Curtains to pillow covers

Some people rearrange their furniture, I change my curtains.  I get bored with the look of a room so the first thing I do is take the curtains down and hang new ones.  It drives my husband crazy.  Good thing I know how to sew or I would be spending alot of money on updates. 

Todays redo was in our livingroom.  I purchased curtain toppers at Ollies last year with the thought that I would use them in my livingroom someday.  Well today was that day.  Once I hung the curtains I realized the pillows on the couch didn't match.  Down to my fabric stash I went.  I couldn't find what I was looking for in my stash but I did find 2 sets of curtains that I hadn't used in a while.  They were a very neutral color almost just like a drop cloth. 

My curtains were 63" long.  Did you know that you can cover one large pillow that is 25x25 with one curtain panel?  I didn't have to make any cuts to the panel.  Wohoo it was a perfect fit to make a slip cover. All the pillows in my house have slip covers on them.  I can just remove the cover and wash it or even better CHANGE IT for an entire new look!

Here's a look at what I did.  I layed out the curtain panel (right side of fabric facing up) and folded one end to the center, then take the other end and fold it over that layer to the center.   Now you need to measure to make sure that your square that you just created is 26" or 25 1/2" if you like the form to fit very snug on your pillow.

Now just sew a straight line down both sides of the fabric (the 2 sides that are open not the folded sides.) I like to reinforce the stitching line by just sewing over it 2 times.

Now you just need to flip your square right sides out and insert you pillow.  This is what the backside looks like after I inserted the pillow.

Next time you see a set of curtains at the thrift store, yard sale or just on sale pick them up and cover your pillows with them.

The smaller pillow in the front was made from a tablecloth a few years back.  Stay tuned for how I used the tie back from the set of curtains.

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Fall in Pennsylvania

Fall is beautiful in Pennsylvania.  I'm glad I took these pictures on Friday, because the weather took a huge turn for the worst.  It's been raining for 2 days and the temperature has really dropped.  That means most of the leaves on my beautiful tree are now on the ground. 

Tree in front of my house

This is what Fall 2012 looks like at my house!

Road trip to Lucketts

I spent the weekend with 2 of my sisters.  We took a road trip to Virginia.  We didn't accomplish the mission that we attempted but we did get to spend great quality time together.  I was the passenger in the backseat, not paying any attention to where we were going.  At one point I saw a sign that said welcome to Leesburg VA.  Sister #3 was telling us "this is a very historical town that we are driving through now."  The light bulb went off and I thought I remember that Luckett's Antique Store was in Leesburg.  I immediatly sent a text to my girlfriend back home and asked her to check the Miss Mustard Seed blog and see exactly where Lucketts is located.  She sent me the address and the Phone number by text.  (Thank you Jennifer you rock.) 

Once we checked in to our hotel we called Lucketts and got directions.  We were only 8 miles away. Yipee! So first thing Saturday morning we headed to Lucketts.





Me on the steps in front of Lucketts



My friend Jen loves these bottles



I'm trying to decide which color paint I want to purchase from Miss Mustard's Seeds new paint line.



Sister #3, ME and Sister #4



Miss Mustard Seed's display of glass glitter

This is crazy sister #4 buying long johns and a Russian hat to wear when she goes hunting.  Yes my crazy beautiful sister loves to hunt.  Only she could pull off long johns and a fur hat.




My color choice was Tricycle.  I can't wait to try it out.

 I had such a nice weekend traveling with my sisters.  We get so caught up in our own families that we don't spend enough time together.  Honestly we are all so different but we truly have the strongest bond to each other.  I wouldn't trade my huge Irish-Italian family for a million dollars.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Luckett's Antique Store I would recommend it 1,000 times.  The staff was awesome and the rooms were full of great stuff.  I was so inspired by it all.  






Mirror update

This was a very quick and cheap update.  I had some shelf liner left over from another project and I found this mirror at a yard sale for $1.00. The mirror was in perfect shape I just didn't like the blue flowers on it.

Here is a close up of the flowers.

I painted the frame black and the flowers black.

I cut the shelf liner paper (I found it at the Dollar Tree a few months back) and stuck it to the middle of the frame.  This matches perfect in my spare room that is all done in black and white.

This was a very quick and cheap update.

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Burlap name plate

I wanted something fall looking for my front door.  I love anything burlap so I went to Pat Catan's and purchased an embroidery hoop.  I thought the oval shaped one was interesting.  I paid $5.79 for this size and added burlap that I had in my fabric stash. I stretched the burlap in the hoop.  I also purchased wooden letters at Pat Catans for 35 cents each. 

I traced the letter with a black sharpie and then filled them in with black paint.

Next I cut the burlap and hot glued it to the inside of the embroidery hoop.  Sorry I didn't take a picture of this step.

Here is the finished product hanging on my red front door.  I hung it with another piece of burlap.  I love how it turned out.  This was a very easy and cheap way to personalize your front door.

I'm thinking Christmas presents for the Orrico side of the family.  What do you think?

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Doggie toy box

The last time I had toys spread all over my house is when my kids were little.  That was many many years ago.  They are now 23 & 27.  I'm having issues with dog bones, stuffed animals and balls everywhere I turn.  I found this wooden box in my craft room just waiting for a makeover.

I added some vinyl letters to the box and this is how she looks.

Now that I'm all grown up I don't have to pick up barbie shoes and legos I get to pick up slimy dog bones and wet chew toys.   At least I can throw them all in this box at the end of the day and I feel like my house is somewhat organized. 

I know I know he is just a puppy.  That's what everyone keeps reminding me!

He looks so innocent when he is sleeping.

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personalized doggie mat

If you follow my blog you know that I just got a puppy. I am so not used to having a dog in my house. I can't stand the water dribbles everywhere so I decided to make a doggie mat.  I found this mat at Ollie's for $1.79 and decided to add his name to it. 

 

I got out my plastic stencils and taped them down to the mat. First I traced inside the stencils with a magic marker.

I filled in all the blank spaces with black paint.   


It works perfect.  As soon as I put it down under his water dish he dropped his ball in the water dish and it splashed all over.  This time it landed on the mat. 

Next up, one for the kitchen under his food dish and his large water dish.  This PUPPY is taking over my house and my life!!!!!

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