Sunday, February 8, 2009

Ever See A "Qui-ofa?" A "Qui-ofa" You Say? Let Me Show You What It Is! ;)


Welcome to my Meta Monday Qui-ofa Share & My first Blue Monday Post~ Thanks Susan from "Between Naps On The Porch" for hosting one of my favorite themes of the week! And thanks goes out to Sally of Smiling Sally for hosting Blue Monday! Make sure you stop by both their places to catch everyone elses fabulous makeovers and Blue Monday shares~ Maybe it was the fact that I was a Girl Scout, and one of our pledges were, "A Girl Scout is always thrifty". Or, maybe it's because I was raised in a home where my mother made everything from anything... Whether it was made from material, Clorox bottles, readers digests, or even tin cans...my Mom and her love for crafts and sewing gave me an insight to this really cool creative and artistic world! I'm not sure if she realizes how much she taught me, and continues to teach me...but here goes; which leads me to this weeks Meta Monday share, dedicated to my Mom, Myra!


Thus, a "Qui-ofa"!


Meet my little traditional style love seat/sofa & lovely wine~green~gold pattern. These colors and pattern were great while I lived in my home in PA, but when I moved south where I wanted more of a French Country theme in my new home...it just wasn't going to work...
So, my lil brain started thinkin about what I could do to change this to the look I wanted to achieve "using what I had". (Another thing my Mother taught me~) At the time I worked for a company where I was paid in commission and 10% of free merchandise of my choice from the company's retail items. Well, there was this quilt that I just loved and had purchased with my free merchandise for my spare bedroom's queen size bed. I decided to use my "free" merchandise and order three more quilts to have my "Loving and Devoted to ~Moi~ Mother" make me a custom design slip cover to match the beds quilt. This is how the quilt looks on the bed...

I can dress this quilt up & I can dress her down...one of the things I love about her!
Here's a side view of the quilt so you can see the border that goes along the edge. It's also reversible which has a really sweet delicate blue/white tiny pattern on the other side.


Not that this has anything to do with the "Qui-ofa", but my guests always love this, so thought I'd share it with you. A missionary friend of ours wrote this prayer in her 80's before she died. When my guests come, I personalize the prayer and put it inside of one of my custom photo note cards I make. I have a little gift on the bed, the card which has the prayer, and little mints or chocolates on a bed tray. This bed tray is adorable, as it's made out of a picture frame and a piece of chenille bedspread. (very easy to make Jan, of Rose Haven, that loves Chenille) ;)

How can I show you what's inside the card without showing you what was on the cover... ahhh, isn't she a cutie? This is ~Sasha, my sister-in-law's Yorkie. This really makes a cute prayer card since she looks like she's asleep! ;)

© Photography by ~CC


Ok...now for the "Qui-ofa"... This is not considered a slip cover, because each cushion is custom covered with a zipper, just like the original cushion was covered. Notice the little piping around the edge of the cushion? This is what the reverse side of the quilt looks like. My mom is such a perfectionist that she decided that all the piping needed to be made from the material and thus, she worked her little fingers to nubbins, and made all the piping by hand as well.

Then we had the custom slip cover part begin...this was where the real "Brain Crackin" came in. My mom really had to think this through...it was not an easy task because of the patchwork design in the quilt, and the border that went around the edge of the quilts. So, she worked through it in her mind, would cut, sew, think, cut, sew...and this went on for nine days. Yes, God love her, nine days she worked on this labor of love for me. Notice how she even had the piping on the front arm of the sofa so it would mimic the original front of the arm?

Well, what about the back you say? Yes, she even thought of a unique way to finish off the back. On each side are two heavy white zippers that she sewed into it. Once the custom cover is slid over the sofa, each zipper is pulled down as if you've just slipped into the prettiest little dress you ever did see. And she's as snug as a pea in a pod. (I don't like bugs in a rug...scary in a bedroom) ;) Is this just not the coolest?

And "Voila" here she is from the front view... "Francais et Chic"... Notice how neat the side view is, as well as the front view around the bottom? All nice, neat, and coiffed~

One more view from the front with my sweet little Boyd's Bear White Teddy..with her blue velvet outfit, she just looks so cute on this sofa!

