It's a Dog's Life!

I got totally distracted this week on another project outside of the basement bedroom . . . when I was in the fabric store the other day I saw this gorgeous fabric and had to find a job for it . . . . Kenzie Girl (that's my dog) . . . is getting old . . . in the past 8 months she's gone deaf, has glaucoma and is blind in her right eye (which has caused some depth perception issues).  She used to stay downstairs if she was sleeping and if I went upstairs to do or get something I'd be able to do so in peace . . . not any more . . . the second she realizes I'm home and not in her presence, she sits at the bottom of the stairs and just cries . . . so I get up from what I'm doing and coax her up the stairs . . . then she gets up there and wants to sit right beside

The Beast (you finally get to meet her)

(which isn't always efficient) OR she wants to sit on what I'm sewing.  I decided it was time to make a cushion for a rattan ottoman I purchased last winter for her to sleep on at night . . . which didn't work because she hated not being in my bed . . .  it's been moved around several times in different rooms and it now sits at the top of the stairs.

but has really needed a custom cushion - I've tried all sorts of things but nothing fits perfectly or looked great so I decided after being inspired by the "outside seam" I saw on some cushions whilst surfing the net, not wanting to pay the price anyone was asking AND needing a custom size, I'd attempt it . . .

Here are the supplies . . .

Foam, Fabric, Thread, Scissors and lining for the foam.

Measure the foam first (mine was 16" X 21")

Cut fabric (and lining) 1/2 inch larger than foam measures (the picture is a bit distorted  but both large pieces are the same size (top and bottom) - the smaller pieces are the sides.



Sew lining first, leave an opening to stuff the foam inside and then whip stitch the opening closed.

It's never a REAL project until you leave some DNA behind!

Now sew the outside fabric . . . to obtain this "outside seam" look you simply sew the WRONG sides together


Sew wrong sides together (leaving an opening in the top and bottom so you can sew them on after)



Stuff the lined foam into the back opening

Change to the Zipper Foot and close up the back opening



and here's the finished product

Isn't it going to fray? . . . you ask . . . why yes it is and that's EXACTLY what I want it to do!


TOTAL COST:  Fabric (linen look drapery), Foam (2"), Thread (1 spool) $29.20 CDN
TOTAL TIME:  1.5 hours (included being interrupted several times by the Kenzie Girl)

Pick a colour already!

After tearing out the old book shelves and installing the new cabinets for the guest room it was quite obvious the back wall required paint.  I wanted to do a feature wall (behind the bed) but what colour?  I DON'T KNOW . . . I say to myself . . . Well, if I was the client what would I ask them . . . What inspires you! AH - yes - when you put it that way maybe now I can make a decision but not before finding that "inspiration" piece . . . incoming bedding . . . not to be revealed in its entirety, however, here's a peek!

I started to think about accents in this room possibly yellow, purple/mauve and turqouise but . . . but wait . . . I've ALWAYS loved a pink and green bedroom and after browsing some of my "likes" on houzz.com and Pinterest AND looking closer at the bedding I saw that this just might come to fruition but first to pick some paint!

I'm a HUGE fan of Benjamin Moore paint - I've been using it for over 13 years and have yet to put it on any wall and not be completely satisfied . . . I had an awesome BM colour in mind (Split Pea Green) and knowing my sister had recently pained her laundry room that colour I was really hoping there might just be enough to paint my little half wall . . . Yes, she's got some left over but . . . No, I can't have it - the last time she used it she didn't put the lid on tight enough and it's all dried out . . . and trust me, I'm not blaming her for not being able to use her paint I was just trying to be parsimonius!  You just looked up what that word meant didn't you! LOL

Here's the before . . .
 

Nice hey!

Check out the cracked corner



Looks like there could almost have been a fire from the old pot belly stove at one point! sheesh!













I spent one evening taping off the wall and filling in holes (just a few) and sanded the next evening.
 
While trying to maintain my parsimonious(ness) (really not a word) I normally would have headed to Benjamin Moore where I get a discount but they aren't open on Sundays (at least in my immediate vicinity) so off to Home Depot I go . . . with one of the Pillow Shams from the new bedding for a perfect match . . . 10 minutes later (yes I can do it that fast - its called focus!) I have a quart of paint (or a litre if you want to use metric terms) . . . the colour you ask . . . Spring Moss 390D-6 . . . and because I'm already out and about I may as well make a trip to Fabricland to purchase fabric for the window coverings and slip cover for the ottoman (in green and pink) YIPPEE - did I get distracted in Fabricland . . . OF COURSE - there is no such word as focus in that store - it's one of my favourite places - its where I get inspired and I'm particularly ecsastic if I can find fabric on sale . . . and I did (but that's for another blog) . . .

