A quick lampshade slipcover

I have been doing a little springtime decorating in my home's entryway

using the many birdhouses that I have gathered over the years.

I was not happy with the color of this lampshade...

...then remembered this little bird print fabric in my stash.

I thought I would make a little slipcover for the shade

so I could go back to the original shade when desired.

First I traced around the shade on newspaper.

Because my fabric was directional and I wanted all the

birds to be right side up (not upside down as it went around the pattern)...

...I cut the traced pattern into four quarter panels, adding 1/4 inch

on the sides (for seams) and enough on the top and bottom

of the shade for turning under.  I pinned the pattern on the fabric

so that each panel had the birds sitting upright on the branches.

I then stitched the sides together, forming a circle.

I stitched 1/4 inch from the top and bottom. I find it much easier to

turn and press a hem with this guide, and it seems to help

ease in the fullness of the wider edge.

Press around the top and bottom,

turn again and stitch hem.

Here is the finished slip!

You can change the look of your lampshade to go with

any decor and be able to go back to the original at anytime!

You could embellish your slipcover with trims, ribbons, or beads,

but this fabric has such a busy print I left it as is.

Please come see how I decorated my entryway

Here!


Joining Kathy for
Home and Garden Thursday!

Another Scarf

I fell in love with this gray linen scarf

that I saw on Pinterest.

source

Not having any linen in my stash,

I did come up with a bit of

gray Wool Flannel.

I stitched a length of it together

and crocheted an edge similar to the original

 

and for a touch of Christmas,

pinned it with my Pear Tree pin.

Just in time to wear to a sweet

Granddaughters ballet recital

as a Mouse in The Nutcracker!

Red Buffalo Check Scarf

I've had this classic Red Check flannel

fabric in my stash since last winter

(when big checks were popular!)

 I quickly cut and stitched this

scarf in less than five minutes.

Pulling out the threads to make the fringe ~

quite a bit longer!

The Burlap Wreath Gets a Little Christmas On!

You may remember this burlap wreath that I

made in October. I love the simplicity

and country style of it. The burlap 

looks as if it were cut right from the

feed sack! Perfect for those

harvest-y Autumn days

 here at the farm.

Now that Christmas is approaching and the

days are shorter and drab,

I wanted to add just a touch

 of festive color to cheer it

(and me) up! 

I used some plaid wired ribbon

that I already had. I

 made several little 'picks' of

the ribbon fashioned into

loops to mimic the looped

burlap, and fastened here and there.

Then I added a larger gathering

to the center of the burlap bow.

It still wanted something.

?

I have had this little German Glitter Banner

that I had recieved from Madai at

Wren Cottage a couple of years ago, and

thought it might be just the addition it needed.

The glitter is a bit tarnished with age now

but I think it added just the right touch!

Simple ~ Country 

Just like me! 

Yep! I like it

It brings me a bit of JOY!

Rustic Burlap Wreath

Using items that I already had,

I made a burlap wreath

for the front door

~

to go with my Crow Pillow !

If you would like to make one, too,

you will need:

2 yds. 54 inch wide burlap

12 inch wreath frame

wire for securing burlap to wreath frame

Cut 5 burlap strips 9inches wide

cutting from selvage to selvage through the burlap.

No need to be precise ~ it's rustic

so just eyeball it.

Use one of the strips to wrap around your wreath frame.

Secure with wire, leaving a tail (this will be the hanger)

 and do not cut wire from the package.

Take another of the burlap strips and loosely fold in half with

the seam at the back.

(It won't stay, but this is the general shape you want your strips.)

With the longest piece at the back, fold a section over

and pinch to make a piece that looks similar to

a half of a bow.

Secure with the long piece of wire

(still attached to the carton)

wrapping around the wreath frame.

Continue folding and wrapping burlap

with the wire to the frame

covering the wire of the

proceeding fold with each

new one added.

When you run out of one piece of burlap

continue in the same manner with consecutive pieces

until the entire frame is covered.

I alternated the direction of the folds ~

first to the right and the next one a little toward

the left to help conceal the wire and give

a bit of a fuller look to the wreath.

