ttodd - Thank you for those great sources! I've sent you an email. ajasmama - You might want to check out ebay's completed listings to get an idea of the value of your antique flour sacks. bellaflora - Yes, I will post pictures when I'm done. newdawn1895 - I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for at the Textile Trunk website. If you are looking for the antique homespun flax/hemp grain sacks with the German stencils, they aren't on the website, but if you ask, she'll show you photos of an amazing assortment. I now she sells directly to designers who are using them for pillows, upholstery, and framed art (see Dan Marty Design). At the time I was shopping, the prices ranged from the low $200's -> low $300's for each sack. What I love best about these textiles is that they are already quite stained and therefore perfect for carefree dining chairs. New stains will simply add to the "patina."

Think about a folding flat cart to haul the piece. They have them at HD/Lowes that are stepstools which change to the flat cart. And an electric stapler. ACE brand has worked the best for me. It will be interesting what tools the class suggests. Keep us updated. I agree with starting on something which will give you options to take advantage of the class. If you already make slipcovers, this class will be a breeze for you. You know the details required for sewing, upholstery is actually easier. Taking the old fabric off is the worst part. Have fun. Would love to be there. And don't forget to check back in with us.

HATE my current living room furniture despite the fact that it was only purchased 2 yrs ago. LOVE plaid and really want to use as window panels. walls are painted shaker beige. only upholstered furniture items that will fit in the space is a sofa (90" max) against window wall, a small loveseat and 2 chairs OR for of a less cluttered look; a sofa and small loveseat or sofa and 2 chairs. floors are wood but going to buy a new area rug. DESPERATLEY need some advice in re: to upholstery fabric ideas. think ivory/beige, tan, burgandy and black. pics would be GREAT. looking to great a warm, cozy, "i WANT to sit down and DON'T want to get up" type of "clubby" feel. thanks so much. Here is a link that might be useful: Aberdeen Panels

I have been looking for a house to buy, and I looked at one that had a layout somewhat like yours. I just wasn't ready to buy and it wasn't exactly in my price range either, but it was hard to turn down because it had a fireplace like yours, open on one side to the LR and the other to the kitchen. Except the house I looked at was particularly odd, in that it had stone face on the LR side of the fireplace and brick on the kitchen side. So that would have had to be redone, IMHO and it was one of the reasons I passed on the house, just didn't have it in me to do that. But anyway, while I was dreaming of what I would do with that house, I had this idea, and let me toss this out to you just for conversation's sake. The house had an open concept with a dining area adjacent to the kitchen, so the fireplace on the kitchen side was just for the view. If I had bought the house, I determined that I would get two wingback chairs for the kitchen side, and have them in front of the fireplace, at a 90 degree angle to it, facing each other, with a table in between for tea or a game for two. Any chance of you wanting or being able to do something like that with your wing chairs? Might be fun to try, and you could move the other chairs around in the LR to fill in the spaces. I just love the romance of a wingback chair curled up by the fire with my cup of tea.