Well Hello!
Kari Senter here, NC State student, Fashion and Textile Design major, lover of chocolate and all things foreign. Why am I writing this blog post, you may ask? This summer I’ve had the chance to shadow Linda, owner of Pencil Me In, in her workspace and learn from her and her process. This post is about the office chair slipcover I made. Considering I had never made a slipcover before, I was expecting anything but a smooth ride, however; thanks to the instructions in “The Complete Photo Guide to Slipcovers, Pillows & Bedding” (by Karen Erickson) and a phone call to Teresa Bennett, owner of Cozy Cottage Slipcovers and the very person who wrote those handy instructions, I was able to pull it off better than even I expected. Aside from the fact that this was my first ever slipcover, the challenge was to create a piece that fit with ambiance of the workplace. After lots of sketching and prototyping, I was able to make a slipcover from different textures and weights of white fabric, accentuated with contrasting cording and a panel of colorful patterned fabric by Jackie Von Tobel in the back. Here are some pictures of my take on the office chair slipcover, which features a skirt with a flounce, my own label, and some cording resembling princess seams. My main goals were to make something that measures up to the high standards in craft and quality that Pencil Me In upholds, along with achieving the aesthetic so characteristic of Pencil Me In. I hope you like it!
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Recently I was asked if I had any interesting projects going on and I really had to think about it. But here is one for that category. It's always rewarding to make someone's quality of life just a little bit better. That's pretty interesting to me. Most often, furniture is delivered to my shop in North Raleigh for custom fitting. For larger pieces, or if it is preferred that the furniture remain in place, I offer fitting on site services. Here's how that works: I come out and make a muslin pattern in the home, return to my shop to make the slipcover, and then make a second trip out to fit the cover to the frame. Is there a chance that the cover won't fit? Yep.
But that's why we call it a fitting! I was thrilled to get this blue and white cover right on the first try. A perfect candidate for fitting on site, the sofa was monster sized and must have weighed a ton. It was a challenging fit because there were no tuck ins in the back or underneath the cushion since it was a sleeper sofa. In slipcovering, we count on tucking in fabric to hold the slipcover in place. A system of ties used under the cushion to fasten the cover to the bed frame left the beautiful Italian velvet of the original furniture in tact for future use. I loved how this light and airy pattern lightened up this heavy piece of furniture. Now all that is missing from this picture are the felines that are sure to lounge with an attitude. For my friends who love furniture and upcycling, here is the ultimate: "Found Chairs and Trees" by artist Tom Shields (American born 1970 and lives in Penland). Weekend weather was amenable to hiking and what a nice discovery on the trails at the North Carolina Museum of Art. This exhibition takes the chair back to its roots by grafting chairs to trees. Over time, the chair will decay, completing a natural cycle. Here is a scrappy little slipcover for a child's wingback that I made during the Furniture Festival demonstrations in Hickory. I am a sucker for using up stuff and piecing things together, and it is a great way to keep project costs down. A bold print here is mixed with solid cottons and a ticking stripe, and dolled up with grosgrain ribbon and ruffly skirt, all machine washable. Shout out to Bill's Sewing in Hildebran for loan of industrial walking foot and overlock sewing machines. These machines are so much quieter than my old reliables! Demonstrating the slipcover process at the Furniture Festival was so much fun. Carolina Slipcover Girls came together at the Hickory Furniture Mart. I enjoyed spending time with Emily of Emily Jane Creations, and Kristi of Pink and Polka Dot. They have a passion for all things slipcovered. Upholstery demonstrations took place outside of Southern Style Fine Interiors. This artisan in the far left corner of photo was covering club chairs in luxury leather that was the green "color of the year" we have been hearing so much about. The chairs were very vogue. Musicians were there too. It would be so nice to work with live music in the background all the time. I think this would be a great concept for the manufacturing environment and a great way to create jobs for musicians. Local Artisans showcased their talents in paint, wood, clay, and metals. Many drew inspiration from Nature. I was inspired by these works of art! Getting ready for the Furniture Festival! I'll be participating with slipcoveristas Emily Pettit & Kristi Maxwell Since its inception, this book has been on every slipcover diva's wish list, and yesterday it arrived at my door. The Home Decor Idea Book: Slipcovers, written and illustrated by Jackie Von Tobel is even more phenomenal than I thought it would be. Can't wait to curl up in a comfy chair and drift off into slipcover embellishment dreamland. Thank you Jackie for this gift to slipcoveristas of the world! |
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