Setting the stage for THE SETTEE

Whew! that's a tongue twister...


You remember my Mother's Day gift from my children right? 

Well...
 I finally broke down and bought some fabric to cover it!  I was waiting for the right price and  find something I could live with--I knew I couldn't afford to just go out and buy what ever my heart desires. I had to make some concessions. 


Last week we went to Big Daddy's Flea Market in 7-Points, TX and I found a booth that had rolls and rolls of remnant upholstery fabrics.  There was no way I could have went through them all.  The dealer (Marilyn)  told me that she and her hubby were going to be 
re-organizing all of it and that next week I'd be better able to see more of the fabric and make a selection.  Well, I'm glad I didn't persist last week...because after all that re-organizing she came down on the price!  
We went back this weekend...


O, HAPPY day! 


I wasn't able to find all the yardage in the same color---but I found some that worked really well together and am able to do a TWO-TONED effect.  Honey didn't initially want to do that, but when the lady's husband told us $5.00 a yard- well, who could pass that up, even if it  HAS to be TWO-TONED? 

(this one is actually the darker of the two) 

(this one is kind of a neutral beige color)

I'm excited too, because I got  really nice neutral fabrics- a chocolate and a beige.(although you can't tell it by these photos)   I'll be able to work them into just about any where I want to in my house!  


I was also able to buy 3 of these gunny sacks;

 but I'm using them for the insides of my couch redo to cover the springs. They were a $1.00 each. 
You know me- always trying to find a way to do the project as inexpensively as possible. 


I also bought a brown chocolate-y colored rug (6 X 9) to go in the entry way of my front room. Our floors just get so cold in the winter time. I didn't take a picture of the rug-- but it was only $5.00 . 


So the fabric and burlap cost $63.00 and the settee and chair are FREE!
I hope to keep a tally of what this will cost to re-upholster this ourselves. 
No, we've never done anything like this before. 


I've been doing lots and lots of research. I've found this blog (The Upholsterer's Journal) and she has a set almost exactly like mine you can read about it here and here.  I love the pictures with the close up details that Helen shows on her blog;  she also gives very good explicit instructions. Good enough that I can follow...well, I think I can follow.  We'll see!  


I'm going to try and follow her direction.  I'm so excited.  I hope we're able to hurry and get the rest of the materials needed for this project. 


I still need to purchase.  

• Tacks (for hidden applications) 
• Tack strip (for show) 
• string (for tying the springs) 
• cording 
• foam cushions (I anticipate this being the most costly) 

**edited 01/03/11 --to say I've purchased the last two items. Cost about $83.00. Yay! still keeping cost down.


Stay tuned! 


God Bless you 
and 
Thanks for reading!