01.15
2011

The Life of an Ottoman, Textures, and The Winner of the Je T’aime Pillow
Earlier this week Lillie and I made a slipcover for our ottoman which we stole back from my sister Dana. (Lillie mostly just enjoyed poking pins into the ottoman). We play musical furniture quite a bit in our family. You can look in my home and either Dana or Jamie’s places and find pieces that we have traded back and forth or stolen from our parents basement or barn (and occasionally straight out of one of their rooms, although that is generally frowned upon and I am not the worst offender when it comes to that – haha!) It’s even worse with clothes. My mom, Dana, Jamie and I all can wear the same shirt size even though we have different builds so often one of us will be wearing something that has passed through at least two of us and we always get a laugh. Anyway, back when we bought our first home in South Carolina we had a den that Jon used as his kind of “man’s room”. We had big flat screen TV in there and some couches and a leather chair and the walls had framed movie posters (“Hoosiers” and “Rudy”) as well as some black and white framed photographs of Pistol Pete Maravich, Jon’s favorite basketball player. We had the players over quite a bit and they all lived in that room. It was not exactly my favorite room, but seeing how I got to decorate the rest of the house however I liked I didn’t mind it too much. We got this leather ottoman at Target and it worked nicely in that room. When we moved here to Virginia we really didn’t have a space like that so a lot of those items went out on the garage. We used the ottoman temporarily in our family room after Lillie arrived because it made for a GREAT spot to change her. Once she got a little bigger though we moved it out to the garage and put our coffee table back in it’s spot. I had planned on recovering the ottoman and moving it to our front living room to replace the trunk I had there but never got around to it. When my sister, Dana moved to Williamsburg last summer she ended up taking it and recovering it so it has been at her place for the last year and a half. Well, now that I am in major nesting mode I decided to steal it back and finally recover it. Dana didn’t mind, and found something gorgeous to replace it which I will show in a post hopefully in the next week or two. At first I planned on just recovering it but then decided it would be smarter to make a slipcover that could easily be removed for washing since I plan on changing our new baby on it like it did with Lillie. I had three different fabrics I was trying to decide between and finally picked one. Well when I went to get two yards of it of course they only had a yard and a half left – arghhh! And the same went for my number two and three options as well. It was NOT my lucky day. I ended up quickly just grabbing something else even though it was lighter than I really wanted and a completely different texture, but oh well. I ended up changing the design as I went too because this fabric wouldn’t work for my original idea. I am hoping they will get more of the first fabric I wanted and I will make a second back up slipcover option for when this one in is in the wash. Anyway, it is so nice finally having it done!  This poor ottoman has now had three different looks in the last three years and probably has many more slipcovers in it’s future!
Here it is BEFORE:

 And here it is AFTER:

I got the basket with a gift card I had gotten for my birthday last year. I am so excited about it because it has a cover (which is shown in a photo below) which will be great for storing things when the new baby arrives. In the meantime though Lillie and I went to Trader Joe’s and got some fresh eucalyptus and ranunculus and then stopped by the thrift store and got three different vases. The white one shown below for $1.98, a cool milk bottle looking one for 98 cents which I will show you in another post, and a silver plated one for $6.98 (shown  a few photos below). I love those kinds of finds! I started playing around with the top of the ottoman and this was what I first did.

Well, then I went to move the pitcher a bit and the handle fell off! Haha! No, it wasn’t why it was $1.98. It was in perfect condition when we bought it but I carried the other two to the car and Lillie carried this one. She’s so short that the bag kept clunking on the ground and when we got to the car I saw it had a tiny little crack on the handle but figured it was still good to use. Which it was – until it was full of water and I went to move it and the whole handle came off! 

So then I switched the flowers to this silver vase we got and moved the eucalyptus because it seemed a bit too much with the larger vase. I can’t wait to have the basket filled with teeny tiny diapers and to be able to just pop the cover on and hide them.

Well after watching Lillie run through the room several times I realized it wasn’t the safest place for a vase. She knows enough not to touch the flowers or vase but the because it is an ottoman and not a coffee table it isn’t a completely flat surface and I was afraid it might tip over if the ottoman even got the tiniest bump, and with a two year old that could definitely happen. So, we changed it out a THIRD time and this is what is there for now (well, at least until I change my mind again!)

