Sunday, February 17, 2013

Slipcovering a Chair...#2


I have this little side chair that
went from the living room to the the basement
several months ago.
At that time I decided to "lighten" my decor a bit
and it just didn't work in the living room any longer.


It's a perfectly nice little chair,
but I have too much brown
in my house.
My plan was to slipcover it and
move it to my bedroom.


I purchased this white, embossed
fabric a few months ago,
with the chair in mind.
The first step was to wash and dry the fabric.
No point in making a slipcover if
it doesn't clean easily.


I have made one other chair slipcover in the past
using a commercial pattern.
This time I decided to wing it without a pattern.
Measuring, cutting and labeling all my pieces
started the process.


And of course, I made lots of notes for myself.


My approach was to "build" the slipcover,
piece by piece.


It took three separate sessions
to assemble all the pieces.


The trickiest part of the whole process
was the side area where the back, seat and bottom
all come together.
This was the same area that gave me
problems on the chair I had done previously.
Try as I might, I could not get that area
to come together nicely.
Finally, after venting to Nancy,
non-sewer that she is, 
her idea was to cover it up with a sash. 
Brilliant!



This turned out to be a bit of detailing
I had not planned on,
but it totally "makes" the chair!


Assessing the final results,
it's not perfect.
But it's a learning process.



And until I want to attempt it again,
I can at least use my little chair.

This week I'm partying at
Etsy Cottage Style.

Friday, February 15, 2013

In Search of the Elusive ... & Perfect White Shirt


In my closet right now,
are seven white shirts.
(This doesn't include the ones presently
residing in the basement because
they're out of season.)
There are cotton,
cotton blend, silk, and linen
white shirts.
There are short sleeves,
long sleeve,
and 3/4 length sleeves.
(There are no sleeveless,
because sadly to say,
I don't really do sleeveless anymore.)



We won't even get into the
white tees, white sweaters and
white jackets I also have.

Yet I find I'm always checking out
the white shirts when I shop.
What is going on with me?



I'm looking for that
Perfect White Shirt,
which none of those seven
in my closet quite achieve.
I want that white shirt I can
wear with a pair of jeans
and feel "put together."
I want a white shirt that looks good
and feels good.
I want a "crisp" look but
not a starched feel.


It would be even nicer
if that same white shirt
could be dressed up on occasion too.



It's probably impossible to have
only one white shirt to fill all
my wardrobe desires.
But I keep looking for it,
 shopping for it,
and hoping for it.

Just this week I ordered this shirt from
Maybe this will be my
Perfect White Shirt.
Do you have one?

Note:  Since writing this post,
the above shirt arrived.
It's now repackaged and
ready to be sent back...

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Honeybell Oranges


Have you heard of Honeybells?
Have you been lucky enough to taste them?


A nice neighbor recently sent some over to Buttermilk Cottage.
She was gifted with too many to eat herself,
so we got the excess!
Lucky us!
Can you see why they're named "honeybells?"


Honeybells are a cross between tangerines and grapefruit.
They reach their peak only during January and February.


They are incredibly easy to peel.
When was the last time you peeled an orange
and the rind came off all in one piece?


This fruit only grows along the
Indian River in Florida.


They are especially sweet and juicy.


They also make a really nice
spinach and fruit salad.
I made a base of torn spinach leaves,
put the peeled fruit on top,
and sprinkled everything with roasted, sliced almonds.

For the dressing I mixed the following in a blender,
and blended for 20 to 30 seconds:
1/2 c. sugar
1T. sesame seeds
1T. poppy seeds
1 1/2 t. minced onion
1 1/4 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. paprika
1/4 c. cider vinegar
1/2 c. vegetable oil

I usually make this dressing for
a strawberry spinach salad.
(Canned Mandarin oranges work well if
you're not lucky enough to have Honeybells!)


Friday, February 8, 2013

My Creative Process


What gets your creative juices flowing?


I recently bought these two balls of yarn
at a discount store.
I'm always on the prowl for yarn to add to my stash.
What usually gets my attention is
something that sparkles or
has an interesting texture.
Both of the yarns above qualify
and the extra bonus was they are
both in the same colorway.
I decided to make one of my reversible cowls
to be lined with the scarf above.


So out come the yarns,
anything and everything that coordinates
with the colors in the scarf.


Then the really fun part,
knitting!
It's so exciting to see the
interaction of the colors as
I knit them, row upon row.

Here's the knitted cowl,
all ready to be lined with the scarf.

This colorway, which I'm calling,
"Raspberries & Blueberries,"
is the perfect pop of color
to get us through
the final days of this winter
and into spring!


I decided to knit a slouchy hat too!


That's how my creative process works!
How about yours?

Friday, February 1, 2013

What's in a Name?




I'm sometimes asked,
"Why Buttermilk Cottage?"
"Where did that come from?"

The house I lived in before moving here
was the polar opposite of where I live today.
It was a large contemporary house
perched on the side of a hill.
It was a wonderful house
with an even more wonderful view.
My then-husband and I had worked with
an architect to design it.
We had it built, doing a lot of the work ourselves.
That house was situated in the country on "Buttermilk Road."

During that time, more than 20 years ago,
 I started my wholesale bag business,
and since it was a home-based business,
it became,
"Designs from the House on Buttermilk Road."
Over the years the business grew and
as is often the case, my life situation changed.
When it was time for me to downsize and move,
I was by no means ready to end my business.
My customers all knew me by the Buttermilk Road name.
So, when I moved here, I needed to keep a bit of
my business's name recognition.
Therefore its name had a small change and it became
"Buttermilk Cottage."
Since the house seemed to need a name too,
it happily became Buttermilk Cottage as well.
Because Nancy and I do several events during the year,
(i.e. the Bistro on the Porch and the Holiday Show),
the house's name has almost taken on a life of it's own.

I'm giving you this lengthy explanation because
I have several new followers as a result of
the "Grow Your Blog" Party hosted by
Vickie at Two Bags Full.
Several blogs taking part in that event
are hosting giveaways today.
Me included!


This morning, the names of all those
who left comments for me
on the party post were put in the pot...
err...basket.


Every name was assigned a number or letter and



Number 16 is the winner...
Evalina at "This and That."
Congratulations... I'll be in touch.
To everyone who participated,
visited, left comments and joined as new followers,
and especially Vickie for organizing the whole thing,
Thank You!

A note about the cataract surgery yesterday,
my vision is still a bit blurry today.
I go back this morning for a follow up,
but I anticipate a good report!
Thanks for all your nice thoughts!
Happiest of weekends!

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