Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts
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Curtains, Curtains and more Curtains!

5:19 AM | Labels: , , , , ,




Today I am thrilled to be guest posting at I am Momma Hear Me Roar as part of Cheri’s week long Behind the Curtain series. 


I hope you will stop by my post HERE to see curtains from my home, curtains I have created for magazine photo shoots and some all-time curtain favorites.  There is a lot to see!




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Decorating with Shells – An Oyster Shell Ball Tutorial

12:16 PM | Labels: , , , , , , ,


One of my favorite activities when I visit the beach is shell hunting. For years I have been slowly adding to my collection and using my treasures in my home.


They are scattered about in almost every room and serve as a reminder of the many fun vacations my family has enjoyed over the years.


This summer I decided to collect shells which I had previously ignored – oyster shells.

I have seen lots of different decorative uses for these shells and decided to try my hand at creating a simple shell ball.


It was an easy process requiring only shells, hot glue and a Styrofoam ball.


I began my project by grouping the shells by size.  By using shells of nearly the same size, I figured I would increase my odds of ending up with something round.


Beginning in the middle of the Styrofoam ball, I simply applied hot glue and stuck/pressed the shell into to Styrofoam through the glue before it hardened.  I worked in a single row around the circumference of the ball before beginning the next row.


The entire project took about twenty minutes and when I was finished I had a decorative reminder of another great summer of fun!

Do you use shells as decorative accessories in your home?  If so I would love to know how you display your beach finds.


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Completed Projects Sneak Peek

2:19 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

It seems whenever I return home from a vacation I suddenly am re-energized and ready to tackle all the projects I have had on my mind but have yet to complete.  I usually make a list while riding in the car on my return trip home and then once back, I go, go, go until most of the items are done.  (Does anybody else do this?)

Unfortunately, however, while I have been very busy getting lots of things accomplished, I have not been quite as diligent about writing posts about them.  So my plan this weekend is to get caught up on all the details of what I have been up to lately.

In the meantime, here is a little sneak peek of what I have been working on.






Look for all these projects and more soon!

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How to Sew Curtain Panels with Lining and/or Interlining

6:03 AM | Labels: , , , , ,


Womens Day Budget Decorating / Photographer - Michael Partentio
Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Producer and Editor for Meredith Publications

I have had this tutorial in the works for a while now and am happy to finally be sharing the method I use for sewing curtains with lining. Although I have tried a few variations, the following is what works best for me – and hopefully for you too!

Please read through all instructions before beginning. This tutorial is for curtain panels using one width (54”) of fabric.

Measurements
Determine the finished length of your curtain panel. This measurement will be based on the placement of your curtain rod as well as how you will be hanging your curtains, i.e. from rings, through a rod pocket, etc.

For the main fabric you will need the finished length plus 8 inches for the bottom hem and 6 inches for the top hem, times the number of panels you will be making. (I always add a few inches to this number just to make sure I have enough fabric.) If you are using a fabric with a pattern you will have to take the repeat of the pattern into consideration. Meaning, every panel should begin and end at the same point on the fabric. You most likely will have purchase additional yardage in order for all the panels to be identical.

For the lining you will need the finished length of the curtain minus 1 inch (as the lining will be shorter than the main fabric), plus 6 inches for the bottom hem and 6 inches for the top hem, times the number of panels.

Optional: For the interlining you will need the finished length of the curtain minus 2 inches plus 6 inches for the top hem. Most times I only use interlining if I am making silk curtains. Interlining is a felt like material - shown below - which adds weight and body to the curtains.


Cut all fabric pieces according to above measurements. After cutting the proper lengths of fabric, the lining and interlining panels should be cut to 49 ¾” wide. The main fabric should be cut to 54” wide by removing the side edges. If your main fabric needs to be shorter in width in order to remove the edges, simply deduct 4 ¼” to determine the width of the lining and interlining.

Sew Bottom Hems
The first sewing step to making your curtain panels is hemming the bottom of the main fabric and the lining – the interlining is not hemmed. To make the bottom hem of the main fabric, press under the bottom edge of the fabric 8 inches using an iron set to the proper temperature for your fabric.


Fold under and press to create a 4 inch hem. Pin and sew. Repeat for all main fabric curtain panels.


Repeat process with lining - only this time press under bottom edge of fabric 6 inches to create a 3 inch hem.




Sewing Side Seams of Main Curtain Fabric
Using the main fabric, fold and press the outside and inside edges of the curtain panel 2 inches. Fold under to create a 1 inch hem on each side. Repeat with all main fabric panels.


