Poof! A Pouf!

Poufs. They're expensive. Why? I don't really understand. They start at about $150 and the sky is the limit from there. This doesn't really fit my style or my budget, so I pursued other options, like making my own.

I was inspired by various DIY pouf projects I've seen on Design*Sponge, Apartment Therapy and more. 

Design Sponge

When I saw a post on Welcme to Heardmont about a "Pouf-A-Long" I knew it was time to act. 

I decided I wanted to use this tutorial from Bromeliad.

From Bromeliad

I really dig the metallic poufs I have seen, so I decided to search out metallic fabric options for my pouf. One day in Joanns, I stumbled upon the pleather section, where I found some snake skin textured metallic silver pleather. This fabric is intended for apperal. I can't imagine a situation in which someone would want to wear this fabric....

I bought 2 yards for this project, and at $15 a yard, I think this was actually my most expensive fabric purchase to date! Of course I used a 40% off coupon, so I didn't pay full price.

The pieces I cut looked like this-- I made a pattern based on the directions on Bromeliad, using pieces of paper taped together to be the correct size.

I sewed the pieces together as described in the tutorial, and then was ready to stuff it. I put in a few things while looking around for appropriate filler. My cats really enjoyed the opportunity to explore inside the pouf. Perhaps this is a project in the future for the cats! When they came out of the pouf after napping in there, it was like they were hatching. Pretty hilarious. At one point I didn't realize there was a cat in the pouf and then it started moving and making noise. Freaked me out good for a second, until a furry head popped out!

I originally thought I would use comforters that I could get for "cheap" from the Salvation Army, but I was shocked when I got there to discover that the comforters were like $20 each. I knew I would need 2-3 of them, so that didn't seem like a good option. In the end, I decided to go with a combo: old sheets I had around, some clothing I was intending to donate, and a 20lb box of fiber fill that I bought at Joann's with a coupon (I'm seeing a pattern here). The fiber fill was the only thing I actually bought, and that cost me about $10. I then made a medallion to go on top and attached it with some super fancy hand stitching. 

And Poof! It's a pouf! I intend to eventually have it outside on my balcony, but its kind of late here and also about 100 degrees out right now, so these inside pictures will have to suffice for now!

The kitties approve, even if they can't burrow in anymore.

A Dream Come True!

Over the July 4th holiday, I went thrifting, and found my DREAM piece of furniture. A Thomasville Faux Bamboo dresser. For $45. I'm in love. 

Now to decide what color to paint it. 

(PS, Am I the only one who didn't know these dressers are actually vintage? Given the shape it is in and their popularity I figured they were a product of the 1990s, but apparently this baby is straight from the 60's??)

Paint and Repaint

Back in September I bought and painted white a little cabinet for storage in my dining area. Well, it quickly got moved to behind my couch, to serve as a landing strip for mail, keys and other stuff that I have in my hands when I walk in the door.

I decided that while the white was nice, I needed a little punch of color in my life. Looking around at the other things in my living space, I decided turquoise was the color I needed. So I repainted this white cabinet with "La Fonda Turquoise" from Valspar.

I think the color really brightens up the room. It's one of the first things you see as you come up the stairs into my apartment, and it definitely makes a statement. I love it!

 This cabinet is actually small enough that I used just about 1.5 paint samples, making it extremely affordable. I had the first sample in my stash already for a previous project, so that was already paid for. I only had to shell out about $3 for this project!

Linked to:

Another Butterick 5466 Skirt

I've really been on a roll with sewing this summer. And, I wasn't lying when I said I had used this same pattern for more than one skirt. I love, love this pattern. I love the simple straight silhouette and the fact that it sews up incredibly quick, so I can make them in any/every color that I fancy. It also only takes about a yard of fabric, making it inexpensive even with regular fabric, but also entirely likely I will find remnants or clearance fabric to use.

And that's exactly happened with this one. I found just under a yard of this fabric on the clearance table at Joann's on one of those days when everything on clearance was an extra 50% off. I think I paid about $1.50 for the whole piece.  It's a silky fabric, but the gold portions of the pattern are embossed. 

I've already worn this skirt to work once, and I am really liking the interest it adds to my wardrobe. I actually wore it to work with the red shoes I have on in these pictures, a similar white shirt and a navy knit open cardigan I got recently at H&M.

This skirt is also good for hanging out by the dumpster in your apartment complex. I need to learn to pay more attention to my hands when posing. I have quite a few shots that are decent except for my hand in some crazy looking position. :) I guess I am not America's Next Top Model.