Sew Simple Bench Cushion

This bench cushion is another wonderful sewing project by Jan. Jan and I used to work together on a lifestyle website and blog awhile back.

Supplies:

• decorator fabric
• store-bought cording or contrasting fabric and filler cord
• ruler and scissors, or rotary cutter and ruler
• straight pins
• thread
• zipper-if you want to be able to take the cover off and launder it
• foam

Directions:

1. Determine the size of the finished cushion. Mine was 18x30". Either purchase your foam cut to measure, or buy foam and cut with an electric knife. I used 3-inch foam, but you can use whatever works best for you.
2. Cut your top and bottom piece from the decorator fabric. Add 1/2 inch seam allowances all the way around. I like to cut the top and the bottom with exactly the same pattern on the fabric. Mine was a stripe, so it didn't require purchasing extra for repeats. My top and bottom pieces were 19x31".
3. Cut a long piece the thickness of your foam plus 1 inch for seam allowances. I just cut it the whole width of my decorator fabric. You can either fit this to the top and bottom or actually cut it the sum of the 2 lengths plus the 2 widths of your top piece. Be sure to add an inch for seam allowances.
4. If you decide to use a zipper, buy the longest you can for the size of your cushion. The largest I could get was 22 inches, which really could have been longer. You couldn't see the stitching in my pictures because of the stripes, so I used a solid fabric for the examples. I
   cut 2 separate pieces that, when sewn together, had the same stripe pattern as the other long piece. They were 2 inches longer than the zipper. Baste the seam and press open. Then insert the zipper. I used a lap technique. After pressing the seam open, take one side of the seam allowance and fold it down about 1/8th of an inch. Pin this to the zipper. Now, with your zipper foot on the machine, stitch this to the zipper. Open up the fabric and lay the zipper right side down. Stitch along the line that is on the zipper. Now turn the fabric over to the right side and sew across the bottom. Remove the basting stitches.
   
5. If you are going to make your cording, cut bias strips of your
   contrast fabric. Make it wide enough to go around the filler cord with 1/2-inch seam allowances on both sides. I just loosely measured the amount needed for the length on the top I cut out earlier and added a few inches. You will need 2 of these. Center the cord on the wrong side of the bias strip. Fold the strip over the cord, aligning the edges. Using your zipper foot, sew right next to the cording. You can also just use store-bought cording.
6. Now pin the cording to the right side of the top and bottom, aligning the edges. When you get to the end, open the seam on the cording. Cut off the cord on one side to butt right up to the other side. Fold back the fabric as shown. Now fold down the edge to align the seams. ( figure 7) Baste around the whole top using the zipper foot. Repeat for the bottom.
7. Sew the zipper piece to the other long edge piece you cut on one end. If you have measured the exact length you need, you can sew both ends. I tend to just sew the seam at the end, after I have pinned it to the top, and see how long it needs to be.
8. Sew the side edge to the top, right sides together. Repeat for the bottom. Be sure you open the zipper so you can turn the piece right side out. Press everything.
9. You are now ready to put the foam in the cushion cover you have
   made.
10. I wrapped the foam in dry cleaner bags, and it slipped in much more easily. Then I just pulled the bags out when it was inserted.

If you don't need to launder the cover, you can skip the zipper and just hand stitch the opening closed.

Thanks, Jan.

Thanks for stopping by!

Trash to Treasure...That's the Plan

I am posting this today in an effort to motivate myself to finish some of the projects I have planned around the house. Since we've been back from vacation on Cape Cod, I can't seem to get out of vacation mode. My favorite afternoon past-time these days is floating around in the pool in my lounge chair reading a good book or decorating magazine.

I will admit those lazy, hazy afternoons in my floating chair are not totally unproductive. They're also a great time to plan decorating projects. One such time, while I was floating around in the pool being lazy, I noticed this propped up near the trash barrels under the deck. It's the top to our old deck box, which had fallen apart last summer. My husband was going to cut it up and put it out on the curb for trash pick-up. It seems to be structurally sound. There's a board across the slats on the underside, so that the slats won't come loose.

I like to repurpose items to avoid waste and wondered what I could do with this perfectly good item. "It would make a good frame of sorts", I thought... And, then it hit me. I remember seeing this wall organizational system on Pottery Barn's website some time ago. I would love to have something like that on the wall in my office, to help keep me organized.

So, that's the plan. I am going to use the deck box cover to make a wall organizer for my office. I went to Staples and bought a white board and some corkboard. I found some other items at Home Depot to use to transform this perfectly good piece of trash into a treasure.

The real challenge now is to get out of my floating chair and do it. But, it's such a nice, sunny day outside today!

Stay tuned...

Thanks to Susan of Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Metamorphosis Monday.

