Slipcovers, Swirling, and Hoarding , Oh My!

I finally finished six slip cover orders and had four picked up yesterday! It was a little hard to let one of them go...How can I get away with keeping it?...lol That was what I was thinking yesterday! ;)




It is a fun chair...It swirls around and around! And makes me feel like a kid again! I remember my Great Grandma Meme had one that swirled...and I loved it!


LIFE.

IS.

{Please excuse the lamp with no lamp shade...another "baseball" accident, I am quite sure...Oh, the life with boys is filled with surprises! That shade was made of stained glass and was a special gift from Mr. Screaming Meme...But a miracle happened...it is fixable...Life is truly good, huh?}

GOOD!!!!

Ahh! Life is good {and fun}, isn't it?...if we stop and play with life a little more...so swirl, dance and be silly...no one is watching...Well, not if you don't post it all over your blog...Nope...No one has to know if you dance and sing...leap, skip...or swirl around...just to feel the butterflies in your tummy once again! That is what curtains {and locks} are for...:) So, play with life...It is patiently waiting!

Yesterday was a fun day for me...I have been so busy with work...I finally had some time to myself...Well, an hour or so...But it was MY hour and I did what I do best...shopped! ;) I went to Goodwill & Target...I got a little annoyed at GW by some crazy old lady...She was very pushy {literally} and a little out of control...So much so I think the whole store was staying clear from her...It looked like she had had 9 cups of coffee or maybe on crack, I don't know the difference between the two? :D

But hey, she bought $150 worth of furniture...I know that because I bravely stood behind her in line...ready to karate chop her, if need be...I don't think her husband was very impressed...He LOUDLY confessed that they had a barn full of furniture that she will never fix or get to...and sadly, she doesn't sell any of it...It is stuff she wants to use herself...So, I guess she is a hoarder or something...Which is not funny...or is it? No, It isn't...hoarding is a horrible disease and one I try to remember when the deals are just too good...I literally have to stop myself...remind myself of the show, "Hoarders" and just walk away...I will only buy things I know I will be able to get to in a month...And if I don't...I sell it as is...Because that show scares me that much! haha! NOT kidding! I did buy four old farm house chairs at GW yesterday...that I will be keeping (I will post about them later this week).




So, I headed to Target and ended up buying the Shabby Chic Linen Duvet in robin's egg blue...I love the feeling of linen through my fingers, don't you? And the robin's egg blue is a perfect blue, I must say...I actually am returning it because I want something a little different and I may be the only one to be able to do that...I seem to never be able to get away from my sewing machine, Ole' Bessie Girl...She works harder than most sewing machines! And I am so hard on her! lol


Okay, back to my swirl chair, I mean my clients...hehehe ;)...originally I hated that chair...I thought it was going to be the hardest slip cover because of the odd shape and attached pillow...I worked with it and came up with a way for her to shine again...My client has a set...so, I made two slips...They were her grandma's chairs...I guess all grandmas have swirly chairs...Well, it is fitting...Grandmas are FUN! ;)


I added some piping and few ruffles...



And made ribbon ties for the closure in the back...I think it adds charm to this ole' chair, what do you think?

I double knotted the ribbon ties to give it more structure...So, remember that if you have a slipcover that has ties....It helps give them more form...


Oh, darn it...I totally forgot to get a before picture...And my client was due any minute...so, I snapped a sexy leg picture right before she pulled up! At least I have that...LOL! I need to remember that!

So, a recap...swirl more, life is good, stay away from Crazy Ole' Ladies, don't be a hoarder and take an hour and just be YOU! It is priceless! Life is waiting...go play!

XoXo, Meme

Reminder...I am having a Chalk Paint Giveaway (2 cans), stop by and sign up!

Let's Have A Garden Party!

I have an old iron chair I found at an estate sale. "She" had all the right curves, but she looked a little pitiful sitting all by herself in the corner! lol! All she needed was some good ole' TLC and to be dolled up a little! So with a little imagination, paint and a sewing machine, I got to work!









I added a touch of french...a sprinkle of shabby...and a little bit of a garden chic to the design...and this is what I came up with! A french garden chic occasional chair...She could be used in the home...a feminine office/study, perhaps? A beautiful garden inspired boudoir (bedroom)?...Ohh la la! ;) Or as an accent/occasional chair in any living space!





But wouldn't be fun to add her to your back porch or even use her in your next garden party? She is all dressed up with a party dress! Lol! A little unexpected surprise and a little whimsy always makes for a great party or a nice, relaxing place to retreat...Don't you think?





