For those of you who have followed The Polished Pebble for a while,
you know that I am a serious vintage fabric junkie
I love old quilts too and found this great looking "cutter" on eBay
Thought I might use it for some pillows...
but then....the plan changed
Thought I might use it for some pillows...
but then....the plan changed
I have two of these really huge Kubu rattan chairs on a back porch
and the cushions were plain beige sunbrella...
BOOORE---IINNGG!
and the cushions were plain beige sunbrella...
BOOORE---IINNGG!
The old quilt top has tons and tons of character and dozens
of small little patches and stitches of hand sewn love!
of small little patches and stitches of hand sewn love!
It looks like Grandpa's shirts were the main ingredient,
mixed in with some really old homespun and small little checks
It is really more of a patchwork with very little quilting...
which made this so much easier to cut up
mixed in with some really old homespun and small little checks
It is really more of a patchwork with very little quilting...
which made this so much easier to cut up
All of the different colors of faded fabric and a really soft feel from all the years of use make this wonderful to sit on...
just ask my napping Husband...
oh and my dog Millie approves too!
I paired the cushions with some vintage striped grain sacks
purchased from my wonderful friend Wendy Lewis
purchased from my wonderful friend Wendy Lewis
The back cushions sport the same red stripe
as does the ottoman
as does the ottoman
We made a few new pillows from "left overs" to add to the mix...everything being reversible to a different look
The seat and ottoman are backed with new cotton/linen heavy weight fabric with a very simple cream stripe....I can flip them over in case I get tired of the quilt
But that may be a while....
the upholsterer really stuffed the seats at my request....
lots of extra fill and poofy crowned centers
Kubu rattan has been all over the design blog world for quite some time and I have to say I love it too!
These chairs came from Halo Styles and are really like a chair-and-a-half...
super wide and deep
super wide and deep
It's fun to think of new ways to use vintage fabric and really mix it up...
my poor upholsterer usually calls me at least three times
during one of these crazy projects
my poor upholsterer usually calls me at least three times
during one of these crazy projects
The chairs sit under a covered porch most of the time...
but I love the look of really faded fabric too, so no worries here
but I love the look of really faded fabric too, so no worries here
By the way "cutter" quilts are those that have problems
like tears, stains and holes
like tears, stains and holes
they are great for craft projects
and things like this,
because you don't feel bad when you cut them up
and usually they are really well priced
and things like this,
because you don't feel bad when you cut them up
and usually they are really well priced
one final note:
She was featured in an article in the LA Daily news and asked me to send them a few photos of the many projects I have done using her fabric
You can read the article here
Hope you are enjoying the end of summer...and did you notice how the ice tea got lower and lower as the I wrote this
I must have been thirsty
; 0 )
Love it Kelley! Curious, did you use a quilt top or the whole quilt? I've bought quilt tops from Ebay before and made my daughter a dress out of it. I kind of would like to upholster/slipcover a headboard out of a quilt or quilt top.
ReplyDeleteYay for Wendy! She has THE best grain sacks!
Also, you should check out the blog Vintage Is For Lovers, Sam makes pillow covers out of old quilt blocks. You may like.
xo,
Amber
The chair cushions are beautiful, Kelly! And I love the chair and ottoman. Love your idea of incorporating the quilt into the cushion cover. (Hmmmm...now why didn't I think of that? The mind wheels are beginning to spin...)
ReplyDeleteJane (artfully graced)
You just went from grandma to grand. This is really unexpected but pleasing combination.
ReplyDeleteYou've been a great champion of Wendy Lewis. I have my own secret closet of Wendy Lewis treasures and even time I deal with her, I love her more and more. Such a sweet woman and her textiles are top notch. Some people have declared grain sack, et al. dead but I think if it's vintage, it's a classic and it will never go out of style. You can really tell the difference in person.
Nice post!
Absolutely love the pillows and cushions!! So unexpected but so perfect:)
ReplyDeleteI know i'd be spending many hours sipping my vino in that chair:)
So adorable, love that you used old sack cloth and quilt! LOVE!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Tami
I love it and it is perfect on the Kubu! What a great idea and as long as it is semi-protected I think it should hold up well. Perfect! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe how many of the pictures on your blog end up in my inspiration file. This post was no exception. I love, love the cushions. I am also a self-confessed Kubu addict, yes they have meetings. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! I love the idea of a cutter quilt, I can think of so many projects for such a quilt to include chair cushions like you made.
ReplyDeleteLove them! So comfortable, and relaxing looking.
That last photo looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I love what you did. It looks great. You gave me a good idea for my ottomans that need to be recovered. You have such good ideas. Thanks
ReplyDeleteLOVE French handtowels... maybe I need to stop saving mine for a special occasion....So cute on your chairs. And what the heck? what's with those tangerine sized grapes! : )
ReplyDeleteNice job..."how does your garden grow?" It just gets better and better. Now, down here where it will rain then the sun will come out and rain again in five minutes, I am wondering if I could do the same thing with Sunbrella fabrics so that I would not have to bring the cushions inside all the time.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, I will have to work on that. Thanks for the inspiration!
How beautiful! Love the quilt side, and it's neat that they're reversible for different looks. That looks like such a nice spot to read a magazine. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the fabrics! I wish I could still hand sew. Use to love to craft this stuff by hand because machines and I don't get along at all! Love all of your, "stuff", though.
ReplyDeleteThe chair, ottoman and cushions combined made me want to find a cozy corner with a comfy chair and relax for the day. I love the cutter quilt cushion, especially since you can flip it if you want a little change.
ReplyDeleteYour yard, as always, looks so nice.
Karen
Hi there....I used the entire quilt not just the top because the fill was really thin, actually almost non-existent. I think the back cushions will look better with a little fading from the sun...don't you?
ReplyDeleteI really don't sew either...unless it is a super simple project but I am so impressed by people who can! I know some guys that can sew too!
The yard has had a bunch of TLC this last month after really being neglected for most of the summer...but we are finally catching up.
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments...I am hoping to read some blogs this weekend and will be sure to check in on everyone...xox k
Love your chair and new cushions.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Wendy amazing...and wonderful to work with! I first bought grain sacks from her several years ago to reupholster an old wing chair I'd had forever. I love my chair and was honored that Wendy used a photo of it for some of her loodylady listings on ebay some time ago.
At the time I thought I was so brilliant to use a grain sack for my chair...now it's everywhere...you can even buy chairs new like it....c'est le vie :)
Oh my gosh! This post is rediculous! I was sort of thinking that my gardens and photos were looking pretty good and then BAM I am reminded of how AMAZING everything you do is! I see your photos all the time on pinterest by the way! Thanks for the inspiration! I love it! Please give us more eye candy to look at from that lovely garden! It is nice to have an iced tea break and look at your garden before I go out and dig, pull, trim, dig, dig, dig.... did I mention dig?! Ha ha.
ReplyDeleteWonderful- I love the two-sided cushion idea even more for the fact that one side is kinda fancy (for those times with company?) and the other is kinda cozy (for my nap of course!!)
ReplyDeleteI bought a small beat up quilt with almost non-existent filling at a a yard sale last year for $5!! I had idea what to do - but this is inspiration!! thanks