In my last post, I mentioned that Bethwas having a giveaway. But I didn't tell you what a GOOD one it was!! She is offering a book by Amy Barickman of Vintage Workshop and Indygo Junction as the prize. Amy is another reason to be proud to be from the Kansas City area, she is just one of many of our local girls with talent.
Beth and I came very close to finishing our table clothes on Tuesday. I made 2 and almost completed a third, but ran out of the right fabrics. I could have whipped up something that would work, but Beth says she has two more old embroidered pillow cases I can have as part of the skirt. And that sounds perfect.
Plus, Beth needs time to finish her 2nd cloth. So, instead of my normal way of doing things, which is work on it till its done, then clean up the mess, I decided to LET IT SIT FOR A WEEK!!!!!!!!!!! Not easy, I tell you. But, I'm doing it. All the sewing stuff is set up in the studio along with a nearly finished table skirt that is calling out to me every time I walk by it.
But I am being patient. Which I rarely am. And I took advantage of having the sewing stuff set up and made pillow cases for my bench.
It was a quick stitch thing, since I hate to sew. Instead of tailored pillows, I took the existing (on sale for $4 each at Hobby Lobby 3 years ago) pillows and made little cases to slide them into. I sat the pillow on the fabric, cut out around it, then straight stitched up the sides and sewed fringe onto the open ends.
The cushion on the seat got a similar treatment, but no fringe. It is just left open in the back where no one can see it. If this was a cushion that got more use, I'd sew on ribbons to tie it shut, but it won't be getting butts scooting around on it daily like it would if it was in a dining room or kitchen. People only sit there to eat a few times a year.
All of this was done on a whim, sloppy and quick, (isn't that something Bobby Lee says on MadTV?) but it sure makes me happy, because I never liked the original cushions and pillows. I'd had them on the bench for a design house it was in. But the cushion was made by a professional and seemed to nice too change even though it was dark and not me.
But this is!! Sloppy, quick, Casual and FLOWERED!!
Once I had the bench all flowery, I decided that I needed some in my wallpaper frames. So, I added German die cuts to some of the frames with vintage stick pins.
And while this frame probably would fit in better if I'd taken the time to paint it white instead of pink, its kind of growing on me like this.
For this flocked gold paper, I wanted something really special, but was out of small frames. So, I glued some of the world's prettiest wallpaper (from either Heather or Natasha, we shared scraps of our finds that we bought on our trip to wallpaper heaven with Andrea) to a circle I had cut out of foam core poster board. I edged the edges in gold ink and hung it from a ribbon.
This one is something I had hanging in another part of the studio. Its a vintage rose print (I definitely wanted all the flowers to be roses) on satin, not paper. I had wrapped toile fabric around the mat board and popped it into a white frame. If I was doing it just for this project, I'd have used wallpaper instead of fabric, but this is just fine and sometimes, just fine is enough.
My Mom had a sewing room that I adored, even though I hated sewing (still do). I could play with her ribbons and stacks of fabric for hours. And I am talking about when I was in my 40s, not as a little kid.
She was a gifted seamstress and made her own patterns. But she measured and took pride in her stitches. If I had to do it that way, I'd never thread a needle again. I like to sew the way the mice and blue birds did when they made Cinderella's dress. They didn't take a lot of time with it, used what was laying around and just whipped up something pretty!
Your pillows look lovely! I love to sew only when I’m piecing for a quilt, but any other time ~ no! I always think I should like it more than I do…to no avail. I love seeing what your creative mind comes up with!
Lots of prettiness today!!! I entered Beth’s giveaway! That book is awesome!
for someone who claims to hate sewing…you sure are a sewing fool over there Karla…fool is a term of endearment by the way, you know i think you are wonderful…great sewing projects…love the pillow shams you made…oh, and your wallpapers and frames look SO pretty on that wall…i got a piece of that pink, green and gold wallpaper from Heather, and i think it is THE prettiest paper i have ever seen!!!
The frames are so pretty. How I would love to come to your house and look at everything. I would play in your studio like you did in your mom’s sewing room, (and I’m closeer to 50 then 40!). Pretty pillows too. I’m really drawn to your table cloths. What a GRAND idea.
your bench and pillows look so beautiful! I feel the same way about sewing. My husband bought me a sewing machine for Christmas 4 years ago and I still sew project and things by hand. I figure I could be done with it faster than it would take me to dig out the sewing machine, thread the bobbin, and get things set up.
I like everything you did! Love the fabric on the cushions! Also the frames with wallpaper and flowers are adorable. And once again, I envy how big your studio is!!
I sure do love your bench in your studio…did you paint the roses on it? And the pillows and cushion cover are divine.
