MIA

Sorry, Ive been missing in action lately. I started this blog off with a bang, then fizzled out once the end of the school year hit. I'm getting my ducks in a row and will try to post something interesting soon. I even squeezed in a trip to Ikea and picked up a few things that I'll be adapting to work in my home.

Also, thanks to my first three followers! I'm flattered! And to Knock Off Decor for featuring my linen pillows. Flattered again and humbled that anyone wants to read this at all!

In the meantime, if you're on Pinterest, you can check out my boards to see all the ideas running around in my brain at http://pinterest.com/terrysews/. Not a member of Pinterest yet? Message me and I'll send you an invitation. It's the best!

Wine-Thirty

Knock Off Decor is one of my favorite sites (hey, they even featured my Sit and Relax pillows!). When I first discovered the site, I bookmarked this Wine Barrel Lid Lazy Susan. Problem was, I had no lazy Susan, and no plans to spend a lot of money on one, just to change it up. Enter the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.

I was there today and found this little gem. It still had jam on it from the last owner (note to self...clean your stuff really good before you donate it, lest you be judged by some crafty blogger.). It didn't however, have a price tag.

Now, I also found this bowl, which will look great on my coffee table once it's properly distressed. Right now, it's just dirty and chipped. Price on it? $4. I got lucky. The lady at the register gave both pieces to me for $4. Total. Score!

So, home it came. A little scrubbing, and a light sanding later, the jam (and the shiny finish) were gone. Next, I created a design on my Silhouette. Do you have a Silhouette? If not, go and purchase one. Right now. You'll thank me later.

I cut the design out of white Contac paper that I got at the dollar store. No sense using the pricier Silhouette vinyl when I was going to paint over it and toss it anyway.

I cut the image into sections and placed them semi-strategically on the lazy Susan. The "Bin-92" is crooked. I wasn't being very careful. I planned it that way.

Next up, my trusty Ranger Paint Dabber in Pitch Black, and a stencil brush. I probably should have just used the dabber on the top. Oh, well.

I left it out in the sun to dry because it was sunny in California today, for a change. About half way through the drying time (20 minutes total. I'm not patient.), I pulled off the Contac paper.

Pretty! But too pretty. So I used some sand paper. And a hammer. And a piece of chain. And I got so busy with all of that, I forgot to take a picture. So, you'll have to wait for the big reveal.

A coat of Krylon Satin Finish Crystal Clear and I was done.

It will go on the dining room table. Soon. But the dining room table needs some work.

So for now, it will sit on the hearth with the champagne tote I got at another thrift store for $1.50. And that will be fine.

Stringer

I don't make jewelry. People who make jewelry create wonderful works of art, with wire, chain, beads...pieces that I would wear in a heartbeat. I can't do that. I can, however, string beads. 

So, this all started when my sweet mother in law found a strand of round tiger eye beads in her jewelry chest. They were not jewelry...just beads on a piece of fishing line. "Can you make something with these?" she asked me in Japanese (Why? Well, because she's Japanese.). I was hesitant, because, like I said, i don't make jewelry. But I accepted them. They were too pretty not to!

Off I went to my favorite craft store, with tiger eyes in hand. I visited a long avoided aisle, where they keep the beads, string and findings (findings? what in the world?). Once there, I was hooked. How could I resist the amazing selection from Imagine It? I scooped up a handful basket full of treasures and home I went. Here's what I came up with.

Now, while this may look like jewelry, please remember that I don't make jewelry. It's simply a couple of strands of beads that have been strung on memory wire.

Unfortunately, I had so much fun "stringing beads" that I decided to try again. I have this great  new jacket from John Paul Richard, but didn't have the perfect necklace. 

Isn't it cute?

So back to my favorite craft store. Another handful  basket full of supplies later, here's what I came up with...

These are displayed on a really small jewelry mannequin. They are not as huge or as long as they may seem...

The nice thing? They both work with the jacket, don't you think? My kids were mocking me, saying that the black and white beads might be too matchy-matchy. Fine.

Now my only worry is the crimp beads. I am waiting for the day that I find out I put them on wrong, and the beads from my new necklaces go cascading to the floor! 

Sit, Relax

I've been wanting to make these pillows for a while.

I was inspired by these from Ballard Designs. At $59 each, they weren't coming to live in my house any time soon. But I had linen, and I had a plan!

I started with two old pillows that I had on my sofa. Since I gave the sofa to my mother in law, the pillows had been sitting in my studio since February, begging me not to send them off with the next batch of Goodwill items. They finally won. The size was good, the fabric on the front was good. And I didn't realize I'd be blogging about them, so I didn't take a picture of them in their previous state. Ah, well.

My BFF gave me a bolt of lovely linen when she moved away (she has since moved back. And it's a good thing she did). I tore apart the old pillows and used them as a template to cut new pillow fronts. Then came the fun part.

I have these great magnetic foam letter stamps from here.

They're about three inches tall and sturdy enough that I haven't ruined them yet. And there's a lower case set. I want it. Badly.

 I was too lazy to wash brushes, so I pulled out my Ranger Acrylic Paint Dabbers in Mushroom, Black and Gold. Random dabbing on the foam letter gave me a cool, mottled look. I drew a line on my fabric using an air soluble marker, and working from the center out, stamped on my words.

I ironed the linen to heat set my words (I'm not washing these. Ever. So I didn't worry about using fabric paint), backed the linen with the old backing from my pillows for stability, then reconstructed the pillows, using the old front fabric as the new back fabric. You can see it here, on the left.

So now, my guests know the rules when they enter my sitting room. They must sit and relax. Maybe I should have made one that says "Amuse Me". I might have to do that on a floor cushion...

"U"topia

I am a huge fan of lettering. Fonts, scrapbook stickers, chipboard, paper mache, typography...I love lettering. A few years back, while at an acquaintance's house, I noticed her wall full of "G"'s. She smiled and referred to it as her "G-Spot."

Well, that did it. I had to lift this idea and incorporate it into something in my home.

Thus, my "U"topia was born. Wood, metal, fabric, vintage, handmade, storebought, you name it, it's up there. The collection has been growing for years. There's even one created as a sample for the art class that I teach to at risk youth.



 



I made the letter from Dixie cups, chipboard and packing tape. I got the inspiration from this tutorial. My very artistic daughter did the collage work.

My students have been making these architectural letters in class, and were even commissioned to make a custom word for a friend of mine! Here are some examples of their work:

For the school's Third Annual Peace Summit, some students are working on an Architectural Peace Sign, and the letters to spell out PEACE. A good use of the project, I think.



Taking the Plunge

I am taking the plunge and starting a blog. I said I never would. So, I won't be telling anyone until I figure this out and decide whether I can actually do it. I'd ask you to wish me luck, but no one is actually reading this yet.