Saturday, May 5, 2018

A Patchwork of Lovely Needlepoints

Hello there Lovelies. Thank you so much all of you whom visited and left such sweet comments; again you all made me smile! A few weeks have passed since jet setting on my dream holiday and I must say it has taken a little while for me to get back into the swing of things. I found for the first week I was just so, so tired. By the middle of the afternoon I needed a nanny nap and when evening descended I fell into bed at the earliest of hours. So unusual for me as I am a bit of a night owl. 

Anyway, between yawns and a sense of being in a drugged state, I thought I would accomplish a quick project (haha.....famous last words)!! A chair which I had recovered about 4 years ago was looking a little sad and dirty and was in need of a little pick-me-up. I decided to really add some pizazz and thought it would be fun to recover it with a jumble of patchwork needlepoints. My penchant for needlepoints has surfaced yet again.

This is a photo of the chair reminiscent of better days, which is a 'twin' to the funky chair I tarted up a little over a year ago.


Remember this one.......I am still loving it, though, it now lives in the parlour as a little revamp will soon be happening in there...all blues and lovely creams/whites.  Hence my 'new' needlepoint lovely is going to while away it's days in the family room, to replace my pretty blue, funky one. Are you a little confused?? I know I am!! So sorry, but you knew more often than not my brain is a muddly mess.


I gave the chair a lick of grey paint with the name of Marina Pearl and sanded it back a little as I rather like furniture to look a bit distressed. I am that gal who loves peely paint, rusty iron and oodles of scuffs. I am not a fan of brand sparkling new. The hue Marina Pearl is my new go to paint replacing Antique White USA which I have used for furniture for what seems forever. Somehow, I fancy the subtlety of this shade of grey these days.

Gathering a miscellany of needlepoints from my collection that sing a beautiful medley, I set about playing with them till I was happy with a pleasing arrangement. I thought I might border each needlepoint with these pretty ribbons that I purchased at Moods Fabrics whilst in New York. Believe it or not, these ribbons are the inspiration behind my 'new' chair. Who would've thought that a couple of lengths of pretty ribbon trims would inspire me to completely recover a chair. I know it is strange gal that I am. Besides I am always up for a creative challenge, always delighting in giving something new a burl. Who knows......it might just work out.....one never knows. =)



Let the stitching begin. As always, when I stitch a pretty such as this, there is always a dreadful shambles all around me! I seem to work best in disarray and mayhem! Who cares about the tidying up afterwards.........not I!!


I pinned each needlepoint to it's neighbouring piece stitching them together, covering the seams with the ribbon trim and fitting it to the chair. As I wanted the cover to be very tight, I found fitting the cover to the chair was a bit tedious because a lot of manipulation by the fingers was needed. Coaxing the needlepoints where I wanted them in some places, was a little trickier than covering with fabric, as needlepoints are thicker and a little harder to tease into their final resting position. I must say my fingers are carrying the battle scars of this tedious process but in the end, all well worth it regardless of the discomfit. When I was happy with the cover I both hot glued and stapled the cover to the chair. It always amazes me what one can do with a staple gun and hot glue. From playing with the needlepoints to stapling the last staple into the chair, the transformation took about three days. Easy peasy.....it really, really was.



A melody of needlepoints; English cottages, grape vines, roses, ribbons and bows, bouquets of flowers, Japanese ladies, sweet birdies, horses and riders and a little fox hunting......all playing very  nicely together.


I am loving how the chair looks. I didn't want a perfectly upholstered aesthetic so I affixed a frayed needlepoint of sweet birdies to the chair, leaving it to hang haphazardly. There are two oval needlepoints of roses which I also left frayed. I am loving this relaxed look. I then added some pretty faded pink crochet edging which I cut from a vintage bedspread, to the front and sides of the chair.


Love, love, love all the needlepoint busy-ness of this chair.












The sad thing about covering a chair with a smattering of needlepoints is that one doesn't have so many needlepoints any more. Oh well, I will just have to go back to my favourite bric-a-brac shop and see if I can unearth some more to replenish my stockpile.

Needlepoint chairs, needlepoint tarted up jackets, needelpoint bags (I stitched this pretty for my little overseas holiday)......my needlepoint pretties just will not be confined in a  common, hang-on-the-wall frame!



I have been stepping out in my tarted up jacket a lot lately. =)


Until the next time.............................



PS......Now about these boots......I found them in San Francisco....so, so funky.....so, so  very me!

Linking up this week with the lovely Jann's Share Your Cup  and Sum of Their Stories parties.


