Red and White Buffalo Check Slipcovers

First off I know it’s BLACK FRIDAY this week! Use Promo code “BLACKFRIDAY” to receive 25% off any or all of my products! This includes the following

1. How to Slipcover DVD

2. Get it Covered Advanced Slipcover guide

3. Whole 9 yards–Starting and Running a Successful Slipcover Business

4. Pillow Talk–sew pillows with piping and a zipper!

5. Styling Cents–Reuse, Repurpose, and Revive your space!

 

I know I haven’t been blogging as much as I used to. If you want to see updates every few days..follow me on instagram (search slipcovershelley) or follow me on my Facebook Page !

 

Onto my slipcover post….My designer client gave me 12 yards to make 8 red and white buffalo check slipcovers for a set of dining chairs that were out of state. Luckily the clients sister lives in town and has the same chairs! She kindly let me borrow one to make a pattern.

Chair–BEFORE

 

Chair–AFTER

I am not going to lie–these were a bit challenging! The back posts stuck out quite a bit, so I couldn’t get the seat plus button extender section all in one piece. I ended up facing the back notched out parts and topstitched them–so they’d look nicer when they got washed. Then I had to time it so the white button ended up on a red square! No point in doing a cute button if no one can see it.

White button on red square–I know not many people think about these things. I dissect furniture with my eyes everywhere I go…doctors office, friends houses, church, etc. I even stare at peoples shirts when I am sitting behind them and notice how the fabric is cut on the bias or how it is matched it up.

Here you can see the extender piece I had to add–of course I had to match up the pattern. On the pleat ruffle I wanted the white to be hidden so it looks more grounded and kind of like a ribbon band.

These were quite labor  intensive–but I am very pleased with how they turned out. Just enough of a challenge to feel accomplished when they were done without making myself crazy.

 

Side Notes

1. Taking Dec. 15-Jan 3rd off! Please email me to get on my list for January.

2. Excited for Thanksgiving this week! 3 of my siblings and I rented a large cabin in Park City and are spending Thanksgiving there! Hot tub, tubing, food, and 14 kid cousins, it’s going to be a PARTY! Too bad Heber has to work!

3. Use PROMO code “BLACKFRIDAY” for 25% off any or all of my products!

4. Funny memory that’s been playing in my memory lately…Back in the day when I was attending college, I had decided to major in Business. As a business major I had to choose an emphasis–Organizational Behavior, Marketing, Entrepreneur, etc.

I used to always talk about opening a shop of some sorts that would sell old jeans, white t-shirts, and chapstick (my 3 favorite things at the time hahaha!). My dad would always talk about it with me. When we drove by abandoned rundown buildings, we would dream together about how I could buy the building and open my shop. I grew up in Southern California and in the early 90’s old 501 levis were pretty cool paired with a white men’s v neck T-shirt. My friends and I would regularly head down to Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles and peruse all the cool shops selling old 501’s.

So going off of this dream, I made my emphasis Entrepreneur. Then after a semester, I kind of freaked out! Ummm, I want a JOB when I graduate! Holy Crap, what am I thinking?!! I need to make $ when I am done with school…I need someone to hire me! I immediately looked at my options and switched my emphasis to Organizational Behavior (Human Resources). Then I graduated and interviewed a ton and couldn’t get a job. I ended up taking a job at Eddie Bauer as a Sales Associate for $7.25/hr until they had a management position open up…after 6 months of promises, I was still making $7.25/hr and waiting tables on the side at a nice restaurant. When I ran into people I knew while working, I let them assume I was still going to school. I was too embarrassed to correct them and tell them that I graduated and was still waiting tables. Eventually I ended up managing a Sandwich/smoothie shop and a Bath and Body Works until I had my first baby–which is when I started sewing slipcovers professionally.

Crazy how after all that, I came back full circle  to being an Entrepreneur and running my own slipcover business (14 yrs)–funny how life works out! Maybe we should listen to our guts more and realize what we are meant to do and be.