When I tell people that my Mother made this custom slip cover, they marvel at it, as it looks like it was manufactured by a professional company. It was, Myra & Co. I got the idea to use the quilts, thus the "Qui" part... ;), and she's the one who actually did the work on the Sofa, thus the "ofa" part. ;) So, it's our "Qui-ofa"!


I hope you enjoyed my Meta Monday post...you'd love my Mother Myra, I do...and so does everyone else that meets her! Look for her picture on the sidebar of my blog...she's a cutie patootie!


I love my lil French Country spare bedroom~

Love ya Mom, and thanks for my "Qui-ofa"!

~CC Catherine

47 comments:

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

WOW.... wowwwww

That is amazing...and beautiful!!

Susan

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

WOW.... wowwwww

That is amazing...and beautiful!!

Susan

Terri Steffes said...

Such a cool thing! I love it!

Anonymous said...

That Susan beat me to it again :)
Ok now I know why you were sweating over this one girlfriend. What an amazing task your mama took on.
What a dream to have her as a mom. I must confess that my mom never taught me a thing, only to keep my room clean and that's it. No crafting, no baking, no cooking, nothing... I have chosen to teach my children everything. From getting a deal on something you really want to making sacrifices for other things you might want. OK mon amie I'm off to look at more beauties.
Love Claudie
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh, this is a wonderful slipcover! Your Mother is very talented and it looks superb!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

This really is a gift of much love. I sew and I am amazed at all the fabulous detail. Such a fabulous slipcover, and what a wonderful memory for you to have of your mom forever. Hugs, Marty

Cass @ That Old House said...

Having attempted slipcovers myself .. all I can say it I am VERY outclassed by your Mom. Amazing, gorgeous work. It's lovely. Cass

Dixie said...

Catherine... great post and wonderful job.. I love it! Dixie

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh my CC...Your mom did an amazing job! And she sounds like an amazing person! It's perfect! Thanks for sharing it!! ...Debbie

Anonymous said...

Wowie Zowie! I stand amazed at the marvelous work on these slip covers by your mom and your inspiration to have it covered. Tell her I think she's an amazing artist!!

xinex said...

How pretty! Your mom is amazingly so talented!...Christine

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

CC,
This is so beautiful and amazing! I can see where you got your talents. Tell your mom from me that she is one very talented lady. The pic of all you together is very lovely. I would just love to have that loveseat. Cindy

The Raggedy Girl said...

WoW!! That is amazing and what a sweet Mom to do all that work and help you. Really unique.
Roberta Anne

lvroftiques said...

Awww CC your mom is beautiful! And talented I might add!! Wow! What a job! You are sooo lucky! And your qui-ofa is wonderful! I love your prayer card as well. What a great idea! I want to be a guest at your house *winks* Vanna

The Charm House said...

This is incredible!! Like Susan said, WOW!!! Your Mother is so talented!!! Love this!!
Thanks for sharing!
Yvette from Georgia

Lynda said...

What talent!! I am so impressed! Does Mother travel?!! ;>)

Kat said...

Wow Catherine. That is just beautiful. You mom is so talented, love the piping she did. How lucky for you to have her, and how great that you had the vision to see this gorgeous quilt as a sofa covering. What a great team! Thanks for sharing this. Kathy

Jewel Sauls said...

Your mother is amazingly talented! What a difference! :D Jewel

The Norwegian said...

The Qui-ofa is CHARMING! A lovely, unexpected touch to the guest bedroom. What a pleasure to be a guest at your house.

Joyce said...

Amazing! Oh to think everytime you have a cup of tea/coffee on this slipcover is like being melted into the biggest hug from your mom! Very sweet.

vintage girl at heart said...

I love to repurpose old quilts and just about anything else too. You and your wonderfully talented Mother did an excellent job!! I love that she used zippers too. How ingenious!!
I enjoyed your post about it!!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Oh my goodness.. this is amazingly beautiful..what talent... thanks for the visit today. I'm glad you liked the cobalt pitchers. I sure treasure them. Happy Blue Monday..hugs ~lynne~

Fifi Flowers said...

WOW... that looks like a lot of amazing work!
Thank you for stopping by!
ENJOY your day!
Fifi

DesignTies said...

Wow. That is an amazingly creative idea!! I can imagine the amount of work that went into your one-of-a-kind Qui-ofa!! Your mom deserves a medal for all her hard work!!! :-)

Kelly (one half of DesignTies)

French Cupboard said...

