The Dog Made Me Do It

Once again, we’re putting our house on the market.  I’d say it’s because we’re gluttons for punishment, but really it’s because the baby sleeps in the closet, and I just can’t face her first birthday with her snoozing under the suit coats.

At the foot of our bed, we have an Ikea bench.  It’s covered in white canvas.  Or, more accurately, it’s covered in black dog hair that covers the white canvas.

That is not a shadow.  That is a filthy line rubbed into the fabric from the dog brushing up against it over and over and over.  As our eldest used to say: bee-ee-skusking! I mean, that is just humiliatingly vile, and I have officially aired this laundry all over the Interwebs.

When the realtor comes over to take photos of the house for the web, I cannot allow this to be seen.  More importantly, I can’t let people walk through my house and observe the filth of the dog.  I care not that they’ll understand–they shouldn’t have to, and I can hear a chorus of those of us who’ve tried to market a house in the past three years agreeing: ain’t nobody gonna buy a house that isn’t spit spot.

So today, I was forced to do this:

And can I say: I really love it.  Curse that dog, but it led to something yummy.  I have canine conflicts, clearly.

Alexander Henry’s Larkspur, with a muslin backing where it will be hidden at the foot of the bed.  I’ve never loved the color of the walls in our room–my husband painted before we were married, and while it’s a very nice, soothing, masculine color, it doesn’t work with ANY of the blues I generally choose, so I’ve struggled to sew for this room.  Thank you, Alex Henry, for giving me a fabulously pretty print in exactly the right shade of blue.  Now we’re both happy.

At least, until we finally move.  And pick a NEW paint color.  But that’s a sewing saga for another day, yes?

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  • Camille
    February 2, 2011 at 4:31 pm

    I love my dog, he is one of the lights of my life, but DH and I have discussed in recent days that when he (the dog) is no longer with us, we don’t know if we’ll ever have another. I am so tired of dog hair. But much like you, he did prompt me to make new pillows for the couch!

  • dee
    February 2, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    Good luck selling your house!. love the fabric and on dogs………

    We have 2 dogs MAX my min pin who is a dear.. and HER . The demon spawn, the other female… that… that ….. heifer. HER name is Loki and i call her chewie, @#!@# , hiefer and other names i can not say on here.

    She chews up shoes and pillows but only mine. She drags trash out, shreds it but only on my side of the bed. She eats up chapsticks, pens, pencils, phones, tissue and hair doodads, but only mine. When i let her out to do her business she runs away to my MIL.

    My husband insist its not personal its just me taking it the wrong way and when i call her names she understands and it hurts her feelings. :<

    But the heifer sheds, all over on my side of the bed, my clothes, where i sit on the couch and anything of mine. To cut down on this I made mini blankets and place them where fur baby and HER lay the most. I use sheets, old blankets and check yard sales for recycle fabrics i can use to make these fabrics.

    The funny thing is when it rains and thunders who does she run to protect her?

  • Cassandra
    February 2, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    Ahh! We love our dog, but OMG there is hair everywhere. This is the first we’ve ever had an indoor dog, but she is part of the family now.

    Your bench cover is beautiful. Great job!!

  • Melinda
    February 2, 2011 at 5:49 pm

    I totally understand when you say you have canine conflicts. I am in a battle with my nearly two year old, very large, labrador retriever over finding an appropriate place to relieve himself (not on the carpet in front of the door – outside, darnit!). I agree with Camille, after this one (sad I am already thinking about it and I’ve only had him for less than 2 years) I need a break!

    LOVE the cover you made for your bench! Wish I were more productive in the home decor department. I could use new curtains and some pillows.

  • Rachel at Stitched in Color
    February 2, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    oh my goodness gracious, that is LOVELY. Well done!

  • Kim
    February 3, 2011 at 8:18 am

    The hair! The hairy hairy hair! I can just see your dog having a good rub on your white canvas. But your solution is gorgeous. Love that print, love the clean lines, totally glams up the room. Best of all, good prints hide dog hair shadows!

    Dee, your post made me snort coffee out my nose. Really funny.

  • Melany
    February 3, 2011 at 9:26 am

    ooh – cool bench! I have a lovely window seat bench that is our dogs FAVE place too lay too. I’ve recovered it about 8 times in less than two years now. Sigh. The things we do for furry love.

  • Mika
    February 3, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Looking good, Deborah!

    this is the kind of thing I’m talking about – just ‘whipping up’ a bench cover. hmmmm maybe if I take enough classes.

    I have the opposite problem, my dog is white.

    I’ll be sending good real estate vibes your way.

  • Janimal
    February 3, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Oh that is so lovely. If I were making an offer on the house I would probably ask you to leave that behind!

    Often I ask myself what possessed us, the owners of a house with lots of white tile, to get a large black dog? His hair is a constant battle. At least we were wise enough to train him not to get on the furniture, so you can recline on our couch without getting covered in little black hair.

    Best wishes on selling the house.

  • Kate
    February 3, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    I love this! I have the same bench and I’ve been thinking about covering it since the day I brought it home (3 years ago) but I’m not as accomplished of a seamstress as you! I’m not sure where to begin with a pattern or how to construct it! You did a beautiful job!

  • Lisa
    February 5, 2011 at 10:09 am

    I love that you showed your dog shadow. If it’s not our kids it’s our pets! Our dog would shed everywhere until I started getting her washed and groomed. She was a Sheppard/collie/husky who would literally cry if she got brushed. Apparently she was the dream dog at the groomers! It was the best money I have ever spent, and would highly recommend it to everyone! Love the fabric you chose to cover the bench it will hide the dog hair beautifully!

  • Debra
    February 6, 2011 at 9:57 am

    I Love the Fabric you used for the Bench Cover ! I think my three fat cats would love it too ! Need I say more………………? My Whole House Is Fully Full of Hair, DAILY !
    lol

  • Meg
    February 8, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Hair. A four-letter word. Fur. Also a four-letter word. There are not enough hours in a day to keep up with the shedding of my three dogs and three long-haired daughters. At least the girls don’t smell too bad most of the time!! Wonder if I could slip cover Everything?

  • Simple Slip Cover Tutorial | Whipstitch
    February 15, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    […] for all the nice words about the covered bench! I feel quite certain that it is THE KEY to selling this house.  Will keep you posted on its […]