artsy-crafty babe

sprucing up with coffee filters

How do you like my coffee filter drum shade?

This is what 1000 coffee filters looks like.  That’s not a typo - yes, one thousand.  It’s a good thing coffee filters are cheap!  

Y’all remember my chandelier, don’t you?  It's been through many transformations - dangly vellum circles, draped in sparkley & shiny beads, and finally burlap.  I think burlap has won the longevity award.  I did that one over two years ago.

To make the burlap shade I constructed a drum shape out of chicken wire.  The burlap is a tube of fabric I slipped over the wire.  It’s worked fine, but I was ready for a change.  Why not coffee filters?

It’s quite simple, just take the 4 cup size coffee filter, pinch in the middle, then pull through the holes in the chicken wire.  I had a pack of 200.  After using up that first pack only a small portion of the shade was covered.  I did some quick calculations and estimated that I’d need about 800 more.  That didn’t seem possible, but I bought 4 more packs.  At $1.18 per pack, I couldn’t complain too much.

It turned into a family affair. We all scrunched up coffee filters and took turns inserting them into the shade. Finally, by Sunday night we were done (I started it off on Friday night).

It’s a fun change for now, until I get some other crazy idea I want to try out.  The only problem is that every time I look at it I want coconut cake!!

trashed

Not too long ago I got my sewing space in order.  Remember that? Cubbies of organized fabric,  slipcovered futon,  cute chair....and then I got pregnant and had a baby.  It was nice while it lasted.  My kids have since taken over and trashed the place.

That's not completely fair, I've done my fair share of trashing, too (dumping). You see, once Ceci was on the way I decided to give up my space for a playroom for them. 

Right now I'm in the process of packing up, and weeding out.  My plan is to fit all of my craftiness, and Richelle, into an existing alcove, currently curtained and filled with shelves.  I don't know if I can do it.

The cubbies will be empied of my organized fabric, unstacked, and lined up along the short wall of this room.  They will then be filled with toys, games, and their art supplies.   I'm sure any free wall space will be covered in the kids art.  I do love gallery walls.

What I'm most looking forward to is painting this awful floor.  That has been my plan since we moved into the place. 8 years later, that still hasn't happened. We pulled up the carpet, then threw down some old rugs.  Ugh.  They need to go!  I want it bright white, maybe with a stencil, definitely with a fun rug (not anything like what is currently there).

Bright and fun is what I'm going for, not too different than the feel of the room when it was my sewing space.  I suppose it will still be my sewing space, just in a different format.  Who knows, I might even like it better this way (I'm pretty sure I will!). I'll be sure to show you when I'm done....but don't expect a reveal any time soon!!

i'm ready

This baby will be here only hours from now, and I think I'm ready.  The past few weeks I've been in extreme nesting mode, sewing this and that getting everything together. (please ignore that rug, a new one is on the way)

It started when I decided to turn a corner of my bedroom into a nursery.  I didn't plan on it being anything fancy, but in browsing for some bedding to purchase, I came across something I had to make.

Then I decided that I needed to make those curtains that I bought fabric for over 2 years ago.  And then dingy old platform rocker needed a new slipcover (I rocked all my babies in that chair, it had to be included).

And while I was at it, I decided to make my own bed a new bed skirt to replace the one I made when we were first married. It is made from the same fabric as the baby's bedding.  Yeah, a little out of control.

But it is all done and now I feel like I can relax.  This is the view from my side of the bed.  I'll be spending a LOT of time here over the next few months, it might as well be to my liking.

The artwork was made by the kids. The newest big sister required a little help, but that's okay. So sweet.

Here's one last view of my belly. I can't wait to meet that little girl inside!!  I'll be trying out mobil blogging from my phone tomorrow once the wee one is here.  Any guesses on the size of this one?  My biggest (Lily) was 10# 2oz, the smallest (Ava) 9#, I have a feeling this is another whopper!  Until tomorrow...

nursery planning

The flip in the calendar to a new month last week was a kick in the pants.  With the baby coming in a few weeks, perhaps I should prepare a little something?  She doesn't have a nursery, but she will have a corner of my bedroom.  I know she won't use the crib right away, but I feel like I should get it ready because I don't think I'll feel like dealing with that once she is here.

I didn't plan to do anything special, but while browsing baby bedding on-line I came across this bedding from Serena & Lily.  Oh my, I fell in love!  Call me crazy, but I'm going to give it a shot.  I plan to make the dust ruffle and bumper pad.  The animals will be cut from wool felt and appliqued on - on one side of the bumper only (I'm not THAT crazy).  I think I can do it.

