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Is it Spring Break yet?

Oh, it’s so close! I just can’t wait for Spring Break. We’re not going on any trips, so the new project ideas are swirling in my head. A week off from the classroom, to concentrate on my own kids and projects, is just what this kindergarten teacher needs.


I bought four of these chairs on Craigslist for five dollars each. They are all ripped up and horrible looking, but with a fresh coat of paint and some new fabric, they’ll be as good as new. I have no intention of keeping them. I’m happy with my current kitchen and dining sets. I’m planning to find a cheap table to paint and resell it, with the chairs, as a set. I have had the yellow plaid fabric (below) for quite some time and I’m excited to finally use it. I went to the fabric store and found the other print for the backs of the chairs. The ladies and Calico Corners are always trying to convince me to use two different fabrics on chairs. They say it’s the trend. Well, I’m just going to trust them and give it a try. They are the experts in decorating!


While I was at Calico Corners I fell in LOVE with this fabric (below):

It has a Spring/Summer beachy feel. The fabric in the background is a paint drop cloth from Lowes. CHEAP!!! Layla, from The Lettered Cottage, uses drop clothes as curtains in her dining room and I love the way it looks like linen for a fraction of the cost. If my home had a season, it would definitely be Fall. Everything is warm, cozy, plush, and dark. I’m thinking that a Spring/Summer look is in order. Cheap drop cloth window coverings and just a few pillows with the Calico Corner’s fabric will be a welcome change!

My sewing machine will be running over spring break. I also bought Sunbrella, outdoor fabric, to make pillows for the benches in the front yard.


Oh, and I can’t forget… it’s time to reorganize the kids’ art cubby. The nice little marker and paper bins work best when the kids actually put the markers and paper in them! They LOVE the art cubby. They NEED the art cubby. They USE the art cubby every day. So, they will keep messing it up and I will keep reorganizing it. I have nothing better to do with my time, right?

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The Comments

  • kim
    March 11, 2010

    I love those fabrics. Those chairs will look awesome and I like those striped fabrics for your house. I am going to get a sewing machine. I know how to sew, but it has been a long time. I did have two dropcloths for drapery panels in my sitting room before I switched them to the panels I have now. They are great as panels. I should add some to my bedroom, but then we get so much dust in there and that would be more dust collectors.

  • Kim
    March 12, 2010

    I can't wait to see those fabrics in use. That reminds me, I'm due for a trip to Calico Corners.

  • Jan Jessup
    March 12, 2010

    Dear Becca,
    It's fun to see your dining room chair project in its BEFORE stage…and yes, putting a different fabric on the back of the chair will make a more interesting chair. When it's all done, I think you'll be pleased!

    Just a word about using drop cloths as draperies…I think they would be quite stiff and probably not hang very well. You can have draperies made of casual cottons (twill or denim or duck) and have a much more supple end product that will hold fullness or a pleat so much better. Calico Corners is having a Spring Sale through March 27 where you can save on both fabrics and custom labor so that you can get a great finished look at a great value.
    Best,
    Jan Jessup

  • Kimba
    March 15, 2010

    It looks like you're going to be busy! I love those fabrics that you chose. They'll work beautifully with some dropcloth drapes.

    Have fun! And welcome to blogging. You're off to a great start.