2014 Journal

I still needed a journal for 2014, and I really wanted to use the SMASH book my son gave me for my birthday. I had been using it as an idea book. I took my ideas our of it and can now put my thoughts and pictures into it. It's just too neat to not use as a journal, and it has a lot of pages. I put my ideas into a little notebook that has 3 hole punches. It's easy to add ideas too, and it frees up the smash book. I started getting it ready by adding some embelished pages, the year and a business card Michael had made for me for Christmas. O.K. 2014, I think I'm going to surprise you by my new and improved organizational skills. Wink..wink...

Organizing for the New Year! Planner

When I got the wrap journal from Cheri, one of the gift exchange gals, I thought I would use it for my 2014 journal. Then in the middle of the night, I got this wonderful idea, I would make it into my planner for the year. I had a free printable page that Rebbeca Sower had on her blog from last year, which has 7 spaces for each day of the week. I stamped the numbers on the days and sewed them together so I had an entire months worth of weeks for each section. I sewed them right into my journal/planner. I was so happy!! The planner fits into my purse, so I think I will actually use it. I can still write on the extra pages, so I won't forget special events or thoughts. This was an AMAZING gift- thank you Cheri!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Exchange

I had the sweetest gifts come in the mail this week from my blog exchange. I thought I would share pictures with you. It always amazes how creative every one is. I loved that the gifts were handmade and heartfelt!

Quick Gift Container

I found this pie/tart pan, then cut out and decoupaged the saying onto the bottom of the pan. I will fill it with wrapped candies and wrap it up in cellophane. Keep it simple & sweet!

Glass Block Light

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas....Finally!

Oh my stars, I have been so busy! I was wondering if I would get the tree up, tamales made, decorations out, presents wrapped, gifts mailed, lesson plans done, luncheons to attend, and guess what, I did it all this weekend! I feel like a big fat weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I love Christmas, but I am finding I'm trying to do too much at the last minute. Anyone else out there feeling like this? I hope next week I can relax and enjoy my family and the true meaning of Christmas!

Always Kiss Me Goodnight Pillow

I love this saying! It looks pretty cute on a pillow too!

Sweet Recovered Chair

I showed you the fabrics before I recovered this chair. I added the pink chenille to soften up the tones, so most of the chair ended up covered in this fabric. I used the animal and quilt block material for the reversable chair seat and pillow.

Deconstructed-Reconstructed Rocker

I was on my way to Safeway and I saw a sign for a sale. Screetch....turn left....up the block...stop. I spy an old wood chair. The wheels start turning. The sale is made. I'm invited into the home where the sale is. It's filled with wonderful antique furnishings. I find out it's the mom's house of one of my former students. Life is funny isn't it? I take the chair home and realize it's a rocker. I start taking it apart...deconstruction. I love all the old wood, the nails, the raw piece before me. I decided to add burlap to the back of the chair. I added burlap to the bottom seat of the chair. I didn't have enough to cover the top seat of the chair so I know I need to go to my recent purchase of rawhide materials from Moda. Bingo! I sewed some of the fabrics together. Love it! Then I decided to sew material on the seat as well. Done!! Here is the before: The finished chair:

Christmas Gift Swap

I'm sorry but my email is not working correctly. If you sent me an email and I didn't respond it's because I didn't get it. If you want to do the exchange please leave a comment and I'll try to contact you. I'll try to get another exchange going in the Spring if you missed this one. Happy Holidays! Terry

Christmas Swap

Anyone interested in a Christmas swap? I am! I'm going to open this up until Thursday. Here's the plan. Email me with your name, email address, and physical address. I will compile a list and email them out to you. Your job? Make each person a little unique gift and mail them out by December 15th. My blog is just a little one, so I don't think you need to worry about having too many gifts to prepare. My email is sewoldsewnew@hotmail.com. Even if there are only a few of us who want to do this, it should be fun. Happy Holidays- Terry

Child's Play Oven

I sold a child's play kitchen when I did The Big Heap. I was also working on a child's oven but I didn't get it finished in time to sell it. It's made out of an old cupboard. Here is the before and after pictures of it. I used Cori Dantini fabrics on the sides of it and tea stained canvas on the top. I drew the burners on with a Sharpie marker, added a towel hanger and painted an old coffee pot to match. I painted a cookie tray and muffin pan to go on the inside. I will never make enough on this piece to pay for the time and materials invested in it, so I hope it goes to someone who just loves how it turned out and will enjoy playing with it!

Fabrics Used For Chair

I bought a small chair that I thought would be very cute recovered, so today I went thought my fabric to see if there was some fabric that would suit my project. I was looking for something sweet because the chair is small and feminine. I found a child's fabric first. It is something I bought a few years ago because I thought it was so darn cute. Then I started looking though my quilt tops and quilt pieces. I found the perfect one to do the sides and back of the chair. Here is a peek at the fabrics, and as I work on the chair I will share some pictures of the process.

Key Chains Enhanced With Dimensional Magic Mod Podge

This is a a fun project! I took key chains with cardboard inserts and added embelishments to the centers. Then I filled the empty space with dimensional magic. Let it set for 3 hours and it's done.

Recovered Bar Stools

Busy week at school. Here are the bar stools I recovered. The pictures were taken on a rainy day, but you can get the idea. Shabby sweet!