49 comments:

  1. Wow! I always love when you post a picture of your needlepoints to rest my eyes upon and soak up those beauties! Your needlepoint patchwork upholstered chair is wondrous and unique! You matched them up brilliantly - it looks like a masterpiece and I am sure it is unbelievably fulfilling to rest or read or work in this chair. It is a source of positive energy and radiating beauty Kim!

    And the boots fit you perfectly :)

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  2. A fantastic makeover, Kim! When I come for tea, this is where I want to sit.
    Amalia
    xo

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  3. Somehow it works !
    And the scenery is beautiful !
    Have a lovely day !
    Anna

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  4. I love the chair. I am going to have to keep an eye out for a chair that I might be able to redo.

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  5. glad you had a wonderful holiday Kim,
    what a wonderful way to use needlepoints, just love the chair
    best wishes Kay

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comments, Kay. You have put a smile in my day. Kim Xx

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  6. Gorgeous! What an incredible redo! I am truly amazed by your creations! Such talent! This chair is a work of art! I just went and scrolled through all the photos again. Enjoy! xx

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    1. Oh dear.....there are a few happy snaps of my little chair, aren't there. I am afraid I got carried away....just a little. =) You are very sweet, lovely Linda....thank you! Kim Xx

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  7. You are a marvel, Kim.
    The chair looks so welcoming...utterly fantastically unique.
    I love the jacket and O those boots!
    Re last post: I was thinking how delightful it must have been to run into spring in San Francisco.

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    1. Aren't the boots fab!! I happened upon the best shoe shop in San Fran called Fleuvog Shoes, that was overspilling with amazing shoes. I could have mortgaged my house in one outing....but I didn't. There were so many pairs of funky and quirky shoes in this shop. I have a feeling that I will be 'living' in these boots over the next little while. Yes, it was lovely to enjoy a little of San Francisco's Spring. Thank you so much for your sweet comment, lovely Dixie. Kim Xx

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  8. Your chair turned out beautifully. Just think of all the hours of stitches involved in covering the one chair! I love your jacket and your new boots, too.

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  9. I love how you’ve fashioned your needlepoint chair! What a cozy new spot to stitch. You’ve been more productive than me, of late. I’ve been busy on the computer and visiting with our son who has been home visiting and turkey hunting. It’s so nice to have him home for awhile. Enjoy your lovely chair as you snuggle into some winter stitching, dear Kim!

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  10. Love the chair and I'm sure the pieces are happy to be used instead of packed away not being appreciated. Use your stuff people, is my motto. The person that inherits it all may or may not appreciate them.

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  11. As always, I love your style. What a hodgepodge that work so well together. the needlework on the back is so pretty together, and I like the dark arms. What fun!

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  12. Wow, wow and again, wow! Kim, you have done a wonderful job, are you buying all these needlepoints? They are amazing, the chair is amazing and your makeover is amazing!
    Thanks for showing your wonderful work.
    Hugs.

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    1. Thank you so much, lovely Loes. I happened upon a bric-a-brac shop a little while ago that was brimming with discarded needlepoints......so of course a lot of these pretties came home with me. One can never have too many needlepoints as there is always a chair or a jacket to tart up....or indeed a bag to stitch. Kim Xx

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  13. the chair is a one of a kind, work of art...something i would never think to do!!

    you are so creative, i too am trying to remember the story about the cross stitch pieces. i remember there is a story, about where you got them...

    you look like a rock star in that jacket!!

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  14. Just beautiful Kim!! I am pleased you are a messy creator as I am also! I adore your chair & think if I sat in that pretty, I would be constantly turning around to admire all the needlepoints. How wonderful that those pretty ribbons inspired your creation. Have a lovely week my friend Xxx

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  15. Oh my dear - it is so wonderfully funky. All those lovely pieces - and ribbons and trims - what joy. I love to see your process and all that goes into choosing what you will use. I fear I am plain and simple - I'm having a chair reupholstered and it is going to be done in just one kind of fabric - nothing compared to your lovelies. And your poochie, so sweet sitting by the chair - and behaving by not climbing right in. And I adore your boots - what fun that you found then in San Francisco - just the place to find such lovelies. I must go back again and reread and re-look at the photos - what a joyous chair. Happy weekend my sweet.

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  16. Funky boots...I thought you'd probably added fabric to old ones!! Your creations are splendid! The creations of a creative mind. You amaze me.

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  17. Oh my goodness Kim, I can't even imagine recovering a chair with fabrics but to do it with needlepoint is just amazing, how lovely to have used your trim in this way, such great reminders of your trip every time you pass or sit in your chair. Beautiful work and such an original! How fun are those boots you found too! Hope you are getting back to normal feeling now after that big trip!

