Sunday, March 24, 2013

epic fail day

Ever have one of those days where nothing goes the way you want and expect it to? Yep, this is my day.

I was attempting my first graphic transfer to fabric.  I've already done several transfers to furniture, including Pierre and his family, as well as Frédéric-Franz.

So, I was really wanting a new "dress" for my buffet (that I inherited from my grandmother), and it just so happened I had the PERFECT amount of drop cloth left over from making my DIY curtains.  Hoho!  A DIY table runner!

My buffet...ain't she gorgeous??  (And yes, I've thought about painting it, but I'm pretty sure my Gramma would haunt me if I did....)




I picked out this image from the Graphics Fairy.

It spoke to my inner wino.



Then off to the Lob of Hob I went with my 40% off coupon and picked up iron-on transfer paper.  I got my image printed onto a sheet, but an annoying little voice in the back of my head kept saying, "you're going to iron a SKIN onto your fabric...not just the ink..."...over and over again.  To tell the truth, it was screaming at me.

Did I listen?  No.  Dolt.  

And did I try a little test area first?  Of course not.  That would have been too smart.

Dolt.



Nope.  Ms. Genius went ahead and pressed her design onto the center of her perfectly measured and pressed piece (the ONLY piece of this fabric she had left) and promptly ruined it.  Yerp.  



But wait, there's more.  

I went down to the computer and noticed that ALL of my internet bookmarks on my toolbar were missing.  Then I looked and ALL of my bookmarked pages were missing!  I immediately texted my hubby asking what happened. 

His response:  "Oops."

Yes, Firefox was irritating him, so he decided to delete it from the computer altogether and then reinstall it, and damn the consequences.  So, if I had your project bookmarked for future reference, it is now living in internet oblivion.  <le sigh>

Back to Gramma's Buffet Dress.

It's a new day, and for as poorly as my first attempt ended up, my second attempt was an effortless walk in the zoo.  (I prefer zoos to parks.)  I used the transfer method found via the Graphics Fairy at Home Frosting using freezer paper.  It worked beautifully.  I only wish I had dampened my fabric just a tiny bit more and burnished a tad bit longer, but in the end, the Heavens sang.  A fabulous skin-free design.



Ordinarily, I'm a total photo hound but for some reason, I only took ONE "during" picture of this table runner.  I think because it came together SO FAST!  {I did this entire project start-to-finish on a Friday evening, after getting home from work, and I also managed to make dinner AND fit in a workout that evening.}  Sometimes I amaze myself.

Since I destroyed the last of my drop cloth with the first attempt, I moved on to muslin.  I measured the buffet and cut out the fabric to the size I wanted, then used hem tape to finish the ends.  I had some leftover deep-purple damask fabric which was perfect for my very first attempt at making pleats.  (Remember, I don't sew.

After transferring my image onto the muslin, I pinned my pleats to either side of the runner and sewed everything together.  Even after pressing everything down, the ends were still poking out a bit, so I basically glued everything together with more hem tape.  My only "during" photo:


 

My pleats aren't perfect, but I'll get better with practice, right?  Here's the finished product.  I'm very pleased with it! 
















 

This piece was featured!

Pieced Pastimes



39 comments:

  1. I have too many epic fails to count lol - but love the final product - beautiful job!
    I used that graphic on a coffee table once!
    XOX

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  2. Hi new friend! I am visiting from Bouquet of Talent and am your newest follower. I am so glad that you are not painting your grandmother's buffet. I love the natural color. Love the buffet runner you made! I have never tried transfer paper, but this has peaked my interest. Stop by Still Woods Farmhouse for a visit. I am showing off the azaleas blooming everywhere this time of year.
    Blessings from Still Woods Framhouse

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    1. Thanks so much! I'll be over for a visit!

      -andi

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  3. Here's a hint and I am not paid by Lesley Riley. Lesley Riley TAP paper is the ultimate transfer paper for fabric. It doesn't leave a skin and it washes and irons AND is so easy to work with. I buy it from Amazon(http://www.amazon.com/Lesley-Rileys-Transfer-Artist-18-Sheet/dp/1607052547) You can buy it it 5 packs if you don't use the quantity I do.
    I have a tutorial on my blog showing how to use it at:
    http://csturgeo.blogspot.com/2012/11/bits-and-pieces.html

    Cheryl at Thimble Fingers

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    1. Thanks Cheryl, I'll definitely check it out!

      -andi

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  4. Nice job! I, myself am a Citra Solv Fan for fabric transfers, but your method (#2) worked great for your project! Touche- nice job and I think your pleats are charming :)

    Visiting from Brag Monday linky party @Graphicsfairy
    Smiles,
    Suz @ MaytagNmom

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  5. You did a great job. I'm so glad you didn't paint your cabinet, it looks to be in great shape. Love your pleats and purple? interesting.

