Taking The (Project) Leap!

Oh my gosh ~~ how is everyone? It cannot be the last day of February I mean really ~~ where is the time going?

No worries, I have had quite a few events and merchandising to get done and SO busy is GOOD. :) I was putting my blog on a little break for the time being...as anyone could see. I am looking around now and I think the look and feel of my blog needs a little freshening up for Spring....so hopefully I will roll out a new look and feel soon too!

I really need to get back into my bloggging schedule, BUT taking some time off for planning, working and creating is good too and so I hope I can share all of the ideas I have been brewing up! Ha! We shall see....huh?

How about a project? If you haven't kept up with me in Pinterest ~ please do!
Just one of many places I have been gathering ideas for the 2012 year. I recently saw a chair recover job that caught my attention. Now I have several antique chairs in my house. You know ~~ the kind, that can have the seat (and sometimes the backs) removed and recovered for a new look. Well I have 2 kitchen chairs I have had for oh ~~ 15 years. I bought them in a little antique shop in Holly , MI. That cute little town has a reputation for good antiquing and has a street named "Battle Alley" of all things! Lovely place. Visit ~ www.battlealleyaracade.com ~ I have redone them over the years, here and there and recently it was time to freshen them up. If you ever get a chance to purchase old chairs such as these that have the ability to be recovered, you won't regret the purchase. I have loved these chairs and changing the look.
Now ~~ if you have followed my blog you know I like to use, reuse and upcycle etc...so these chairs were no exception. I have three busy boys in my house and have had slipcovers from Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel over time to save the furniture! Sturdy and strong and washable ~ I just love them. I had a white cotton canvas twill one that was pretty worn out and began to tear after years of use and abuse (and washing!) and so I decided to cut it up make new with it and here is the results of the project.

Chair with old seat unscrewed....

The once wonderful slipcover now a pile of material for use on my chairs!

This is the cutting out of both the back and the seats of the chairs from the old material on the chairs. I just use it as my template so I can later wrap on the back and seat and staple gun to secure.

This is the seat ~ cut out and ready to be stapled. Now too ~ this is the Pinterest inspired portion. I saw a chair with a cute French postage stamp print on the seat, so on my seats I picked this cute French vintage chocolate print from the Graphics Fairy (see her link on the side of my blog!) to add a cute touch. Love it!

And now...(drum roll) the finished product ~~

Wha~la! Good as brand spanking new!

A New Year

Well ~ well ~ ~ long time NO blog! :) How is everyone?

I have been of course busy through the Christmas season and I took a much needed break to get through a busy last part of the year. It has been great and busier is good and it allowed me to spend some much needed time on some new work and tasks.

I am now looking out watching it snow and excited about a brand new year!

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

I plan to be back at it here with new projects and posts. January is a great time to get things in order but it is also a great time to look back and see what was right and wrong with the previous year and I think I have a lot to be happy about! I accomplished many of the things I set out to and formed some great stepping stones for the future.

It is all about reflection and planning and I am looking forward to 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving!

No....I am not lost. I have just been busy ~ busy ~ busy ~ crafting, merchandising and working! ;) Hoping everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I promise to be back soon! :)

Source: healthyisthenewskinny.com via Olivia on Pinterest

Burlap Love

Hi again!

Whew....where is the time going?  For all of you creatives, you know this can be a busy time of year and this year is no exception. 

So many fun things on my plate and things I want to try so I wanted to pass off some work I have been doing with burlap.  Now...o.k....I will admit I am having a slight love affair with this now trendy fad, but it is sooo versatile and soo wonderful.  Can't help myself.  I recently went to a local craft store and they had a whole bolt of white burlap in the clearance bin! Goodness what to do but buy it! :) I have been working and making some wreaths and wanted to at least give you a peek....I can pass off the tutorial later.....but I think they are turning out great.....  :)

   Shabby & fab. Can you imagine using this white burlap to decorate a wedding with?! Oh I can! :)

The other little thing with burlap I wanted to master was the ability to print on it.  I have seen a couple of  tutorials that I will pass on as well....

Source: limelady.livejournal.com via Vivien on Pinterest

~ Tutorial #1 ~ For all kinds of fabrics.

Source: domestically-speaking.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Tutorial #2 ~ For burlap.


Here is my attempt. ~ ~

Wonderful! Now how many things can I do with this little skill and idea? I was a little scared putting this in my printer, but it worked beautifully. Inspiration is endless I know ~~ So excited!

If you have given this a try or do let me know...would love for you to share. :)

I hope you are creating up a wind storm yourself.  :)  The days are moving quickly and the busy holidays will be here before we know it.  Enjoy your Fall and see you very soon.....

Julie

Chic Halloween

Oh my gosh ~~

Has it been 2 weeks since my last post? Shame on me.  Oh boy, I have been busy though.....but...

Enough on that.

 

How about a Fall wreath project?

I made this wreath last year and just loved it!  It is a take off of a Martha Stewart wreath project and I loved the idea of prettying up Halloween and All Souls Day (The day to remember our dearly departed).  It is SO simple but I love the dramatic effect that is the result.

This wreath is simply a large plywood wreath frame that you can get at any craft store.  You will also need silk red roses (about 24 ~ 30 large) a glue gun and floral spray paint in black.   You will take just the rose heads off of the silk stems, glue to the wreath frame in an attractive arrangement and let dry.  Hang outside and spray with floral paint.  You can put as many coats of paint on as you wish, but a little red peeking through makes for a great effect. 

Wha~la! You have a beautiful new wreath for your Fall door. :)

I hope you are having a busy fun Fall and creating up a storm!

See you soon.....

Falling For Hair Pins

Hi out there!

What is everyone up to?  I have been busy merchandising and getting ready for the Fall with some new fun things ~ both for crafts shows and for my Etsy shop. Ya!  This time of year gets busy that is for sure and this year is no exception. 

I have been working on some hair pins and clips and I just love them!

                                                               ~ Pretty ~ Pretty ~

I have been wanting to work on hair accessories for a while and needed to get the time and inspiration around to do it.  Years ago I worked in Neiman Marcus and upscale retail and often wanted to create the fancier hair pieces I would see for young girls.  These are my interpretation. Cute! 

They are easy too.  I used hair pins and clips with tacks, buttons flowers (both cut out and scrapbook varieties), glue gun and any other embellishments I could find to try.  The hair pins and clips can be purchased from Etsy or Michaels etc.., although I have found it hard recently to find hair clips or pins of any kind in my local craft stores so I have opted for Etsy supplies for mine. There are carbons and hair pins & clips in lots of different colors, sizes and styles.  I just love how they turned out!

I have to run ~ (besides enjoying a beautiful Fall day!) hope to be busy and post more doings and projects soon....bye for now..... :)

I'm Honored ~The Liebster Award

I am excited to tell you Nancy Russell from http://nancyscrystalfantasies.blogspot.com/ has recently been awarded the Liebster Award and now has graciously passed it on to me! She has beautiful handmade jewelry, so please check out her creations & blog. :) The Liebster Award is for up and coming new blogs with a 200 followers or less.  The idea is to create a post with a link back and choose 5 other blogs with under 200 followers to do the same.  It helps to capture a few followers pass on the love, meet new friends and helps others in the process.

My Liebster Awards go to ~~~~

Handmade by HJWilke

Vintage201 

{little.green.bird} -the blog

River Girls Studio 365

Creative Life Designs

If you visit each blog and follow each one you like, the numbers will increase dramatically and you will have made numerous new friends and contacts.  Congrats to all and thanks for checking them out.  :)