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  18. Love those ribbons that you bought in NY; very special! Your newly covered chair is just absolutely stunning, as is the bag you made with needlepoint pieces and I', quite envious of those boots!! Lol

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  19. Once again you make me smile! You are a delight! Margie\NY

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    1. Hello lovely Margie.....thank you.♥ When I was in NYC I thought of you and wondered where you were, way out there. I wondered if you lived close by or many, many miles away. I would have loved to have met you and enjoy a coffee and a natter. Kim Xx

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  20. Oh my goodness, Kim! Your chair is amazing! Well done you! What a great use for all those needlepoints. Love the bag too!
    Great boots, and of course you “had” to buy them, they are sooo you!
    Nice to see you jacket again with the boots.
    Now, I was only thinking yesterday that I really need to make a new bag, thank you for the ideas!
    Hugs,
    Barbara xx

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  21. What a lovely work of art! I am always in awe of the talent in your little fingers. I could never imagine the end product from a pile of needlepoint and ribbons but you have pulled it together beautifully. I noticed your boots right away....FABULOUS!!

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  22. As you may guess, I love this chair, Kim! It is a tribute to needlepoint and the result is just splendid! I hope you will find some new material because you make such a good use of it! I am happy to see you with the beautiful jacket too! Wishing you a nice week! Xoxo
    Sandrine

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  23. I'm quite bowled over by this needlepoint chair! It looks amazing. A most wonderful transformation. I love your boots too :)

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  24. You are beyond amazing. I love what you have done with your chairs and that jacket . . . oh my goodness . . . you are brilliant :)
    Love, love, love what you do.
    Connie :)

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  25. Oh my gosh, Kim, the tatted up needlepoint chair is stunning!!! I love the cottage and the roses medallions, and how they all work together with the rest, and the ribbons that tie them together. What a fun piece of useable art! Your jacket and darling purse with your fun shoes are so YOU! Thank you for sharing your magic with us. xx

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  26. You have a good eye for placement. That chair is gushing with personality and creativity. Such a fun project. I love the sassy-ness of it all. Bravo my friend! And you look great in your tarted up jacket. And those boots are definitely so you! :) You have great style. ♥
    xx Beca

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  27. I'm so glad you are using those needlepoint pieces instead of hiding them away in a drawer! Your chair is beautiful: a work of art!

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  28. OMG! you did and incredible job.. the chair is looking so beautiful..

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    1. Thank you so very much, lovely Krishna. Kim Xx

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  29. Somehow, I missed the first chair makeover...let me just say WOW! And now let me say WOW-WOW about chair # 2. Just when I think you've out-done yourself, you do it again! Breathtaking, is what it is...seriously breathtaking. You look so cute in your jacket too! Hugs!

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  30. It's a beautiful reflection of your amazing, creative heart, Kim! Love, love, love it, and I love your tarted up jacket and pretty boots! Well done! Hugs xo Karen

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    1. Thank you for your sweet visit and comments, dear Karen! Hope you enjoy a beautiful weekend. Kim Xx

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  31. Oh gosh, what vision you had and such a transformation! And fabulous to have those special ribbons on display too :-) Just read about your San Fran and New York adventures - wow!!!!!

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  32. Oh my sweet thing, easy peasy for a master like you! It would take me more like 3 months, instead of 3 days. :) The ribbons are gorgeous and each needlepoint calls my eyes to linger for some time. Also, how cute are you in your tarted up jacket? Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. With my hand on my heart I assure you, lovely Jann, I speak not with forked tongue. =) Dressing my old chair in needlepoints really was easy. You, my lovely friend, would be able to do it in an instant....I just know it!! Kim Xx

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  33. Your chair is absolutely a magnificent piece of artistic genius!!! You should be so proud of it and how you've saved such pretty needlepoint pieces and gave them new life. If needlework had feelings I suspect these pieces would be singing a rhapsody!

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  34. It is so clever! How you manage to find the absolute right place for each needle point! Beautiful and fun! Anna x

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    1. Thank you, sweet Anna. The needlepoints seemed to find their own place to sit, they really, really did. =) Kim Xx

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  35. Your chair is an amazing work of art! Bravo♥

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  36. Kim, just had to feature you at SYC. You amaze me girl!!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  37. That chair is beautiful, I can never leave those tapestries at the op shops!!

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  38. It looks so wonderful, how are you ever going to sit on it. You can't admire it that way. You have some of the best stitchery and ribbon collection, Kim!

    -Soma

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  39. Kim that chair is a masterpiece. It is obvious how much love and work has gone into that chair. And such a great use of the needlepoints.

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  40. Hi Kim, I am trying again to leave a comment I have changed browsers. Hope it works. You know I love all your work. We are kindred spirits afterall.

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