I must first give props to Steve, for his quick eye, handy truck, and faith in my plans. For it is he who picked this set up roadside. A vintage patio glider and three matching chairs, all in a rather sorry state of rusty, squeaky, tippy disrepair.
But never fear, for as my grandmother always said, "there's nothing that a little bit of imagination, elbow grease, and a can of paint can't fix". I don't know as though she said those words, exactly, but she certainly lived them. I try to too. It's just the treatment I gave this set - a good and thorough scrubbing with stainless steel to remove the rust, some sanding in the rough patches, a few coats of grey paint, and a bit of oil in the gliding parts.
Of course, it needed something soft and comfortable too. Rather than making a cushion that would stay on the glider (and be limited by 'outdoor fabric'), I used some existing pillows that we often bring in and out anyway. And to that, I added a new blanket - a Backyard Bee quilt!
(Yes, the dress multiplied! It kept raining. What was I to do but keep sewing summer?)
In a really big way, I stumbled head over heels in love with these fabrics when I spied them from Holly Ward Bimba's Woodland Collection (available at Spoonflower). Love, love, love. The "quilt" top is the three different prints cut and arranged in just a few strips, really. I added a light layer of batting, backed it with a brown slub linen, and tied it all. It all came together in one (really late) night. It's really all about those fabrics and keeping it simple felt best. Most especially in that those fabrics found their way off my studio table in the blink of an eye, and outside where they belong to be properly enjoyed by all those in need of a little backyard bee quilt.
