Grain Sack Lumbar Pillow Cover

Debra over at Common Ground reminded me of this great fabric I had gotten from Décor Steals a couple of years ago.  It’s a grain sack look fabric. It was a really good deal at the time, but I haven’t used much of it.

Debra used hers for table runners, but I decided to do a lumbar pillow cover for a pillow I have on our living room sofa.  I made this one up with a drapery panel I found at Goodwill several years ago.

I decided to make a cover so that I could remove it when I wanted a change or just to go back to the pillow the way it was.  I have been trying to just do envelope covers for easy on/off for my existing pillows, so that’s how I did this one.  But first, I decided to add an image to the center.  I chose this one which I’ve had saved for awhile and that came from The Graphics Fairy.  I printed this onto iron-on paper and transferred it onto the fabric before sewing.

I chose the fabric that had a black stripe since I have black and white going on here. 

I was glad that the stripes worked out the way I wanted them to.

I’m really pleased with the way it turned out and even more pleased that it will be easy to remove and change when I want to do so.

Just to give you a little bit of info if you’ve never done an envelope closure before ~ this pillow is 12 x 26.  I cut the front/face fabric 13 x 27 and the back fabric 13 x 33.  I then cut the back fabric in half.  I lined it up on the facing fabric and then pinned the opening portion of both pieces for sewing ~ width-wise {and this way you have the correct length}.  Once they were both sewn I pinned them to the front and sewed all the way around.  Clip your corners and turn right side out through the “envelope” opening.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions on how to do this.

I like how it brings over the color of the burlap tablecloths on the side tables to the middle of the sofa.

I did another project with one of the other grain sack fabrics that I hope to share with you next week.  Also next week, we are in the final countdown for the new granddaughter!  I’m very excited to meet her!

 

A Painted Pot Redo Becomes A Fall Centerpiece

I’ve had this terracotta pot sitting on a shelf in our garage all Summer.  I painted it a couple of years ago and added the fleur de lis stencil.  I never used it this year and I was thinking it was time to repaint it. 

I had some paint left in two sample pots of Coco and Old Ochre chalk paint so I decided to use those.  I just kept it simple and neutral, because I would like to be able to use it for Spring, Summer and Fall in different ways.  I painted it with the Coco and then dry brushed the Old Ochre over that.

For Fall, I found this project when I was looking through my Halloween/Fall board on Pinterest.  This is my inspiration for this project.

Source : Pinterest

I pretty much have everything I need to put it together ~ the pot, a glass hurricane, and some Fall florals.  I’m using one of my monogrammed faux candles for pictures. I used a small glass votive holder to raise up my faux candle to the proper height.

The florals are from an old floral arrangement that I took apart a few years ago when the container it was in broke.  I used them last year in a wooden tote on my living room coffee table. 

I will have to buy one thing ~ a candle.  I think a pumpkin colored/scented pillar candle would finish this off nicely.

And now I have a lovely Fall centerpiece!  I may add some faux leaves to this, too.  I have some extras floating around in my Fall bin. 

This could be used outside or in.  I’ll be using mine on our dining table. 

For now, though, I will use this boxwood ball in the pot.  This makes for a really quick decorative piece and will work great for the end of Summer transition into Fall decorating.

 

My Garden Urn In August

I’m so glad I take pictures to document my plantings each year.  It gives me a good way to remember how each plant did in its location.  If you remember, I shared one of those with you last month in this post ~ the urn by our garage door.  Here it is when first planted at the end of May, 2015.

The next time I documented it was on July 8th.

And here it is on August 16, 2015.  It’s amazing that it continued to grow so much more a month later!

As I said in that July post, this is coleus, licorice plant, and purple geraniums.  Just two of each plant!

I think this combination is a keeper to do again next year!

Freebies

I got some great freebies from work the other day.  It was kind of like trash diving, but without the actual trash diving.  Our office administrator was doing a clear out and these two dictionaries were on the side to be thrown away. 

I asked if they were going to be garbage and when she said, “yes”, I asked if I could have them.  She did look at me funny until I told her that they are good to have on hand for doing craft projects.  I think I will have plenty of dictionary pages to last me for awhile now!

