Pillows, piecing, and a puppy!

Seven throw pillows for $50 (including the inserts)? What a DIY feat!  Ever since we got our new couch, which btw was featured in the NY Times THE weekend we got it (not in our house, but still... thanks IKEA!), I've been eyeing pillows on sites like CB2.  But at $20 a pop for even the sale pillows and another $20 for an insert from The Company Store, I was a bit sad about how much it was going to cost to make our new couch a "supreme comfort zone." My head just kept making the ka-ching ka-ching noise.

Then I saw this.  Then I saw this.  Then I remembered that I wanted to make a quilt before then end of the summer.

Then I looked at the calendar.

Then panic set in and I set out for the closest Joann Fabric store (an hour away). I always find fabric stores overwhelming, but I was on a mission. It was there that I honed my new, embarrassingly wanna-be hipster decorating test: would this object, furniture, or project ever appear in an Ace Hotel? The result... plaid, ticking stripe, and recycled blue jean. My husband appreciates my commitment to keeping our home masculine, but fears the next project shaping up in my head... Macrame.  The 70's are back, people!  Check out where we are so far (and say "hi" to Atticus) (and excuse the slightly blurry, green light.  It's the first month of school.  If I don't put up THESE pics, I'm not putting up ANY pics):

Up close (shout out to Mamaw for the afghan!)...

My first "quilting" project. I know, it's really piecing, but recycled blue jeans AND ticking stripe in one DIY pillow? I'm pretty proud!

A bit "home sewn"? Totally (sorry Heidi Klum).  But let's remember SEVEN! pillows for "about" the price of one! "Supreme comfort zone" accomplished!

Garden Update

Seriously, it's a big one!

Renovation: Living Room and Bedroom (Paint Job)

While the bathroom was torn up, we did some painting and our furniture has been upgraded.
(Confession: the "before" pictures are from 2012). 

Living Room Before (Hi Puppy!)

 

Living Room After (We need some art!)

Living Room Before

 

Living Room After

Bedroom Before

Whoops, I forgot to take one! 

Bedroom After

Renovation: Kitchen and Bathroom

Well folks, here's why I've been so silent....

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Bathroom Before

Bathroom After

Bathroom Before

Bathroom After

GardenJoy

April 6, 2014

May 18, 2014

A Trailer Built for Two

This:

Thanks Danny K!

Inspired this:

Also, I made another shack!

BusyWeekendJoy

Wow, the last two weeks were busy. I squeaked out a few moments to put a backing on one of my embroidery hoops, but I couldn't find any time to post about it.

What was I doing that was keeping me so busy?  Well, two weekends ago I was the roadie and biggest fan for Mississippi's hardest working middle school rock band - the W. A. Higgins Rock Ensemble (directed by Justin Zamm).  The band performed at our local Juke Joint blues festival and they're just the best.  Check it out.

Then, last weekend Justin and I drove to New Orleans to celebrate the wedding of this adorable couple.  Congratulations Adam and Katherine!

Which brings me to the second craft I managed to squeeze in.  I had a dress that I really wanted to wear to the wedding, but it was white, which didn't seem appropriate (it was also stained by horrible NYC subway grease, which meant it was nearing the end of its wearability).  So, I dyed it.  I used a combo of RIT Denim Blue and RIT Royal Blue.  It looks kind of denim-y in the picture, but in-person it's a soft, almost violet, blue.  I wish I'd taken a "before" picture, but one cool thing is that the thread didn't hold the dye so the white, tuxedo-shirt stitching on the front and back became even more pronounced, which looks great.  It's rainy and grey here today (perfect couch-craft, movie-watching weather), so I'm hoping to work on something fun to show you next week!

Weekend Project Joy

So, I don't really have "crafts" this week, but I do have TWO projects!  Check it out...

First, I turned this:

Into this:

THEN, I turned this:

Into this:

I really want to take a picture with the new curtains closed, but it's actually super grey outside today.  Needless to say, just having the windows open makes a HUGE difference.  The blinds from the first picture were so old they were missing strings and rusted together and never got opened.  In fact, there was mold on the wooden window frame behind them (yuck!).  The bright new kitchen actually made me say, "I kind of like this red paint.  I mean, I'm still painting over it, but I'm gonna miss it a little when it's gone."

Shackin' up!

Today is an exciting day!  I'm using my own embroidery patterns for the FIRST time.  Up until now, I've been copying patterns from books and other people's websites.  Why is this important?  Well, first, I'm super proud.  And, second, it means I can sell these babies guilt-free.  The rules about copying and selling other people's work are a bit fuzzy.  As far as I remember from my "excellent" law school education, the law of the land does not usually grant copyrights for fashion (and presumably embroidery).  I have a fantasy of the Supreme Court imagining a plucky shop girl sneaking her way into the upper class by copying the latest fashions in midnight sewing sessions.  I suspect it was more like a bunch of old men saw the potential for case upon case debating the similarity of hem lengths and drew the line.  Either way, legally, selling something from a pattern or copied from another person's work seems to be fine and who would really take the time to sue you anyway?  (Although beware moms running a side business machine-embroidering Disney characters on backpacks.)  However, morally and ethically, it seems a little sleazy.  How embarrassing would it be to have someone slam you on an Etsy board?  My husband says, "Not very," but still.  So having debated all that in my head and having read some very stern fine print in my pattern books, my dreams of supporting my family making money through an Etsy business were crumbling until I realized that I have inspiration right in my own backyard.  My husband and I got married in Clarksdale and had the party at the Shack Up Inn (thanks again to Mom and Dad who were great sports).  In case you're having trouble picturing it, here you go:

Awesome right?!  I agree - what better inspiration for my embroidery?  And, if I just happen to get a few pieces finished in time to sell at our local Juke Joint Festival, even better because they're MY designs.  It's a big day - really - huge!  I still need to finish the backs, but today, I'm turning to my next project: the raised-bed garden.  Stay tuned for an update on that and until then, enjoy my original work!

Mississippi

As promised, two Mississippi coasters for our own coffee table.

We'll always have Paris.

I'm on a roll with these city-themed coasters.  I fell in love with androssiment pattern in A Rainbow of Stitches and decided to do a set of Paris coasters to match the New York set I did last week.  (If you're wondering where the beloved Mississippi set is... stay tuned.)