Chesed

Thursday March 31, 2011

By Michelle March 31, 2011 Uncategorized 39 Comments

March 11_0447

Repurposing is all the rage these days. It’s not one of my talents. Maybe that’s because I’ve never been able to visualize a project before I’m actually in it. I walk into Joanns and see bolt after bolt of gorgeous fabric. But nothing leaps out at me saying, “Hey, you could make a ________ with this one and a ______ with this one. I admire and walk on, because I have no idea what I would make or how many yards it would take or what notions would need to accompany it.

I see links to blogs with beautiful creations. Some new. Some old made new with junk (cough, cough) that suddenly turns vintage in the hands of a creator.

March 11_0459

So I’m not a creator. Or a visionary. But I really wanted to see if I could. My mom used to create all the time when I was little. I would watch her paint (artsy things, not just walls like I do). And sew. And decorate cakes. And arrange flowers. She didn’t need a pattern; she just made things. I thought when I grew up I’d be able to do those things, too. Turns out, you actually have to have the gift. Christy inherited it. Beth and I … well, we have other gifts.

But I am a pretty good copycat. So one day as I browsed Goodwill I spotted two extra large king size pillowcases. At fifty cents a piece I didn’t think I could go too awfully wrong if nothing ever happened. A 40% off Joanns coupon and one big bag of polyester fill later, I was all set.

Yesterday was the day. I made one pillow with a foldover flap and a button just like the pillows I always drool over in the Pottery Barn magazine. It was so much easier than I thought so I started another …. and then they sort of just took off by themselves as scraps looked just the right size to do this and then that and before I knew it … well, ok, no at 11:00 that night I had four darling little throw pillows for the bench on our front porch.

March 11_0446

I am ecstatic! The only problem … I thought that since they were so inexpensive, I would just leave them outside all the time and when they get dusty I’ll throw them in the washer. I mean, at this price, they are next to disposable. But now that I like them so much, I’m feeling protective. What if the neighbors dogs shred them like they do Goldi’s bed every six months? What if I wash them and the old er, vintage fabric falls apart? So maybe you should give me a heads up when you’re coming and I’ll have them out there ready to welcome you. Besides, then I’ll have time to brew fresh iced tea.

The funniest part of the project was David’s look of surprise. Somehow I hadn’t really translated the idea of repurposing so when he saw the humongous originals and heard my words “I’m going to make pillows for the front porch,” he thought I was going to stuff them and sew them shut as is! I’m still snickering at the mental image of dog bed sized pillows …. hey, come to think of it, that just gave me another inspiration.

Happy it’s almost the weekend!

39 thoughts on “Thursday March 31, 2011”

  1. twofus_1

    Oh, they are very, super cute!!!! Nice job. I started buying pillow forms to make the covers easier to wash. They’re more expensive then stuffing, though. šŸ™ But I found some at a yard sale, and bought two for $7 for the couch (haven’t made the covers, yet).

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  2. JsSteph7

    OH WOW! Those are A-dorable!!! Great job! I think I would be pretty protective of them too. I don’t have that creative gene either, but my sister does and she lives with me, so… tee hee. So, how did you do it? Did ya just wing it?

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  4. Izzysgal

    Sister Michelle, I’m very, very impressed ;). Totally cute, I love when projects turn out better than expected. I’m a plain ole copycat too, just can’t seem to  have crazy fun ideas pop off the top of my head. Hey, somebody has to be wowed by other peoples creativity ;).

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  5. redladybug18

    wow those are so cute! I love the fabric and stuff you did to make them so special šŸ™‚ My problem is that I never want to spend the time to be creative. Give me a project I HAVE TO DO and I can come up with something cute.

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  10. grace_to_be

    and you say you didn’t inherit your mom’s artsy creativity ?? i beg to differ~ these are amazing! look just like those ones in pottery barn, only better, cause there’s NONE others like them… and they were CHEAPER!! šŸ˜‰

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  11. dariusnro

    Adorable…I always drool over those darling pillows..ruffles and flowers are so my weakness right now!!  You did a FarOUT job…I think you have every right to be protective:))never trust dogs!:)) coming from someone who loves dogs..Great job!

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  14. willeywonderings

    Cute….. I keep/thinking about making pillows for my couch. But I want them soft and comfy, yet I adore all the ruffles. Then I always have to match the cool plaid couch and all. But man, you make me want to go ahead.

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  22. lin789

    def not giving yourself enough credit in the creative dept!! those are darling!  i would be beyond protective if i could turn out something this good!! laughing at the idea of you having king-sized throws on your porch swing! those men!

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  29. lazonya75

    Love it! I’m completely with you on not being a creator. I can sit there with a PATTERN and still not be able to figure it out. I completely surprised myself with making curtains for my daughter’s room that actually look OK, if not very artsy.

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  32. srheam

    Very pretty!!  It’s so good to hear others claim they don’t have that creative gene.  Sometimes I feel like I am a freak.  I ,too, can look at a pattern and make something, but to try to visualize a project when looking at “junk”…it just escapes me.

    You did a great job on the pillows.  I’d be protective of them too!!

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  37. happymom4

    I’ve found that the more I just jump in and exercise what little spark of creativity I have, the more it seems to grow. But my Dd def. has more than I do . . . we like working on projects together–that is how both of us seem to work best. I’m already dreading the day when she will move out! (Sniff!)

    Congrats!!! And keep practicing!

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