After deciding that this needed to be done I remembered that there are patterns for similar animals in Painting by Hand by Lena Corwin. It took me no time to have them traced and ready to go. As soon as my felt arrived, I got busy.  I am so in love with these animals!

When I had enough animals cut, I started stitching away.  I've been stitching all weekend and have about half of the bumper done.  Instead of linen, I'm using a cotton that has a linen texture and similar color.  It was only about $2 a yd.  Score!!  I do believe my version of this bedding will come in WAY under $995 price tag on the original.

When I get my her little corner all prettied up I'll be sure to let you see.  Yes, I do believe the nesting has kicked in!  Better late than never, right?

hello fall

The temperature outside may still be too warm for my liking, but I'm in a fall state of mind. My fall spice candle has been burning while I've been feathering my nest with fall decorations, forcing the season.  My felt leaf garland has made its annual appearance.  I love how it looks against my black mantle.

I pulled out the wooden acorns that were painted by my kids a few years ago.  Ava must have been too little when we did this because she had no recollection of them and wanted to paint some right now.  I may have to hunt some down for her.  You can't have too many wooden acorns, can you?  This year they found a new home in a hurricane surrounding a white candle.  I don't suppose I'll be burning that candle any time soon.

And then there are the mums.  Oh, how I love mums!  I focused a little attention to my pitiful patio this weekend, cleaning up all the dead plants, replanting my pots full of mums.  What you see above is only a few, there are many more.  I'm thinking I need some for the front, too.  Now where are the pumpkins?  I'm sure they'll be making an appearance soon.  All I need now is a crispness in the air.  Come on weather, work with me!!  

 

cleaning, rearranging, and gardening

I discovered something else that totally wipes me out – cleaning & rearranging my girls’ room. I don’t know what got into me, but Saturday I went into the girls room to find something, and before I knew it I was cleaning out their armoire of toys.

Two bags of trash later, I was rearranging their furniture.  Did I need to do this?  No.  Did I plan to do this?  Not at all, but something came over me.  Probably not the wisest decision considering my recent energy level.  Oh my, those girls and all their junkety junk treasures!!  I tried my best, but I'm sure their junky clutter lovelies will be back in no time.

On Sunday morning I could hardly move.  Geeze, I’m falling apart!  Needless to say, I spent most of the day horizontal.  No complaints, the down time gave me the chance to revisit some baby knitting I started months ago – finally tackling those dreaded sleeves (teeny tiny ones at that)!

It took me until Monday to get things hung back on the walls, but I think their room is just about done.  I’m on the lookout for a new rug (did I ever show you their lavender painted floors?), a kid size coat rack for hanging dress up clothes is on order, and I’m thinking a few framed quilt blocks to hang on either side of the bed might be nice, but that’s it.  Well, maybe that plain white armoire needs a little something and those stuffed animals need some serious editing!  With this project behind me (almost), it’s time to start planning for baby…think pink!

I certainly don't want to think about my poor vegetable garden. It is fried!!  Once the stink bugs started attacking my tomatoes, I gave up.  Stupid stink bugs.  My cucumbers started spazzing out, making weird ball-shaped cucumbers, so I gave up on those, too.  And then all my sunflowers fell over (and I let the last few eggplant I picked go bad in the fridge). *sigh*

The only thing left doing any sort of producing is the cantaloupe, which we planted on a whim.  We plan to try one tonight, I'll let you know how it goes!  

 

i'm a winner!

I've probably mentioned that I read quite a few design blogs, I guess you could say it's sort of like a secret addiction.  I read and read, but rarely ever comment - I'm way too out of my league!!  

Anyway, a week or so ago a Elizabeth was having a give-away on her blog for two anthropologie fireworks pillows.  What the heck, I commented.  And guess what, I won!!  (go check out her 'not too sweet nursery' design - awesome!)

They arrived today, so I quickly moved all the laundry off the back of the sofa (yes, I did) and introduced them to their new home.  I love them!  They work great with my red sofa, and will still work when I get around to slip-covering this sofa in linen (one day - it's only been on my to-do list for 2+ years).  

Thank-you, Elizabeth!!  They're perfect!

 

come on in!

I've only mentioned sprucing up my studio a few times over the last few weeks (ha!), well, I'm ready to give you the tour.

This is where it all happens, when I get the chance to escape up here.  I mentioned that I put up cubes along the back wall of this space, here are some.