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    1. Thanks Irene! Yes, this is one piece I don't believe I will EVER be able to paint!!

      -andi

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  6. Your runner turned out fantastique! I love when people share their epic fail stories. I have them on a regular basis and it helps me feel like I am not alone in my failed attempts at genius. Your profile picture just cracks me up. Visiting from Elizabeth and Company. -K

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    1. Haha thanks! Love your blog...I visit frequently!

      -andi

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  7. You are too funny! Despite your "bad" day, the table runner turned out awesome! I love the pleated ends. Thank you for linking up to What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a lovely week!

    Hugs,
    Deborah

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    1. Thanks Deborah! And thanks again for hosting!

      -andi

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  8. That was a very funny post and one the plus side the epic fail was gorgeously redone! I love the buffet and the runner!

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    1. Thank you so much! And thank you for visiting!

      -andi

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  9. I love a blogger with a great sense of humor, and you sure have THAT! Thanks so much for being honest. I've read so many blog accounts about projects done and they don't give instructions how they accomplished their "voila" moments and NEVAH confess to going down in flames. It's enough to give a gal an inferiority complex. The thought of trying to do a transfer makes my eyes cross -- I just don't "get" the process at all. How does a printed-out graphic from the internet turn into a design on a piece of cloth or a piece of furniture? Nope - guess I failed Visualization 101. Anyway, thanks for NOT painting your beautiful buffet. It is incredible in its natural finish and those lines - to die for! Why gob them all up with paint? Ten years or so from now you'll be thanking the furniture gods (and your grandmother's angel) for keeping you from painting it, because badly redone otherwise-what-would-have-been-on-its-way-to-genuine-antiquehood furniture, ruined by silly looking "shabby chic" finishes with phoney "wear marks" and horrid colors, is going to be so outre, like orange lipstick, the same shade I'm wearing in my 9th grade graduation picture with big teased-up hair and a white sweater set. Ohmygoddess! What were we thinking????? I've got that picture up on a wall that I see every day, and it is serving as a reminder that no fashion is every permanent, but classic style, fine lines, and the ability to discern that we need nothing more will always be with us.

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    1. HAHA Oh my goodness Jan, you have me cracking up and blowing snot bubbles out my nose. NO REALLY...I've had the flu going on 7 days now and if laughter is the best medicine, I should be on the road to recovery now! Thanks so much for taking the time to post this very sweet, colorful, and WISE comment! Come back anytime. :)

      -andi

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  10. Your posts are screaming funny. I love your sense of humour. Your runner looks fantastic!:)

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  11. I love the pleats - very pretty. I am now following from Lakeshore Drive :-)

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  12. It turned out wonderfully! I love those pleats -- they totally make it! Aren't you glad your "oops" was only on muslin, and not on your grandmother's buffet. (It's gorgeous, just as it is!) Happy Easter!

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    1. Thanks Sally! Yes...no paint for the buffet. Ever. :) Happy Easter!

      -andi

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  13. I think every project I do has to be redone at least once, at some point.

    Your runner turned out gorgeous and your gram would be proud that you decked out her buffet with such a pretty dress! ;)

    One tip that took me a while to finally try because I "thought" it wouldn't make THAT much of a difference, but really does - and that is to use the backside of a spoon to rub the image on with (in case you didn't use one). I've done several transfers onto dropcloth before doing it with a spoon. I now have a special spoon I keep just for that purpose. I used too much mist once and that wasn't good either. Yikes! Talk about bleeding!

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    1. Thank you Beth! Yes, I used the back of a spoon since that's what the tutorial suggested...it worked great! I don't have a clue what I would have used otherwise! Thanks for stopping by!

      -andi

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  14. Nice tutorial and I love your sense of humor too! I'm a new follower and hope you'll check out my new blog. http://sunsetcoasting.blogspot.com.

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    1. Thank you Cindy! I will surely do just that!

      -andi

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  15. Very pretty, Andi! I think you turned your "fail" into a great project. Love the fabric you used on your pleats and they turned out great.

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    1. Thanks so much Kathy! And thanks for stopping by!

      -andi

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  16. Those darn fails!!! LOL It turned out awesome. It looks perfect on the buffet. Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent. So thrilled to have you share with us again this week. :)
    Hugs
    Kathy

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    1. Thanks Kathy! And thanks for a great party!

      -andi

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  17. Wow your table runner is beautiful!! I love it!! I am going to pin it right now! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment! Have a wonderful day! Lori

    www.marvinsdaughters.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Lori! I still have no clue about Pinterest...

      -andi

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  18. I love your honesty and sense of humor! Love the outcome!

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  19. Your pleats are PERFECT. How could they be any better?!

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    1. Well, thanks Toni! Makes me quite happy to hear that!
      -andi

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  20. I'm totally impressed with your sewing skills!

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