Saturday 20 October 2012

betsy

After teasing you all with my tales of my upholstery class it's time for a little reveal.  Meet Betsy.

My new hallway bench created by my own fair hand with a little help from my handy andy brother and a very patient tutor.


Before you ask.  No, I am not in the habit of naming all my furniture but as my bench and I have a special relationship built up over hours of prodding and poking to get her just right, innumerate loadings in and out of the boot of my car to go to class and easily a million touch ups of accidentally scratched paint when finally she was completed in all her glory I thought she deserved a name.


Betsy has a cute set of legs salvaged from a pine coffee table and a sturdy wooden frame built by my brother.  Carpentry is well beyond my DIY ability.  I know when I need to call in help.

I painted the legs with satin paint and gave them a coat of clear wax to protect them from the hoover, little feet and not so little feet.

The top is sprung with webbing and has a deep foam cushion for the seat.  The fabric is Quadrille in Summer by Clarke & Clarke.  I added piping to the centre of the bench.  It breaks up the expanse of fabric on the sides and adds a little pretty.

Betsy was my project from last term.  She just needed a few finishing touches. I have my sights set on greater things now I have built up my confidence.

There is a very battered and unloved Parker Knoll fireside chair waiting in the wings. 
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31 comments

  1. Bee thats is Beeeautiful (is that a word? it should be) so very proffessional too!
    Makes me want to have a go now....
    Loving it divinely! or is that too over the top?
    Until later
    Miss daisy J

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    1. Hi there Miss Daisy ... you should definitely give this a go ... I loved doing it ... so exciting and a bit show-offy to be able to say ... I made that ... chat soon ... Bee xx

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  2. I think it's GORGEOUS! Good job Bee, it looks so professional and perfect. I love the fabric, and I love that it (she?) has a name. Betsy looks comfortable and very stylish. xx

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    1. Thanks so much Gillian ... I am pleased with her ... so glad you get why I named her :) ... have a lovely weekend .. Bee xx

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  3. Wow, Betsy is a beauty! Well done you x

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    1. Thanks so much Gina ... have a lovely weekend ... Bee xx

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  4. I think Betsy is a lucky lady, to have been dressed by such talented hands. She looks jolly spiffy. Can't wait to see what you do with the chair. Does he/she have a name? Only a Parker Knoll fireside sounds like a Bertie to me ;)

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    1. Thanks Annie ... Bertie is a fine name for a little unloved Parker Knoll awaiting transformation :) ... enjoy the rest of your weekend ... Bee xx

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  5. Fantastic! I really love the fabric too. The piping looks amazing, so professional xx

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    1. Thank you Nick ... the piping was actually OK to do ... I was having nightmares about doing it but it seems it is one aspect of sewing that suits me ... rather a lot more to master though ... enjoy your weekend ... Bee xx

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  6. Betsy is bootiful. Love the fabric you have chosen.The most spoooky part of your pictures though is your tiling on the floor. That is the exact tiles we are having laid next week and our stairs are painted white with wooden bannister rail on top. Goose bumps!!!!! Hugs Mrs A.
    p.s. only difference being our walls are pale lemon/cream and we have chosen brown grouting. Will send you pics when it is all done. This is amazing!!!

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    1. Hi there Mrs A ... thank you and what a spooky coincidence :) ... can't wait to see your photos ... Bee xx

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  7. She is wonderful you're so clever. Love your hall too. I have wanted to do an upholstery course for years but there aren't many around here. Sarah x

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    1. Thanks Sarah ... you are very kind ... the course I go to is in our local technical college ... it's one of their recreational courses ... it is good fun ... Bee xx

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  8. It is awesome! Looks very professional!

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  9. I really, really need to go on one of those courses! It looks FAB BEE LO SUS! Sorry, bad joke! Very lovely Bee, in exactly the right spot! Ada :)

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    1. Thanks Ada ... you're very kind ... I love the way it fills an empty space in my hallway for very little cost ... Bee x

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  10. She looks fantastic Bee, well done! I've been thinking of an upholstery course for ages, it looks like a useful thing to learn, especially if, like me, you've got a house full of fabric! Definitely time to find a local one for when Rufus goes to nursery. xx

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    1. You should definitely go for it, Rachel ... I think you would love it and with all your gorgeous fabrics you would no doubt create beauties :) ... Bee xx

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  11. Oh wow Bee, Betsy is BEAUTIFUL! Well done! Love the fabric too and she looks just perfect in your hallway.
    Happy Sunday,
    xx

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  12. Miss Betsy is very pretty indeed! You have done such a lovely job..I just adore the fabric you used as well :)
    Have a nice day today x
    Magie

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    1. Thanks Magie ... I really enjoyed picking the fabric ... my problem is there are so many pretty ones I find it a little difficult to decide on just one ... Bee xx

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  13. I think that Betsy is just super duper - I particularly love the piping and the detail you have added. Did it take forever to do? Next stop a chaise longue!
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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    1. Hi Jenny ... thanks for your lovely words ... if wasn't too bad ... it seemed to take a while because I was toing and froing from class with it all term ... but now I know what to do ... I think it would be much quicker second time round ... my lovely brother has requested one, so I will defininitely be giving this another go ... Bee xx

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  14. Betsy is just beautiful! And you're not the only one to name furniture, I have a few lamps with names, they just have such character! x

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    1. Thanks Rebecca ... so pleased you get the naming ... I bet your lamps are beautiful ... Bee x

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  15. Wow! Well done - amazing. Betsy really does look like she came from an expensive designer shop. Love the fabric! x

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  16. I love it! It looks amazing in your hallway can't wait to see the results of your next project!

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  17. Betsy is great, you could have a future here?! Heather

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Thank you so so much for taking the time to visit .... it's always really lovely to hear from you.

I love to read your messages .... please stop by again if you've asked me a question or want to chat.

Bee x

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