Yep...I did it...(with some help from mom)

So the great reveal of my amazing new couch...recovered for a low cost of only $180 you heard it folks...I used six- 6x9 paint drop cloths and purchased my pillows on sale at JcPenneys for $12 each. The only other supply I needed was one king size quilt batting from Wal-Mart which was about $10...

If you saw my previous post, I started by creating the slipcover for the base of the couch, finishing the arms, but leaving the under cushion part open to pull out the sofa bed...

I waited for my mom, Roseanna to come up to tackle the cushions. First, we took the cushions out of their old covers and wrapped them with the quilt batting. We stitched the seam up with a whip stitch. This took about two hours, but we watched the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett while we were stitching, so the time flew by...

Next, we sewed miles and miles of piping...a job my mother now enjoys..."very therapeutic" she says. While she sewed the piping, I cut out the pieces. Then we pinned the fabric and piping to the cushions, inside out and then off to the sewing machine we went...





and just a short two days...and eight hours later...


It looks like Lawson approves...

The Dress...finally...

Well, I guess I did not keep my word...I said I would post the pictures of the dress completed...but never did it! Unfortunately, final exams took over my life and I was swept away in homework...now do not get me wrong, I did continue to craft despite the finals...I just did not have the time to post about it. As a matter of fact, I completed the dress, sewed a shirt, finished reupholstering my couch, modified a prom dress for a student and made a wreath...Check out my next few blog posts to see the results...oh and in case you are wondering...I craft my stress away...

Anyway...here is the dress...apologies for the photos...really looking to buy a new camera...

...front...





...and back...


...and in case you were curious, here is modified prom dress...I took out the zipper and created a corset tie back...

Happy Mother's Day

oping everyone is having a beautiful and restful Mother's Day. My mother-in-law came over to celebrate with me this year...and I was really in the mood to cook. I do not get many opportunities to just sit home all day and cook, so I really took advantage of the opportunity. So I made a baked ham, Swiss eggs, asparagus and berry parfaits for dessert.

Swiss eggs are a family tradition...well at least I always had my mother make them for me when I would visit. It is a great recipe, here it is if you want to give it a try.

First, you need to grate a pound a Swiss cheese and spread it into a greased 13 x 9 cake pan. Next, you make wells to fit the eggs. I think 8 eggs fit perfectly.



Then you pour about a half to two-thirds of a cup of heavy cream over the eggs and cheese. A little salt and black pepper and into the oven they go. I bake them at about 375 degree just until cheese is melted and eggs are set.




When they come out they are served similar to eggs benedict...english muffin, ham, then the egg...mmmm...so yummy...not on the diet plan, but so good...

(Lack of picture due to the fact that it smelled so good we could not stop to photograph)

The berry parfaits were amazing too...blueberries, strawberries and raspberries...with organiz french vanilla yogurt = delicious!!

Sewing the stress away...

Yesterday, after I got out of work, I had a craving to do something creative...Since I was out of drop cloths and didn't have the ambition to drive to Lowes to pick up more in order to finish my couch, I decided to sew a dress. I went in the attic and dug through my collection of vintage patterns. I got about 100 patterns from my Mother-in-law a few years back and carefully stashed them away. I was so excited as they were just old enough to be back in style. So out they came and I picked this one to sew...Isn't it super cute? I thought so...and so I dug out some fabric and went to work...I listened to The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand while I sewed, and of course I had one (yep, he found two) of my amazing new dress forms that my husband found me to keep me company...

I have some finishing touches to do, but I will reveal the dress tomorrow...