And here is the rest.  This contains all the stuff I use regularly - quilting cottons, solids, jersey knits, jars of buttons, favorite craft books.  In the black bins are paints, beads, trims, etc.  The baskets along the top are scraps.  I tried to organize things in a logical fashion.

Here is shelf that used to hold my fabrics.  I wasn't planning on using it, but after getting all the cubes up I realized that I could use it.  Finished bags and works in progress reside here.

Here's a wide angle view of the same spot.  There is still fabric behind that curtain that I need to go through, but that is mostly apparel  and home dec fabrics.  Eventually I want to do away with the curtain & shelves, adding a seat with storage underneath in this space.  I think that would make a nice cozy spot for reading, especially with lots of soft cushions and some added wall sconces in there.

You can see in this shot that I have throw rugs over the plywood subfloor - dealing with these floors is something I still need to deal with.  My plan is to simply paint the subfloor white.   I still need to show y'all the kids' rooms with painted floors.  I love the look! (and it's cheap!!)

I love this little chair.  Last week I FINALLY made a new cover for it.  I purchased the fabric 2 years ago and it took me less than 2 hours to complete it.  I don't know why I never did it.  Once it was done I felt silly.  I think the love pillow will live here for now.

I also sewed some zebra throw pillows for the futon and the yellow floral one for fun.  Oreo seems to like it.  There's a skylight directly above the futon, so he's in heaven in this spot.

It's not completely finished yet, but rooms in my house rarely are.  Honestly, if I had a completed room I don't know what I'd do with myself!  This little space works for me now and I couldn't be more happy with that.  The kids are pretty pleased with it, too.  This is where they hang out when they want to watch those annoying kids shows I can't stand or play the wii - we have a tv in the closet.  Yes, I purposely faced my sewing machine towards the TV -- gotta get my Real Housewives fix while I'm working away (my kids aren't the only ones who come up here to watch annoying tv!!) :)

christmas cheer

It all started with the tree.  Now all those warm christmassy feelings kicked in and I want to decorate everything in sight.  As you can see, my chandelier got an overhaul.  Those half-priced bead strands at Hobby Lobby got me.

Yes, that is a wreath hanging on window.  There might be another (or three) elsewhere in the house.

And snow-globes.

 
And a Christmas village amongst the dishes.  I haven't even gotten to the mantle yet.  Watch out!  Bah humbug, my foot!!

randomness

Ah, I feel like my wheels are spinning, but I’m getting nowhere.  Because I can’t seem to form a proper post, I figured I’d just do a big dump of some of the things swirling through my mind right now.

A while back I mentioned that we’re painting the concrete floors in the kids’ rooms.  Alex’s (green floor!) came out great, but it was so much work that we’ve been procrastinating over doing the girls.  I’m finally starting to put his room back together and I’m thinking about making him a rug room out of this fabric I picked up for my patio furniture this spring, following this tutorial.  He’s all for it, along with a chalkboard wall.  I think before it's all said and done this armoirewill make its' way in there too.

This past weekend I changed out my dining room chandelier again.  I really loved the circles, but that paper blocked out too much light.  At one point I experimented with using vellum, which allowed more light, but was kind of boring.  I decided to merge the two by printing a light damask design on the circles – just what I was going for!  Now I need to come up with a solution to seal the tiny opening in the jump rings because the vellum slips right through them.  I find myself picking circles off the floor several times a day.  Not cool.

I’ve been sewing quite a bit (well, quite a bit for my life right now).  After the supper dishes have been put away and the kids get in the tub, I start on my projects (while ignoring the laundry).  I’ve made my fall bag, most of a dress, and I have another bag cut out and dress pattern cut out – I’d like to finish all these projects by the end of the week (ha!).

The tweaks on my fall bag were pretty much immediate.  I was going to get it sewn on Tuesday night, but decided to dive into a dress instead.  I had the urge and couldn’t resist!  Unfortunately I didn’t have any fabric in my stash that would do, so I settled.  I got it sewn enough to try it on and adjust the fit, then I went to bed.  It’s a very summery dress, which I’m not feeling (despite the 90+ temps outside), so I put it aside.

What I am feeling are jewel tones.  Rich colors like sapphire, peacock, cranberry with maybe some chartreuse thrown in.  I think I need a few dresses in these tones as transition dresses – things I can wear now in these colors, but are sleeveless or short sleeved that I can layer with cardigans & tights in cooler months.  Sounds like a plan, no?

Okay, I can take a deep breath now - we're over the hump...the weekend is almost here!