On another note, I used to play with textures in Photoshop all of the time but hadn’t in quite a while. I saw this post by Kat over at Low Tide High Style and got inspired to play around a little. I haven’t had time to finish them. I want to bring them into Illustrator now and do a few more things to them but who knows if that will ever happen at the rate I am going. However, if I do I am thinking about selling some prints in our Etsy shop (not necessarily any of these but of some other projects). I am torn whether or not to sell the actual prints and mail them or just sell the files (which I would sell really cheap – probably anywhere from $.99 – $4.99 depending on the work) so people can print them on their own. Do you find it easier to just have it arrive in the mail all ready to go or do you like having the option of being able to print it anywhere in any size on any type of medium that you would like? We sold some Christmas PDF files and I liked how nice and easy that was so I am leaning towards that.

Also, thank you all for your wonderful opinions on the Valentine’s shirts! I went ahead and am printing the first design on long sleeve onesies size 3/6 months – 18/24 months and long sleeve baby ribbed tees in sizes 2 – 6. Then I am printing the first Je T’aime (the one I wrote) on white long sleeve onesies size 3/6 months – 18/24 months,  girls white thermals sizes 2 – 12, and women’s white thermals sizes  S – XXL. Even though I will be printing a ton of shirts, I will only have a couple in each size (and in a few sizes only one). I am hoping to have them listed in our shop early next week (hopefully by either the 24th or 25th!) Also I am working on the Je T’aime pillow covers now and hope to have them available by Tuesday.  I am going to have them four or five in black but think I may offer one or two in a deep red print and one or two in a dark olive print as well. 
Okay, and now onto the winner of the pillow:
Jillian!
Congratulations! Please contact us within 48 hours to give us your info!
Thanks again to everyone that entered. We will be hosting another giveaway soon so check back! Also, I want to thank Kim at Seven Thirty Three for numbering our comments for us (that made it sooooo much easier for this giveaway than having to count out each one!)
I hope you all have a most wonderful weekend!
PS – I am linked up to Miss Mustard Seed’s Copy Me Challenge!

Copy Me Challenge

Je T'aime Pillows for Sale and a Weekend Visit from Grammy and Coach
Valentine's Shirts (Opinions Wanted) and Je T'aime Templates
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46 thoughts on “The Life of an Ottoman, Textures, and The Winner of the Je T’aime Pillow”

  1. Okay, I'm putting Trader Joes on my TO DO list today…. I can smell all the greenery and flowers through my computer screen!!

    Have a great weekend!

  2. I love that slipcover and wish I knew how to sew like that. Love each vignette you came up with, but do understand not trusting that vase not to fall over. I love the last look the best anyway, I believe. Love the pop of yellow. That is a great basket.

  3. Oh that is lovely. I found a bedskirt second hand last week (for $1.50) It looks to be the same quilted white fabric as your ottoman. I'm thinking of making it into valances for my breakfast room- after seeing your beautiful ottoman- I'm DEFINITELY going to use it somewhere! Thanks for sharing!

  4. i want that EXACT style slipcover for a chair i recently purchased and intend to recover. although, i've never sewn a single thing in my life using a sewing machine… so, any tips for a little bloggie friend?

    can't wait to see the shirts since everything you touch turns to amazing-ness.

  5. So CUTE! I am so impressed. When I come to your blog, it makes me want to learn to sew. I have never sewn but I see all of these ideas and it inspires me. One another note–we received our adorable silhouette shirts and Kate has already worn hers. There is a photo on the blog:)

  6. Bummer! I just got rid of my leather ottoman. Your slip cover is perfect, really. Also, I love Kat and her photography. Your photos are always so nice & I'm sure they would sell like hotcakes.

    -Rene

  8. The slipcover is gorgeous! Your home is gorgeous! I wish I could sew, you have so many great inspirations!

    I love seeing all the different textures and actions, the photos are beautiful!!

  9. such a pretty ottoman! i love your style, although i am wondering how you keep such a pretty little house with a two year old running wild?! or does she not run wild and is the perfect little angel?! heehee!

    your prints are beautiful and i would absolutely be something that would sell too! you are one talented lady!

  10. I love the slip cover; the ruffle at the bottom….perfect! Can't wait to check your shop for the new shirts!

    Have a great weekend!

