Deck Cushions - How I Love Thee

In my last Instagram photo I shared a sneak peek of our new outdoor throw pillows. I'm in love!

Cozy.Cottage.Cute. on Instagram

It only took me about two months to work up the courage to sew them. I pretty much thought I forgot how to sew. It took me about three hours to finish the first pillow, and only a half hour to sew the second! 

 

I used some outdoor fabric from Fabricland that I got for a great deal. Since my location is moving, they had some great sales going on all summer. Instead of paying $25 a metre I got the fabric for $11 a metre!

 

I sewed two square pillow covers to fit 18" pillow forms. I really like the look of pillow covers with seams on each side (rather than the basic one-piece envelope pillow cover) so I basically drew a little sketch and winged it. I realized after I was finished that I used a method similar to this one written by Kate at Centsational Girl. The only major difference was that I sewed in some Velcro at the back to help the pillows stay closed and to help them keep their square shape.

 

In addition to outdoor throw pillows, I also needed some seat cushions for our lounge furniture. After shopping everywhere I finally decided to go with beautiful (but horribly impractical) cream cushions from Pier One Imports. Hey, you only live once, right?

 

:)

 

Pier One Imports - Cabana Cream

 

 

I needed four chair cushions as well as one settee cushion. I was able to purchase them all during one of their outdoor sales for 20% off. It always makes me feel better when I know I'm saving at least a little bit!

 

Here's how one little area on our upper deck is looking with some cushions and a few little accessories. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Chairs - Lowe's

Outdoor Seat Cushions - Pier One Imports

Floral Cushions - DIY Project (Fabricland)

Navy Cushions - Homesense

Lantern - Homesense

Driftwood Ball - Homesense

Galvanized Planter - Homesense

 

I'm loving how things are coming together on our deck. I pretty much want to spend all of my time out there now. I just have to keep my eagle eyes on one certain little boy who loves driving his cars in the sand and then, you know, all over my nice clean cushions.

 

:)

 

I'm hoping to be back tomorrow to show you the loveseat area (in the above Instagram picture) and to share a little plan for a DIY privacy screen.

 

Have a great Monday my dears!

 

Sharing Here:

 

Inspire Me Monday @ Sand and Sisal
From Dream to Reality @ The DIY Dreamer

Deck Design Plan

Remember when I told you that I was making it my life's mission to finish off and actually use our deck this year?

Well I needed some sort of new plan. You see, for the last few years I was committed to using all neutrals. But with so much faded brown wood and brown furniture it was all looking a little blah.

These were the items that I had already bought previously:

Boring, right?

1) Garden Treasures Severson 4-Piece Conversation Set - Lowe's

 

We bought this cute, inexpensive set a few years back. At the time, it was the closest thing that I could find to a Pottery Barn set (that wasn't a million dollars). I'm still really happy with the look and quality of this furniture. It's staying!

 

2) Black Wall Lantern - Homesense

 

The wall lantern was my most recent purchase for our outdoor space. It was purchased to replace the bare bulb that had been there for the last four years or so. 

 

3) Allen & Roth Outdoor Patio Cushions - Lowe's

 

Here is my mistake. I chose green / brown / tan cushions from Lowe's that matched the furniture set I had just bought even though I didn't love them . They were the most neutral ones out of the selection, I knew they would fit the furniture perfectly, and the price wasn't bad. I lived with them for a few years and now I have to say goodbye. It's time to find something that I love.

 

3) Tan Outdoor Umbrella - Costco

 

The tan umbrella is staying. Again, I had wanted something neutral and good quality. (The umbrella that came with our outdoor dining set was orange which isn't really a favourite colour of mine.)

 

4) Black Weber Barbeque - Homesense

 

This super cute barbeque was a Father's Day present to Alex last year. I pretty much got a wifey of the year award for that one. It's new, it's cute, of course we're keeping it!

 

5) Antique Galvanized Metal Bucket - Ebay

 

The metal bucket was a gift from my Aunt when we thought we bought our very own cottage (I still didn't share that story yet, did I?). It's already outside with a gardenia tree in it.

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This year I finally decided to add some colour to the boring scheme that I had going on. You know what that means, right? FABRIC!!! I searched through all of the outdoor fabric at my local Fabricland until I found the one.

Isn't it just so pretty!?!?! What I love about it is that it has some tan (to match the umbrella), it has colour (but not too bold), and it has several colours to pull from (cream, yellow, green, tan, blue, and navy). I bought a few meters and pillow forms during one of Fabricland's 50% off sales. Using the fabric as a jumping off point, I came up with a little design plan.

 

 

 

{Keeping in mind that some of the items in the above photos are just random pictures from the internet and not necessarily the exact items that I will be using.}

 

I'm pretty happy with my plan so far. I've bought / collected most of the items that I need. However, I still need to sew the cushions and find a few little fun accessories. I'll make sure to share some pictures as things come together.

 

:)

 

Bye for now!

My Little Garden That Could

Soooo, let's just say that I am not a gardener.

 

I have a tendency to plant flowers all willy-nilly-like without putting much thought into how big they will get or when they will bloom. That being said, my little perennial garden is looking better, but still needs so much work. Let me explain.

 

Here is how it started back in 2011. Yup. All kinds of ugly.

 

 

Here's how it looked a few weeks ago. 

And after a few weeks of TLC and some trellises for the climbing vines, here's how my little garden is looking now.

It's not terrible but it's no Better Homes and Gardens feature if you know what I'm saying. It's driving me crazy that the clematis is all bushy and climb-y on the right while the climbing hydrangea on the left is taking forever to grow. Don't they know that I really, really, really like symmetry?!?

You're cute. But, could you grow a little faster please?

The plant directly in front of the clematis is way too close to it. I keep having to untangle it from the creeping vines. Next year I'll have to move it over or forward or to a new spot altogether. Also, the two plants at the front center are a little bit scraggly. I'm trying to decide if I should give them another season to establish themselves or replace them right away. Decisions, decisions.

Even though it's not perfect.............this little garden still makes me happy. I mean, look how pretty these flowers were!!!  Before the bugs ate them.

P.S. I'm pretty sure that I should label this post under "Snoozefest".

P. P. S. We were stuck in the house the last few days because of rain. This is Cooper's reaction when I asked him if he wanted to go and splash in some puddles. "WOOHOO!"