Headboard

Recently, I had my first order for a headboard and had a great time making it!  My client gave me a picture from a magazine and asked me to replicate it right down to the 300+ decorative nails on it.  I figured it couldn't be much harder than a cornice, and I have done quite a few of  those.

I started out by drawing out the design on graph paper then drawing it to proportion on brown craft paper.  Then I traversed the yard to FH's shop to cut it out of mdf and then attached the legs.

I lugged my newly built headboard back to my studio where I added the foam and covered it with the batting. 

Next came the face fabric for the headboard.  Don't mind the mess in the back ground.  I usually have multiple projects going on at any given time (btw, the blaze orange is a jacket with a zipper problem, not someone's decorating idea gone bad).  I have to give credit here to my friend Rose, (www.rosesupholstery.com) as she came over to help me after I struggled for hours trying to figure out how to get the channel in for the second row of nail trim.  Thanks Rose!  She made it look so simple, who knew it couldn't be done in one step with one piece of fabric?

After covering the whole headboard with fabric and covering the back, I was able to get to all those dreaded decorative nails.  It was a lot more difficult to get the nails to go in straight and not bend the shaft than I ever thought it would be.

Ta-dah!

I have been wanting to add a padded headboard to my existing four poster bed and my sister has been asking me to make one for her as well.  I think I can move it higher up on the to-do-list now that I have the experience of making this one, though mine won't have quite so many decorative nails {neither will my sister's for that matter, unless she comes to help and brings the wine! :-)}.  But then that would have to be another blog for another day!

A little wining...

Now I know that any re-finishing person worth her salt has to take before pictures as well as after and I did for this project, but not thinking when my son asked if he could use my camera and then if he could delete the pictures on it- I said "sure, go ahead".  Well, moments later I realized my mistake - too late.  Oh well, as Oprah says, "it's a learning life".

One day last summer, while perusing a local thrift shop, I came across a cute little radio cabinet (the radio itself was long gone) in the back corner.  I had been looking for a little something to make into a wine cabinet for a certain corner of the living room.   Of course I didn't buy it, I had to think about it for a bit.

When I told FH  [fabulous hubby, and this is the only time I'm going to tell you :-) ] about it, he asked if I needed help unloading it.  Silly me, now I had to return to make the purchase.

I ended up taking it out to the cabin with me for a long weekend, I love taking projects out there to putter with.  I already had the cabinet stripped, now I needed my dad's help to make the wine rack for the bottom.

We spent one day figuring out the correct sizing of the rack for various sized wine bottles, good thing there are so many of us out there that drink wine as we had plenty of options.  Though Mom was concerned when she saw me heading out to the garage in the morning with a few bottles of wine in my arms (I'm still not sure if she thought they were full or empty).

After returning home with the wine cabinet and the wine racks, I was able to prime and paint the lower portion of the cabinet and the racks.  The outside of the cabinet was in good enough shape that I could stain and varnish it. I had to do all of this in my studio so that I wouldn't have to worry about all the dust or little paw prints that would surely show up before it dried.

So here she is in all her glory;

Welcome!  Allow me to introduce myself....

My name is Carla, I love the challenge of finding a way to re-purpose, re-use or re-design something to suit my needs, especially if I can do it thriftily.  I have been doing it since I got my first apartment and purchased my first couch and chair from a thrift store.

I am married to a wonderful man who has always supported me in my endeavors (no matter how far fetched they may seem at the time).  I am mother to three wonderful children (well, not so much any more as they are 20, 18 and almost 13) and they continue amaze me on a daily basis. 

I have owned my own business for over 14 years, Spring Creek Designs (www.springcreekdesigns.com).  I fabricate window treatments, pillows, bedding, headboards, and everything in between.  My studio is what used to be known as the third stall in our garage, so I'm never very far from home while I am at work (but let me tell you that with the weather here in Minnesota, even my commute can be treacherous some days).  There are days when my fabricating allows me to venture out into my husbands domain, the "shop", to build my various headboards, cornices and to cut simple dust-boards for valances.

We reside on 50+ acres in rural Minnesota along with (currently) two dogs; Buddy (a cocker spaniel) and Nalla (a German shepherd), one indoor cat; Cookie, two cows, four horses (three are gaited riding horses and one is my daughter's miniature); Prince, Addy, Jazz and Fire, a few barn kitties to keep the barn clear of "undesirables" , and countless chickens and ducks.

I hope you join me while I re-purpose, re-use, re-design or just plain fabricate.