Step stool to foot stool

This poor old step stool... looking all ratty and tired was begging for some TLC... And the armchair in my basement needed a companion to facilitate the concept of "putting your feet up"

A bit of foam and batting

And the left over of the slipcover fabric..

Now I can put my feet up

No more old tired step stool... Instead I have a supercomfy footstool.

Trading posts - Shopping bags and a wreath

A couple of weeks ago, we had crafty playdate with Amie (Kitty Cats and Airplanes) and Meg (In the Loop). We were all pretty tired but Amie was excited to try out her new sewing machine so I decided to take it easy with my projects and have fun helping the gals out with their sewing. Both Amie and Meg wanted to make a bag, so I helped each of them out making a tote bag. Amie's is a denim upcycle, and Meg an interfaced fully lined tote. I think they both did great. 

Look at these gals hard at work ! Amie is learning to use the new sewing machine she got for Christmas.

TADA All done ... So cute and so different!

I started a winter wreath that day ... that I finished a couple of days later

DIY Mantel reveal

This is a picture of my fireplace last year just before Christmas

And this is the same fireplace today

Notice the difference ? Yes ! I have a mantel!!

Uncle John and I worked together a saturday morning and put this together while the hubby was taking care of Bug. First we measured and had to do a little bit of math, then we tacked 1x2 strips of wood to the the studs.

Added some L brackets

Then measured some more and installed the ledge

 And after more measuring and more math, the crown moulding came under the ledge.

I'm terrified of using a circular saw so Uncle John did all the cutting but I was a champ using the drill and mail gun. Then came sanding, caulking, painting. But it's finished now. And the result is way beyond what I had hoped for. I can't wait to decorate for Christmas this year. It's a bit early for it though. So I did decorate for fall and of course Thanksgiving.

I'm just happy, really happy about my new mantel.

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You can win this awesome necklace !!

Ends 11/21

A housewarming present

My friend Angela just made a big move: she bought her first house!! She is very excited about getting it furnished and turned into her ideal nesting spot. I made a pair of throw pillow covers to go on her fancy new couch. Since Angela prefers neutral colors and solids I figured something with an interesting texture would be better than my usual color explosions. 

A barely seafoam green toile with brown, gold and beige was married with this fun pin tuck diamond satin out of my stash

The chocolate brown specks on the toile match the satin perfectly

I think it's going to look great on Angela's sofa

One more pillow

This piece of fabric was given to me. I was a swatch for a really great quality fabric. I liked it a lot but there is nothing in my house that will even remotely match this color scheme. So I decided to make one more pillow to send to Carol.  for her cushion cover drive.

Whimsical Garden

And the previously completed pillowcases

Starburst

Chicky Bloom

I love Faeries

More pillows for down under

A couple of weeks ago I promised more pillows for Carol's cushion cover drive. She makes and gathers cushions for families recently struck by flooding in Queensland (Australia). More stash digging yielded 3 more covers. Two are definitely going to make some little girls happy.  Flowers and pixies. I better hide them before my daughter tries to highjack them for her bedroom.

This third one is bold to say the least. The block was a discard (a discard !!??!!)  from another quilter. I sashed it in orange satin and it really pops. I had a great time putting it together even though each time I cut satin, I get all huffy about all the fraying.

100 % still stashbusting

100% happy about finishing this project

I may even make a couple more if I can sneak some time in the studio tonight

Spring colors

It's still pretty cold in MD. Hoping to be able enjoy the outdoor some more soon. Despite the cool, the garden is slowly turning greener, bud and tender green leaves everywhere. It was high time to inject some spring colors to our home. A few pink blossoms on a branch, some decorated eggs are bringing the spirit of rebirth in this small display.

 

 

Like my big yellow and green egg? 

I made it out of a piece of ugly fleece sewn into an egg shape, flowers plucked from a party lei that had seen better days hot glued on the egg shape and some ribbons all from my stash. Not bad 

Don't forget to enter to win this ruffled apron HERE

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any pattern purchase at  the Ruffled Begonia until April 6th