Another Man's Trash...

Well, I'm not ashamed to say that I scope out the "bulk trash" in my neighborhood. It's the stuff that people put out just before big trash pick-up day.  You never know what people are going to put out-- chairs, wooden tables, patio furniture, etc.  It's always fun to check things out and search for something with potential for a makeover.

Just the other day when I was on my way home, I spotted something on the side of the road that I have always wanted.  Well, in it's condition at that moment it wasn't what I've always wanted, but it had potential.  (I should have thought to take a picture of it in the bulk trash heap, but I got excited and didn't think.)  I pulled over, pulled it out of the heap, and headed home.

What was it that I pulled out?

It was the frame for a papasan chair, and it looked something like this. (Minus the blue paint on the stand.  I realized after the first swipe of spray paint that I didn't take a "before" picture.)

 

I decided to liven the old frame up and spray paint it blue.

Pretty big difference...

Now that I had this snazzy "new" papasan chair frame, I needed a cushion.

Sure, I could go down the road to Pier 1 and pay $80+ for a cushion, but (1) I'm too cheap for that, and (2)  where's the fun personal touch in that?  Oh, and did I mention I'm too cheap?

 Since buying a ridiculously expensive cushion was out, I decided to make one.  Now, I've never in my life made a papasan chair cushion, but I figured if I could make a pillow, I could make a cushion, so I looked up some ideas online.  I sort of combined different things I read and just got started.  

First, I measured the diameter of my chair, using a sewing measuring tape so it would contour with the curve of the chair.  I added about four inches to that number-- to account for "fluffiness" and the parts turned under while sewing, and that was the diameter of the circle I cut out.  

I laid out the fabric (I bought about 4-5 yards) with right sides together, and then marked a center point.  From that center point, I went all the way around marking at half the diameter (the radius) of the circle I wanted, and then I cut it out.

Now that I had my circle, I sewed it like a normal pillow, going all the way around the edges, leaving about a 2 foot gap so that I'd be able to stuff it.  Trust me, you need that big opening because I literally climbed inside while stuffing my cushion.

For the stuffing, I decided to use what I'd seen online-- several regular sleeping pillows cut into wedge shapes.  I went to Wal-Mart and bought about 7 of their $3 pillows... a grand total of about a $20 investment.  (You can use fewer pillows, but I decided to go big or go without.)

Then I cut them from corner to corner, creating pillow "wedges."

Yeah, Murph thought it was his new super huge and fluffy bed.

I arranged the wedges with the points all towards the center, creating a circle.  You may want to test it to make sure it's "fluffy" enough for your taste.

Finally, I finished up by stuffing the cushion, sewing up the opening, and tying off a few different points so that the cushions won't move.  (For the tying off, you'll want to use a great big darning needle and some strong yarn... especially if you make a super stuffed cushion like I did.)

I can't tell you how pleased I am with this chair.  I LOVE it.  At first I thought it might stay on the lanai since my total investment was only about $60, including paint, pillows, and fabric, but since it's so super comfy, I think it might have to find a home in the main part of the house.

Since the hubby is gone for a bit, I've temporarily moved his recliner out of the way so I can snuggle up in the papasan to watch my Golden Girls in the evenings. 

I'm not the only one who is in love with this chair now.

  A certain little guy named Murphy seems to think this is his new "nest," and every time he walks

by this chair he has to jump in it and snuggle up.

Now, because you guys know I love a good before and after, check it out...

What do you think?

What do you guys think?  Anyone else have a papasan chair you love?  Or maybe one that needs a makeover?