I used 4 strips of burlap to complete the circle of the

wreath. You may need more or less, depending on how full

you want it to look and your folding technique.

When your wreath is as full as you like and have

completely covered the frame, cut the wire a few inches

long and twist together with the initial piece left

for the hanger to secure the burlap.

Embellish however you like.

I added a burlap bow ~ a piece of burlap

folded in a bow shape...

...and knotted with a second long strand

over the bow and wreath frame.

My finished rustic burlap wreath!

Ready to hang on the door!

When it is daylight!

Tomorrow!

~*~

Joining

Deborah Jean for Farmgirl Friday #30

Tracie for Outdoor Fall Decor #5

Jami for Well Made Wednesday

Cindy for Show and Tell Friday

Rustic 'Crow' Pillow

I whipped up a simple, rustic pillow

with a crow silhouette for

my Autumn Porch bench.

Every farm has a crow or two, you know!

~*~

I found a free image online and printed it out

on card stock, then using an exacto knife, cut out

the image leaving a 'stencil' of the crow.

I placed the stencil on my precut burlap

and filled the image space with

black acrylic paint using a cheap

sponge brush.

Let the paint dry over night.

I lined the burlap with inexpensive muslin

and stitched the three sides with my machine.

I whip stitched closed the bottom of the pillow using a

large upholstery needle and some hemp twine.

This is a rustic outdoor pillow, after all!

 Here sits my little crow pillow...

eager to Welcome guests who blow in

with the Autumn winds!

~*~
Joining Tracie at Fishtail Cottage for
Outdoor Decor #3
and
My Romantic Home for
Show and Tell Friday!
and
Deborah Jean's Farmgirl Friday #28.
and
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for
Wow Us Wednesday!
and
Jami at An Oregon Cottage for
Well-Made Wednesday!

Morgan's Ballet Bag

She didn't have one.

Every little ballerina needs a

Ballet Bag

to hold shoes and other necessary items!

Morgan loves red!

Grandma loves Morgan!

Grandma made Morgan a

Red Ballet Bag!

In case you were wondering

Remember, you were guessing, in the previous post, what these gifts were that I was sewing.

Scroll down to see the finished product!

Classic and subdued

Flamboyant and bright

Any Season Robes!

Pattern by Cindy Taylor Oates
of Taylor Made Designs.

Just a hint...

...of what I have been working on for Christmas!

Classic and subdued for Daughter #1

Flamboyant and bright for Daughter #2.



Do you like to guess what presents are at Christmas time?
Do you shake boxes and guess at the size and shape?
To prevent this at our home when the girls were young,
I would choose one style of wrapping paper for each person
but not put a tag on the gift.
Only I knew which ones went to whom!
They didn't know if it was their gift,
their sister's, or any of the
other recipients gifts!
They were only to be revealed on
Christmas Morning!



What do you think these are?
I would enjoy reading your guesses!
I will reveal them when they are finished!



Christmas Blessings to each and every one of you,
My Sweet Blogging Friends!

Because every man needs a hat...

no matter what his size!

~

Momma loves all things old fashioned,

so how about this vintage style bonnet?

This little blue and white plaid

hat is on it's way to

Utah!

I wonder if it will arrive before baby?

Lined in the softest blue flannel

to keep little ears and head warm

in cold winter weather.

Lace and embroidery are out for little boys

so what to embellish this little cap with?

How about a wee blue cording!

A chin strap is more boyish than frilly ribbon ties!

But, I think this cap is still sweet enough for

any baby boy, don't you?

They're the Cat's Meow!

What do you get when you take some

cute soft flannel...

...in bright colors and whimsical patterns...

...stitch some button holes...

...add some pockets...

and sew on a contrasting band?

Why, a couple of Cute Cats Jumpers,

of course!

They are the same, but different!

Oh! And we can't forget the Cats!

Made for the two sweetest little granddaughters

(because they love kitties)
in honor of their newest addition ~

Percy!

(Click on his name to go meet this cute little unexpected bundle

of cuteness!)