Vintage Folding Chair Makeover

I was super excited to find these two vintage folding chairs at a garage sale for only $1 each. They were screaming, "Take us home with you!" So I did.

My little helper helped me to sand them in readiness for the really pretty aqua color I chose.

To remove the seat covers, I had to pry up the tabs on the bottom of the frame with a screwdriver. They came off pretty easily.

While waiting for the paint to dry on the frames, I got to work designing the textile for the seat. I had a piece of white fabric that I'd also picked up recently at a garage sale for $1. I measured the spaces between stripes starting with 1/2 inch, then 1 inch, and finally 1 1/2 inch spaces with masking tape.

I spray painted the fabric with the same paint used on the chairs to ensure a perfect color match.

To allow for ease of changing in the future, I simply secured the fabric to the seat frame (for lack of a better word to use for it) with masking tape. Since this area will be sandwiched between the seat frame and the chair frame it won't be seen.

These rectangular holes are where the tabs on the bottom of the seat frame fit, and are folded back down to attach the seat.

And, the finished product...

My battle with depression...

It's hard to say when the depression started... I just know now that I am. 

I feel like I am constantly fighting a losing battle with myself. I have no motivation. It's hard sometimes just to get out of bed in the mornings. In the back of my mind I know that there are things that I could be doing, and some that I should be doing. Yet, I can't seem to find the motivation. I'm tired all the time and my weight is steadily increasing. I constantly feel like crying and it has become increasingly harder to hide it. 

Yes... I hide it.

It's one thing to just have to deal with normal every day stress, but add in two chronic illnesses that leave me fatigued, tired, anxious and foggy brained and it gets worse. Have you ever been so tired you feel as though you can't stand anymore and when you lay down, you can't fall asleep? I have, almost every night. The medications they've given me to help me sleep don't seem to help. I struggle with going to the doctor for fear that they will tell me that yet another part of my body is failing me.

I also have three amazing children. I can say that because I'm biased. Others might look at them and wonder where I failed. Sometimes I think I have with at least two of them. My oldest is 18, living in another state, and expecting her first child. She seems happy and is well educated and up to date on current events with the elections coming up and tracks politics like a boss... My other two? My middle child, a 16 year old girl struggles daily with being bipolar and the battle with managing her out of control emotions, weight issues (she's a comfort eater and hides food), and social issues... All of which I struggle with for her as well. How can I not? I'm her mom, and I love her. My 12 year old son has recently been diagnosed with ODD which was added onto the ADHD diagnosis he already had, and will be seeing a specialist soon to be evaluated for Autism Spectrum. He recently spent two weeks in a psychiatric facility, and it broke my heart.

I went back to college a year ago with this amazing excitement to learn and further my education. To earn that degree that I left behind years ago. I was making perfect grades with nothing below an A for a while... Now I'm failing. The textbooks can't hold my attention for more than a few minutes and I struggle with the assignments. I'm contemplating quitting before I get any farther in over my head.

I don't share this for pity, nor do I do it to explain my absence in the crafty world I have always loved (I still do). 

I share this to bring awareness to the fact that everyone struggles with something and to challenge anyone who reads this to do the same...

Share your story, be it happy or sad, and give yourself the opportunity to be built up instead of torn down.

I had the opportunity to demo for The Paper Cut at the Orlando Scrapbook Expo...

Just thought I'd do a quick share. Sara's site has some amazing products that I couldn't help but let my followers know about. Hopefully I'll be demoing some of her products on my YouTube channel very soon.

If you'd like to check out her store click here.

Have a wonderful day!

USTREAM Class (Tutorial for my Mini top hat pin cushion)

I'm so excited y'all!!!

I'm hosting my first USTREAM class tomorrow night at 6pm Eastern time.

I did the tutorial for my top hat pin cushion and wasn't happy with it, so I didn't upload it.

I decided to try out USTREAM and see how it would be to do it live so that folks can ask questions in real time and maybe get a better understanding of the process.

I will be starting from the making of the pattern and going all the way to embellishment.

I hope you can join me.

I will be adding the video from the class after it is finished in case anyone can't make it.

Hope to see you there!

:0)

Live Laugh Love Art Journal Page...

I thought I'd share the art journal page I did today. I discovered a new technique (well, new to me anyway.) and used it for this page.

Hope you have a great day!

:o)

Lindy's Stamp Gang's Art to the Eggstreme challenge!

Hi everyone!

Here is my entry for Lindy's Stamp Gang's "Art to the Eggstreme" challenge.

Click here to check out the details for the challenge and enter.

I thought I'd also share with you the techniques that I used to create my entry.

Thanks for stopping by!

:o)

Well, It's official. I LOVE Graphic 45 paper lines. The project that I'm sharing is an entry for Itrippledogdareu's TP roll challenge on YouTube. I had so much fun doing this. The paper used is G45's Olde curiosity shoppe which from what I understand is discontinued now. It's a shame because it is a beautiful paper pack. Unfortunately I can't get it in my area and have always been reluctant to order paper online because I have this thing where I have to see and touch the paper in person before I buy it. I know, I know, but I can't help it. Maybe it's a sensory thing. Who knows. Do any of you have that problem?

If you watched my videos on the Tiny Chat swap that I participated in, you will know that I got mine (the 12x12 and the 8x8) from Eileen who is thelittlecraftershow on YouTube. Thanks again Eileen!

Well I guess I've rambled enough, so without further rambling here is the project...