    Jodi

  11. I have been slogging away on stories all day, then took our puppy out for some socialization and a local boardwalk and just now sat down to do some blog reading. Thanks so much for the sweet shout out, and when you're done with that gorgeous slipcovered ottoman can I PLEASE have it?! I'm betting that when your sister sees how beautifully it turned out, she's going to try and steal it back! I also loved the way you had it arranged, all the variations were lovely. And the idea of that basket filled with tiny diapers has me wishing for another little one, but I'll have to wait for grandchildren at this point!

    Ranunculus are one of my absolute favorite flowers and yours are beautiful! I wish we had a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's close by…sigh! Your textures are so pretty, and I love the idea of selling the PDF files, genius and so much easier than having to ship something.

    Congratulations to Jillian, and thanks again! Enjoy your weekend!

    Kat 🙂

  12. It's always fantastic: a little more white and a room looks much airy and changed. I love it!

    I hope, you'll have a wonderful sunday

    Tine

  14. You are so talented. I gotta say though for a loser decorator like me, I could totally use the "already printed" option on the prints. 🙂
    you are crazy talented.
    🙂
    paige

  17. I love the slipcover!! So pretty! Gosh you make me want to break out my sewing machine and sew something! I have a chair sitting in my living room in desperate need of recovering! Scares me though! LOL! Have a great weekend!

  18. OK I LOVE your house and decorating style. I have a daughter about Lillie's age and am wondering where do you keep all the "kid" stuff? How do you organize/store baby and kid stuff with it looking great and being functional?! 🙂

  21. ok, first…LOOOOVE ranunculus! My fave flower! Second, do you use a Mac or PC? I love the textures that you use and tried to download some, but I guess I need to purchase photoshop first? Do you use photoshop or another program? Bummed I didn't win the pillow, felt like I was stalking your blog so didn't want to post too many times, but I will check in more next time 🙂 Hope all is well…remember to rest!!!! :)Brandi

  22. SO JEALOUS!!! Please come home and make me one!! Pretty pretty please with a cherry on top?? 🙂
    -JAmie

  23. I LOVE the ottoman!! It's gorgeous and thanks for the tips on photoshop! I was actually going to email you about your photos. They are always so gorgeous! WE have a nice camera and photoshop and I don't know how to use either one. How pathetic! I need to get on the ball. I'll be so excited to see your Valentine's shirts too! I might have to order one! Have a great weekend Jennifer!

  24. Thanks for all of your sweet comments!

    Amanda – I wish I had advice but I am slowly learning to sew myself and pretty much everything I make is through lots of trial and error! The main thing I learned with this project was to put fabric on over the ottoman inside out and then I pinned it and then took it off and sewed it and then flipped it back over. After I did that with the main part I added the skirt. First I cut the fabric in strips and pinned it into pleats and then pinned it onto the ottoman to make sure it fell evenly. Then I sewed it on and I actually glued the trim on to cover up most of my imperfections! It was pretty easy though seeing how it was a rectangle – a chair sounds WAY harder!!!!!

    Jenni – Haha – oh no, she is one WILD thing indeed! I feel like all I do is clean up after her all day long. Jon and I are both so Type-A and so it drives me crazy to have things out of place, and him crazy if anything is dirty. I am afraid once baby number two makes her debut though it is going to get a whole lot harder to keep everything in it's place!

    Amanda #2 – We keep pretty much all of it hidden away in baskets, drawers, trunks and under things. For instance our coffee table has three baskets under it – one is full of diapers and wipes and that kind of stuff which we are basically done with now for Lillie but about to start all over again with the new wee one, and the other two are full of books and puzzles, then under those two white slipcovered chairs in our family room is where I hide her tractor's, some little dolls, balls and whatever else I can fit under them. Then over in the corner we have a cool little trunk that I got at Target on clearance about a year or so ago that serves as her toybox and has all the rest of her junk. I love it because when it is closed it looks like a nice! She has a handful of "bigger" toys that I keep out in the garage and just bring them in whenever she wants to play with them. I also like having several dresser like pieces downstairs that we can store stuff in and that really helps alot because our house is quite small and there is practically no storage space! =(

    Brandi – I have a Mac. I had one in college that lasted forever and then it finally had enough two and a half years ago so in an effort to save money I got a PC to replace it. I had soooooo many problems with it and was constantly having to bring it in to be repaired. It broke back in December and I went back to a Mac. I use Photoshop CS5. I LOVE it, but it is really all I know. Pre-Lillie and Dear Lillie days I was a graphic designer so I had to use it and now I am too old and lazy to try anything else – haha! It is pretty pricey though. My sister has Photoshop Elements which I think is much more reasonably priced and she enjoys it. I haven't ever used it before though so I don't know how it compares to CS5. If you like to take photos it is definitely worth investing in. It is amazing what a little photoshopping can do!

