Friday, June 18, 2010

Easiest pillows I have ever made!

Hey ladies!

You may or may not have noticed that I haven’t been posting as much lately.

I had mentioned last week that I have started a new job for the summer.

Many of you have asked what I am doing, so let me explain…

My brother-in-law is the pastor of a Baptist Church about 30 minutes from where I live.

They have a Child Care facility that was in need of an Interim Director just for the summer, and they asked if I would be willing to fill in.

For those of you who don’t know me personally, I have my Masters in Elementary Education.  But since my first son, Jonathan, was born, I have been a stay at home Mom. 

During the past 10 years, I have done a few other things while waiting to go back to teaching. 

I owned and directed my own child care facility about 7 years ago.  It was called Cross My Heart Preschool and Child Care.

I have also been teaching preschool and music two days a week at a Mom’s Day Out program at a local church for many years.  My boys were there with me, and it gave me a chance to get out of the house.  :)

So I have a lot of experience with childcare and wanted to help out my BIL’s church during this transition time.

However, the adjustment to working everyday has not been easy. 

On the days that I work at the child care center, I am having to get the boys up early and leave the house by 6:45 am to be at work by 7:30 am.  I work all day until 6:00 p.m. and then travel 30 minutes back home.

So my summer schedule is M,W,F-Childcare center, T,Th- Mom’s Day Out.

Not much time to do any projects for my home or blog.

Which doesn’t make me much of a happy camper!

So what does all this have to do with pillows?!!!

Well, I did manage to squeeze in my schedule some pillow making for the childcare center.

A couple of weeks ago, this is what you would see when you entered the child care center…

Well, actually, you would see two black metal chairs on each side of the table.  I moved these rocking chairs over here from the other side of the room…

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I was trying to make the entryway to the center a little more welcoming.  So I decided the rocking chairs needed some pillows!

Red gingham pillows to be exact!  I absolutely LOVE red gingham!

It just so happened that I had five minutes one evening last week to run into Goodwill.

Oh my dear Goodwill, how I miss my carefree hours each day with thee!!!

These red gingham chair covers immediately caught my eye.

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I began to wonder if I could use the material to make some pillows?

Each chair cover was $2.50, so I bought two.  (Wish I had bought all four now.)

Here is why these were the easiest pillows I have ever made:

I took a pillow form that I already had and stuffed it up the top part of the chair cover.

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Yep!  Just stuffed her right in there!

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Three sides of the pillow were already made!!!

I just cut the bottom off straight across…

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Tucked the raw edges inside and pinned the two sides together…

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Then I took a needle and thread to “slip stitch” the last side together.

Done!

I finished both of these pillows in like 15 minutes!

And they are exactly what I needed for the center.

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I also bought this old picture from Goodwill too.  It was $4.50.

The frame was hideous!  But the painting was actually kind of pretty. 

But I had other plans for it.

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I used my white spray paint and chalkboard spray paint to make a chalkboard for my “welcome” center.

(I am assuming that almost everyone in blogland knows how to make a chalkboard, but if you don’t, let me know and I will post the instructions.)  :)

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I got the flowers at Walmart for 6 bucks.  (I think I will have to get a placemat for that table, but isn’t that table adorable?!)

Now this is what you see when you enter the center…a little better, don’t ya think?  (Sorry it’s a little blurry.)

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The basket underneath the table is from my son, Eli’s, room.  I filled it with some children’s books for the kids to look at while I am helping their parents.

Now I would still like to maybe get a lamp or something for the table, but we’ll see…

I am hoping to finally have some time in the evenings, (now that baseball is over), to make some pillows and finish decorating my back porch. 

I’ll be sure to post about it when I do!

Hope you are all doing well.  I’ve missed you bunches!

Blessings!

Traci

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30 comments:

  1. The pillows and picture look great! I am looking forward to trying that chalkboard paint!

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  2. Miss Mustard Seed just posted a recipe using oil and vinegar to use on wood like that little table has- you should check it out and see if it'd work! Very cute pillows!!

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  3. Those chair covers are perfect matches for my table cloth! The area looks much more welcoming now! If you saved the leftover fabric I bet you could make a cute little table cover thing... maybe burlap with the red and white gingham as ruffles along the edge? Just thinking.... :)

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  4. Looks great! Sounds like you've got a full summer schedule. I pray that God gives you an abundance of grace during this season.

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  5. I think it's so great you are always trying to find ways to make things look better. It looks much more inviting now. Way to spruce it up! Good luck with that busy work schedule.

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  6. Leave it to you to incorporate some decor into your childcare work! :) Love it!

    Just think. When the work gig is all over and done with, lookout Goodwill! You are saving for Goodwill of course, yes? Hee!

    Good to see you back, even if for a short while. Do what ya gotta do. We'll be here. :)

    Donna

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  7. Great job Traci! What an easy project and the whole vignette looks so much better. Love the blackboard too. Little touches can make such a difference. I was wondering what kind of work you had taken on. That is a full time job with those hours. Keep us up to date on your creations and busy-ness whenever you care. I love to hear from you.

    Hugs...Tracy :)

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  8. Hi Traci! Boy, I don't know how you do it - every day??? I work outside the house 2 or 3 days a week, usually no later than 2, my boys are grown, and I still find it hard to find the time to do anything! Don't ya hate when "work" gets in the way of "fun"!!!

    Ingenious on using the slipcovers to create pillows. That was a great a score at GW. They entry way looks 100 times better. Just a few little touches can turn a blah area into someplace a little more inviting.

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  9. Great job updating the waiting room!! Looks way more inviting and welcoming now! =)

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  10. God bless you, sweetheart! You're a wonderful woman to step into the gap like that. May your summer be blessed in some fabulous and unexpected ways!

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  11. The pillows look fantastic - what a great idea! I don't own a sewing machine (not that I would know what to do with one if I did!) but I can do some sewing by hand, so I think I could do this project. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  12. Awh Sweet Friend~
    Bless your precious heart!! I <3 the pillows. What a great idea..and they look so wonderful, as does the Welcome sign.

    I'll be praying for you as you work this busy schedule for the summer. Trust me...that's my life 5 days a week....and it does get draining. Make sure you find some time for yourself...so you don't get burned out!

    Love ya friend.

    Kim~

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  13. Wow! Your little touches really made a difference! How nice!

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  14. Traci, it looks so much better! Your personal touch is just what it needed. I am loving those pillows, too. I can't believe you found the fabric for only $2.50. I need to get over to Goodwill more often!!

    It definitely sounds like your schedule will be crazy for the next few weeks, phew! I'll keep you in special prayer that God blesses you for your giving heart and that you still find the time you need to do your posts with ease. I think your followers (me included) will understand if you miss a few here and there. We'll happily be waiting for you when life gets back to "normal" : ).

    Lots of love to you friend! Way to go on that room. Seriously, it's too cute!
    <3 Laura

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  15. It's tough, I know! What great slipcovers and great find for you. You may have to paint that table, Traci! : ) You might even be able to just do something simple for the top with some left-over slipcover fabric, too.

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  16. Hey Traci

    Great JOB!!!! Love those pillows and LOVE LOVE LOVE Goodwill. I could spend all day in Goodwill!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Marilyn C.

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  17. Hi Traci! I just came across your cute blog and I love the transformation you've done and yes, it is very welcoming now. You are an amazing woman and I'm going to be checking in on your site to see what you've squeezed in during your busy Summer. Have a great day Sweetie ~ Laura

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  18. It all looks adorable! I feel your pain on the busy-ness of working, except I'm home for the summer, now. We've reversed roles. :)

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  19. I've missed your posts! My, what a taxing schedule you have for the summer! Aren't you supposed to relax in the summer? :) You're so sweet to help your BIL out. He's lucky to have you do extras around the place. You made that welcome area look welcoming!! Cute pillows and frame!

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  20. You are a very busy lady Traci! How nice that you are doing this for the summer. My sister is a special education teacher in Birmingham. It takes kind hearted and very special people to be teachers. Thank you to all of them!

    The pillows are truly precious. Love the flowers too. Great job!

    Enjoy the weekend! ~Melissa :)

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  21. Thanks Traci for the post. Never thought about making pillows out of chair slipcovers. Good luck with your summer job girl. I would say you are more than qualified for it! Be blessed. Cindy

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  22. ah Traci, you are missed, but like your mom you are there helping others when they need it.
    You did wonders with the welcome center area. Your touches truly make it a welcoming place now.
    Enjoy your time out and with the children.
    Have a great weekend!

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  23. Love what you've done to the room Traci. I'm assuming you just use 'chalkboard paint' but did you just paint over the picture with it? I'd love to know more on how to make the chalkboard, I keep wanting to do that with some big pic from Goodwill (that I haven't bought yet, but want to!) :)

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  24. What an improvement! Leave it to you to give the center the homey touches it needed. It is now warm and welcoming.

    ~ Tracy

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  25. How darling. Will have to keep my eye open for fabric to "repurpose." A blog I read yesterday cut up some old linen pants and made pillows! I'd better go thru my Goodwill bags before I donate!

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  26. Oh YES it is so much better now and does look very welcoming. Great job and thanks for sharing .

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  27. I think God put you there purposely to spruce the child care center up! J/K Your talents with children and being incredibly crafty are blessings!

    Always looking forward to your next project.

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  28. It looks so welcoming! Good job!

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  29. Hey Traci, I Love your blog and those pillows...so cute. It really did makes things seem much more warm and inviting. I have looked for the chalk board paint in a spray paint but our Lowes does not carry it. Where did you find it.

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