project: using the junk

Yesterday was swallowed with a sick baby and other goings-on. So here's the next challenge: lots of empty wall space in a half-bath so large you could twirl around in it (why?), and in the guest bath. Also no money in the budget for art. So seeing as how the junk drawer is overflowing, I was totally smitten with this project on design*sponge:

kate's uncommon valentine project instructions

Junk becomes art! I have gathered materials for the above design, but also came up with a couple of my own. Instead of butterflies, I'm using some paper scrapbooking flowers I already have. I kept everything relatively flat though, because I'm not shelling out extra cash for shadowbox-type frames. All the items will be painted black as well:

I hope these are recognizable as a tree and a stylized branch with flowers/circles. They will be 10" x 13" when finished because that's the size of watercolor paper I already had on hand.

It feels good to use what I have!

project: bedroom update

My previous chocolate brown headboard was bringing me down. I scoured the interwebs long and hard for a home dec fabric that would complement our pale blue bedroom walls... and that the hubby might approve of. If given my druthers I'd go all out, but I share this room with another person and he has opinions. I wanted something flowery and spa-like, and couldn't believe he approved of this Amy Butler print:R: "It's kind of... girly."
me: "Yeah, but there's no pink or lavender in it."
R: "Okay."

Here it is on our headboard, tufted with spare buttons that I covered, although it's not hung up in its true place yet:
This bedroom is also a little bigger than I know what to do with. So I thought a reading corner would be in order, with a chair I picked up off Craig's List for $20. Upholstery fabric is Amy Butler again.
My upholstery job is... questionable. But it is fully functional and I did the best I know how. The selvedge edge was just too pretty not to use, so I trimmed the bottom in it... still a little girly, but not fussy.

project: upcycled sweater wreaths

First of all, let me say that I did not come up with this idea. I first saw one on Etsy's homepage and thought it was so simple and lovely.














Inspiration: wool wreath by hersheyismybaby

So I picked up some nearly 100% wool sweaters at Goodwill, felted them, and got to cutting. This was the longest part of the project... cutting out all those leaf shapes. Then I hot-glued them to some straw wreath forms (cheaper than foam ones) and voila!






















These are going in our bedroom above our not-new-but-improved headboard... more on that (and a before-and-after chair) tomorrow! Now what to do with all those left over leaves... a pillow maybe?

project-ing

Projecting: attributing your own repressed thoughts to someone else.
Project-ing: forcing all my repressed project ideas onto anyone who steps into this house.

Many family and friends have now been witness to (or a party to) the serious project-ing going on around here. My sister picked up a truck bed-load of mulch in bulk for me and helped me mulch all the landscaping. Friends have seen the Craig's List chair finds awaiting transformation and the Amy Butler home dec fabric for bedroom projects. While my husband and another couple play a "Risk"-like board game, I'm sitting close by hot-gluing felted sweater cut-outs for a wreath project. Another sister walking into the craft room sees the broccoli sprouts growing under the flourescents and the fabric groupings on the floor hoping to become more fabric wreaths.

And there is so much more. Perhaps too much. But once I get excited about an idea I have to get started! So to stay motivated about actually finishing them, I'm going to post photos of these projects and more this week.

But for now, here's a celebration of spring! Sadly, these beauties did not come from my own yard... had to buy them.

erin go bragh!

These first two are from a couple of years ago, but I love the green.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

yellow = warm

It's so cold today, so we are staying upstairs... which means good incentive to work on things here in the craft room!



A box of old sewing stuff was donated to a nursing home my friend works at... they couldn't use any of it, so she gave it to me (thanks Margaret!). One of the items inside was this awesome vintage folding yardstick! Now it's on the shelf above the guest bed in my craft room. I will not show you the mess below, because it is embarrassing.


And for a long time I've been meaning to take a photo of this gorgeous crocheted chrysanthemum by suili. Her work is really beautiful. I had been wanting it for so long, and finally bought it a month or so ago. It's even bigger than I thought it would be, and so sunny! Definitely check out her shop.