Garbage to Gorgeous

   

 I saw this ottoman put out to the curb (or kerb as they say in GB) and I thought, I like that size and can use a freebie. So I went around the block and checked it out. One of the legs was wobbly because it was missing a wood screw. I knew I could remedy that, and the rest of it, though hideous, could be revamped.  My sewing room is all ready for a project, and so I went to Walmart where I had seen some tropical fabrics and got myself just what I needed. That was my first or second stroke of luck (or blessing!) as getting someone to wait on me was like a mini-miracle. 

 Then came the deconstruction phase. Armed with a flat head screwdriver and a small pliers, I proceeded to remove the skirt and the ten zillion staples. This is an ugly but necessary task, and I wondered if the original upholsterer was paid by the amount of staples he used. There were some so brittle that they broke as I was pulling, and I still managed to wiggle them free, since leaving even the tiniest bit in would somehow jab holes in the new cover and I would be sorry. 

 Here's a closeup of the staple overkill.

I was able to reuse the welting in the original cover and it worked out just fine, without the use of any staples. It just slips snuggly over the previous cover. I had some thicker poly batting, which just appeared ready for my use to cover the top and make it extra soft (spooky?) and the first sewing machine foot I found in my drawer was the cording foot. No struggling to find anything. Hmmm. 

 And here it is, ready for me to prop up my feet and relax. I have enough fabric left to cover that pillow to match. 

 And some of the tropical fabric I found at my local Walmart sewing dept. 

Watermelon=tropical? Well, it's a stretch, but it is the right color. 

 Ahhhhh. A new ottoman for around $16.00.