Happy Labor Day my American {And Canadian. I had to be reminded of this} friends.  Hope you are enjoying these last days {hopefully} of Summer!

I finished a MAJOR {to me} project that has been on my to do list for about 2 years now.

I promised that one day {guess today is that day} to tell you about these awful chairs:



I found these beauties on Craigslist back in Feb 2010 for $25 each.  Back then, I only had a little Saturn sedan... no way to bring these babies home.  That was always a problem.   My BFF Inndia, who lived next door, had one of those neat mini vans where the seats can be taken out.  She offered to drive with me to pick them up.  It was Feb... it get's dark early.  We needed to pick these babies up from Park City.  The beautiful little ski resort town where the Sundance Film Festival is held.  It's about an hour away.  Just her and myself in Park City.  We got SO lost!!  LOL  We were driving around in the dark and snow trying to find the seller of these chairs.  We had a blast and laughed so much.  Inndia and her 2 baby sons were killed in a rollover accident last November in that mini van.  I miss her desperately.  You can see a small tribute to them on the left sidebar of the blog.

So, there is the back story of the ugly, orange chairs.  But, they are a GREAT shape, made by Flex Steel and SO comfy!  These things will last forever.  But, dang.  Such an eyesore.  I went the generic slipcover route.  You know, the stretchy ones that will fit almost any chair?  Had those on for about a year.  Ugly and the fabric was like velcro with cat fur.  Once it's on, it's not coming off.  Ick.

I have a neighbor Shelly.  I've shown you my amazing barrel chairs that she did.  I've shown you her blog too.  She does AMAZINGLY beautiful work.  Her rates were a little out of my budget {worth every last penny I've learned} and I did have basic sewing skills. I figured these chairs were as boxy as they come.  How hard could it REALLY be??



For the first time, ever... I'm loving, loving, LOVING this space!!

As I was doing all this fun sewing {and fitting and pinning} I was thinking to myself that this weekend last year, I painted my kitchen cabinets. I've tackled some major projects on Labor Day weekends!  Strange.

Anyway... back to my chairs:








These are nowhere near Shelley's perfect slipcovers.  But, they are done... and I did it myself.  I'm proud.


Of course, the kids love them.  They are like NEW chairs and NEW chairs are the BEST!!



Yes, most of my Fall decor is out... I will post more about that in a few days.



I'm also working on a post about the tables.  They are also new... and divine.

All this time with myself also had me remembering how our house looks, just a year ago.  It has changed so much.  And I'm so proud to say that we did it all, ourselves.



Light and clean.  No more orange striped chairs.



All the gorgeous pillows are by Shelley. 

So, my fingers are raw {from pins poking them}, my neck is killing me and my chairs are orange no longer.  Happy, happy, HAPPY!!

I want to make a slipcover for the little pleather footstool, but I'm all sewn out right now.  Wonder when Mandy will need her sewing machine back.  :-/

I'm a happy, sore girl.

Enjoy your Labor Day and I will be back soon with more fun stuff.  I need a break!

XOXO