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121 Comments

  1. Schinamama
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:06 am

    I officially nominate your husband PAUL for sainthood. Does he actually have a job that makes real money in his spare time? You should pictures of him up here as well. Unfortunately for me I have the same brain as you do, but not such a patient husband.

    Reply

  2. Lana
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:09 am

    I admit … I have tried the reupholstering demon once or twice … I didn’t have a ” Paul” … 😐 So it sat … and sat and sat … I live through your blog because I am you … except you get your projects done .. either by you or Paul . I’m still living through your projects . Love your blog! 🌹❤❤❤

    Reply

  3. maria
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:10 am

    i can’t even…. your posts are the highlight if my week. between your creativity and humor, its therapy withou t the diagnosis, prescription or having to leave the couch. You are the best.

    Reply

  4. Lora Hart
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:11 am

    Do you think you could possibly turn the blog over to Paul for a day? I wonder what goes on in his head as you proceed through your daring escapades. How lucky were you to have found such a gem of patience and skill!

    Reply

    • Noél Nicklas Emswiler
      January 24, 2017 @ 1:10 pm

      Great idea…maybe VEB writes it and Paul inserts commentary!

      Reply

      • Linda Spiese
        January 24, 2017 @ 6:01 pm

        Yes. That is a great idea. How about it, VEB?!

        Reply

  5. Emily
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:15 am

    Does it have to be a contrasting trim? You can make your own trim! Why not make a complicated project, more complicated?

    I have been researching how to do this to an antique (currently has orange fabric) chair that I own. The DIY sites tell me that I can make my own trim out of the same fabric,

    Now, that I have read the most honest tutorial, I am going to call around and get quotes.

    Reply

    • Sue
      February 28, 2017 @ 3:10 pm

      Oh wow…. I have THREE couches like this that I was going to try and recover….. Now I KNOW why the quotes seemed so high…. I too, have a husband with the patience of steel….. but he is so busy.

      Reply

  6. R.M. Brovont
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:17 am

    Matching double welting is your answer.

    Reply

    • Kimberly
      January 24, 2017 @ 12:56 pm

      I think you mean self-welting, in other words, use the same fabric to make the cord, but I agree, double welt would be great.

      Reply

    • San
      January 25, 2017 @ 9:18 pm

      I agree with the double welting suggestion and it will look far more sophisticated than gimp and the bonus is is really is very easy to make and apply.

      Reply

  7. Sarah
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:18 am

    I reupholster antique furniture for weddings and I have your solution! Take your extra fabric to an upholstery store or seamstress and have them make you double welt cord trim. Perfect match for the fabric!

    Reply

  8. Marcia Rubin
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:18 am

    I am so with you on the upholstery thing! In your case, this is the absolute reason why you can never divorce Paul. Women around the world would enter a slug fest to get his attention. Final product is fabulous.

    Reply

  9. RO
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:21 am

    Hey I haven’t heard anything from you on the Circus closing down. You were the first one I thought of when I heard the news.

    Reply

    • Kiki
      January 24, 2017 @ 10:30 am

      So did I…. 🙂

      Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      January 24, 2017 @ 10:40 am

      It filled me with JOY… but you’ll have to tolerate one more post about it (soon) because Ringling has not yet said WHERE THE ANIMALS WILL GO.

      So there is still work to be done to make sure they ARE SENT TO SANCTUARY (a REAL sanctuary) and not sold to the highest bidder for another performing act, roadside zoo, trophy hunts… etc.

      Reply

  10. Kristl
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:21 am

    Im so glad you posted this! This past fall my husband went on a weekend hunting trip. Perfect opportunity to pick up that vintage couch I’d been eyeing. I was like 7 months pregnant, so I had to enlist my dad, and he was sworn to secrecy. This vintage sofa needs reupholstered and I’ve no idea how to do it, but you’ve given me hope! Yours turned out beautiful!

