Children’s teepee

 

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…

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!

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.

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!

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

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. 

Love the chevron casings for the wood rods!

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

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

And reading with daddy in the teepee!

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!

Random things…

Last September the big hail storm we had destroyed my homemade umbrella, there were multiple holes and tears in it so I drug it up to the sewing room and mended it.  Probably a dozen holes in it and a big three corner tear.  I zig zagged it back together and added two rows of gross grain ribbon to help hold it together another year.

I made it from a drop cloth last summer, you can go here to see that post!  I washed it and bleached it after I patched it and it washed very well and is brighter.

Several years ago I taught a quilting class at church.  Fred was the only guy at both the classes and he took it all very seriously!  Most of the participants finished theirs slowly, and just a few weeks ago Fred brought his to me to send to my Aunt Marge to be quilted.

  Marge even commented on what a nice job he had done! Fred made a queen size quilt and a wall hanging from the leftovers!  It needs binding now and he will be done with it!

I bought this hernia-inducing concrete birdbath at an auction a few weeks ago.  $10!  I have always wanted one, but wanted one that wouldn’t tip over or be as likely to break.  This one fits the bill perfectly!

I’m steadily taking off the mosaic pieces and am planning to do something with flat marbles in shades of blues and greens.  Probably will keep the base white, but thinking about a turquoise color for the bowl part.  Any ideas on how that would look??

This container on my deck had all perennials planted last year and they survived and it is a beautiful collection of dianthus, and mums and some ornamental grass and creeping jenny.  Love that it didn’t cost anything!

I can identify, what can I say?  (found this on instagram)

Love this too!  (also found on instagram, not sure how to credit it there)

I was in Boonville with my boyfriend this past weekend  (yes, it is so exciting to say I have a boyfriend… for the past 3 months we have been hanging out and it has been a blast!) and we were wandering the downtown area and found this great little shop. 

Tons of neat planters, and all things recycled, upcycled but in a great way!

Ladders hanging from the ceiling holding all sorts of things, planters made from old metal washpans and dishes, ladders with old enamel dishes attached to each step to plant with flowers.  I asked the lady if I could take some pictures and she said yes, but then I saw a sign saying, no pictures! I put the phone away and stopped but this place is jammed with great things and reasonably priced too!  Stop by if you are ever there in Boonville, she makes all the furniture herself from upcycled wood. 

I might be linking up to some of these great parties! 

Drop Cloth Lamp Shade for a Vintage Lamp

This has got to be the easiest thing ever to do!  I bought this tiny crystal lamp at a thrift store in Milford, Connecticut last fall and had been looking for the perfect shade. 

I found this cover your own shade on clearance at Hobby Lobby…I think it cost $2.58.  The shade had this peel off label and then you use the label as a pattern and cut out the fabric.  The shade itself was adhesive covered.  So….

Easiest project ever.  I added some pleated ribbon trim (also at HL for $1.50 a roll), and just attached it with hot glue. 

It added the perfect finishing touch!

It sits on my bedside table…

I can also add something to the vase, the light fixture just screws onto the glass part, but I like it just like it is!

I will be linking to many of these great parties!!

Please go here and vote for my felted wool Christmas wreath…I would so appreciate your vote!!  Voting ends February 25!