Camel Back Sofa Slipcover, Part 2

We are taking this charming old camel-back sofa from this:


to this:

So without further ado, let's get back to the tutorial!

Here is where we left off, the front of the arms pinned,
right sides together and trimmed.
At this point, pin in the piping.

Now sewn and turned right side out, 

but not yet sewn to the side of the sofa.

With both arms done, getting ready to attach the

grey linen to the top and sides.

I find it easier and a better fit to turn down the main fabric and pin/sew

to the secondary fabric, rather than the traditional right sides together plan.

 Piece in whatever you need and pin carefully.

I used the same grey linen on the sides and back of the sofa.
 Just pin a large piece of fabric to the space, cut out the shape
allowing for seams, and pin to herringbone fabric,
using the same method.

 This is the back, just a large piece of linen sewn right sides together.
(Actually, you can sew it either way you choose)

 
 You can see how the arms fall into place once the sides are put together.

Now that the basic sofa is done, it's time to tackle the cushions.


The tricky part here is to pin them around the cushion.
This is important because otherwise they will surely twist and
have to be redone.
 Just be careful getting them off the cushion with all the pins!
If you are using piping, be sure to pin it in too.

These cushions had seen better days and were a little skimpy,
so I added a layer of foam and batting to plump them up.


You have to squish the cushion down when getting the cover on and off.



Finished cushion: nice and plump!


The finishing touch was a band of the linen around the bottom.

 What a huge difference!

It works really well with everything else in the room.


I love the crisp white piping against the soft grey of the herringbone.

The lesson here is, never turn down a free sofa!

Seasonal Decorating: Moving on to the Dining Room

This year I am using a lot of burlap, linen and wool. I like the combination.

For the dining table, I layered a burlap runner with linen ruffles and a cream linen table runner on top.

Then I began to play with different pumpkins, gourds and squash.

 A garland with acorns, fall leaves and pheasant feathers weaves in and around the squashes.

 I added my tall, pear candlesticks that I got on a trip to Gettysburg.

I also added some little elements like a church birdhouse 

and small white rooster doorstop.

In the center I started with a white, square cake stand, added a wreath of dried fall leaves and a  pumpkin-spice candle. I am thinking about replacing this with a pumpkin filled with mums.

On the Welsh dresser in the background, I changed the candles and added squash and gourds to a white bowl, plus some faux pears and acorns. I may add a banner.

On the shelf above stand 2 small pewter Pilgrims and seeds from Plymouth Plantation.

I still have some more areas to decorate, entry and small tables.
Autumn is definitely  my favorite season.http://livingacottagelife.blogspot.com/2012/10/decorating-is-in-details-fall-mantle.html

Seasonal Decorating is in the Details: A Fall Mantle

The first day of fall came and went with temperatures in the 90's, even creeping up to 100. Needless to say, I had no inclination to start my fall decorating. But with the first of October, it is finally starting to feel like cooler weather is on the way, so I went for a hunt for my fall decor.

I say hunt because that is exactly what I had to do. Some family members moved over the summer and stored some of their things in my shed. I had the foresight to move the Christmas things to the front, but I thought the fall boxes were in the garage. I was wrong.

I am still missing a box, but I gave up and decided to use what I found, plus what I had from my garden.

First, the mantle:

My print from Plymouth, Massachusetts always takes center stage, 

especially in the fall.

The missing box has sprays of leaves and fall flowers, so I gathered what I had that would be the right color for my cream pitcher. Behind it is a birdhouse with apples on it. In front is a garland with pheasant feathers.

In the middle is a beautiful orange and bluish-green pumpkin on a small cake stand.

On the left is a red clock and rustic pitcher; you can see a bit of a birdhouse gourd on the far right. The garland of fall leaves and acorns tie it all together.

A new banner says "thankful"

Tomorrow, the dining room.