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Spring Mini-Makeover #1: Chair Redo – the final chapter

Chair redo

So, it’s finally done. I wasn’t able to find the edging that I wanted so I used a brown woven ribbon that came off of a Tag blanket that’s been down in my basement since last year. Now for my full disclosure – I did spend more than $4. I know, I tried to keep it at $4 because I said that I would – BUT – in my defense, I had to get an electric stapler to save my poor elbows (I had elbow surgery last November). Add $24.99 after coupon. That said, I’m probably going to take it back because for every staple that actually made it into the chair, I had 20 more smoosh against the wood without so much as a nick (see Before picture on my previous post).

Oh, I also ran out of red ink in my Sharpie marker so I had to buy a pack of 3 to get the red.  Another $3.09.  And, I will end up buying the red ribbon to frame the fabric when I find it so that might tick up the price to about $15. I still say “not bad.”

“Sharpie marker?” you ask? “What did she use a Sharpie marker for?” Well, the burlap I bought was plain old brown and I wanted something a little bit more special. So, to mimic the look of an old grain cloth (which I am completely obsessed with!), I taped off the lines on the fabric and colored them in with a Sharpie marker. When I first did this, my son had a friend over. They came into the kitchen to see what I was doing and they both freaked out that I was coloring on my chair (as if my mom might send me to my room!). I started to run out of ink on the skinnier line on the bottom but then decided I liked that it was a little bit “faded”.  Unfortunately I couldn’t replicate the faded look on the back piece with my brand new marker.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with my little chair. It was a fun, quick, cheap project. I learned one thing – I did not miss my calling as a re-upholsterer (is that a word?).

Now, where to put it?

Have a chair story to share? Re-upholstery or fabric question to ask? Leave a comment below or head on over to my Facebook page and post on my Wall.