Friday, February 7, 2014

Today's Featured Shop -- Bearly In Montana

Today's featured shop is Bearly In Montana.   Bearly Makin It-n-Montana offers desirable, unique and one of a kind handmade items for you from Northwest Montana.

Farm Fresh Eggs Montana Made Country Rustic Primitive Shabby Chic Distressed Sign


Coffee Sign Coffee & Friends A Perfect Blend Mug Pegs


Cowboy Sign Western Sign


What Happens In the Barn Country Western Rustic Sign


Be sure and visit     shop to see all their handmades.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BearlyInMontana

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Witches Stitches Bed Spring Center Piece


Making great table centerpieces can be tricky. The thing you have to use needs to stand on its own. One of the easiest ways to do this is too use some kind of stand. I use old rusty bed springs. They look great and you can stand a variety of items in them. Spring is coming up and you can use these to hold some little chicks. Get three springs and make them 3 different sizes. You can do this by stretching them out a bit so they each stand different heights. If you don’t just have 3 of these laying around you can get them on ebay or etsy.  There are many different patterns out there to make little chicks with. After you have made one take a bit of Spanish moss lay it on the top of the spring and tuck the little chick in it. Do this with the 3 of them and they make a great table center piece.

You can do this with just about anything. In the summer how about a sunflower head or a crow. Large strawberries look great in them.  When fall comes around they look great with 3 pumpkins on them with different faces. For winter 3 snowman heads are a must.

You can really do anything you choose. You can stitch the items on, but I would just tuck them on the top. This way you can keep changing them as the seasons go by.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Fabric Letters

I saw this tutorial the other day from Happy Together Blog and thought what a great idea to make these for your little kids or grandchildren. 





This is the way Jessica did them, but I am sure you could modify the process to your liking. I wish my grandkids were still young enough to use these. I think they would be a great learning tool also. 

She printed off letters from Microsoft Publishing which I think would be fine. I get most of my templates for sewing from coloring books. I think they have the best pictures for templates. 

So here is the tutorial. I think I might just have to try making these also. I have a baby niece that might just like them. :)




-Scrap Fabrics for front
-Fabric for back (I used vintage chenille)
-Quilt batting (I used felt on the lower case letters to make it more stiff and interfacing on the numbers.)
-Fabric pen
-Sewing machine, scissors, etc.

Directions:
1. Print out letters to trace. I used Microsoft Publisher to create the letters and made them all the same size and used the same font. You could do this in Word as well, or Photoshop. You could also just free style it, etc. Cut the letters out.
Printed Out

2.
Trace the letters onto the fabric that you will use for the top.


3.
Cut the letters out in square shapes.

The Cutting

4
. Cut out squares of quilt batting and backing that will be the same size of the letter.

5.
Make a sandwich of the fabrics and quilt batting. Place the back fabric right side down. Then place the piece of interfacing on top of that. Next, place the top fabric right side up. Pin together. Sew on the tracing.

The sandwich

6.
If you desire, you can quilt it or just leave it.

7.
Trim the edges of the three layers. Leave at least 1/4 inch around the edges of the letters.

Raw Edges Clipped and Ready to Wash

8.
Clip the raw edges. Make clips straight into every seam allowance. Stop before you reach the seam allowance.

9.
Throw it in the washing machine and then the dryer. They will come out all raggedy around the edges.

Rag Quilt Letters Tutorial



Looks pretty easy peasy to me.....just the type of project I like! :)

Have a great week!

Colleen :)


Monday, February 3, 2014

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Second Time Sweethearts

Love is sweeter the second time around when it comes to up-cycling the past into heart-melting tokens of love for that special someone on Valentine's Day.
 
These Etsy up-cycle artists have created perfect gifts using vintage jewelry, paper ephemera and even skateboards!  Shop early for the best selection and don't forget to favorite these shops to keep up with innovative ideas in up-cycling!
 
Top shelf vintage Valentines look oh-so-adorable propped up in old flower frogs!  Find both at VintageShoppingSpree where holiday ephemera and true vintage craft supplies are offered at affordable prices!
 
AmySueCollectibles creates romantic vignettes using old jewelry, found items, and dreamy fabrics.  An up-cycler extraordinaire, this Etsy artist transforms today's cast-offs into heirloom treasures. 
 
 Take bits of old jewelry, add Victorian sensibility and top it off with unbelievable prices and ADifferentPlace is the exquisite result!  Truly one-of-a-kind gifts dwell here!
 
 RVRAL revives old skateboards into hip wooden jewelry with appeal across the board!  Rings, earrings, and pendants perfect for the eco-enthusiastic.
All bibliophiles will find love at BookwormSalon!  Vintage dictionary pages host original printed artwork perfect for display throughout the year.  Request a custom order to have this artist make something extra special for the love of your life!
To keep the love going, search up-cycled heart on Etsy!
 
LOVE  &  UP-CYCLE NATION!!
Jacquie Wheeler
Hand of Bela Peck