Assembling the Curtain
Place curtain panel on flat surface with right side down (wrong side up).

Optional: If using interlining place interlining on top of panel, sliding edges of interlining under both side hems of the main curtain fabric. Make sure to line up the top of the interlining with the top of the curtain panel. It should be about 2 inches shorter than the main curtain fabric.

Place lining – right side up – on top of interlining and under both side hems of the main curtain fabric. Make sure to line up the top of the lining with the top of the curtain panel. Your lining should be about 1 inch shorter than the main curtain fabric and 1 inch longer than the interlining. By cutting the width of the lining and interlining pieces slightly smaller than the width of the finished curtain panel you should have no problem getting the three pieces of fabric to work together.



Pin two (or three if using interlining) layers in place and sew.


Create Top Hem
Fold and press under two (or three if using interlining) layers 6 inches. Fold under again to create a 3 inch top hem. Pin and sew.


Hang curtains using drapery pins, clip rings or through the top pocket hem.


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Building a Fire Pit

9:40 AM | Labels: , , , , , ,



I mentioned earlier in the week that our fire pit is all finished and has already seen lots of roasted marshmallows. From the picture above you can see we decided on a built-in style rather than a free standing model.


Making this fire pit a reality turned out to be a very quick and easy project. I think the entire process took under an hour! We simply ordered a “kit” which included all of the blocks along with the metal ring. The only component missing was the rocks used to fill the bottom half of the fire pit.

Here is the building process.
Level out the ground and use a tamper to pack the area on which you will be building the fire pit.


Use the metal ring as a template to lay the first course of blocks.


Remove the ring and begin adding the second course. The blocks should be staggered so that no joints align.


Test your design to make sure the ring still fits correctly.  Make adjustments if necessary.


Remove the ring and continue the above steps until all blocks have been used.


After the final course is in place, insert metal ring. (Note: the manufacturer recommends using masonry cement to secure the top two courses of blocks. We opted to skip this step as we wanted to have the option to move the fire pit in the future.)


Fill fire pit about half way full with rocks.  Build a fire and enjoy!

Of course no fire pit story would be complete without s’mores!


We had a few left over peeps from Easter and decided to use them up in our s’mores. This was the first time we tried peeps this way and I have to say due to popular demand I was at the Easter candy sale aisle the next day looking for more!


Needless to say, we are looking forward to summer and many upcoming fires in our new fire pit.


If you have a fire pit I would love to know your favorite things to cook!  Please leave a comment and share your tastiest treats.

Linking up with
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

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How to Age Brass

7:26 AM | Labels: , , , ,

Is it just me, or have you also noticed brass making a comeback lately in the design world?


Brass sink, faucet, and light fixture – photo source unknown

I am not talking about shiny lacquered brass but rather the aged, “been around for a while” looking brass.

Brass vase from Little Green Notebook

Having owned my share of brass fixtures, lamps and accessories, I will be the first to admit I go back and forth on my opinion about brass – sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t and my feelings about it seem to change depending on the room in which it is being used. What I am quite certain about, however, is my dislike for shiny, lacquered brass – the type my table lamp (shown below) is made from.


To remedy the situation I decided to do some internet research to find out how I could age my brass lamp. The technique shown below can also be used for candlesticks, door knobs, etc. – the key is to make sure the item you are working with is brass.

Supplies
Nail polish remover
Apple cider vinegar
Final stripping pads
Paper towels
Towel

Directions
Take lamp apart.


Place a small amount of nail polish remover on stripping pad. Gently rub to remove lacquered finish. It is important to use a very fine grade of stripping pad so that you do not make scratches in the metal.


Once all lacquer has been removed, wipe brass with soap and water to remove any nail polish residue. Dry.


Place lamp on towel and slowly pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar over the brass. You may want to place a piece of plastic under the towel to prevent the vinegar from soaking into the table or floor surface. If you are using a candle stick or something similar you could soak the item in a container rather than use the method shown here.


Let sit and add additional apple cider vinegar until desired finish is achieved. I discovered the brass which was in contact with the soaked towel aged fairly quickly. Thus, I kept turning the sections of the brass which had not aged so that they were in contact with the soaked part of the towel.


If your brass turns green – like mine did – simply wipe clean with a damp cloth.


The result – a lamp which now looks like it has been around for many years.




I would love to hear your opinion about brass.  Do you have any brass in your home? If so, where?  Thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts!

Linking up with
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Tickled Pink at 504 Main
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

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