layered pillow tutorial

So I really like this cardigan by J CREW (I first saw it in Lucky Magazine). 

 I bottled up that inspiration and made this pillow. It is less ruffly, but gets that same layered effect that is cute and feminine! This is how I did it.
Instructions
1. I used a 14 inch pillow. Cut two 18 inch squares of fabric and set aside(one piece for the back of the pillow, and one piece for the front where the layers of fabric will be attached). 

2. Next, I cut several strips of 4 inch wide fabric of varying lengths. I used about 24 strips of fabric.

 

3. Next, I folded the fabric in half and ironed it so that the folded edge was nice and crisp

4. I took the front square of fabric that I previously cut and began laying my folded fabric strips on the diagonal of the fabric, sewing each strip onto the fabric with my sewing machine. By starting on one corner and layering until I was all the way across the pillow I got this really great pleated effect (this required much more fabric than if I had laid it straight across the pillow, but I really like the look).

5. Now grab the other square of fabric that has not been used yet (this will be the back of your pillow). Take both squares and pin them together so that the outside of the pillow faces inward. Now use your sewing machine to sew around the squares (be sure to only sew 3 of the four sides).

6. Turn the squares right side out so that everything is facing as is should be. Now take your pillow and stuff it through the open end of the pillowcase. Once the pillow is in place, sew it closed by hand.

7. Finished! I hope that you like it. 

my super cool new wall art

So, I love Apartment Therapy! They recently featured a post about a woman from Ohio who made some really cheap and really cool large wall art using vinyl letters, spray paint, and a favorite lyric. Check it out here.

Well, here's my take on this little project. I used a lyric to one of my favorite songs by the Band "Stars".

I am quite happy! The two panels frame my bed nicely!

I hope to get some better shots of them tomorrow with better light. What do you think?

homemade macbook bag

I have been needing a bag that can carry my 17 inch Macbook Pro comfortably. So, I made one from recycled leather and some leftover fabric from Violet's bedding! 

It's not really a tutorial as a "hey look what I did, gimme a gold star" kinda post.......

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

  

 

Bu-Bye!

lampshade upgrade

Sorry this is a day late.... technical difficulties which I really do not want to go into, but let's just say it involves me and television and possibly drinking massive amounts of coffee which resulted in an inability to focus....... yes.....


Anywho, I present my weekend project: recovering an old lampshade with a fun new print!

1. Here is my old lampshade. It is a pretty houndstooth fabric, but is so dense that light doesn't shine through very well. Plus this lampshade has suffered a previously failed attempt at recovering (it is covered in dried glue....) I simply took a pair of scissors and cut off the fabric at both ends.

2. Lay the old fabric on top of your new fabric I just happened to have some lovely Amy Butler fabric lying around) to create a pattern to cut.

3.  Leave a 1/2 inch border of the new fabric when you cut so that you have room to fold the fabric for a clean edge.

4. Fold the half inch of extra fabric down, and wrap the fabric tightly around the old lampshade frame. Then, grab your glue gun, and begin gluing the new fabric onto the old lampshade frame (be sure to pull the fabric taught to eliminate wrinkles).

5. Once you wrap the fabric around both ends of the lampshade, fold and glue the edge of the fabric where the two ends of fabric meet, forming a clean seam.

6. The end! Not the best tutorial (I didn't document the process very thoroughly) but, the lampshade adds some fun color to the corner of my dining room!

I guess I really posted this to show that it doesn't matter what project you have in mind, the best way to figure out how to make something happen is to just jump in and do it! If you make a mistake, it really doesn't matter, because at least you are being proactive and attempting something new!

Oh, and Wallace wanted to say hello!

Have a great night!

paper flowers for decorating mini pie jars

Paper Flower Decorations!

So I made some cute paper flowers and labels for my mini pies. (I also made some mini pretty peach pies).


These are really simple to make, but I thought I would post a tutorial anyways! (Again, if Santa wanted to get me a nice big camera to replace my awful i phone camera, I would be quite happy.....)


Paper Flower Tutorial

1. Grab your favorite decorative paper (I designed my own, but any piece of scrapbook paper will do.

2. Draw 4 amorphous flowers on the paper in varying sizes (see photo above).

3. Cut out the 4 flowers.

4. Stack the flowers on top of each other, and poke a hole through the middle.

5. Cut a 12 inch piece of yarn and lace it through the hole in the paper flowers.

6. Tie a knot in the yarn (this serves as the center of your flower).

7. Take the rest of the yarn and wrap it around the top of your mason jar and tie a knot to attach.

8. Now squish all of the layers of the flower together, to add some depth.

9. Enjoy your pretty paper flower!

 I hope you enjoy!

cheery cherry christmas pie tutorial...i'm seeing red!

This was my weekend!
I made little individual cherry pies in mason jars! I am giving them as homemade Christmas gifts this year! And they are uber cute! 
Recipe (Makes 4 jar pies:
 Ingredients:

4 mason jars (8 ounce)

1 bag frozen tart cherries

2/3 cup of white sugar

1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest

2 tablespoons white flour

Dollops of butter

2 rolls frozen pie dough 
1. Combine cherries, white sugar, and lemon zest in a saucepan   over low heat until sugar is dissolved. 
2. Remove from heat and stir in  of flour 
3. Take one roll of prepared pie dough (I used store bought) and press inside an 8 oz. mason jar, until jar is covered.
4. Spoon in cherry filling into mason jar.
5. Put a dollop or two of butter on top of the cherry filling.
6. Cover filling with more dough! (see above picture for ideas). 
7. Place in oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.
8. Remove from oven and let cool.
9. ENJOY CHERRY PIE!!!!!!!  

I shared these little pies with two of my favorite people: 

 

(image courtesy of Jenna Garrett)

(Chris is a graphic designer and an AMAZING illustrator! Find him at paperbeatsscissors.com)
(Jenna has so many mad skills, it would be difficult to list them all. Check out her website! mindthegapdesign.com)


And for fun, here are some preeeettttyyy red images!

 

 

 

sources: WeHeartIt and Etsy

Have a super duper Monday!