I love the cover of the blue one.  It has that old faded blue color to it.

The other item was the rolodex.  Never used and it has the alphabetical dividers, as well as some blank rolodex cards.  I had saved a rolodex craft some time ago with the thought that one day I might come across one and be able to play around with it.  Now I can!  This is the one that has inspired me.

Source: Beansie Babbles

It’s always nice to get some freebies and, although these are nothing major, they are things I can add to my craft supplies – without having spent any money! 

  I’m looking forward to using them in some craft projects!  Have you gotten any little freebies lately that have made you happy?

 

Pinterest Recipe–Nutella Banana Bread

I found a recipe on Pinterest about a month ago – Nutella Banana Bread by The 36th Avenue.  The picture had my mouth watering, and I was determined to make it and to make it gluten free.  You can find the original recipe here.

I used Red Mills Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour and kept all the other ingredients the same as originally given.  As with the original using regular flour, I got two full size loaves out of the recipe.

It was soooooo good!  My daughter and granddaughter, who are not gluten free, said they enjoyed it, too.  So, I think this one is a keeper for the recipe binder!  I will definitely be making this one again.

Baby Burp Cloths

This is the last thing I have currently made for the new granddaughter {countdown: 3 1/2 weeks away} ~ some burp cloths made from cloth diapers and flannel fabric.  This is a good project for beginners because it is all straight sewing.  It is also an inexpensive project because 1/2 a yard will do two burp cloths; even the cloth diapers {in a package of 10} are reasonably priced.

I got a package of cloth diapers from Walmart and some baby girl themed flannel fabric from Hobby Lobby {half a yard of three fabrics works for 6 burp cloths}.  I washed both the fabrics and the cloth diapers, as the cloth diapers will shrink up.

Then I very simply placed the wrong side of the flannel to one side of the cloth diaper, pinned, cut to size, left a small opening for turning, and sewed.  Clip the corners, turn, poke the corners out, sew the opening closed, and they are done and ready to give!

These make for an inexpensive, quick and easy gift, but, not only that, they make a must-have item look pretty.  And every baby needs a pretty burp cloth!

Tied up in a pretty pink satin ribbon, they are all ready to give to my daughter. 

 

Baby Girl Baby Blanket

I mentioned last week that one of the things I am doing while enjoying the “simple pleasures” of Summer is sewing for the new baby that is due to enter our lives in the next 4 1/2 weeks.  Another granddaughter!  I thought I’d share the baby blanket I made up for her.  A very quick and easy project.

I bought two fleece fabrics that coordinated with each other.  My granddaughter actually picked these out.  She loves pink!  I will make one for her, too, that will fit her bed. 

After washing/drying both fabrics, I kept it simple and used the full one yard of each fabric {squared up}.  I pinned the fabric right sides together and, since I wanted to do a rounded corner, used a bowl placed in the corners to mark that out.  Then I sewed, leaving a 5 inch opening for turning.

Once turned right side out, I pinned again, all the way around to not only catch the opening and close it up, but I used a decorative stitch on my sewing machine to give it more interest.  I used pink thread, but could have used a different color to give it more contrast.

It is super soft and feels wonderful!  This size is perfect for a lap blanket, too, in case you are starting to think about Christmas gifts to make.

 

Another New Magazine! European Homes & Style

Just when you think that magazines in paper form are extinct I’ve seen two new ones that caught my eye in the past month.  I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some other new names on the magazine racks as well, but this one and the one I talked about in this post are right up my alley.

This particular magazine, European Homes & Style, comes from Cottage Journal, which I am familiar with and have a subscription to.  I think I enjoyed this magazine more than the last one!  This magazine showcased homes with a French style, an English style, a Scandinavian style, and homes with a mixture of English and French.   I’m sharing some pictures that caught my eye.

I would definitely recommend this beautiful magazine to pick up and linger over!  I look forward to seeing the next issue.

I am glad that there are new magazines that are still “old school”.  Personally, while I like my Kindle for reading books every so often, I still prefer to hold a real book or magazine in my hands.

How about you?