So, we got this "new to us" couch a couple weeks ago, and with three dogs and four cats, we needed to do something to keep it looking nice. It's an Ethan Allen couch and super heavy and quite frankly, the nicest couch we've ever had. Best of all, it's only two years old and was FREE! Can't beat that!!!
I had bought some covers in the past for our old couch (wowsers, they are expensive!) only to have them ripped by the animals' toenails and in the garbage after six months. I didn't want to do that again, and in the spirit of frugality, I decided to MAKE a couch cover. Well, at least a cover for the cushions. The cushions on the back are attached, so I would have to make something with elastic around it, and that would be a pain in the butt.
I thought I'd just use an old sheet, but none of the older ones we had were big enough, and they were too thin, so would probably tear fairly easily. Sooooooooo, while we were shopping on Saturday, we stopped at Hobby Lobby (one of my favorite stores!) and I found some material that was not only inexpensive, but on sale, too! I was looking for something that would fit with my color scheme (reds and blues), and would not show the pet hair. Not an easy task, with a tan dog, a brown dog and a black dog, and cats of the same colors! This fabric fits the bill, though! It looks a little funky with the rest of the couch, but since when has "funky" ever bothered me? LOL!
Basically, I made a giant pillowcase for the cushions. I added five buttons on the side -- I was amazed that I actually found five large matching buttons in my button jar! My sewing machine has the most awesome button-hole foot that makes it super simple to make button holes! So, even though the cover is a bit large and has to be tucked in, it's a big case and buttoned on the side, so it's not going to come off! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!
Here's the before. That's George (one of the cats) on the right.
Here's the before. That's George (one of the cats) on the right.
And the after! Sophie jumped up the instant I stepped away after putting the cover on and wasn't about to move! Sophie is our latest rescue. She is almost a year old and weighs 95 pounds so far! She is a Newfoundland/ St. Bernard mix and is the absolute sweetest dog! She has some issues we're dealing with, but that's for another post!!
Like I said, it's a little funky, compared to the couch material, but it is what it is and it works just fine!
Like I said, it's a little funky, compared to the couch material, but it is what it is and it works just fine!
Without having all kinds of medical appointments to head off to, I've had some time to get some stuff done around the house! It's that time of year, and I'm feeling crafty (hence the reason I made the couch cover -- oh, and it only took about 1-1/2 hours to make!), I've been working on some Christmas decorations!
Abby cut some branches off our pine trees for me and I made this basket. I save my summer hanging baskets and use them for my Christmas baskets. I leave the dirt in them and because it gets dried up, after I make the basket, I water it so when it's outside, it freezes and makes the basket heavier and less likely to blow away in a storm. Pretty awesome to not have to pay anything for such a pretty basket!
I cut some more branches and twigs and made this out of one of my summer planters.
Sophie totally lives up to the Newfoundland nickname of "gentle giant." We babysat for Bernie and Ezra on Friday, and neither of the boys had met Sophie yet. They were a little intimidated at first, because she is a very large dog (and let's face it, when you're 3 feet tall and have three dogs wanting to greet you, it can be a little intimidating!), but they soon became good friends! Ezra was nose to nose with her and I couldn't resist snapping a pic!
Of course, when they predicted an inch or so of snow for us, we got FIVE inches! It was very wet, heavy snow, so it clung to everything. We had to be in Wausau early this morning, and a normal 30 minute drive took 60 minutes in 4 wheel drive. We counted four vehicles in the ditch on Highway 29 in a 15 mile stretch. Not surprising, to be sure! People are stooooopid when it comes to driving in the snow, even in Wisconsin! On the way home, I counted the fresh tracks into the ditch -- TEN in total! Idiots!
This was Sophie's first "big" snow and she was loving every minute of it! I can't wait to see how she acts when we get more and have giant snow piles in the yard!!
And I'm working on some Christmas decorations inside the house, too. I saw this idea on Pinterest. As you can see, this is a regular spot for the cats. They're doing really well, though and haven't been messing with them! Right now they have been more interested in the sparrows at the feeder outside the window. It does help that the shade covers them at night. Out of sight, out of mind, right?! We shall see how long that lasts!
So, that's all for now. Things are going well. It's gotten to the busy time of year for me and mandatory overtime starts next week. I'm allowed 15 hours between last week and this week and am putting in every minute of those 15 hours!
Hope all is well with everyone!
Love, peace and prayers,
Julie
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