I have to admit...I love her soo...I have moved her everywhere I could think of...But sadly, my home is too small! :( So, she is going to a new home...I am sure a quite beautiful one, too! She is painted, distressed and dressed! Ready to be loved & used...& maybe a little abused! ;) The more chips, nicks, and booboos she has...the more beautiful she will become!

Asking $150.00

If you are in the Houston area....Or want to find out about shipping...You can contact me for more information. screamingmemedesigns@gmail.com

Her humble beginning...she actually had a horrible fabric on the seat...I had to change it before I snapped this photo...I wanted for her to be just as beautiful while her dress was be laundered..

{Before} Meme dolled her up!

Remember to sign up for my $100,000 Giveaway here...okay, $100 Giveaway! But you can buy 100,000 different things with it...lol

Xo, Meme

Screaming Easy Slip Covers

Pink is having another party! So I decided to join in!


I recently slip covered this chair for a client...I wanted to share the results with you...I loved how "she" turned out..All sassy and ready for the perfect place in her beautiful home...



The clean lines in this chair, makes it a perfect chair to practice how to slip cover...Armless would be even better!

We are now offering slip covering classes in Houston, TX...For all you DIYer's! This class is for beginners...who want to learn the "SCREAMING EASY" way to slip covering...If you know how to sew a straight stitch, I can teach you how to slip cover! :) Email us @ screamingmemedesigns@gmail.com for scheduling and prices... XoXo, Screaming Meme This post is proudly sponsored by Pink And Polka Dot...She has a lot of wonderful slip covering ideas and design tips too boot! ;) Go check her out!

Home Is Where The Heart Is...

There is something magical about slip covering...It makes an old piece of furniture come back to life...Slip covers are easy to learn to do, if you give yourself a chance...And let your creativity guide you...I was surprised that I could do it! But I took a chance and learned something new...

It may not be slip covering for you...Maybe it is painting a piece of furniture a fun and unexpected color...Or learning to take professional photos to frame and display in your home...It doesn't matter what it is...It just matters that YOU believe in yourself enough to try! ;)

I slip covered this chair for a client...I have to say wing backs are harder than some of the other styles I have slip covered. But I loved the challenge! Though, my family would probably tell you that I lost sleep and sewed a few fingers together...lol

My slip covers are not perfect...But to me that is perfect...I love to see imperfect furniture... Life is not perfect, so why should our furniture be...I love furniture that looks like it has a history...a story...a place to call home...

XOXO, Screaming Meme

Slip To My Lou

Here is one of the chairs I had slipcovered for Miss Jackie...I had a whoopsie with one of them...I found a small rip in the piping on the day I was suppose to deliver them...:( I don't know how it happened, but it did...It was probably fixable, but I had to make sure it was perfect for Jackie and her beautiful family...I am not one to take chances or throw something together...It has my name on it...And I have too much pride to not make it right! So I took it a part and started over...:)

I called Jackie to let her know what had happened and that I would deliver the settee and one of the chairs and deliver the other one later in the week...She kindly said not to make two trips...So, I am a busy little beaver...slipcovers, model home, and design consults...I love it!!! :) lol I am in my zone and feel sooo alive there!

Yesterday, I met with a new client, Christian, she was a delight! And her kiddos were sooo adorable! I wanted to take the baby home with me to add to my collection of kiddos and doggos ;)...I have a tendency to do that...lol I love babies! They make me laugh and bring me back to when my boys were young {bittersweet}...I spent two hours with her going over her blue prints and color choices...It was soo fun to help her dove in and get the "BIG" picture of how it will look and give her new ideas and suggestions to add to her already wonderful ideas...By the time I was done, you could see the confidence on her face...That is what makes my job so wonderful...Her home is going to be sooo beautiful! She has such great taste! I can't wait to see it complete!





Did anyone see Oprah yesterday? It was about dream jobs...I cried when Buddy from Cake Boss started crying about how proud his Dad would be...I completely got how he felt and know my Momma and my Grandfather {Papa} would be SOOO proud of my accomplishments! Yes, I am doing my dream job! I have to pinch myself and make sure I am alive...:) Yep, I am! lol


I am off to work on slipcover orders and take care of Bella, the chihuahua...She had her teeth cleaned yesterday and had a little scare...Her heart rate went low during the surgery (well, they put them asleep while they clean their pearlies)...and she had a reaction to the vaccinations she got...I was up with her all night...:( I was scared out of my mind...She is my baby...:) She is doing well this morning, but very drowsy from the allergy meds I gave her...




