I have been really into fixing up old “junked” furniture recently  and really wanting to try to reupholster something. I have made new chair cushions and simple tasks like that, but I wanted a bigger project. How many times have you seen an old chair or sofa that would be awesome if it had different fabric?  I searched on craigs list for a cheap “project piece”. Something that had a good shape to it but ugly fabric. I found it! Sweet little sofa with a curved back $20, sold. I brought it home and there it sat in my front entrance totally in the way, while I waited for it to inspire me. Where would I put it? What would look good on it? Should I change the wood legs at all? After days of thinking, I remembered a project I had seen on Pinterest where someone had reupholstered an old chair in jeans (I pinned it!). Several years ago I was cleaning out my closet and had a huge stack of old jeans to take to good will. The thought came to me that one day when I take up quilting, (yeah, its on my to do list) that it would be totally cool to make a quilt from old worn jeans! It just sounds comfy! So all these years later, I have a box of old jeans (now covered in dust) taking up space in my garage. Light Bulb! Forget the quilt and cover the sofa! Only issue now was that I don’t sew and I had to sew all these jeans together. My nanny let me borrow her sewing machine to get started. I sucked! I could not use the stupid thing! What was wrong with me? When all my hopes of being the perfect domestic goddess, sewing quilts and mending clothes was about to crumble, I bought my own new sewing machine and stared fresh with my own machine (the most basic, dummy proof one you can buy). I figured it out! I can sew! At this point I became manic with old jeans. I even went through David’s old jeans when my stack started running low. I measured out the sides, back, front, arms and cushion of the sofa and made panels with the legs of all the jeans to match my measurements. My house was soon draped with denim. To cover the cushion I cut the zipper off the back of the old cushion cover and sewed it onto a strip of denim and made a giant zippered pillow case. When all my pieces were together I got out my handy staple gun, hammer and upholstery tacks, even my hot glue gun and got to work. I think the key to upholstering is just to over measure your fabric so that you have plenty to work with. Then just try to keep your fabric pulled tight and hide all your cut edges by folding them under. And yes, when all else fails use a hot glue gun. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to make you happy! I did also paint the wooden legs green and also my upholstery tacks to match. It turned out better than perfect! We love it! It is super cozy and made with love!

Then just in time for Mother’s Day, I had a box full of jean pockets. I got out some wide ribbon, went to the dollar store and bought some solid color dish towels and made pot holders! Such a cute gift for any occasion. I have become a little obsessed with jeans this past month! How often do you throw out or donate old jeans? I know we do a couple times a year. From now on they will hit the jean box and later turn into who knows what!