Sunday, September 29, 2013

Visiting Old Town

2013-09-26 050

Before I left Colorado my niece and I did some running around.  We went to Old Town and stopped in this really neat shop, Walnut Creek.

2013-09-26 046

They have all sorts of handcrafted items.  This piano bench was made from a wool sweater with a needle felted design.

2013-09-26 048

There were lots of really unique furniture pieces in great colors.

2013-09-26 045

Jess and I both loved these printed signs. 

2013-09-26 040

The red console was great…

2013-09-26 039

The black table and chairs were really sweet too with bright print cushions for the chairs.

2013-09-26 038

I loved these purses and look at the wooden spool hooks they are hanging from!

2013-09-26 037

The blue and peach flower print one is my fave, although the pears print is also cool!

2013-09-26 032

We both loved the screen printed owl on a pumpkin yellow pillow cover.

2013-09-26 030

And this crate with the chalkboard end (love those pumpkins too!)

2013-09-26 026

The numbered jars…how easy would that be to do?

2013-09-26 033

Another orange dresser/chest…just tons of really cool stuff!

2013-09-26 020

This little blue painted stool is from Ikea, it was only $22, which is a great price!

2013-09-26 023

I liked the felted wool soap.

2013-09-26 018

Jess liked this bicycle print sign.  By the way those are feathers in a vase behind her head, not her hair, just to clarify!

2013-09-26 019

Baby Brady didn’t feel too good that day so he was pretty sedate as long as the stroller was moving…

2013-09-26 016

he was a happy camper!

2013-09-26 015

There were really neat baby onesies and t-shirts, lots of baby items like bibs and blankets and stuffed animals.

2013-09-26 014

These wooden children’s toys were works of art, beautifully made. 

2013-09-26 057

This is what I bought, a phone case that is very practical.  I think I may make a similar one too for a gift.

2013-09-26 055

And here’s the packaging for purchases!  Love it just as much as I do the store!

signature21

Monday, September 23, 2013

Sweater Sleeve Pumpkins

100_9053

I’m out visiting family in Colorado this past week and a half.  Actually I am nannying a sweet 16 month old great nephew while his parents take a 10th anniversary tropical vacation.

IMG_0821

Here is my charge Brady and he runs 90 to nothing about 95% of the time he is awake!  He is so sweet and snuggly unless of course he has something to investigate.  Then Brady is a boy with a mission!  He is a great assistant!

100_9044

This was my office while Brady took his middle of the day naps, taking in the beautiful Colorado scenery.  My sis was with me for part of this trip so we hit the Restore and Goodwill stores as we came across them. 

100_9048

I found this awesome (but not wool :( ) variegated sweater in shades of oranges and a vague shade of pink here and there.  I cut about 6-8 inch segments of the sleeves to make the pumpkins, just straight across both thicknesses of the sleeve. 

100_9046

With the sleeve right sides together stitch up what will be the bottom of the pumpkin with a long running stitch and heavy thread, then turn right side out.  Now stuff the pumpkin with Polyfil stuffing. You can make it as big or little as you want by adding more or less stuffing.  Now gather the top of the pumpkin with a long running stitch and heavy thread. 

100_9054

This one I gathered the top really snug and used it as the stem, wrapping it with jute twine. I used the green mohair/wool sweater I found at Goodwill to make the leaves.  I just printed off a an outline of a pumpkin leaf and made two sizes.

100_9051

I added curly willow branch cuttings for the pumpkin tendrils.

100_9052

These all came from that same pumpkin…you can see the variations in color.  I got two pumpkins out of each sleeve and I made two more “sleeves” from the front and back of the sweater.

100_9056

I added them to a newly spray painted plum color basket.

100_9057

I may be linking to these great parties!

signature21

Friday, September 20, 2013

Children’s teepee

 IMG_0831

This is Brady peeking around the corner at his new toy…his teepee!  He loved it…OK, so maybe not LOVED, but he is getting used to it gradually…

100_8905

I used this very simple tutorial from Pink Toes and Power Tools and sketched out the measurements provided there. Seriously this pattern is so easy to follow!

100_8908

For the main teepee I used a heavy weight 6 foot x 8 foot canvas drop cloth from Lowes and for the casings for the poles I used a grey chevron canvas cloth from Hobby Lobby. When my son was a toddler I made him one of these and painted Native American symbols around the bottom.

IMG_0833

I’m still looking for that picture, but haven’t been able to locate one…I remember it going well with the Cowboys and Indians theme at his second birthday party.  My niece even dressed up as Pocahontas for the party!

100_8967

So anyway, I sewed it at home and had Brady’s mom and dad pick up the poles from the Home Depot I think…

IMG_6787

This wood is really lightweight so moving the teepee is easy.  I didn’t actually buy the dowels, so am not sure what they cost, but from looking online they run around $7.50 to $10 each. 

100_8963

Love the chevron casings for the wood rods!

photo (1)

I finally snapped a pic of Brady in the teepee…it was just for a second, but hey, that counts!

photo

He is getting closer and closer to it!  He is sooo cute!!

2013-09-26 012

And reading with daddy in the teepee!

teepee cost

I found similar teepees at Land of Nod for $159, Olive & Cocoa for $278, BlazingArrowDesigns on etsy for $95, and Target for $179.99. 

I may be linking to these great parties!

signature21

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Hoop Wall Art with Fabric Remnants

100_8781

I’ve been working on this project for almost a year…collecting the hoops from auctions, thrift stores and flea markets. I still think this wall needs some of the smallest hoops, maybe 2-3 more.

100_8783

But other than that I am calling it done!  Some of the fabric is vintage, some is new, the patchwork one is made from scraps from this bunting I made for my great nephew’s first birthday party.

100_8782

Some of the fabric is vintage, most of it is new…some of the hoops are vintage.  The oval one hanging above the bed is a quilting hoop, it was cruddy when I bought it at an auction for $2, but it cleaned right up with Murphy’s Oil Soap. 

100_8785

The chevron fabric is leftover from the stool cushion I recovered.

100_8786

All these fabrics are vintage. I thought they looked great grouped together.

100_8794

I’m loving how homey (not homely!) the splashes of different color make this corner feel. 

100_8809

OK, so now be honest with me…what do you think?  Is it too much?

I will be linking to some of these great parties…Thanks for stopping by today!

signature21