Chair Recover with Vintage Pillowcases

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to write yesterday. I missed you all. The garden and yard were calling my name. There were plants to find homes for and vegetables to water, pruning, weeding, putting out pinestraw. The list could go on.

Today is a new day and I've got lots to share. I guess I got braver after my first attempt at creativity (homely though it was--maybe we'll just call it homespun, that has a little more flair). I had a project in my mind and decided to go for it. After a furious vacuuming and dusting session this morning, I settled down to recover my desk chair. I tried to document it for you. I only used a couple of vintage pillowcases that I had in the closet and some buttons from my pail. I sewed them on, slipped them over, and that was that. Now I'm contemplating what my next project could be. Oh yeah, I've still got to get material for that dress.


Here's my desk chair that I started with and a couple of vintage pillowcases that my mom picked up for me at a yardsale.



I took apart the seat. It was just a matter of flipping in over and unscrewing it from the frame. I simply stuffed the cushion into the case like it was a pillow, reached underneath and adjusted the fabric to suit me, and then screwed it back to the base. I left the decorative edge of the pillowcase hanging down like a little skirt in front. I thought I'd taken a picture of it, but I must have forgotten.

Next, I picked a few buttons from my jar of extras to embellish the top and help to hold it steady.


I wanted to show y'all this sweet little button. It's an extra from some buttons my grandmother used to make me a dress when I was a little girl. I guess I must have been thinking of my Granny when I made this project, because I also used a button that went to a dress she wore. Now I'll think of her each time I sit at my desk to work or create.


Here again is the finished product. A cute addition to my room.

I also need to give you tonight's recipe. Before I do, let me mention that the Cheesy Chili Soup was a big hit with my family, especially the kids. They loved the dallop of sour cream. They thought it was the greatest thing to get to swirl it and stir it in. Who knew? I'm going to have to remember that trick for other recipes too. Tonight is Pineapple Burgers. They are wonderful. I tried this recipe right after we got married and we've eaten it for many years. It came from a very old Betty Crocker cookbook for cooking for two. I've tweaked it over the years to make it easier. Here's my version of "Betty's" recipe.

Pineapple Burgers with Spicy Sauce
Hint--when you pat out hamburgers for the grill, make them big and thin. Better to have a raw patty that looks like a pancake because it'll draw up as it cooks into the size you want. Otherwise, you end up with those tiny, really fat burgers that look more like meatballs.

1 small jar pineapple rings 1/2 c. ketchup
1 lb ground beef 2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1/2 c. brown sugar

Drain pineapple. Divide meat and pat out into 4 thin patties. Place burgers on grill or broiler and cook to desired doneness, around 5 minutes on each side. Grill pineapple slices for two minutes. In a small saucepan, blend brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Top burgers with grilled pineapple and serve with sauce.

By the way, does anyone know what I can do with lemon balm? I've got a big beautiful bush full and would like to use it in some way. It smells so great. I'd like to do something more than just keep breaking it off to smell it.

On the diet front, I've been a very naughty girl. We went out for a Dairy Queen Blizzard the other night. How was I supposed to resist that? Then I made a nice chocolate dessert to go in the kids' lunchboxes. I had to try it to see if it was any good. I wouldn't want to send them to school with something yucky (wink, wink). Someone needs to mail me a little package of motivation.

Have a great weekend!