Hand-made Jewelry

When I was at The Big Heap, a friend guided me to a jewelry booth. The pieces are made with vintage materials, and are created by the artist Dawn Josephine. I think her work is fantastic!! I bought 4 pieces on Saturday and went back and bought 3 more on Sunday. I knew I wanted to put 1 piece on a chain to make a necklace, and I did that. Then I took one of the pieces and glued it to a large key, and added a watch face. I attached that to a chain and I thought it was funky cute. I had some old bottles, so I added wire to one and hung one of the charms from it. I adhered a picture on the bottle and made a stopper out of an old junk piece. I added the next piece to a chain with other goodies, then I put it around an old bottle, next I put buttons in the bottle and last I added a flower frog on the top of the bottle. I thought this would be a great way to display my cards. The moral of this story is to look up Dawn at dawn@dawnjosephine.com and check out her amazing hand-made jewelry!

Bird House-Book Stand

One of my students was selling bird houses to raise money for a trip. They were pretty rough, but I bought 2 of them. I put them in the closet and they sat there for some time. Well, I saw on Pinterest how a lady had made a book rest out of a bird house. It was a simple wood house painted white. I took mine out and decided it might be more pleasing to the eye if I covered it with fabric bits and pieces. I can set it on my night-stand and I'm ready to read.

Tub of Fun!

Yeah! I had this tub in the show I did and it didn't sell. When I brought it home I asked my husband if he would cut out a circle of wood to fit in the top. When I got home from work, the wood was not only cut but he bought a pull for the center so it would lift out easily. It could be used to hold cold drinks and also be utilized as a table. Fun, fun, fun!

What a Show!

This past weekend was so wonderful! I forgot how good it feels to sell my handcrafts to people who appreciate the time and effort that I put into each item that I make. I am once again saying thank you to my husband and sisters who helped me this weekend. Also to my family and friends who came to see my booth and give me moral support. I am still trying to put stuff away, but I thought I would share the little metal file I painted to store art supplies in.

The Big Heap starts today!

I hope you have a chance to come and see my booth at The Big Heap! The festival runs today through Sunday. There is something for everyone there.

Bench

This is an old piano bench I found at a sale by my house. I sanded it just a little and waxed it after that. I put a little pad and material on the top of the bench so it would be comfortable to sit on.. Sweet and simple.

Prim Carriage

I finally made a little quilt and pillow for this Prim carriage.

Display Case

This is one of the items I took a lot of grief about buying at the sale a couple of weeks ago. I love how it turned out! I removed the drawers and the sewing machine and used the metal stand for the base of my display case. Then I took a display box that I had purchased many moons ago, and set it on top of the stand. My sweet husband drilled holes in the case so I could bolt the two pieces together. I took some pieces of crazy quilt and a needlepoint piece and stitched it together to line the inside of the display case.

Re-purposed Drawers

I made 3 re-purposed drawers to put in "the Big Heap". The liquor will not be sold with them, I just wanted to show you how they can be put together.

I'm Going to be in "The Big Heap Vintage & Handmade Festival"

I found out today I was selected to have a booth at The Big Heap in Cave Creek, Arizona November 15-17! I am sooooooooo excited! No really, I am sooooooooooo excited! I have been making stuff right and left so I make sure there is something for everyone. I am dreaming about what to make, and I get up and try to make what I dreamed about. This was suppose to happen. My sisters are going to come and help me. I have an entire room in my house that is ready to be loaded up. Come and see me and I will give you 10% off! Here is a little cowboy chair I made today.

Bath Tub

Here is a simple gift idea. I took an old enamel tub/bowl and cleaned it up. Then I found pretty towels to match it. I took a boxed bar of soap and wrapped it up to coordinate with my other items. I found the cute cowgirl razor at Double D in town. I finished it up by wrapping twine around the tub to hold all the contents in place!

Canvas Frames

I saw this idea on Pinterest. A person flipped a canvas frame backwards and made a pocket with burlap. I think they stamped images onto the frame. I created my canvas pocket with a piece of tea stained canvas. The I added a collage fabric piece. I stained the wood frame and added a hook to hang it.

Cowgirl Suitcase

I have been busy, busy, busy! Here is the cowgirl suitcase I have been working on.

Tag Board

Here is a quick project I created using tags that I made. I covered a piece of cardboard with vintage linen. I sewed buttons onto the linen to hang my tags on. I mounted it in a frame and hung my tags on the buttons. I think it needs a few more buttons and tags, but it's a start.

Recycled Bags

I decided that when I do the sale in November I will have pretty bags for the bigger purchases that people make. I had about 15 grocery bags that I started with. I decoupaged vintage sheet music over the advertisements and then I added some pretty images on top of that. I will add some tags with my blog address to the bags. I hope it will be a special treat for shoppers!

Portable Bar

This Saturday I went to a picnic with my dad. On my way, I stopped at a school that was having a sale. I found a few treasures! Ok, lots of treasures! So many big items that I had to call my mister to come and cart them home. Let me tell you, there wasn't a soul at the sale that thought I made good buys, except me of course. There was a man there that delighted in telling me what he thought of my purchases. Well, game on! I worked all today on this bar cabinet. This was a sewing cabinet in its prior life. I sanded it, painted a base coat on it and then painted the print on. I saw a dresser at Bliss Ranch that was done using this technique. I will take another picture when I stock the inside. The top opens up, there is room for bottles, glasses, and fun stuff that can go in the little side doors. I STARTED SANDING THE TOP OF THE CABINET BEFORE I REMEMBERED TO TAKE A PICTURE!