A New Addition

Saturday I carted off my donation items to the thrift store. Since I was there:-) I decided to go in and have a little looksy, because you never know...

I had already found two little votive candle holders in the shape of chairs which were painted with pink roses and about 2 1/2 yards of creamy upholstery fabric with little blue roses in urns, when I went over to the furniture section. I always go there even though I really don't need any more furniture.

I walked right beside a beat up and neglected brown couch. Something about it made me stop. It wasn't old but it looked like it had seen a hundred life times. It was stained and worn and one of the cushions was torn. It seemed as if no one had shown it any kindness in its entire existence. The price on the arm said $15, it had been marked down from $35. Well I couldn't just leave it there! It needed me:-)

On the way back I rented a steam vacuum and as soon as I got it home my dear, sweet, adorable, and loving husband took one look at it and said "Who is that for?" I knew it was going to be an uphill battle from that point on.

I rolled up my sleeves (figuratively of course, actually it was nearly 90 degrees and I wasn't wearing sleeves) and got to work. I took off the seat cushions, un-stitched and un-stuffed the back cushions and put them in the washer. I know they really were not supposed to go in the washer, but there was no other way, they were filthy. I laid the foam insert and fiber filling on an old sheet out in the back yard and doused them with fabreeze. Nothing freshes like the bright sunshine:-) Then I steam cleaned the entire couch frame.

Unfortunately, not all of the cushion fabric survived the washing. So I began rummaging around in my fabric bins to see what I could use as a suitable replacement. I found a beautiful rose upholstery fabric that I had gotten on the clearance table for $1.99 a yard. I thought that the tan background would match up nicely so I replaced one side of each seat cushion with it. The back cushions were a total loss, so I used the rose fabric on one side and an old trapunto bedspread that I had been saving for some pillows on the other. I finished the entire restoration process at about 12:30 this morning, and I decided to give her a test run, she sleeps great!

So with out further ado, let me introduce you to my home's latest addition. She is lumpy and bumpy and far from perfect, but she is comfy and cozy and most of all loved:-)