the staple gun and my mom's skills :)  I think that's pretty great, considering these chairs go for over $100 new.  And I even have a bunch of fabric left over, so I think I'll be making some throw pillows, or maybe a big floor pillow to match.

Projects for Baby

3 months until our little baby gets here and I don't feel ready at all!  Good thing we still have time.

But I've been doing some projects to keep my sanity and I think they've turned out really well!  I'm at home during the day so it's nice to have something productive to do.

Long-sleeved onesie

Tie-dye onesie

Sleeper

 

I've also been working on my scrapbooking and I'm finally almost caught up!  Looks like I need some new projects to work on!

Crafty Christmas

This year was our first year with a full sized Christmas tree!  The last 2 years we had a tiny one-bedroom apartment, so the only tree we had room for was 2 feet tall, set up on a side table.  Our apartment now is significantly bigger (though still an apartment) so we got a 7 1/2 ft skinny tree.

Now, with a tree that sits on the floor, we were in need of a tree skirt.  So we decided to make one!

Aaron helped me pick out the fabric and buttons and I sewed it.  It took 2 evenings and I think it turned out really cute!

Apparently we can't celebrate a holiday without making sugar cookies anymore.  So we made some like we did for Halloween (this year and last) and last Christmas.

We had a cookie exchange at our ward Christmas party, so most of them were taken home by other people and we ended up with a plate overflowing with a variety of other cookies and treats!

Beach Boys, Books, and Sewing Snowflakes

Apparently I haven't done anything exciting lately.  At least nothing photo-worthy, since I have taken about 0 interesting photos since my last post.  Lame.

Ok, so that's not entirely true.  (Just mostly true.)  I work at the Covey Center in Provo.  Often, the performances there are pretty cool, but I'm usually content to watch from the monitor by my desk.  However, last week we had the Beach Boys do a concert there!  Only 2 of them were original Beach Boys (the rest were significantly younger), but they did more than 2 hours of classic Beach Boys hits.  Because things went so smoothly I was able to stand in the performance hall for a chunk of the concert.  It was pretty neat.  I even got a little déjà vu listening to a few of the songs since I heard them so often when my marching band did a Beach Boys show.  Those of us working that night also got to eat leftovers of the Beach Boys' dinner and a pie/tart (all made by my coworker, Keri).  Yum.

Beach Boys concert (sad photo quality because I took this from my phone)

It was finally my turn on the library waiting list last week for the second book in the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire.  I read it really quickly because:
     1. It was awesome
     2. There were no good stopping places, especially at chapter breaks.
Even the end of the book is a terrible stopping place.  This is really unfortunate because I am number 255 on the waiting list for Mockingjay.  I'm tempted to buy the book just so I don't have to wait that long to read it.  Although I'm number 18 on the list for The Lost Hero, the first book in the "sequel series" to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.  So at least I'll have something new to read soon.  I'm also rereading the Ender's Game series, so even though I have to wait for new things I want to read, at least I have something.

Lastly, I'm sure you've been anxious about my snowflake table runner.  Ok, maybe not, but I'll show it off for a minute anyway.  I still need to do some quilting stitches on it, but unless you look closely, you won't even be able to tell.  This has been the most complicated sewing project I've ever taken on without my mom's help, and though there are a few small mistakes, I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out.

Happy Monday!

Pre-Halloween Fun!

My mom came out and visited for a few days last week!  It was so fun to hang out with her- we did a lot of fun things while she was here.  For example:

carving pumpkins,

making and decorating cookies,

sewing,

and other things.  I'm excited for Christmas so I can go home and see my whole family again.  And I'll finally get to meet Natalie's future hubby, Chris.  Yay!

In other news, it's snowing.  Don't get me wrong, I love playing in the snow- sledding, making snowmen, even taking walks in the snow is fun.  But I just feel like it's a little early for winter.  What happened to fall?

My dad sent 3 DVDs of video clips of me with my mom.  I've been watching them and thinking about high school (since that's when most of these clips happened).  For the most part, I'm very glad I'm done with high school and all the drama of being a teenager.  But I'm realizing that there are some things I really miss and would love to get back into.  Tennis is one of these things.  There was only one video clip of me playing tennis, but it's something I really miss.  I was on the tennis team for 2 years in high school, but I've been playing for quite a while since my dad and brother both played before, and then my sister and I started playing.  It's one of those things that makes me wish I lived near my family because I could always count on playing tennis with them when I was home for the summers.  Now I just go there when it's cold, so tennis doesn't happen.  And unfortunately, the man I fell in love with doesn't share my love for racquet sports.  I think I need to find a tennis buddy.  Too bad Utah has decided to be winter. Maybe next year.

Crafty Projects

So I mentioned that I made a baby gift for my friend Johanna in this post and I just want to show it off for a minute:

I think it's super cute- I hope she likes it!

I've also been working on a winter table runner.  It's blue with white snowflakes and it's taking FOREVER because I have to piece the snowflakes together.  Actually it's the cutting that's really taking so long.  But it's coming along and I think it's going to look great once it's done.  Here's what I have so far:

Cool huh?  Ok, it's not much to look at yet, but it'll get there.

And my mom is coming out to visit in a couple of weeks!  I'm excited to hang out with her again!

New Job! (and some other things)

I got a job last week! I had the interview on Monday, and I started on Tuesday.  It's actually a pretty cool job- I'm working at the Covey Center for the Arts on Center St. in Provo as a house manager.  I just work when there are shows in the evenings, which means that I worked 5 evenings my first week, and then I had this past week completely off because there were no shows.  It's nice because I still have my days free to work on projects, work out, and run errands, even on days when I have to work.

Other than that, life is still good!  I just bought fabric for a new winter table runner so I'll be starting that soon, and I made a baby present for my good friend Johanna, who just found out this week that she's having a girl!  She knows about it, but I haven't given it to her so I won't post a picture yet.

As for my exercise plan... it's going pretty well.  I went to the gym with Aaron twice last week and I'm still a little sore from Wednesday's workout.  As long as I keep it up, I'm thinking I'll get the results I want.

Right now I feel like this guy:

When I want to look like this girl:

We'll see what happens!

Table Runner

So, remember that table runner book my mom gave my for my birthday?  Well, while my parents were here for my graduation, we went to the fabric store and they bought me everything I needed to make my first one.  I started it (with mom's help) a week ago and finished it last night!  I think it turned out so cute!  I have to just show it off for a minute...

I love having a sewing machine!  I have plans to make so much this summer and I'm super excited!