look book recycle

I had a Trunk Show over the weekend and thought I'd try something different.  I offered up door prizes of nail polish, hand cream and a nail file in adorable little gift bags I made from my retired look books. I've seen tutorials for this elsewhere using catalogs that are bound by staples down the center.  The look books we have are bound more like a magazine so I am using one page only.  Below I'll try my best to explain the process.

pinterest playroom

With the pending arrival of our second baby I'm feeling the need to give our little girl a sweet play space.  First things first, the room needs a fresh coat of paint! So far the first step is my stumbling block since I have leftover paint that I'll be using but, somehow, not one single paint brush or roller cover.  Here are some of the projects I'll be working on:

 Reading Nook via pinterest

 Book Shelves via pinterest

Mobile via pinterest

Sensory Boards via pinterest

Cross Stitch Wall Art Pattern via scribd

Sounds like a lot to get done in the maybe four to five weeks before the baby arrives.  I better go get those brushes and roller covers! Fear not, I have started some of these projects.

christmas already

I recently took a trip to the Little Falls Antique Center with my mother and sister.  I found this doll cradle and immediately thought my little girl needs this for her baby, doll of course, not her soon to be little brother. So here's my plan, before Christmas of course:  make a doll quilt out of the sweetest fabric I bought from agardenofroses on etsy, cross stitch a little pillow of my own design and of course find a new, all her own babydoll.  Plenty of time right!  We'll see if little brother cooperates.  

god jul!

It's terribly dreary here today, it almost dampens the Christmas spirit...almost!  My mother, sister, niece and I gathered yesterday to work on some of our holiday projects.  While my mother made Christmas cards for the children, my sister worked on a banner and my niece spread holiday cheer throughout the house in the form of festive glitter!  Not even the dogs were safe. I worked on more decorations for the holiday and a scrapbook page.  I'm really cooking with the scrapbook, my daughter is now seven months old and I have three pages done, I've got some serious catching up to do.  

Last week I had my husband cut some blocks from a 2 x 4 that had spent the summer outside getting weathered.  Not on purpose either.  We needed it for some project outside and it just never made it back to the garage.  My initial plan was to paint the blocks white but once I saw them all faded and gray I had to just let them be.

I used the Cricut to cut the letters, snowflake and reindeer   I love how they turned out especially against the beautiful blue walls and my makeshift runner.  The runner is simply copy paper cut down to 8 1/2" square.  I used a decorative punch on two sides and folded each piece diagonally.

little paper Christmas trees

The Christmas season is upon us and I, for the first time in many years, have a mantle to decorate!  I only get a few minutes here and there to work on things so it's coming together very slowly.  Today I finished these little paper trees.

fluffy fall wrap

I was inspired to create this wrap by some woven versions I saw at a local craft show.  I found a picture of the stitch pattern I liked somewhere on the Internet and tried to figure it out on my own.  Given the type of yarn I used the pattern gets a bit lost but I still like it.

I think I'll try another in a different yarn, something where the stitch will stand out better.

crochet bangle

Nearly every time I leave the house I put on some piece of jewelry.  Now that I have a six month old who loves to grab everything I have to be very careful.  I can live without wearing a necklace and dangling earrings for a little while but I feel naked without the bracelet.  I made one of these so I could still wear something without fear of it grinding into her back when I hold her like some of my favorite cuffs would.  I also just like the look.

I found the yarn at the nearest Joann's (I can't exactly call it my local craft store since there is nothing here).  It's a cotton hemp yarn I found in the clearance section and I loved the color. 

ruffles - crochet edging

I'm crazy about two things lately, ruffles and crochet.  I've been practicing some edging techniques and came up with this ruffled one on my own.  It's super easy and relatively quick.

Supplies:

Plain Dish Towel

1 Ball Size 10 Mercerized Cotton Thread

Size 8 Crochet Hook 
Yarn Needle

Download the pattern here if you like.  Please give me some input since this is my first try at writing a pattern.

burlap containers

I haven't had much time for crafting lately but managed to squeak in a few minutes to whip up these containers for our fathers day picnic.

