Burt Saturday, Aug 29 2009 

Burt projecthurt9 2:25 am

Burt = Baby Hurt

First things first.  I, Dorothy Hurt, solemnly swear not to make Project Hurt a baby blog.  Now that the oath is out of the way, it is definitely worth mentioning that I am working on my latest creation with some very special help from my husband. Jed and I are ecstatic to announce that we are expecting the arrival of our first child at the end of February 2010.  We could not be any happier – in fact, it is pretty ridiculous.  I am approximately three and half months pregnant and quite relieved to be through the first trimester.  Hurray!

Again I promise that this blog will not be all about Burt.  With that being said, you should be properly warned that it is highly likely that there may be some nursery projects mentioned in the future.

 

Go Green! Tuesday, Aug 25 2009 

Sewing Projects projecthurt9 9:54 pm

I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such creative friends who love a good bargain and rescuing antiques as much as I do.  My friend, Meredith, recently scored an excellent deal on some Chippendale-style patio furniture while digging through the booths at the local antique mall.  The matching bench and chair were both white and featured a bamboo-look that were perfect for backyard lounging.  We set up a time for me to come admire her brilliant purchases and take measurements.  We decided on four-inch-thick cushions to make the furniture super comfy and the cushions would be easy to remove and store when not in use.  In order to withstand the elements, she selected a vibrant macaw green Sunbrella fabric to be trimmed with cording also made out of a black Sunbrella fabric.  She opted to add zippers on the back so the cushion covers could zip off for easy cleaning.  I set to work as soon as the fabric arrived.  About a week later I delivered the cushions and was pleased to see that they were a perfect fit.

 

The Recliner Has Eyes Thursday, Aug 20 2009 

Upholstery Projects projecthurt9 9:36 pm

Isn’t it grand when two worlds collide?  As much as I love a project, I also have a mad passion for wine.  On Friday evenings my husband and I love to attend the weekly tastings at our favorite local wine shop, River City Cellars, in Carytown.  Nothing is better than sipping tasty new wines and getting a little education followed by sampling scrumptious cheeses.  One particular Friday, I was so caught up in upholstering a chair (imagine that?) that my husband went on a solo wine tasting mission. After he reassured everyone in the shop that we were not having marital problems and that I was just at home obsessing over the reupholstering of a chair, he saddled up to the cheese counter.  Luckily, another couple who are also “regulars” overheard him.  It just so happens that they had a recliner that they desperately wanted to salvage but needed some love in the form of new fabric.  Jed exchanged numbers and a new deal was in the works.

 A couple of days later I was in their living room examining the recliner and giving an estimate for fabric, time, cost, etc.  I was relieved to see their whimsical taste and knew immediately that this was going to be a fun project.  They purchased a wild animal print that was certain to give new life to the recliner.  After three weeks the recliner was not only finished, it was staring at me.  Somehow I managed to give the recliner eyes when I positioned the fabric giving it a life of its own.  While I wish I could say “I meant to do it,” alas I cannot.  Regardless I think it is a fabulous coincidence – spooky yet fabulous!

 

Ready, Settee, Go! Sunday, Aug 16 2009 

Upholstery Projects projecthurt9 5:54 pm

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It was the morning of Labor Day 2008 and I received a call from my friend, Liz, alerting me that there was a high-back settee abandoned in an alley in Westover Hills that definitely had potential.  As soon as we finished breakfast, Jed and I hopped in the car to go check it out. Yes, it had been completely soaked in the storm the previous day and yes, it was covered with a country blue check fabric complete with pink sweethearts. After nearly putting one of the legs through a back window, we eventually wedged it in the back of our Pathfinder and made our way home with visions of a new, elegant settee for our living room dancing in my head.

Upon returning home and sanitizing our car, I immediately got down to work, stripping the grimy, thoroughly soaked fabric, cotton, foam and burlap off of the settee so that the frame could dry before any permanent damage was done.  Not to mention, it was starting to smell like a wet dog.  The lonely skeletal remains proceeded to hang out it in my garage for a few months until I found just the right fabric and the time to start upholstering.  I upholstered it the first time (as in not the only time) in January.  It was ridiculously cold so I worked on our tiny sun porch huddled next to a space heater. My husband and I quickly became aware that jack russell terriers just love air compressors.  Our dog, Owen, went ballistic every time I fired  a staple. Multiply that by about  a zillion and you can imagine the amount of barking that we endured.

After a few months of sitting on the freshly recovered settee, sleeping on the settee and staring at the settee, I determined that this was actually not just the right fabric and it was time for Round Two.  This time it was August and I worked in the garage attempting to remain as close as possible to a fan that put out a meager breeze at best.   Despite the extreme temperatures, I recently finished reupholstering the settee – again.   I have since made a pledge to myself that I will not continue to reupholster this same piece of furniture every six months.  Note to self – if there is a Round Three, perhaps I could choose a month with more moderate temperatures.  It kind of seems counter-productive to my recycling philosophy if I keep stripping off perfectly good fabric only to purchase more fabric.  Regardless, the elegant settee that I envisioned almost one year ago now proudly resides in our living room.  Anyway, you know I saved the fabric that I stripped off.  It currently waits to be used again. . .