XoXo, Screaming Meme

Slipcovered Settee

I am still alive over in Screaming Meme Land...:) I have been busy with slipcovers, a surprise visit from my sister and her baby, Maddox and a little bug that seemed to have me down for 4 days...I am feeling better! Thank you for the well wishes...I think they helped ;)...

Miss Jackie's settee was quite the handful or vice versa ;)...She was unruly to say the least...So much so that I had to name her...;) I named her, Abigail Van Bitchin'...yes, I said it...lol My Momma had a persian cat named that...Quite regal and beautiful, but she was a handful...just like my slipcovered settee...lol




Yes, I learned a lot of tricks from Abigail Van Bitchin'...and sewn a few fingers together in the process...actually through one of my nail beds and the side of one of my fingers...Just call me Meme Van Bitchin'...because I was...:) I cried a few times and laughed ALOT...





I had thought that the arms would be a snap and that I would have her all done in no time flat...lol Well, it took me a lot longer than I thought...BUT it was because I started the arms over and fiddled with her more than I should of...I am so bad like that...I want my work to be the best "I" can do...if I believe it can be better...I will not stop until I either think it is the best I can do or the paddy wagon came to get me...lol




So, I hope Abigail is loved as much as I have grown to love her...We will always have something special between us...:) She will be loaded up in my eldest son's pickup truck tomorrow to go to her new home! I have two of her sisters, the channel back chairs I am "fiddling" with...:) I will post pictures asap for you all to see...

More news, I think I will be designing another model home ...I will keep you posted...fingers crossed! Yay!!!


XoXo, Screaming Meme

A Slipcover Peekaboo

I am slipcovering Jackie's furniture and at my wits end with Emmers, our golden retriever....She is a handful these last few days...She is even picking on her sister...Poor Bella...See what I mean? Yesterday, I spent 30 minutes running a muck, trying to catch that little stinker down the street...:)
I looked real cute, I am sure...:) lol





I wanted to give you a peek at my slipcover I am working on...I am so pleased with the fit...I am farther along than this...I want to tease Jackie, who I know is stalking my blog for a peek...probably as we speak...Get to packing, Jackie!...I have it covered over here...:) Jackie is in the middle of a move and knee deep in boxes...while I am knee deep in fabric and dog fights...:)






so, what do you think? I will show you more soon...

For those of you that have not entered my giveaway, scroll down and enter ...Screaming Meme's orders ;)

XoXo, Screaming Meme

Meet Poor Pitiful Pearl....My New Slipcover

I am so proud of myself...I feel as if I landed on the moon or found some ancient secret of youth...Okay, I guess that is a bit dramatic...But, I do feel VERY proud of myself...I have taken risks and accomplished one of the things that were on my list of things to learn before I kick the ole' bucket...You know...My "Bucket List"...lol ;)

My Bucket List...is quite long, I have to say...There are so many things that I want to experience before I kick the ole'...you know... bucket...Don't you? So many of them are scary to me...Would you believe me if I told you I was afraid to sew on a zipper...lol..I know...A silly little zipper...I tried to get around it...BUT, now I am glad I bit the bullet and did it...I'm a Zipper Making Mama, now...Yes, Sir~Re~Bob! I plan on remaking the cushion with a new foam, so that it is more square {Boxy} like...But I had to get it done...because I had promised you I would...Don't you hate when a blogger or a real person for that matter tells you they are going to do something and they don't? I hate that...So, I was up until early morning hours completing it just for little ole' you...



Here she is...I love her sooo much!!! I had to name her... You know I name everything and rename people ;)...Her name is "Poor Pitiful Pearl"...I think she is beautiful...I felt as though I was an old~fashioned dressmaker, back in the day...I roll play a lot! I don't really know why...I suppose that it is the actress in me...;) You should of been a fly on my wall...I had pins in my mouth and I had the measuring tape wrapped around every inch of Pearl...Like I really knew what I was doing...I really didn't...I am surprised she looks as good as she does...That Poor Pitiful Pearl ;)



She is made from a painters' drop cloth...I washed the material before I started the project...So that it would shrink up a bit...She doesn't look like a drop cloth, does she?

I did the old mock box trick on the cushion cover...It is actually one continually piece...Very easy to do...And it looks more professional, too...




Do you see Poor Pitiful Pearl's little boo~boo? I pinched her a bit...Ouch!!!...Oh well, as least I will be able to tell her apart from her soon to be twin, Olive Oyl...lol... Yes, Olive and Pearl will be twins in the Old Saloon Gameroom...I am off to sew her up and put her on that ole', ugly, FREE chair that I drug home...I can't wait to see the pair together...


