Cloche of Love Letters

Well, not really love letters.  It is French script wrapping paper from Ballard Designs cut and rolled, taped, then tied with a little bit of red and white crinkled seam binding.

This cloche was standing empty after the Christmas decorations got put away.  Apparently, I don’t have much in Valentine’s Day decorations, so I improvised with what I had. 

You could probably leave something like this out all year.

You can find lots of letters and documents free online that you could print off or even use sheet music.

It is, at least, satisfying my need to not have to look at an empty cloche or have to buy something to fill it until Spring/Easter decorating.

Now, I’ve got a red tote on my living room coffee table {that I used for Christmas} calling out for something!

Linking up with

Be Inspired at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

DIY Kindle Cover/Sleeve

You might remember that I told you I got a Kindle for Christmas from my husband and that I was going to make my own cover/sleeve for it.  I pinned a few that I liked and found this great tutorial that I decided to use.  The only thing I had to buy was the iron-on fleece interfacing and I used a coupon at Joann’s for that.  I went through my fabric bins to find two that would work well together {one as the lining and one as the outside fabric}.

I decided on these two ~ Osnaberg for the lining and the Ballard’s French Document fabric for the outside.  I also picked out the button and elastic.  Thankfully, I also had these in my supplies.

In the event you don’t want to click over to the tutorial I followed, here is the cliff notes version.   You need to measure your item, whether it’s a Kindle, iPad, notebook, etc., with a cloth tape measure.  Width all the way around and length all the way around. 

You divide those figures in half and then need to add in for the seam allowance ~ 2 inches on the width and 1.75 inches on the length.   So for mine it wound up being 7 x 9 inches to cut for the lining and outside fabrics.  The interfacing is cut an inch shorter than those figures {6 x 8}.  

You iron the fusible fleece interfacing to the wrong side of the outside fabric, place good sides facing each other and sew three sides together, leaving the top open.  Sew three sides of the lining fabric together leaving the top open as well as 3-4 inches at the bottom for turning. 

Clip your corners, turning the lining right side out and insert into the exterior portion of the sleeve {which is still inside out}, right sides facing.  Pin in place and here is where you insert your elastic.  I used elastic I had but you can use a hair elastic.  Stitch around the top of the case. 

Turn the whole case right side out through the hole you left in the bottom of the lining.   Poke out your corners in the exterior fabric, sew the hole in the bottom of the lining fabric closed and push it into the case.

Iron it and then do a topstitch. Then you can attach your button. I decided to add a decorative button on top of the button I sewed on. I just hot glued it on.

I would suggest definitely going to the link for the tutorial I followed.  She did a very good job explaining everything and I found it very easy to follow.

All done and doing it’s job!  Quite prettily, I think!

Linking up with

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Winter Blues Wednesday at DIY by Design

Tutorials, Tips & Tidbits at Stone Gable

Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse

The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

 

An Unplanned Vignette

While I was gathering all the Christmas decorations together and cleaning up, I found I had a blank spot on our dining table.  I couldn’t find the faux pomegranates I have, so I took this tote that I made over {here; it’s currently listed in  my Etsy shop} and put together a vignette using what I had readily available. 

The small transferware plate that I got at Christmas Tree Shop; the little balsam I had on the table for Christmas, with it’s Christmas paper removed and replaced with some red and white toile fabric; a white pillar candle on a silver holder; some more red and white toile fabric just folded over; a few of my sweet hearts {also in my Etsy ~ SOLD!}; and a mini pillow with a Valentine graphic on it {from The Graphics Fairy}.

I played around with it until I was able to fit everything the way I liked it, tucking the hearts into the blank spots.

This will work out good, too, because I can move it easily for when we sit down to eat dinner.

Plus, I think the colors and pieces work for Valentine’s Day.

Now I need to work on the other areas in the house.  I can’t find some of the things I put away for Christmas! I’m on the look-out for my boxwood balls, for one.

Linking up with

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

 

Some Gifts

I wanted to share a few of the gifts I got for Christmas this year.  One of my favorites is this clock that I purchased from Amy at Maison Décor’s online shop.  I bought it for my husband to give to me {it’s just so much easier that way!}. 

It goes perfectly with the Duck Egg chalk paint I’ve used in our master bedroom.  It is sitting on the half round accent table I did in Duck Egg with clear and dark waxes.  I also got some great new decorating books from my Mom.

Including this Alice book that has lots of things to make.  I’m sure there will be many projects I make from this book that will wind up in this year’s Mad Hatter Tea Party post {here is 2012 and 2011}.

My sister-in-law gave me these fleur hooks and fleur coasters.

I also got a Kindle {which I swore I would never use} from my husband.  So far I have purchased two books for it and am currently reading one of them.  The jury is still out!  I think everyone knows what they look like, but here’s a picture from the Amazon website.

So one of my first sewing projects this year will be to make a cover/sleeve for it using fabric I already have.  I’m trying to be good about using what I have on hand before I buy things.  I just need some iron-on fleece interfacing and I’ll be good to go.  This is similar to one I want to make {except in different fabric}.

Now, I’m just waiting for a quiet day to sit with  some hot chocolate and look through my new decorating books!

Christmas Clearance

New Year’s day, the last day family was here visiting, we went to Christmas Tree Shops to see what was on clearance.  Most of the Christmas stuff was 60% off.  Plus, I had a $10.00 coupon that expired on January 2nd!   I did get a few of the carolers I wanted.  They wound up being $1.20 each!

I’m going to write a note in my day planner under December to try these in a mantel display for next Christmas.  Otherwise, I’ll totally forget.  I wanted some greenery, too, {for tucking into areas throughout the house} but they didn’t have much other than plain garlands, wreaths and this swag. 

While these dishes weren’t on clearance, their prices are so good on dishware there, and I’ve been coveting some red and white transferware.  I bought two dinner plates, two deep bowls, and the only sandwich plate they had.

I love the cottage pictured.

Such a pretty set and I figure I can use the small plate for display or for when I treat myself to a few cookies with my afternoon hot chocolate.  {Now I’ll have to go back and get a mug!}.

I’ll be putting Christmas away this week and sorting decorations for donation while I’m at it.  It will be good to get things back to normal and straightened up!