Another March Break re-post...I hope you don't mind!!
**********************************


My desire to putter about my home, dreaming up new projects and improvements, can lead to the occasional teasing from my friends and they sometimes revert to the old stand-by: dubbing me "Martha" (which, depending on the delivery, may or may not be considered a compliment). I can take a joke, however, and calling me "Martha" is a joke indeed. For the record, I refuse to iron, truly do not enjoy baking, and am most inept at sewing. I do own a sewing machine, but it sits in my lonely craft area, collecting dust. I can sew a straight line with it, but always seem to get the thread tangled up in the machine and end up muttering unpleasantries under my breath. My lack of sewing skills does not deter me, however, when faced with a project, and I instead quietly whip out my glue gun for sewing projects that require only the weakest of bonds...
I have, however, sunk to a new low...
I have been eyeing my porch swing for a while now, with plans to pretty it up. I have had a new seat cushion for it for some time now, but hesitated to use it until I could figure out a way to add a skirt to the seat without resorting to sewing. I also had a pretty watery green and brown toile window valance that I had picked up a while ago at a bed and bath shop, and had not found the ideal spot to hang it. Voila: I decided to use it as the new skirt for my swing! In a stroke of dumb luck, I had also stumbled upon a tension curtain rod in my garage while tidying it recently. It, too, had no intended purpose; so I decided to test my theory that it could be pressed into service as a way to skirt my swing!!


Guess what? It worked!! With the skirt in place, I simply set my new seat cushion on top - thus preventing the potential discomfort of the rod - and added a spare pillow to the mix. Now, I happily have a comfortable and pretty porch swing - again, using things I had lying forlornly around the house!
porch swing: before...

and after!!




















Wow....
ReplyDeleteThe finished looks is lovely. I do sew....and I must confessed...I giggled quite a bit while reading this post. I do understand (giggle) and want you to know...your finished project is quite creative!
I love to sew, even though I sewed through my finger because of my desire to finish curtains before company came....they came while I was visiting the doctor to get the needle out.
Big smile.
Blessings,
Debbie
That is just so clever! Love it.. And I sew as well.. I understand completely where you are coning from! Your blog is great an I read it everyday.. when I should be sewing, lol..
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous surprise. How lovely, and I really love the colors you used.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Very cute - I also really like the colors.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really cool idea! And I just happen to be on the hunt for new porch decorating ideas for the HUGE porch that came with the new house ;-)
ReplyDeleteI get called a Martha too! Non-creative people are very easily impressed with the simplest thing a creative person does. {Likewise, I'm impressed with their abilities to show up on time, always have perfectly iron clothes, and keep their budgets pristine. My artistic mind runs too wild for all that organization...}
Linda aka Martha,
ReplyDeleteyou are so "inventive"!!!!! I really was laughing when I read about the sad life of your sewing machine.... resembles the life of mine... maybe we should hook the two up!
As soon as spring starts here in germany I am going to start my roof-terasse project and I might pick up your idea. I urged my husband to paint me 6 industry-palettes in faded greens, lavender and off-white to make a sofa from them and am about to buy ( or sew??? ) the cussions and your skirt idea will be adapted here in germany....
Warm regads
Sandra
I love it!! Love that it is creative and how gorgeous is that toile!! Enjoy your gorgeous new swing makeover :) ~ Tina x
ReplyDeleteLOVE it!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Thanks for sharing. Love toile! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great and beautiful idea! I would never have thought to use a tension rod in that way. Very creative! I love the colors of the cushions!
ReplyDeleteThis is soooo fab - love the colors - it's simply gorgeous! Jennifer jennsthreegraces stop by!
ReplyDeleteLove the toile, what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteHow creative. I love the fabric...where did you find it....???
ReplyDeleteSo glad you re-posted this! I missed out on it the first time. :) This turned out so cute and pretty!! What a clever lady you are...love it! I too just hung a little no sew...(o.k. I ended up having to sew just the pocket for the rod, but other than that)valance up in my kitchen on a tension rod. So handy to have. :) Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteVictoria
Linda, I've been away from the blogs for awhile but I have a favor to ask you!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to win a party contest and would love your help! Would you go here:
http://thecitycradle.com/party-3-spy-agent
and leave a comment at the end of the article? Your comment will give me a vote. Thanks so much! I appreciate it lots. <3
AND...this post made me laugh, lol...your porch swing looks beautiful! I've never seen that before. It looks so cozy and inviting.
Martha has a cast of thousands — off camera — to help her. YOU have the satisfaction of knowing that you created and finished the item all by yourself! And, you did a terrific job.
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Patrick’s Day to you! Stop by my blog to enter my Harney and Son’s “Irish Breakfast Tea” Giveaway. Just post a comment.
Best Blessings, KJ
This is just to cute! I love anything that is 'sew easy'!
ReplyDeleteLove your new Swanky Swing! It it really adorable. Now how to keep the boys from launching the dog off of it....hmmmmm.
ReplyDelete