I had saved a few tin cans thinking that someday I would get around to making something with them.  Well, I finally used them.  I had originally intended to make crochet sleeves for them and plant some herbs in them but that didn't happen.  The newsprint was free, the burlap was leftover from the curtains, and the yarn was from the dollar store.  I trimmed the burlap to the correct height and then pulled a few strands out to give it a fringe effect.  I'm quite happy with them but if you try this on your own pay attention to the news.  I accidentally used an advertisement for a divorce lawyer, not what I had in mind for fathers day picnic arrangements.  I don't think my husband even noticed, thankfully.

burlap projects - part I

Happy Saturday! We are patiently awaiting the arrival of our little one that is due any day now.  Soon, hopefully, I'll be busy learning how to be a good mommy, changing diapers and most importantly holding and loving our new baby.  With that I felt I should share with you one of the projects I recently completed.

Now that our living room is nearing completion it's time for some window treatments.  I whipped up these burlap curtains using a $10.00 roll of burlap from the hardware store.  They needed a good wash and air out but the smell has gone away now.  I still want to do some valances for the windows and for the office nook but I'll get there.

These were super simple to make, just panels with a rod pocket.  I didn't even bother with a hem because I wanted a worn look.  Of course I used crochet flowers to tie them in the center because I have sort of an addiction to crochet flowers.  I'll eventually have them in some form in every room.  The flowers are actually pinned to the curtain in the center with a loop of yarn wrapped around the flower and the curtain.

I have some other burlap projects in mind since I only used a portion of the roll but I'll get to them later, I hope. 

baby's first scrapbook

Here it is...my first ever scrapbook.  All I need now is the baby to photograph.  Soon, I hope.

I got the inspiration from this book by Better Homes and Gardens.  I used an 8.5 x 8.5 album because that's what was given to me at my shower.  I think the size is perfect for this layout since all I have to do is cut down a 4x6 photo to 4" square.  I think I can handle that, even with a new baby. 

I made the center tags on my computer in just the color I needed.  If you want to use them you should be able to find a printable version HERE.  I'm new to Scribd so I can't guarantee that it will work.  If it doesn't work I'd love to know if there's another option.

flower cushions and baby blankets

I have to apologize for being absent lately.  We are in the middle of renovations in two rooms so that has kept us pretty busy.

I finally finished my flower cushion so I thought I should share it with you.  I'm so happy with how it turned out that I think I might make a smaller version for the baby's room.

I also finished a little baby blanket for one of the many arrivals due this spring.  Again, I'll most likely make another for the baby's room with a little bit of yellow added.

I have lots of projects to work on for the new living room and 'parlor' so stay tuned for progress.  I hope to be painting walls next week so hopefully it won't be long before you see some of the other projects like making my couch look pretty with some thrift store fabric, some more pillows, closet home office organization and whatever else I think the rooms need.

crochet pillow & love bug

Well, I'm finally starting to cross some of those projects off my list.  For  years now I've been thinking that my house needs pillows, lots and lots of pillows, so here's one for the nursery (I promise I'll get to the rest of the house someday).



I have to admit that I'm sort of a wimp when it comes to crochet, I always stick with the easy patterns.  One day I'll have to take the next step but until then I'll just wing it like I did with this pillow.  I'm a big fan of rows and alternating them with the back loop only.  This one is just that in a half double crochet.  What can I say, I like simple.  All along I thought I would do a shell stitch around the edge but when it came time to do it I wimped out.  The answer?  The picot stitch in, surprise, aqua.  Nice and simple.  Of course now I'll say that the shell stitch would have been too heavy but maybe that's just me making excuses. 

I also couldn't resist trying this little bug in that same aqua color.  This is the first little creature I've tried and I think I might be addicted.  I attached it to a simple little "blankie" of cotton and flannel but I think I'd like to add a little crochet trim to it (perhaps more picot stitch) but at the moment I'm not sure how.  I'll have to do a little research on how to add crochet to fabric like this.  So for now I guess it's on to the next project, which one will it be?

super cute bookmarks

On occasion I just want to hang out in my studio but don't really feel like working on a long project.  Either I don't have a lot of time or the attention span.  Lately when I've felt this way I whip up a bunch of little bookmarks.  I pull out a few sheets of pretty paper, some ink and a few stamps and start cutting, folding and stamping away.

I have one for a few of the books I'm reading now.  If my paper supply allows I'll coordinate the colors to the book to function almost like a bookplate.  I like to have a few on hand for birthday cards and such as well.  They work well for holding gift cards or money.

This picture reminds of a quilt block, which reminds me that I should have a new quilting book any day now.  I can't say I've done much quilting but I can always learn and maybe this book will help me.  When it arrives I'll have to make one of these super cute bookmarks to match.