Coffee Bar...

There are times when we have to change things around in our home to make life a little easier. Look at things and say...do I really need this or do I really use this enough to have it take up so much space.

This was a baking center that I put together out of an old desk and a top to an old hutch. Click HERE for the post. I painted it all black to tie the pieces together. I loved it and used it a lot when our family was busy. Our daughters are now away at college for most of the year, so the flow of family and friends is a lot less.

Truth be told...I don't bake that much anymore!! LOL. Just a few treats for my husband now and then or for something special.

What do we do on a daily basis, several times a day? We drink coffee and tea all the time. Hot tea especially on my day off.

A while ago, I swapped out the original hutch for an old shelf that stored paint in the garage. Added crown molding and painted it black. Now the shelf is larger.

Here is a picture from Christmas where I put the first, smaller hutch...on top of a buffet to serve wine for the holidays.

Back to the coffee bar...

Everything is right there at hand.

The wooden boxes are very old from my grandfather's carpenters tool box. They hold cocoa packets, sugar packets, Keurig coffee pods and tea bags.

Black cake stand holds sugar bowls and creamer. The drawer in the desk area holds all the travel mugs for quick coffee or tea on the way out the door to work.

What are those labels on the boxes?...blank switch plate covers from the electrical department in the hardware store.

Just used scrap booking letters to label.

Another long tool box holds all the mugs. Line it with something to keep them clean.

See the old baking center sign hidden on the right...it's sad it was kicked out. I need to make a new sign that says...Hot Drinks or something.

What's the "take away" info from this post today...

Change things in your home to make your life easier.

If you don't use it or need it...change it. All the "big" things in life make your day crazy and busy, so change a few small things and maybe your day will be a little easier.

Enjoy a cup of something today,
~Karen~

SSS...Ottoman Slip Cover Tutorial

Sew Sew Saturday...I had to shorten it to SSS, but you all know SSS is about making a point to "find" the time to sew. My day to make an appointment with myself to sew is Saturday.

Thought I'd share with you last Saturday's project. My daughter Courtney had an ottoman in her dorm room that I didn't want to store in the basement over the summer, so I thought I would use it! Here's a quick tutorial on how to make a slip cover for it.

I used inexpensive burlap because 1. it's cheap and 2. that's what I had on hand!

Here's the AFTER...

Here's the BEFORE...the stark white just didn't work for the room

TUTORIAL

Measure the width of the top east to west.

 
and the width of the top north to south.

You also need to measure the height of the side.

and the distance all the way around.

ADD 1 INCH TO ALL MEASUREMENTS FOR THE SEAM ALLOWANCE.

I USED 1/2 INCH SEAM

Cut out the top and place it RIGHT SIDE DOWN on the ottoman. (there is no right side to burlap, but your fabric might have it)

For the side piece, I used the finished selvage edge for the hem so I wouldn't have to hem it. Take that into consideration when cutting the side piece.

Add only 1/2 inch to the height measurement if you are using the selvage finished edge.

Add more to the measurement if you have to hem it.

This is the strip I cut for the side panel that goes all the way around.

Sew the 2 short ends together to make a loop.

Place the loop over the ottoman WRONG SIDE OUT. Match the seam to one of the corners.

This is only a temporary cover for me, so I'm not picky. If you want a seam on all for corners, you must cut four individual pieces for all the side panels. Same process...you just need to sew the 4 pieces together and have the seams on the corners.

Pin the top to the side panels...

All the way around.

Sew with 1/2 inch seam with a straight stitch, then go back again on the edge with a zig zag stitch to prevent the burlap from unraveling.

Then just slip it on!

Mistakes and all. I had no desire to pull that little gathered stitch out. I think it adds character!! That's what we all say when we don't want to correct a mistake! Lol

Easy peasy and works great just as a temporary cover for the summer until she takes it back to school.

Add a tray for magazines and what nots...keeps things contained and there is still room to put your feet up.

Courtney said she actually loves the burlap and wants to keep it on and redecorate her dorm room with burlap in mind.

Yikes...I think I see more sewing in my future.

Have a Sew Sew Saturday,
~Karen~

Baking Center From An Old Desk...

When my parents moved in with us 7 years ago, we added a second story to our house. The new stair case created this odd area at the bottom of the stairs in the kitchen.

I've had lots of things there, but I think this may be a keeper.

I had this bookcase storage unit there in the past...good for storage, but try to give it more height with the clock and lamps.

This is how I tried out the new change.

• brought up an old desk from the basement
• swapped out the larger bookcase (from the above picture) for this top of a hutch
• put my baking stuff in there and lived with it for a week before committing to painting

Let the painting begin.

I left the top of the desk natural, so I don't have to be careful about chipping the paint when working on the desk. Breaks up the black too.

I have a tutorial coming up on how to make this BAKING sign. Easy peasy! Click HERE for sign tutorial

Simple cardboard boxes covered with fabric. I just wrapped the box like a gift and hot glued the edges down. I bought the boxes in the mailing office supply section in Walmart. They were the perfect square size and only 50 cents.

Pipe straps found in hardware stores for the handles...these are always my cheap "go to" handles. I think $2.00 for a bag of 10-12.

Key chain tags to tell whats inside.

Store all your baking items in there.

I've had these glass canister jars for years...they are only $10.00 in Walmart. I just saw them this week, so I know they still carry them. Smaller sizes are about $7.00

The computer key board drawer pulls out and holds my cookie sheets and baking racks.

The drawers hold bowls...

cake pans...

mixers...

and a file for recipes...

When you find a recipe on line, you print it out on an 8x10 piece of paper. In the past, I folded them up and stored them away.

Hard to find when they are all folded up.

Now they are easy to read.

Little jar for small baking tools...

and don't forget the kitchen mouse.

Just need to put drawer pulls on and it will be all set.

I love what paint can do. Look around your house and see what you can transform!

Take care,
~Karen~