Uppity-Mama

Napkins

I've been making napkins as hostess/teacher/friend gifts for a while.   This time they are for us.  

I used mostly Heather Bailey fabric and added some decorative stitching to some.

Tutorial: Folding Chair Makeover

So I had these ugly folding chairs 

and I thought they would probably be useful to have in the shop.  But first I had to pretty them up.

What you'll need for 1 chair:

1 yard of upholstery weight fabric

1.5 yards of coordinating piping

hot glue gun

staple gun

screwdriver

Step 1.  Measure your seat cushion in both directions, though it should be a s quare.  Add 2 inches to each measurement and cut your fabric to those dimensions.  Mine was 15 and 3/4 inches each direction so I cut out a 17 and 3/4 inch square.

My seat cushion could not be removed because of these bolts, 

So I decided to hot glue it to the chair while adding piping.  If you have a serger, finish the edges of your fabric before starting to keep the fabric from fraying.  If you don't have a serger you can cut the square with pinking shears to finish the edges.  Place your fabric over the seat cushion and tuck it under as best you can.  I used a point turner to help me tuck. 

Now get your piping.  I bought some pre-made grey piping but if you're so inclined you can make it yourself.

Starting in the middle of the back, get your hot glue gun and put some glue between the fabric and the metal.  Working quickly in small increments, because the glue dries fast, put on your piping.  Again I used my point turner to help me get the piping on without burning myself.  Yes, I will need a new point turner.

When you get back to where you began just glue the ends neatly under.

Voila, seat cover done.  Now unscrew the top cushion from the back of the chair.

Lay the cushion on the wrong side of your fabric and trace around the outside with an erasable fabric marker.  

Now use your seam gauge or a ruler to add 2 inches all around and then cut it out.

Time to staple!  Start by making sure your fabric pattern is the way you want it and then carefully staple alternating sides so that you can pull the fabric taut.  Because the top cushion is curved, it helps to flatten it a bit when you are pulling the fabric. Make sure you don't cover up your screw holes.  

Screw that top back on and TADA!  You have a custom folding chair!

And the winner is...

...STITCH L.A.!  

I'm very happy with this choice and so is my new partner, Annie!  I'm thrilled that we will be going on this journey together.  Annie and I met when I had just moved to L.A. from N.Y.  We met in the park when I only had 2 children and she had one, Zane.  Zane and Zander hit it off right away and so did Annie and I.  Now her daughter Lili and my daughter, Mira are also great friends.  

Here is a picture of what I'm reasonably sure is going to be our space.  We have great plans for cute-ifying it.  

Sayin' it out loud...And I need your help.

I'm looking into opening a sewing lounge.  Yup.  I may have found a space and am working on details with the landlord.  What is SUPER COOL  is that my great friend, Roberta of Think Big is helping me.  One of the things she is doing is profiling me and and my progress on her new blog, Doing Business While Female. 

Please check it out!

I need your help with a name.  It has been a looong time that I have been mulling this over and now I just need some input.  I am trying to keep the word "sew" and all it's variations out of it because eventually I'd like to incorporate all things "stitchy" like embroidery, knitting and crochet.  If you don't like any of these names, I've got more.  Please, please leave a comment telling me which, if any, of these names you like:

1. Stitch Nest

2. Stitch L.A.

3. Thread

4. Thread L.A.

5. Thread Workshop

6. Talking Threads

7. Stitcheteria

THANKS!!!

Belated Gifting

I'm not at the top of my game.  The New Year's cards I thought I ordered...apparently not.  The gifts I planned to make?  Well, here are a few.  I've just finished them.  The towels are for my mom's kitchen.  I downloaded the cafe pattern from www.emblibrary.com   a great resource for embroidery machine designs.  

The scarves are for the kids' skating coaches.  I used Twinkle Soft Chunky for all three.

Two I did in seed stitch. For the blue, I cast (casted?) on 10 stitches and that was best.  The 12 stitch cast on for the eggplant color came out a bit wide, but it's okay.  The third I did in K2, P2 rib stitch.  It doesn't look as pretty as the others lying flat but it is very cute on.