    Reply

  11. Laura
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:25 am

    Reply

    • Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
      January 24, 2017 @ 10:28 am

      uhhh… I am dumbfounded that it took you 2 seconds to find something I’ve NOT seen. I thought I had internet skills!

      THANKS! I’m going to order a sample!
      (I’m adding a photo to your comment so people can see it)

      Reply

      • noreen kelly
        January 25, 2017 @ 3:51 am

        other option is to make your own using your original fabric. make two lots of piping and sew them together with the hem edges facing the same way. then put the hem edges underneath and sew down. looks like double piping… i am sure paul can make it!

        Reply

        • Jo
          June 29, 2017 @ 8:58 am

          I think Miss Mustard Seed gives instructions for piping, either on her blog or on YouTube.

          I also think Paul is one in a million and I hope you realize how lucky you are.

          Reply

    • Tina Jeffrey
      January 24, 2017 @ 2:45 pm

      That’s beautiful! Well done!

      Reply

    • Debra
      January 24, 2017 @ 9:28 pm

      Oh That trim would look wonderful IMO…. can’t wait to see the sample on the sofa in a photo soon.

      Reply

  12. Carolyn Gordon
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:28 am

    Girl, you married the world’s most indulgent husband. I thought I had, but no–you did.

    That sofa is gorgeous!!

    Reply

  13. Kiki
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:29 am

    Elizabeth, there ARE blogs explaining how you can make miles of tiny little tassle-trimmings…. I saw one only days ago and I thought WHO ON EARTH would want to do that as a DIY project – now I know.
    BEAUTIFUL sofa but only thanks to Hero Paul useable (is that English?) – AND the little darling’s photo with the fluffy paws – so much happiness in one post.

    Reply

  14. ccr in MA
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:30 am

    I can’t comment on the upholstery project (beyond “Whoa”), but the cat! The toe floof! Or would that be paw-lashes? Amazing.

    Reply

  15. Marion
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:30 am

    Dear Self….
    Can you try getting trim dyed to match? Like back inthe day when prom shoes were dyed to match the gown…..OR…..
    Match the trim to the wood color and so it blends that way.

    This from someone who hemmed curtains this weeken and has 2 out of 9 to go.

    Reply

  16. Vivian
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:32 am

    It’s stunning! What a wonderful find! Paul, too….

    Reply

  17. Pamela
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:33 am

    I Want.that.cat….please! Oh I wish I lived closer I would take her in a minute. Love love her.

    Reply

  18. Laura L
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:35 am

    Love love love your posts – they sound just like my conversations with myself. LOL!

    Reply

  19. Patricia
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:40 am

    It took me two years to reupholster one balloon backed chair. Cursed with itty bitty nails, tacks AND decorative brads. I felt trapped on the second level of Dante’s inferno. Your Paul failed to show up and rescue me. I finally got on with it.

    It took me two weeks to finish the second one. The next time I started a project with itty bitty nails I got smart and hired my handyman to come help. He’d never done upholstery before. I told him it was good for his resume.

    Reply

    • Kiki
      January 25, 2017 @ 11:01 am

      ha ha 🙂
      Did he appreciate your career-furthering reference?

      Reply

  20. Charlotte Des Fleurs
    January 24, 2017 @ 10:46 am

    Dearest VEB, I share your pain because I have reupholstered many, many chairs. Tacks and staples? I do that in the comfort of my family room with the TV on. Slow and easy is the trick to saving your fingers. One full length movie is time enough to do a chair. The spring tying thing terrifies me, so I have avoided sofas. (There is, however, a French recamier out in the garage that I hope to tackle soon.)

    For your gimp – well, the double welted in matching fabric will certainly do but it has a very contemporary look.

    From one Certified Control Freak to another, how about purchasing a cotton / rayon gimp in white and DYING it to match? This company, http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html?lnav=dyes.html, has 150 colors. Perhaps you could send them a swatch of your fabric and ask for suggestions on a color (or colors) that comes close.

    Keep up the good work. Bravo to BOTH of you!

    Smiles from Charlotte Des Fleurs

    Reply

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