My first comment is WOW and the second is that it ONLY took her 9 days to complete. That is incredible. Absolutely beautiful and what talent. Your mom is amazing. Steve -French Cupboard

Linda Q said...

Wow, you have one talented mother, what a great redo on this.
Linda Q

Envoy-ette said...

This is absolutely INCREDIABLE!
I've never seen anything like it!
Thank you so much for sharing it with the rest of us.

Linda C said...

Hi Catherine:)

Thanks for stopping by to see my tea tray. I came over for a visit this afternoon and enjoyed so seeing the beautiful handiwork of you mother!

The quilt is so nice and the slipcover does look professional--amazing!

I scrolled (and strolled:)on down your blog and loved so much looking at all of your pretties:)

I know I have been here before arriving from Kelli's show and tell, and I will be back!
You have a lovely blog. Thanks for having me:)

Blessings,
Linda C

trish said...

How beautiful!! What a labor of love. :o)
Sincerely ~ Tricia Anne

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

That is just amazing and so beautiful.

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Your mom is an INCREDIBLE seamstress! Wow! I have been trying to work up the courage to attempt a slipcover and haven't yet.....but to coordinate all that print....double Wow! Linda

Karen said...

We have had the weirdest weather here today, and have had to have my computer off most of it. But am on real quick just to take a peek at your Met-Monday and WOW! is putting it lightly. How very fortunate you are to have such a talented Mom. And how lucky she is, to have passed on her creative brain power to her daughter. Together you must be some twosome!!!
Beautiful job! HAGD! Karen
And thanks again for the GIVEAWAY gift I won! I can't wait to get them!!!!

Christine said...

It is beautiful! I really don't think I would of known that was even a slip cover on the couch. It really looks nice and what a wonderful treasure for you to have from your mom!

Miss Janice said...

That is a beautiful slipcover! You know I just love the prayer card that you leave for your guest...oh so sweet:-) The little card holders from my "Romantic Sideboard" came from ebay several years ago. The petite gold bags were from Michael's and have a "Meri Meri" cherub applique attached. I don't know if the appliques are still available...again, I purchased them several years ago!

Melissa Miller said...

It is so pretty! Looks very comfortable too. ;)

Kathleen Ellis said...

Having seen this remarkable work in person, I can attest to the fact that it is almost impossible to tell that this is a slipcover! Your mom did the most incredible job, totally professional!
She's a peach!
xo

Bobby (Baniji) & Gayle Evans said...

That is sooooooo unique....Not to mention beautiful! Love it!

Deborah aka Miss Bee said...

CC - I am in awe of that slipcover....I wouldn't think any one person could make something that professional looking. You have an amazing mom!

Designs on 47th Street said...

I cannot even begin to imagine that kind of talent! wow is right!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. I hope your sister might get an idea or two from my bar area. It is a fun, happy place to gather.

Do stop by again. I love meeting new people!

Donna

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hey CC! How about a GA bloggers lunch! Isn't that a great idea? We are all putting notes on our sidebar...I copied and altered it from Susan's. Will you put one? It's at La Madeleine on Roswell Road on Monday March 2nd at 11:00 AM. I hope you can come...I surely would love to meet in person!...Debbie

Lisa (aka) French said...

Unbelievable that she made that...truly incredible.."magnifique" French;)

Kristens Creations said...

How beautiful! Your mom did an outstanding job, what a catchy name for it too! Thank you for the award! I really appreciate it.

My trip really was amazing, I tried to savor every second! The pig was delicious and there was always a perfect breeze. Kristen

Bo said...

From someone who can barely sew on a button, I am truly in awe of your dear mother's skills...not only is it a "qui-ofa", it is now an heirloom. Beautiful! ;-) Bo

preppyplayer said...

Catherine, thanks for the input regarding The Shack and thanks for visiting my blog. love yours!
i will be back :)

Unknown said...

That. is. amazing. I know I'm not the first person to "say" that, but I can't think of a better word! :)
Your mother is VERY talented, I can't even imagine the work that must have gone into that slipcover. Beautiful!
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday!

southerninspiration said...

AMAZING!!! That is one talented mamma!!! Wow, I am so impressed!

Suzanne

janet said...

as im reading im thinking NO WAY, very very talented and creative. Soooo beautiful
thanks for sharing
hugs
janet