Here's the feature wall after . . . I think I may just paint out the support piece under the cabinets now though!

Stay tuned for drapes, slipcovered foot stool, a bedside table and a headboard (which will probably cover up the feature wall . . . sigh) (but that's in the "needing inspiration" process)

TOTAL COST:  $13.87 (Paint)
TOTAL TIME:  (INCLUDING PREPARATION TIME) 1.5 HOURS

What inspires you when choosing a paint colour?

Birds of a Feather . . . Well kind of!

I'm LOVING Pinterest these days - I start browsing around and (you know how it works) the next thing you know I've found myself on someone else's blog . . .  and then someone else's . . . This project was no exception - Thanks to Spool Sewing!

While I found the pattern to be easy to assemble after cutting (9 of them) I later found some better assembly instructions on someone else's blog that were a bit more clear - I actually started out sewing them by hand and thought . . . I don't think so . . . I'll be here for 9 days at this rate with my sore hands . . . and sewed the rest by machine.  There was a bit of hand stitching after they were stuffed and I embellished them with a simple blanket stitch on the ends to make them appear a bit more like feathers but I think they turned out beautifully! 

Note I refer to the sewing machine as The Beast - she's a Singer that is industrial enough to handle leather but gentle enough for bridal netting!

Here are simple steps!

 

Supplies six co-ordinated pieces of fabric, two lamp shades (to be deconstructed), pearl beads for eyes and embroidery cotton for tails
(including The Beast not shown here)



Match up the Dots and pin body together



Sew from top of head to breast

Snip off the inside of the beak

Open up the top and add contrasting colour - pin if you wish

After sewing both sides (leaving the tail end open turn right side out - I used a spoon because my fingers weren't long enough)

Pull the beak out with a large pin



Deconstruct the lamp shades



Look at all the pretty birds all lined up!

Supplies - glue gun, wire and sisal twine



Wrap twine around the frame of both deconstructed lamp shades



Thread a piece of wire through the bottom of the Bird to attach to deconstructed lamp shades

Cut strips of left over fabric sew together then turn right side out and cover chains (left over from the basement ceiling fixture)

Now I just have to figure out where to hang them! here they are on the pergola on the front deck and on a hanging basket hanger on the front of the house. I LOVE THEM

TOTAL COST:  Fabric and stuffing $22.00; Lamp Shades $5.00; Sisal String - Free; Chain - Free
TOTAL TIME:  A LOT - I quit counting after four hours! wrapping the deconstructed lamp shades with the sisal string was over two hours in itself so I'd suggest a wider sisal if you wanted to attempt this project (way easier on your hands).

After showing them to my sister she sat down at The Beast a few days later and here are hers!



Outside on her front step



Also outside on her daughter's window box (sorry don't know how to make it upright)

If you want to make these yourself, visit +Spoolsew for the free pattern!

Ribbons Galore

You'd think my office/sewing room would be fairly organized . . . well it's not!  and here's the proof!

Ribbons Before

Try as I might it seems the busier I am the worse it looks.  And for today I'm sick of not being able to find the right ribbon when I need it!

Here's a pic of the Wall Cabinets Before.

As you can see the closets/storage in this room are identical to the ones in the basement bedroom (see "Closetmania" just finished).  This office/sewing room was completed some time in 2008 and when the cabinets were first installed it seemed to be "enough" storage but . . . I'm still piling things on the desk or under it so there's no where to really "work".  The cabinets on the side where I'm going to put the ribbons are only 12" deep (top and bottom) for efficient use of space and eliminating any problems getting in and out of the entry door.

Starting with cleaning off the lower cabinet (leaving the printer in its place - remember small spaces) and a trip to the basement for the right tools (notice I brought more than one screw driver this time -but didn't have the right screws the first time down) and with curtain rod and ceiling hooks in hand I begin to measure. . .

Screw Drivers and Screws

Some of the pieces required - note I didn't have to use the plastic plugs and drywall screws because I wasn't going in to the ceiling!

Ensure the screws actually fit in the holes without going through the other side

Ensure the screws won't go through the top of the shelf

Measure where the first hook went so the one on the other side matches up

And Voila!

I'm only disappointed that now you can't see the positive thought behind the ribbons!

TOTAL COST:  $32.00 (Rod and Hardware) Storage Boxes previously purchased
TOTAL TIME:  1 Hour (Including several trips up and down the stairs AGAIN to get all the tools I needed)

I'd love to hear your ribbon storage ideas or if this inspired you!