Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Finally, Bedroom Redo #2

It's time for a reveal. I finished the window coverings for our Bedroom Redo #2 last week, so I can finally post a few pictures. This room wasn't a total redo. You can read the preliminary post here. No new furniture was needed. I only painted the bottom half of the walls because the paint on the top half of the walls was pristine. Then I added some new bed linens and a few small pieces throughout the room, including the pillows I made -- favorites to be sure! I also made some shams that I told you about yesterday.

A little background... All our children are grown and have left home, so all four of our "extra" bedrooms are guest bedrooms now. My intent for a guest room is to keep it simple. I like a few homey touches, but I prefer just a few items on surfaces so the room doesn't feel cluttered when guests move in and unpack all their essentials!

I'm slightly uncomfortable with how much blue is in the room. It feels predominantly blue -- perhaps a little too blue. I'm going to live with it for awhile, but I may change the paint on the bottom half of the wall. I'm just a little unsettled with it. I am happy with the shams that I made yesterday. They help to break up the all blue bedding. A component that I do like about the room is that it feels very "restful." It's a room you can relax in. Very calming and tranquil. I like that in a bedroom.

Please excuse my photos. My camera does not know the first thing about taking a decent indoor photo when there is lousy light. The whole reason we bought this camera was because it was supposed to have an IQ above 160. Its genius was greatly exaggerated. Now that I'm done ranting, let's start with a panorama of the room...

My very most favorite thing in the whole wide room are the window coverings. I love them. This beautiful Tanya Whelan fabric is from her collection, Dolce. The shade of teal in this fabric is dreamy. I love the art deco/asian motif in this line. It takes you back to a more glamorous time, yet the collection has a fresh modern color palette. Generally I'm not a sucker for florals, but the fabrics in this line are the exception to that rule...

I purchased a few inexpensive decorative items in California and Colorado. I found this pretty birdie tray in California at Pier 1 Imports and hauled it home. I was looking for something just like this to place on the dresser for my kids to put their keys and misc items on when they are visiting. I'm picky about scratches on my furniture. In short, I don't like them, so I try to make it avoidable by giving them a "place for everything."

I bought the "home sweet home" birdie wall plaque (below) at Real Deals. They live up to their name. Do you notice I am developing a theme?

Yup, birds. One can't help but develop that theme this year because birds are everywhere! I've never seen so many feathered friends. Alfred Hitchcock would be proud. I also bought the nest and birds below at Real Deals -- along with that awesome ceramic teal vase. The vase is my second mostest favorite thing in the whole room -- it was $14!

And finally, before you get completely tweetered out. I found this mug at Pottery Barn for under $10. I filled it with a little moss and some greenery I had on hand. (My third most favorite thing -- the mug.) See the little birdie perched on the handle -- goodness that's cute. I try to keep a little bowl filled with goodies for our guests next to the bed. Who wouldn't want a Snickers right before they nod off?

Oh dang. I forgot. The pillows are favorites too -- and the shams. I'm not sure where I rate them, but they are definitely on the list.

So, what do you think? Too much blue? Too many birds? Should I throw a great big orange chair in the corner and place a hungry cat on it to give the room some balance? Let me know what you think, but please be kind.

Have a great day!


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Pillow Shams...

Tomorrow I am finally going to post photos of Bedroom Redo #2, but first I'm going to show you some pictures of pillow shams I made just today. I will explain in more detail tomorrow, but suffice it to say there is a lot of blue in this room. You may remember, I'm a big fan of blue, but even I have my limits. In an attempt to break up the blue on the all-blue-bedding, I designed and created two pillow shams today.

To say that I have a "muslin" fixation at the moment is probably an understatement. I can't get enough of the stuff. I love the texture of muslin, the imperfect striations in color, and the naturalness of the fibers. It's just a beautiful fabric to work with. I especially love it gathered! Yup, I love it gathered a lot...

Did I mention I love the cost of muslin? I didn't think so. Well, I love the cost as well. Especially when it is regularly priced at $2.99 a yard at Hobby Lobby and with their 40% off coupon that equates to $1.80 a yard. You heard me right. I would guess each sham cost me about $2 to make. Mmmmm. That is such a good feeling.


Linking to:
"Frugalicious Friday" @ Finding Fabulous
"Get Your Craft on Thursday" @ Life as Lori
"Be Inspired" @ Room to Inspire
"Show & Tell" @ Blue Cricket Designs

Monday, March 29, 2010

Totes residing in Etsy...

Last week I made some Lil' Girl Springtime Totes for my granddaughters for Easter. At the same time I whipped up a few more. They are residing in my Etsy. The first two below are a slightly larger size than I made for the little girls. These would be wonderful for a 9 year old and up as a tote. They could also be used by an adult woman as a scripture tote or as a small "project" tote when you travel. They would be the perfect size to store a little crocheting, knitting or needlepoint and a book! These measure 7 inches wide x 9 inches tall x 3.5 inches deep with 13 inch straps. I love the Tanya Whelan floral in the one below. Isn't it pretty?

Also this cute tote for the little girl in your life. Love the chocolate and teal in this little girl Hang Up! This tote measures: 6.5 inches wide x 8 inches tall x 3 inches deep with 13 inch straps.