Chicken Parmesan

This recipe is lower in fat and calories than traditional versions. The chicken is baked rather than fried, and the cheese has reduced fat.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless, organic chicken cutlets
• 2 cups unbleached flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup Progresso Italian bread crumbs
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup Marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup Sargento reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese
  
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  
• fresh basil leaves
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• nonstick cooking oil spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Grease a shallow baking pan with olive oil.
3. Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast in the flour; tap off excess, then dip in the beaten egg. Dredge on both sides in the bread crumbs; tap off excess. Arrange in baking pan, then brush top with olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn chicken over and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from pan.
4. Reduce oven heat to 400°F.
5. Spray a casserole baking dish with nonstick cooking oil spray.
6. Spoon marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish, then add chicken. Spoon remaining marinara sauce over chicken, then sprinkle with grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
   
7. Bake in the oven for an additional 10 minutes, until sauce is bubbly and the cheese has melted. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Enjoy!

Design Star Recap

Although I am not a fan of reality TV, I must admit I really enjoy HGTV's Design Star and watch it every week. If you've been following the show, read on. In last night's episode, at New York Fire Department's Training Facility, Genevieve Gorder informed the designers that FDNY's Chief Ciarvino would help judge this week’s challenge. The remaining designers were split into two teams; Alex, Casey, Emily and Michael made up the blue team. Courtland, Nina, Stacey and Tom made up the red team. Each team was challenged to design a common space for New York City firefighters to relax and unwind in between calls.

I'll just cut to the chase here; I believe the judges made the right call when they declared the blue team the winner of this week's challenge. I think these before and after photos of both rooms speak for themselves.

With the above said, I believe last night's show was probably the climax of this DS season, because the designer everyone seems to love to hate, Nina, was voted off by the judges. From the beginning of the season, Nina has added drama to the show. In the first episode, she threw Courtland under the bus, as he put it. Additionally, her strong personality in some of the team challenges over the last few weeks has kept HGTV's Facebook page and weekly chat room buzzing.

Clearly the judges made the right choice when they sent Nina packing last night. Her braille wall art was confusing to me. I will admit that I am not an abstract thinker, which is probably why I didn't really understand the concept of it. However, neither did the judges. Then, to make matters even worse for herself, Nina took credit for the furniture in the room. Did you notice the poor space planning with the recliner? Remember, the room challenge was all about FUNCTION. How can you relax in a recliner when there's not enough space to recline?

While I was watching the show last night, I participated in HGTV's Facebook chat with Loren Ruch, Design Star's director. At the end of the show, when the judges announced Nina was leaving, the entire chat room broke out into a huge round of cyberapplause. I felt kind of bad for Nina and wondered if she had been kept on this long purely for the drama she ignited.

I was just on Facebook, when a post from HGTV's Facebook page showed up on my live feed. It said "Do you agree with the judge’s decision to eliminate Nina on last night’s Design Star? " Within 48 minutes, 443 others liked the question and there were 593 comments.

But, the question that still remains is "Who will be HGTV's next Design Star?" I'm not sure yet myself, so I'll definitely be tuning in again next week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks to Susan of Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Metamorphosis Monday.

Lemon Rosemary Chicken

This super moist chicken rivals the taste of rotisserie chicken. It's simple to make and is delicious in salads. Best of all, it's healthy!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 organic boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• lemon juice
• ground rosemary
• coarse sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• nonstick cooking spray
  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (on convection setting, if you have one on your oven.)
2. Spray a broiler pan and rack combo with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Wash chicken and arrange in pan.
4. Squirt lemon juice over chicken and sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper.
5. Turn chicken over and repeat.
6. Bake 30-35 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.

Enjoy!

Cottage Flowers

Wordless Wednesday

Simple Changes

I have always considered our home to be a work in progress. Because I decorate on a budget, most of the rooms have evolved over time. The kitchen and adjoining breakfast nook are no exceptions. The cabinets and countertops were redone last summer, and we replaced the appliances with stainless steel ones this past spring. After that, I felt the rooms needed some fine tuning with a few simple changes.

After lightening up the cabinets with paint and glaze, the dark oak blinds really stuck out like a sore thumb in an otherwise bright and airy kitchen. I replaced the blinds and valances with sage Roman shades, which provide privacy and add a little softness to the space. With a total cost of $56.59, including s&h and tax for three shades, they were a real bargain at jcpenney.com. I couldn't have made them myself for that price!


The two oak counter stools, like the one pictured on the left, just weren't right against the cream beadboard. I replaced them with three ladderback counter stools in a cream similar to the beadboard. I found them on Craig's List for $20.00 apiece. I saw similar stools on Ballard Design's website for $149.00 each, so I know I got a good deal on mine.

In the breakfast nook, the armoire that holds the family computer was definitely not pretty. Since it was one of the largest pieces of furniture in the room, it definitely needed some attention. I had some leftover wall paint, which I used to paint the cabinet.



When it was dry, I distressed the edges with sandpaper, then gave it a coat of glaze that was leftover from antiquing the kitchen cabinets. The entire project was a no-cost improvement.

I am pleased with the finished look of the armoire. It really softens that corner in the breakfast nook. Sometimes a few simple, inexpensive changes can really make a big impact in a room.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks to Susan of Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Metamorphosis Monday.

Giani Granite Countertop Paint Update

If you've been a follower of my blog for awhile, you may remember my budget kitchen redo last August. Since we didn't have the money for new countertops, the only option was to paint the existing ones. I did this using 

Giani Granite Countertop Paint

Since then, I've received many inquiries about the product. A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Jane S., who wanted to know how the countertops were holding up after a year and also wondered if the granite paint made my countertops as shiny as granite. I told her they were holding up well after a year.  However, regarding them being shiny, sadly, I had to tell her "no". She e-mailed the company and told them about my experience with the finish. To my surprise, she found out they had improved the finish coat since I had painted mine last August. She gave them my e-mail, and Giani sent me a can of the upgraded topcoat, two roller covers and instructions for wet-sanding the old finish and applying the new one at no charge!

The instructions said the countertops needed to cure for three days after applying the topcoat, so I wet-sanded them and applied the new topcoat before we left for Cape Cod last week. Wow, what a difference, as you can see by comparing the finish in the Before and After photos.

The new finish is so shiny, and my counters are now almost as hard as granite.

Thanks, Jane S., and thanks, Giani, for standing by your product.  I am thrilled with the result!

Thanks for stopping by!

5 Foods You Can Make at Home

This guest post is contributed by Jena Ellis, who writes on the topics of Online Certificate Programs. She welcomes your questions and comments at her e-mail, jena.ellis20@gmail.com.

Here's my problem: I love nice things but hate high prices. As a result, I find myself making compromises in certain areas so that I can spend less but not have to miss out on any fun stuff. I've also discovered a great and fun way to save cash: Making things myself. With a little preparation, the right ingredients, and not too much hard work, I can stock my shelves or feed my family for much less than it would cost to have a night on the town. The good news is that you can, too! I've rounded up a few different food items you can make at home. Have fun!

Peanut Butter
There's almost nothing better than a classic, simple peanut butter sandwich with a tall glass of milk. It's a childhood staple, and fortunately, it's easy to make the key ingredient on your own. Here's what you'll need: one pound of shelled peanuts, two tablespoons of peanut oil, and some salt to taste. Roast the peanuts in a baking tray for 10-15 minutes, then peel away the shells and red skin. Grind them up with a blender and then stir in small amounts of the oil, beating with a wooden spoon, until the mixture starts to thicken up to the desired consistency. Feel free to leave some bigger hunks of peanut in there for a chunky style blend.

Strawberry Jelly
You had to know this was coming after the peanut butter, right? This is another simple recipe that can be adjusted in myriad ways to suit different tastes. Gather a pound of strawberries, cut them in half after cutting off the tops, and place them in a large pan to boil. Keep stirring and reduce the heat until they're soft, then add the sugar and continue stirring until the sugar dissolves. Keep stirring (yep, a lot of stirring) until the mixture thickens up, then let it cool and transfer it to jelly jars. (You can find these in stores or online.) Then serve!

Pesto
Homemade pesto is the perfect way to spice up your Italian dishes. Hand-chopped herbs bring a fantastic, natural edge to any meal. You'll need one bunch of basil leaves, washed and dried; three cloves of garlic, medium-sized; a handful of pine nuts (raw); three-fourths of a cup of freshly grated parmesan; and a few teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Chop up the garlic and about a third of the basil leaves, then add more basil leaves as you finish the rounds of chopping. Once the basil and garlic are pretty finely chopped, add half the nuts and chop some more, then the rest and chop that. Add the parmesan gradually, chopping all the while, then form the resulting fine mass into a small square like a cake that you then place into a bowl and cover lightly with some olive oil. Refrigerate until serving time, when you give it a stir to mix in some of the oil and produce a more liquid spread.

Hummus
Hummus is awesome, period: It's tasty, healthy, and a much more fun party offering than typical dips or salsas. Here's what you'll need: one can (16 ounces) of chickpeas, and one-quarter cup of liquid from the can; three tablespoons of lemon juice (you can go up to five for taste); 1.5 tablespoons of tahini; two cloves of crushed garlic; half a teaspoon of salt; and two tablespoons of olive oil. Combine all the ingredients except the chickpea liquid in a blender, then add the liquid and blend on a low setting until it's smooth. Then pour that mix into a serving bowl and create a little well in the middle for the olive oil. That's it! This is one of my favorite recipes because it's so easy and quick.

Guacamole
Here's another great appetizer if you're looking for something spicy. Gather up two avocados (ripe ones), half a white onion, a small tomato, a clove of garlic, a lime, and some salt and pepper. Chop the onion and tomato into tiny pieces and mince the garlic, then set all that aside for a minute. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop out the insides into a bowl. Use a fork to mash the avocado meat until it's smooth. Cut up the lime and squeeze the juice into the bowl, then toss in the chopped ingredients and stir it all together. Add salt and pepper to taste, and you're done! A simple, fast, zesty snack for much less than it would cost to buy. Feel free to experiment with the recipes to suit your own tastes. Good luck!

Thanks, Jena, for these great ideas for eating well on a budget.

Thanks for stopping by!