Coffee Table to Upholstered Ottoman

This is another GREAT find at the local thrift store. I found this table around the fourth of July. The special at the thrift store was to pick a star and on the back there was a discount for your entire order. Well I just so happened to pick a 30% off coupon. This table was a whopping $25, so I got it for just over $18 with tax. It had been loved. When I was sanding I found some crayon marks. I'm sure my mom's tables were loved the same way. I sanded the top and legs. My original thought was just paint it black and leave it as a coffee table. Then one night when we were watching a movie in the family room I got the idea that I should make it a big ottoman. Yes, an idea during a movie. I watch movies with him sometimes and sometimes I pretend to watch them just to spend time together. Now I had to figure out how to do it. This is what I came up with and the questions I asked myself:

• What color: people are going to put their feet on this, it can't be cream or white... I found the same fabric I made my pillows out of for $6.99/ yard at Hobby Lobby. It was 3 years later and I didn't think I would be lucky and find the same fabric again.
• How padded should it be? The upholstering padding is super expensive-- $39/ yard. No way!! I'm using mattress pads from Walmart and my MIL's basement.
• How was I going to attach it? Luckily the coffee table has a small lip on the edges and I was able to staple underneath and hid the staples.
• I didn't want it to look like a big pillow, so how can I make it tufted? This was a great time... my husband got frustrated and thank goodness my BIL was over. He helped me find just the right length of screw and attach it to the table through the fabric. It was a sight. I was holding the fabric and padding down so it wouldn't tear while he was drilling.
• What type of buttons should I use for tufting? I found the type you can customize with your own fabric. I think this was the only full price item I purchased at $4/ pack of three.

You can see here where I stapled around the bottom... The biggest question after I tufted the ottoman was how to attach the buttons.. this picture doesn't show the tufting yet. You'll never guess what I used to attach the button to the screw. BREAD TIES!! I can't believe I make fun of my husband for keeping them, but one Sunday afternoon they came to the rescue when I was desperate to finish this project.

DIY Drapes

I was originally going to make a slip cover for a chair with this fabric. I found it on a huge discount from Hancock Fabrics. Can I just say, I find the best deals there. The back of the store has remnant pieces. I can usually get 3-6 yard pieces for $3-$7/ yard. These lined drapes cost me only $42.

The fabric was $4/ yard. The lining was $2/ yard at Walmart. The tabs were FREE. I bought some new black pillows and they were sold as a set wrapped in a ribbon. I sewed the ribbons behind the drapes to have a back tab style. You can find them from $50 -$90 per panel as a solid color. I calculate a savings of 50%-72% by making them myself.

Don't worry you can't make drapes. I didn't have a pattern and just took it one step at a time.

1. Measure your window - take into account how high you want to hang your rod and how thick you want your bottom hem
2. Cut your fabric into two identical lengths. If you have patterned fabric, make sure the pattern is going the same direction.
3. Pin the lining inside the back of the fabric- this way you finish the edges of the curtains and line them at the same time.
4. Only sew the top and sides of the fabric. Allow the bottom to stay unfinished.
5. Hang the drapes on the rod and hem them to the exact height you want them from the floor. I think this is the easiest because I hate measuring. Seeing it exactly the want I want it confirms the last bit of sewing will be the last bit of sewing. I don't like resewing something to make it longer or shorter.
6. Hang the FINISHED drapes.

Did you notice this is the same fabric from the lampshade?

Valentine Hoodie

What do you get a 1 year old for Valentine's Day? I had no idea either. I found a $4 white hoodie at Target and let my imagination take it from there. When I got home I got out my ribbon box to see what I could put together. This is what I came up with. A thick pink and white ribbon around the hood. A thinner ribbon with smaller polka dots and a white button to hold the ribbon together and to the jacket.

I hope you enjoyed time with someone special today!

Christmas Stockings

Now the mantle is complete! My mom came down this weekend and inspired me to finish them. She helped me figure out how to sew the top of the stockings... just like you would a sleeve. I bought the supplies on Black Friday at JoAnn. The felt was $1.50/ yard. I had most of the ribbon.

The top of the green ones have an embossed red felt. I found the cutest RicRac on Black Friday... it's much larger than normal. Kolin seems to think the stockings are giant, but I think they are just right... more for him to fill up! ;)

These two are my favorites because of the toes. The ornaments on the red one were fun to make. I found my inspiration from a pampered chef flyer and a site on etsy. If you ever have a creative block - go to etsy and you will have more ideas than you ever imagine.

Merry Christmas!!

A Taggie you're it!

I tried my first attempt at a Taggie (Small Blanket for a baby with ribbons along the edges). After a long day at Church decorating for Christmas I was in a crafting mood. When I got home I learned that our niece Grace wasn't feeling well... perfect time to make her a taggie. I started going through the remnant pieces of fabric and ribbon. I decided on the ribbon and material and lined it up in order with 4 pieces for each side. I think the blanket is 20'' x 14''... but I never measure anything... I turned the fabric inside out like you would sew a pillow. Then added the ribbon inside every few inches. You can see this step above This is a picture to illustrate the ribbon being inserted before sewing that side shut. I sewed almost all 4 sides, but left 2 ribbons out as I turned it the right way. Then I turned the last edge in and added the last 2 ribbons with a small straight stitch. Grace loved it! The bright pink fleece and pink and white polka dot were just what the doctor ordered :)

Homemade Burpies

I'm always looking for a quick homemade project. This past January I went a little crazy and made over a dozen burpies for our new niece. I took store-bought cloth diapers and added fabrics and ribbon to customize them. Grace had one to match each outfit. It was also a good thing because she was a... "happy spitter" as her mum mum says - she threw up constantly!

Now that more of our friends are expecting or recently had kids I thought I'd better start my supply again. This was the first time I've had my sewing machine out in the new house. As I browsed through the ribbon and fabric I had on hand I noticed a package of white handkerchiefs. Oh... the ideas... how about smaller versions of my custom burpies. I remember thinking the regular size ones were practically a blanket when Grace was a newborn. Here's what I did:

Steps:

• Iron and fold the hankies in 3
• Sew the sides together so they don't come apart - 2 quick seams on each side
• Select the ribbon/ fabric and sew it on both sides or just one. Make sure to sew along all the sides.

I've tried this with iron on hemming tape, but if you wash and dry them more than a few times it comes off in the dryer... Maybe I should iron it on first so it's in place, then sew it... OH I'm good!!! That's what I battle most in sewing these... they don't stay in place.

My grandma has an embroidery machine... if she was closer I would have her add initials or other embelishments.

I also found this idea for a fabric basket I want to try: http://perpetualplum.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/building-a-basket-using-vintage-fabrics-and-grommets/

Good luck making some for the new additions in your life!