I admit it…I’ve got a huge crush on the Kate Spade brand right now. It doesn’t matter if it’s the dishes (and I’ve got a huge problem when it comes to loving dishes—ask my family), fabric by the yard, or Kate Spade Keds, I love it all. So, when I discover a cute apron that I want—but know that I’ll never wear—I have to devise a reason for buying it.

It just so happens that my nephew is getting married and his bride needs a desk chair for their new apartment. When she told me she liked bright fabrics and her favorite color was purple, I knew I had the best reason to purchase the apron. Does it have bright colors? Check! Is the color purple on it? Check!  Is it something I would want for myself? Check! I had been eyeing it for weeks.

I started with this cute chair that I found on Craigslist. Someone had given it a makeover a few years back with chalk paint and a new fabric. While this was fine for the previous owner of the chair, I knew that the finish of this chair should have a raw, farmhouse look to counterbalance the bright fabric. So, I applied layers and layers of stripper on it to remove both the chalk paint and the original mahogany finish underneath.

Then I applied bleach to the wood of the chair and set it out in the sun to get rid of the reddish color. Next, I gave it a good sanding and waxing. The picture below shows it ready for fabric.

Honestly, I never really know if the fabric and finish of the chair will work before I try it. So, the moment of truth came when that apron was delivered it the mail. I knew I had hit the jackpot when that apron not only fit, but it looked fabulous on the chair. I pieced together just enough fabric to make the welt cord for the legs.

Here you have it! The great thing about these small Victorian chairs is that they take up very little space. You can stick one in the corner, in a bathroom, closet, or even mount it on the wall as art!

So, I guess the moral to this story—if it really has one—is when you find something you really want, devise a reason for getting it. Even if you give it as a gift, it will make your heart sing to know you had your fingers on it!