13 County Custom Finishes: Country Grey Bench with Chevron Burlap Cushion (Part II)

In Part I of the "bench series" I refinished a church pew with Annie Sloan Graphite Chalk Paint and Clear Wax.

church pew in ASCP Graphite

This week I'm going to show you how I spruced up a bench my husband made for me using some rough sawn timber he found in the cellar after we first moved into our home. Herb and Valerine, the previous owners, had been using the wood for shelves to store their canned goods. Don didn't use any nails when he built the bench. The whole thing is doweled together and incredibly sturdy. He's made me lots of things over the years but this piece is truly one of my favorites. I consider it a keepsake and will always have a place for it in my home.

To begin with I painted the under coat with ASCP Paris Grey.

Then I topped that with ASCP Country Grey and Clear Wax.

It was my first time using Country Grey chalk Paint.
It's a nice neutral hue that can be paired with other colors
if you're ever in the market for a two tone piece.

The next step was to make a seat cushion.
Geometric patterns are very popular right now
so I decided to look for patterned fabric.

I found this blue chevron burlap at Walmart for less than $5 a yard.

I was a little leery to work with burlap because of it's loose weave
but it really wasn't that hard to sew.

I just double stitched the edges so I wouldn't have to worry about it

unraveling while I was working with it.

The cushion? I made it several years ago.

I was a stay at home mom when my children were young

so I was always trying to save money and decorate on a budget.

Here's the thing: I love-love-love feather pillows.
It's like....Burger King or McDonalds, Coke or Pepsi.
People always have a strong preference and I am 100% feather/down filled pillows.

I used to pick them up on clearance all the time just to get the feather insert.

Then when I found the perfect fabric or polyester throw pillow,

I would make the insert from my stash of feather pillows.

WHAT A MESS trying to sew and stuff those feathers into the cases!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good gravy I must have been crazy!!! LOL! I can't believe I did that. No matter how hard I tried to contain the feathers, it always looked like
a chicken had exploded in my kitchen....
and have you ever tried to sweep feathers???

Oh well, I'm still reaping the benefits of my early days of sewing "enthusiasm".

Last month I bought half a dozen pillow covers on clearance at Pottery Barn for $10 each.

Good deal, right?

Unfortunately, their inserts are sold separately for an additional 20 bucks apiece

so I ended up coming home with just the pillow covers.

Low and behold I found six 20 x 20 feather inserts stock piled in my storage room. Six! Insane.

I tell you this story, not because I want you to think I'm a feather pillow hoarder,

but because it's good to laugh at ourselves sometimes.

Sadly, I probably have enough material to keep you laughing for a very long time.

Anyways...here's the final product.