Emmers is getting pretty comfy in Ole' Pearl, isn't she? Awww...so sweet!!!...I love that slip covers can be enjoyed and not worried about...All I have to do is wash her up and put her back on...Easy Smeasy...Don't you think? ;)







XoXo, Screaming Meme {Zipper Making Mama}

A Winner And A Peek A Boo!

And the winner is...Style Sisters...:)

Congratulations to you! Please, send me your addy @ screamingmemedesigns@gmail.com ...I will mail it out on Wednesday...

Another Simple Giveaway !!!!
I had so much fun with this...I loved reading all the comments and the gratitude you all have for simple gifts that you have received along the way...I plan on having another giveaway in two weeks...It will be a design related book...:) {If you have an idea for a design book you think would be a good giveaway...Let me know...} So, make sure to sign up for that giveaway on March 22nd...



Thank you again... for stopping in and telling me about a gift that warmed your heart...It was so much fun to read them and to get to know some of my favorite new bloggers I have met along the way...




Life is beautiful when you open your eyes and find gratitude in the little gifts that life has given us...Having this Giveaway has made me open my eyes to all the wonderful things that happen on a day to day basis...Here are a few "little" things I am thankful for...

1. The smell of the grill on Saturday...It bought me back to when I was a little girl...and all the celebrations that were around a grill...I could hear all the laughter...and my Uncle Danny strumming his guitar...I could see all the kids running around trying to catch a lightning bug...the taste of the honeysuckles, that seemed to be so magical...




2. My home...And all the memories...Like Daisy, my dining table...and all the the memories that have been shared around her...all the silly projects that I have attempted to create because I believed in myself enough to try... And my little headboard bench that I put on layaway...How she is a reflection of "Meme"...I walk through my home and every corner is a memory of my life...Some good, some sad and all treasured...Life is a journey you have to endure...But if you take a step back and look...really look...It is such a beautiful journey...




3. My blog...It is my second home...I love Screaming Meme...As though she was a real person...as crazy as that sounds...I look at the header and I remember having Sadie Olive design her...She screams Meme...Those photos are of my beautiful Momma and my Uncle Ralph, who passed away too soon in life....She was the most talented person I ever knew...Everything she touched turned to gold...She was brilliantly talented...She looked like Grace Kelly...She still lives in my creativity...I feel a connection with her when I am creating and designing...Screaming Meme lets me do all the things I love all in one...Write, create, design, and be silly...All in one...:) The most important part is meeting women who are like me...I think that is the greatest part of blogging...Friendships... and a connection to a shared passion....

Here is a Peek~a~boo of my new slipcover I have been working on for those ugly...old...FREE...chairs that I drug home like some old bag lady...;) Yes, I do feel like Templeton, the rat, in Charlotte's Web sometimes...I will not hesistate to dig in someone's trash or drive 30 miles to pick up someone's junk...BUT...I do have to say...I also feel more connected with the Earth...because I am able to save and restore something that would otherwise be in our landfills...So, I guess that is a good thing...




I will post the reveal of my slipcover tomorrow or Wednesday...I have a few more things to do to it...Yay! I am so excited to get them both done...So, my kids can wollow all in them...:)

XoXo, Screaming Meme

Free Chairs!

This is a picture of a local ad for 2 free chairs (this is not my home)...I have always wanted armless chairs...I emailed her and asked if they were soiled with pet stains or anything gross...:) She emailed me back and said they were not...I couldn't let free armless chairs pass me by...So, I swooped up my keys and dashed out the door!...

They were even bigger than I had thought and they were sturdy...You could tell they originally cost a lot...I am not afraid to get down and do the "sniff check"...To make sure I wasn't bringing home something I would have to discard myself...You should of seen the look on her husband's face...:) Priceless...A girl's got to do what a girl has got to do...;) My plans were to practice slipcovering them and sell them in a local ad.

I cleaned them up and placed them in the gameroom...I was sold...I could invision them dressed in white...I will post them in an upcoming post...:) Can't wait to finish them...:) Look in your local ads (I search online) for free furniture you can shabby up or slipcover out...It is a thrill like no other when little, ole' you transforms what otherwise is considered junk...And it also makes the world a "GREENER" place to be...And green is good...Well, in most cases...;)


Do you have a transformed piece of furniture? I'd love to see it!



XoXo, Screaming Meme {The Sniffer}