    I hope you all are having a great weekend!

  25. Your ottoman is beautiful and your house is just gorgeous! The pleats are such a nice touch! I hope one day to be able to sew like that. I got a little chuckle out of little Lillie being so short that the bag clunked on the ground. How cute! I'm excited you'll be having some of your Je T'aime pillow covers in your shop. I'll keep a watch! I would love to get one.

  26. oh my gosh! your ottoman slipcover is to die for! i'm swooning! i'll be featuring you friday. this is the first time i've been here. how in the world does that happen? i love your style and your blog! beautiful!

  27. Hello,
    I just found your blog and think it is beautiful, so glad I found it. I have a quick question, I noticed in one of your sidebar pictures of your bathroom that you have shelly Kyle perfume, can you tell me what you think of the product. I have it as well and just love it, just wondering what you thought. I know you dont see if very often but I think it smells oh so good. I also wanted to invite you to my blog for a giveaway it ends Jan 18th at midnight so you still have time. I am a follower on your blog and will be back often. Hope to hear from you.

    Lorene
    The Gilded Cherub

  28. Lorene – I actually haven't ever used it. I just have it out for decoration – haha! I got it about four years ago for free and thought it was so pretty and have used it as decoration ever since. I will head on over and check out your blog!

  31. Hi Lillie,
    Thank you so much for your nice comments and responding to my question about the Shelly Kyle perfume… You are too funny I display mine as well but I finally starting using it… you need to try it, it smells so good people will be asking what your wearing. Thank you again for getting back to me. Have a wonderful night.
    Lorene
    The Gilded Cherub

  33. Thanks Jennifer! I sat starring at the Photoshop and Photoshop Elements for FOREVER..not knowing which was better. I might try both. I have a minor in photography (dbl major in Drawing and Art History, two VERY useful degrees 🙂 but it was back in the dark ages of film! Just switched to a digital camera two yrs ago and have been trying to get that film feel ever since! I will try PS and picking some "layers" and start playing!!! Million thanks for the advice 🙂 Brandi

  34. I've said this a million times, so I'm sure you have heard this before, but the best thing I ever did in my entire married life was slipcover my furniture. It has been soooo great with kiddos! Right now our $25 garage sale ottoman usually is sans slipcover because I swear I put that thing on and then Evy draws all over it! So we only bring it out for special occasions now. Either way, I just love how I can pull things off my furniture and get everything neat and clean in a matter of hours.

    Good job on that cover! I know for sure I would never be able to do that!! And I agree with Jenni, Lillie is an amazing child that she doesn't destroy everything in 2 seconds flat! ha! xoxo

  35. YAY.. I won. I'm excited.. Sent a message via etsy. Looking forward to the shirts too!

    Jillian

  36. I'm with Amy! I don't know how you do it! I'm not sure if it's b/c I have two children or a boy, but this look (which I love) wouldn't last in my house. We actually have pretty similar decorating taste. (I have a white brick fireplace, an apple green accent wall, and lots of vases of cut greenery from our yard and varied textures from bundles of sticks, an old wide plank pine media cabinet, and vintage glass bottles.) But EVERYTHING is up! Like that glass dresser–that would get covered in fingerprints in a second! Oh, I forgot, we have this exact same ottoman, and I used to change Mia on it, too! I have a white slip covered sectional with it. Maybe when the kids are older, I'll tackle recovering it. Hope you are well!! PS We might get to meet in person soon, if you are available 🙂

  37. Wow! Your slipcover turned out great…love the ruffle. You have such a pretty house Jennifer. I was wondering where you got the textures that you are using in that last group of photos? They look amazing 🙂

  41. Girl!!! That looks beyond fabulous!!! You have some serious sewing talent. I am very jealous!! Love the textures on the pictures. It is amazing how they can just really change the look of a photo! I am excited! I got the new Elements this weekend! Now I have to figure out how to work it and I should be good to go! Ha!!! I am already lost and just ordered my Photoshop Elements 9 for Dummies! It should be here in a few days and THEN I will be good to go! Ha!

    1. Love your ottoman! So cute! And I think you're pretty good at explaining things. I know just how to remake my ugly ottoman. Thanks!

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