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Getting Ready for Fall: Simple Decor Ideas

With fall approaching, I started to think about spending a little more time indoors.  A quick look around our main living areas caused me to sigh a little.  We needed a few updates around here!  Here are some simple, inexpensive decor ideas you can try!

Stenciled Curtains
I couldn't find any fabric I liked to make new curtains, so I purchased plain white curtains at Ikea and stenciled them.   I found a stencil I liked at www.cuttingedgestencils.com after I searched local stores and didn't see anything of the style and scale I liked.  I just used acrylic paint, but you could use any kind of paint. The paint went on best when I used a foam roller, also available from Cutting Edge Stencils.  You need to lay the curtains out on a large, flat surface with something underneath as the paint will leak through.

New Pillows
If you sew, this is an easy project for sure! I've just started adding zippers to my pillows, making it easier to change the covers. Her's a great tutorial on sewing pillow covers with zippers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMio9wFePc8

Refinished Table and Chairs
I know, this is a big project. And it requires patience, which I often lack. But it was totally worth it! Our table was in pretty rough shape (3 kids, need I say more?). I didn't want to put forth the full effort of sanding the whole thing (lots of slats on the six chairs and table) so I did some research and came across these products, which I would highly recommend from Sherwin Williams:
Adhesion Primer requires no or very minimal sanding (1 coat, applied by roller and brush)
ProClassic Interior Acrylic Latex (at least 3 coats, applied by roller and foam brush)
Minwax Polyurethane (best applied with a good brush - not foam, which I figured out after several coats)

The seat cushions were easily recovered by unscrewing the pads from underneath the chair, cutting fabric about three inches bigger on each side, and using a staple gun to attach the new fabric. I put it right over the old fabric (and the fabric before that)!  I bought patio furniture fabric because it's the only fabric I found that I really liked.  I'm thinking it might resist spills a little bit and be easy to wipe up, but I'm not sure on that just yet....

Table before....

Table and chair before....

After refinishing and recovering...

After....

Turned out pretty smooth and shiny, we'll see how it holds up!

Subway Art
I've been making these for all sorts of things lately. They make a great gift and can be customized for a specific occasion.  They can be done in different sizes and a variety of sayings.

There you go, we're ready for hibernation - just not quite yet!!!!

New Home

If you've recently visited my website, you will see that my work will now all be transitioning over to this blog.  Having a website was very cumbersome and time consuming for me, and I rarely updated it with the new products I was making.

In addition, because much of my work is custom or by request, orders actually using the website were minimal, most come through email (or verbal).  This format allows me to update things much faster and more easily.  I want to spend my time making stuff with fabric, not computers!! :-)

In addition, I frequently post items on my facebook page so be sure to follow that for the most up-to-date stuff!!

Thanks... and welcome, I hope you're more comfortable here. I know I am.

Swimming Fun

There are some fun items we've recently created for our swim team.  Our kids have swim buddies that they exchange gifts with at meets, so we're trying to think of fun, new ideas to give!

Swim suit pouch with waterproof lining

applique towels (our team is the sharks)

close up of shark applique

team flip flops (waterproof, made from swim suit fabric)

project catch up!

I haven't been posting much for a while, but I've been busy squeezing in projects here and there between myriad other things that spring brings!  Here's a round of of the last couple of weeks:

SWoPS made for my daughter.  She's been asking forever and I finally got to them.  She only got one set of bands this time... someday I'll make her something to swap 'em out with.

Bib necklace for a customer to give as a gift. What a unique way to wish a friend a happy birthday!

Twin purses and hair bow sets for a customer to give as a gift to twin girlies, and were made to match the outfit shown.  The purse is a new pattern, cute and small with a bias tape trim.  I found the pattern here.

Then we went back to more upcycling, making this adorable bucket hat from a t-shirt!  This fun tutorial was found here, although I modified it quite a bit.

And this cool bag, which I am calling a farmer's market bag ('cause in Madison, that means summer and fresh produce).  This tutorial can be found here.

