Catch-up September

September was the month of projects. Turns out when you have a med-student as a husband and he's in his surgery rotation, he's not around too often.

While heading out one morning to ride by bike to work, I came across a rocking chair in the dumpster. I double taked and thought, I'm late I need to go. But when I passed it again coming back with my bike, I couldn't resist. I put my bike on the floor and carried the 2 pieces up to apartment. I mean, a FREE rocking chair that didn't look too beat up and I knew it wouldn't be there when I got back from work. I refinished it by sanding for hours and than polishing. I think it turned out pretty good. I mean, I could have spent more time on it, but I was over sanding in all the crevasis and I only had so many hours of sunlight outside.

 The couch project was actually my first idea....what was I thinking!!! Now those who know me pretty well know that crafts and me do NOT go together. The last time I remember using a sewing machine was in acheviement days when I was 11, honestly. But for some reason, I came up with this brillant idea that I would re-finish the couch. I hated our couch covers for it, they didn't really fit (although they did cost me $60/piece) and the pattern was old and out of date. These are the couches Clark grew up on, and although I love them and am so grateful for them, the pattern was a little out of date. So I decided I would head to Joann Fabrics, pick me up so material and spend a Saturday reduing the couches. I mean all the things I googled didn't look to complicated. HAHAHAHA - one Saturday, right; try 2 full Saturdays and MANY nights of after work putting these stupid things together (I may or may not have thought very bad things the whole time I was doing it :)

I borrowed a sewing machine from my friend, 1st mistake. I HATE sewing machines, I got so unbelievably frustrated with the whole thing and hated it from day 1. I think I went to Joann Fabrics probably 10x and Home Depot a few times as well. In the picture, due to bad lighting and distance, it doesn't look too bad (good thing most who read this blog won't ever see them in person). I should have taken a before and after picture, but I forgot. There's a little couch as well that I did. But I can say I refinished by couches all my hand, with only a little help from a friend to sew in the zippers for the cushions.