Shabby French Chair, part 4

Remember this French chair makeover from January? It’s giving me fits!

Here’s what she looked like straight from EBay

Shabby French chair, part 1

I was on a roll pulling of the old upholstery, old foam, straw, and springs.

Shabby French Chair, part 2

Painting her was the easy part, although I painted her white, then grey, then creamy white before I was satisfied.

Shabby French Chair, part 3

Above is the first seat piece of linen, ugh! it didn’t work as I made cuts for the arms and back too soon. Ended up being short material. Then I cut a new seat bottom piece, I goofed that one also!

And here is seat piece # 3. It still looks lumpy and bumpy but at least I didn’t cut away too much material so I could tack down along the arms and the back braces. This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever tackled. I have actually reupholstered a love seat…twice. That love seat looked soooo much better then this. Here the last reupholster job on that loveseat just prior to Katrina. I even lined up the big blocks of color! Oh, how I miss all my old furniture. :( And look, in the dinning room….there are the old slip covers from 2004, they were tossed in the trash pile as well. 2 X :( !

Back to the French chair…

Oh my, it’s still ugly, lumpy and bumpy! It may be because of the curvy French lines. Or maybe it’s because I’m so sick and tired with working this little chair!

But no despair here. My original plan was to make a soft and squishy down filled pillow/seat to cover the seat bottom, with cute little sort ruffle/pleats. I’m hoping I can design the down cushion and the pleats to hid all the above mistakes. What do you think? Can I pull it off?

Make sure to check out all these great Friday party links:

White linen slip finished

My last post showed the beginning of the transformation of this chair.

She’s done.

One more white jewel in the living room. My husband thinks I’m cracking up, slip covering everything. Little does he know it’s only just begun! But for now I’d better clean up the threads, linen scraps, linen dust, (Why does linen make so much dust when you cut it?) and get ready for the Memorial Day weekend.

This slip took me a total 20 hours to make. Shellagh at Ticking and Toile was wondering.

More white linen slip covering

Inspired by Shellagh at Ticking and Toile, again. Her beautiful ~Ruffles and Lilacs~ post spoke to me and energized me to create yet another slip cover.

Shellagh’s beautiful white linen slipcover. She’s making a second one. Shellagh asked me to count the hours it is taking me to make mine.

So here is the metamorphosis of another chair. This is the most comfortable chair, beautiful leather but again adds to all the dark elements in the room.

I took a chance and painted the wood white. Even the oyster shell lamp brightens things up.

Then I decided this wonderful chair needs a white linen slip.

So far, I have the chair back and front done. This, chair back and front, took me at least 10 hours. There’s always a goof here or there that has to be ripped out and fixed. Goofs are time consuming.

Hope to finish the seat up in next day or so.

Look how the other white linen slip covered chair brightens up my dark living room. This chair and the other 2 armless chairs are new. I don’t want to paint the wood, as it goes nicely with the silk that they are upholstered in. I don’t want everything white, I still love dark traditional wood.

And white linen looks amazing with dark woods. Hopefully I have a few more things finished in the room and show the results.

Off to help a friend find some new furniture. No sewing today. Have a great Monday!

Joining Metamorphosis Monday and Do It Yourself Day, and DIY Showoff.

Another white linen slipcover

Linking up with My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday , Favorite Things Friday at A few of My Favorite Things, and Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, and Tools are for Women Too!, Do I Yourself Day, and Furniture Feature Friday.

Back in 2008, I posted this about my dream to slipcover these 3 chairs. Finally the chair with the arms is wearing her new white linen slip.

Pining on the gusset, Bailey trying to get my attention. See Bailey under the table?

Arms on a chair = difficult slipcover for me. Trying to cut the opening presents a challenge.

Putting the chair on my kitchen table gives the perfect height for working on the gusset and ruffled skirt.

A simple arm cover with a ballet slipper tie

5 ties down each side

2 ties at front arm

and she’s done