So, there you go, some fun new products and some tutorials if you're up for trying some yourself!  Happy spring!

old t-shirts to funky dress

I found this great idea and tutorial here, put my own spin on it, and it's my new favorite thing to make!  My girls are lovin' these fun and comfy t-shirt dresses/tunics, and they can help design their own by picking some of the colors or t-shirts.  I had a big pile of t-shirts that was going in the "get rid of" pile, which I instead decided to keep, and voila, perfect for this upcycling project!  I can wait to head to some thrift stores to find some more fun stuff.  I'm going to try one for myself next!

We were in Chicago for a couple of days and I was looking forward to an opportunity to snap some great "modeling" shots in the new dresses, but the weather was cold and rainy so instead we hung out at the hotel and they danced on the window ledge. Not exactly what I envisioned, oh well.

high-rise super models

checkin' out the view down below

a little dance show

because they thought the ledge was a stage (with curtains and everything)!

another dress of the same style

what fun!

and my big guy had to get in on the photos too!

upcycled sweater from my closet

I found this great tutorial for repurposing an old sweater on Tea Rose Home.  I've been going through closets transitioning (albeit slowly) seasonal clothes and I had the perfect sweater for the project! It was a little fitted for my taste, the neck was big and it was thin (making too cool for winter even though it was a sweater).  I also had, on hand, the right knit fabric for the ruffle.  I like projects I can do quickly and easily without a bunch of trips to the store and a big supply list! This fit the bill.  I'm so happy with how it turned out, and now I'll actually wear this.  Please excuse, in advance, photography by a six-year-old.  We've got some things to work on!

If only I had a baby girl...

....then I wouldn't have to use Baby Alive to model these pants. Isn't this outfit great? It's a onesie, ruffle diaper cover, hair flower and card, all part of a gift for a new baby - along with rosettes for her four sisters and mom!  I fell in love when I saw this fabric! It's nice to use something other than pink for baby girls and this color is elegant and soft.  Ooooh, I love me some ruffles!

oooh yea, there she is, plastic legs and all!

Fabric-palooza!

So, I spent nearly two hours today at JoAnn's perusing, thinking, hoping, and not finding some of what I needed (which often happens for me @ JoAnn's).  I decided to run to Hancock on my way home. I recently went to Hancock for the first time in several years when I found out they carried something I could not find anywhere else!  I thought it would be a quick run in.  Boy was I wrong!  They had tables of clearance fabric.  It was so overwhelming, I couldn't even get through it all, so I'll have to go back.  I had that completely-overwhelmed-can't-figure-out-where-to-turn-next feeling that happens when you get so very excited.  The husband didn't share my excitement, especially since he was waiting, with two kids, for me to meet him for lunch (I was just over 1/2 hour late).  Oh well, some things are worth it!!  (In particular, if you have a Princess Tiana fan, or would like something made from Big 10 team fabrics ((other than Wisconsin and Nebraska)), let me know as I got some good stuff.  Check out my haul!! :-)

Family Photo Shoot Day

I've been making lots of stuff that's all been "on hold" for warmer weather to take pictures.  But the weather isn't getting any warmer, so we braved the cold to take pictures today! Two out of three did o.k., one was NOT happy.  The clothes all turned out great, the ruffle dresses are really fun; the girls might wear them for Easter.

Joey in his customized shirt. "Joey do you want a guitar on your shirt?" "No, I want my name." "Joey how do you like your name shirt?" "Can we put a guitar on there too?"  Sure...

This is a cute tiered skirt we made a while back and just finally got the applique top done to go with it.  I tried using metallic thread for the applique.  It kept breaking over and over, so it probably isn't meant for this type of work, but once it was done it sure looked cute!

These are the girls matching dresses, pattern from Little Lizard King.  They're really fun.

It got a little rough as M. really wanted to head inside! We finally gave up on bribery and just took her jacket off and snapped some shots.  Oh well.

This headband turned our really well! We'll definitely be making more of these!

K. designed and sewed her own purse! It turned out so cute and she was so proud of herself!!

 Back of dress shot.