I think I know why you hate sewing now- its because you treat it like a marathon sport- you are going to sew through all 26 miles even though you’re tired, your feet and back hurt and you’ve used language I won’t repeat-but it works for you- you’ve got 2 2/3 tableclothes, new pillows, a recovered bench and I have 1.5 table covers.
Pretty indead! I want those pillows karla!Please invoice me! te! he!Come by ,I decided to give something away~!!
What a charming image, mice and bluebirds making Cinderella’s dress. Remember what Nester says, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” That’s why we love her. And your things are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Even your iron board (is this the correct word?) has roses! I like that and I have to tell you that mine has too! I love your cushions and your frames! Mmm I am not a seamstress myself. I can make things, but it kinda grows. I cannot work with patterns, I hate that, I’m not precise at all. Somebody asked me the other day: could you sew a skirt? I could, I answered, especially when it started as pants! Have a nice day!
Not bad for a slap up job! Rachaelxo
p.s. After catching up on your blog yesterday I left it in tears over the puppy but hopped over to Beths and ending up having a good laugh! Rachael
I love all your frames and the different things you did with them. They look great, and so do your cushions. I used to sew a lot years ago and I haven’t sewn a lick in a lot of years. Have a great evening.
Jean in Virginia
Lovely, Karla! I thought you might like a peek at what I made with a recent Etsy purchase from your shop. It is the psot today.
Looks like a good sewing day! I love recovering old pillows or making shams makes it last longer. Oh we went through Bethany’s closet today so we have a whole huge bag of clothes for Leandra 🙂 Hope you got to enjoy the pretty sunshine today!!
I’m longing for the day when I retire so I can sew a lot more. When my daughter was little I made all of her dresses,Holloween costumes, etc. I love to make pillows and recently when looking for my Christmas decorations I realized I had 5, count them 5 big rubbermaid containers in the garage full of fabric! that doesn’t count all of what is in the house! Sounds like the two of you, you and Beth, have busy!!!!
Sandyt
Lovely pillows and wall hangings. Vintage wallpapers are a treasure.
Hugs
Sonia
I love what you did with the frames and there was no painting of flowers involved, which means I could do it. I’m putting those pics in my inspiration file for a bedroom I’m redoing, this summer.
~elaine~
Seeing if I can comment now? Happy happies.
Love the frames 🙂
Karla, you are like a magic fairy that just goes around sprinkling your magic fairy dust everywhere you go. Is there anything you can’t do, and do beautifully, by the way…?!!
Good Morning Karla! I have a WHOLE DAY OFF today and you have inspired me, as always. Oh, and I’ve wanted to tell you that the journal that you did inspired me to take the old black and white composition book with the covers falling off, that has been my family cookbook since I had babies, and do something better with it. It is the kind where you come to the page for “Matthew’s Sugar Cookies”, and stuck in there is a polaroid of him riding his go cart at 11 years old. It is going to be such a fun project! And of course it will be on-going to pass down to my Samantha some day. Also wanted to tell you that safety pins on the back of the cushion you didn’t close, the great big ones, (of course, I ALWAYS finish every seam Perfectly when I do projects like that), but you know, in case you are in a hurry, or wanted it to be easily removed in case 5 dogs are going to be sitting on it (not to mention husbands or little grimy children), you COULD close it with big safety pins! And lastly (I’ll stop talking soon) my very best friend in the world who I sewed and crafted with for 25+ years and I had our shorthand version of everything to communicate, and we knew that Most Things Are JF just the way they turn out! Thanks for waking up that just fine memory this morning, it made me smile! Your Friend, Bobbi
I am so like you in regards to sewing…never enjoyed sewing but let me do it my own way and I would create what I liked! When I was in high school sewing class, my mom (an avid seamstress) taught me a couple great shortcuts for a skirt we were making. I finally got my skirt finished and was so proud. My teacher told me I needed to rip it up and start over because I took shortcuts! Well, I vowed to her right there and then that I would not be doing any more sewing for the rest of the year. She waited me out and realized that I was holding my ground. Well, instead of sewing, she made an agreement with me that if I dusted her shelves and windowsills and watered her flowers she would give me a C for the semester. I was a great duster! hee! hee! And when I wore my green calico skirt, I looked quite cute doing it!
Hugs! karen…
I think I’ve said this before, but I ADORE the framed wallpaper panels. They are so perfect in that room!
Love the cinderella reference! I remember watching the birds swooping around with the ribbons like it was yesterday, oh wait, it was yesterday!
Stacy
Karla, love the cushions and the wallpaper frames. The all look great.
Hugs karen
We’ve had it in the 40’s…took the dog for a walk, my ears were freezin’.
Your table looks pretty.
Hugs,
Pam
What pretty pillows. Love the bench with the roses. Sooooo cute.
Hugs 🙂
Irma
Just wonderful, and if you have a place for sewing, you never have to actually clean it up…anyway that’s the way I live…ha ha.