These "Springtime Totes" get me in the mood for
warmer weather and lots of colorful flowers!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Lil' Boy Pencil Pouch...

I have four adorable grandsons. You don't have to take my word for it. You can see for yourself...

I find it a bit difficult coming up with something I can make for the little men in my life. It's easy with girls. There are so many cute patterns and ideas out there for lil' girl purses, totes, etc. For boys it's more of a challenge. However, I'd do anything for these little cuties, so I'm definitely up to the challenge.

A couple of months ago I came upon this tutorial at "Noodlehead." It looked so easy and cute, so I bookmarked it. (Which generally means I file it away in never, never land.) Fortunately, the tutorial came to mind a couple of weeks ago, and I decided to make some pencil/crayon pouches for the grandsons for Easter. This is what I came up with...

These pencil pouches are 9" long x 5" high -- slightly different dimensions than on the tutorial. Perfect for housing some crayons, a pad of paper, and a treasured car, or (more likely) twenty dusty rocks these little ruffians find on the side of the road. You have to remember I had five little boys of my very own. I am very familiar with the modus operandi of male toddlers. I imagine the pouch could hold hundreds of rolly pollies. Let's pray we don't get a definite count on that.

I highly recommend the tutorial at Noodlehead. Thank you, Anna, for sharing your talents and ideas with us all!


Linking to:
"Be Inspired" @ Room to Inspire
Get Your Craft on @ Today's Creative Blog
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Toot Your Horn Tuesday @ A Silly Little Sparrow

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Lil' Girl Springtime Tote Tutorial

Here's the tutorial I promised yesterday for the Lil' Girl Springtime Tote. When finished this tote measure 6.5 inches wide x 8 inches tall x 3 inches deep with 13 inch straps. Just the right size for storing all kinds of little girl treasures. It can even be used as a scripture tote. You will need the following materials:



Tote front:
1 - 6"x11" muslin
1 - 2"x11" cotton fabric
1 - 5"x11" cotton fabric

Tote Back:
1 - 11"x11" cotton fabric

Lining:
2 - 11"x11" cotton fabric

Straps:
2 - 3.5"x14" cotton fabric

Fusible Fleece Interfacing:
2 - 3/4" x 14"
2 - 11"x11"

General Information: 1/2" seams unless otherwise indicated.

Assemble as followed. (Photos are numbered to coincide with the corresponding step.)

1.) Cut out fabrics as indicated.

2.) Fold straps in half lengthwise. Press.
3.) Fold strap edges toward center fold. Press.
4.) Insert 3/4"x 14" fusible fleece into strap. Close strap along fold lines and press to attach fusible fleece.
5.) Topstitch strap 1/8" from both edges.

6.) You should have two 1"x14" straps completed.

7.) Pin 11" sides of front strips together and sew, making sure the 2" strip is in the center. Press seams toward darkest fabric and topstitch 1/4" from seams on cotton fabric.

8.) With an iron attach 11"x11" fusible fleece to wrong side of front tote as directed by instructions on fusible fleece.

9.) With iron attach 11"x11" fusible fleece to wrong side of back tote as directed by instructions on fusible fleece.

10.) On front of tote mark with pins where you want your "stem" to be sewn (about 1 1/2" from contrasting fabric).

11.) Sew a straight line with green thread using pins as a guide to create "stem."

12.) Pin straps to tote front and back, right sides together. Straps should be 2 1/2" from outside edge...

13.) ...and approximately 4" apart. Baste straps to tote front and back.

14.) Sew front to back along side and bottom seam lines.

15.) Sew front lining to back lining along side and bottom seam lines making sure to leave a 3" hole on the bottom seam of the lining.

16.) To make boxed corners, fold bottom corners of tote and lining as shown below. Draw a line 3" across.
17.) Stitch along your drawn line.

18.) We're almost there, gang! Trim and zig-zag boxed seams on tote and lining. Turn lining right side out as shown below.

19.) Place lining inside tote with right sides together. Pin top seams together and sew along seam line.

20. ) Carefully pull the tote and tote lining through the hole in bottom of the the tote lining. On right side of tote lining sew the hole shut.

21.) Tuck the tote lining into the tote. Pin top edge flat and topstitch top of tote. Press.

22.) Place a couple of books inside the tote to make the tote rigid as you attach flower. Make flower using this tutorial. Glue flower to tote using fabric glue and let dry. When glue is dry, press tote again being careful not to touch the hot iron to the synthetic flower.

23.) Present this adorable lil' tote to an adorable lil' girl of your choice!

Up close & personal...

If you make a "Lil' Girl Springtime Tote" and create a post about it, please send me an email or make a comment on my blog so I can visit your blog to see your project! If you make these totes with the intention to sell them, please change them up a little so your product and mine (since I will sell these in my Etsy shop) aren't identical. That, my friend, would be very much appreciated! ;o)

You can see more of these Lil' Girl Springtime Totes by going here.



Linking to:
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Remodelaholics Anonymous Share Your Story Friday @ Remodelaholic
Creative Cats @ Poppies at Play
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors