Pillow and Plans for the weekend ...

Before babies, Mr. T and I used to travel a lot. We used to go to my parents rustic cabin in Northern Vermont every year the week of President's Day in February. We usually spent a few days skiing but one year, it was so frigid that high temps were in the single digits. It was way too cold to consider skiing on the mountain where temps at the summit were below zero. That's not my idea of fun. So, what to do while waiting for the weather to break? We did some sightsseeing and decided to go to Canada since at the time neither of us had ever been out of the country. I just wanted to see what it was like. We couldn't go to Montreal or Quebec city because I had a dog at the time that couldn't be left unattended for too long. So we looked at a map and found a city just over the border. On the drive there, it was fun for us sheltered Americans to see the signs change from English and miles to French and kilometers and a KFC called a PFK (what does that stand for??). The town we went to was really nothing special but I found the cutest little shop and just had to buy something. This pillow was what I ended up with.
It is a simple white slipcovered pillow with "I love you" written in all different languages in the shape of a heart.



I really love its simplicity and especially that its a slipcover rather than just a stuffed pillow. I love that you can wash slipcovers. I always thought it looked simple and wondered if I could make one myself. So, last night, I decided to make the attempt to duplicate the Canada pillow with some eyelet fabric I purchased not long ago and I'm so happy with the result!



I actually like the pillow I made better than the one I bought. The one I purchased has the opening on the side so its kinda floppy on that side, whereas I put the opening in the middle of the back like most shams have them. I also made the trim 1/2" smaller and I think that looks a little better too.

Now that I've made one, the possibilities are endless! As I said, I love that slipcovers can be washed and the reason is the 2 monkeys. Eveyone seems to have dupioni silk pillows these days and so do I. It didn't take me long to realize that this fabric is just not for me. For one, I'm tired of seeing it everywhere. Besides that, its not washable and my girls have destroyed mine with juice and other mysterious messes. So, I'm going to replace all the silk with simple, washable cotton.

On to my weekend plans ... I had actually planned to go visit the 'rents in Delaware with the whole tribe to see how things are progressing and to drop off some things I picked up for them (not a lot of shopping options near their house). Well, its going to be in the 70s here this weekend and my garden needs some tidying up. I still planned to go to DE and just do my garden clean up on Sunday when I got home but then, I saw something in the home section of the paper that caught my eye ... the D.C. Big Flea Market. I had come across this a while ago, but I forgot about it. I've actually never been to a flea market (thrift stores are more convenient for me) and this is supposed to be the biggest one in the area with 1100 booths. Plans changed! I called my parents and told them that I would come next weekend and after thinking about it, I invited them to come with me! This way, they will be able to get their things, keep me company and possibly go home with some other treasures. So, that's my plan for bright and early tomorrow morning. We're supposed to have amazing weather this weekend too. I can't wait!

Enjoy the weekend!

Busy Sunday ...

I bought a vintage cameo necklace a while ago. It wasn't the most beautiful piece of jewelry but I liked the cameo in the large setting. Yesterday, I finally got around to doing something with it and I really like it.



Its a white cotton with a blue damask print pillow with white tulle gathered with a white satin bow and the vintage cameo. I think its so pretty. (Mr. T thinks its "too pretty". Men!)

I decided to open an Etsy store and list it there. I'm going to list a few other things too. I actually love the things I've been making so its hard to consider parting with them, but if I I'm lucky enough to sell some, it means I can make other things. I know some people would love being home and not having to work every day. I know I used to fantasize about not working - until the day that I was told I couldn't work anymore unexpectedly. I was pregnant with the Wild One and put on bedrest. I cried that day because I wouldn't be able to work (and the hormones didn't help). I had planned to return to work, but a colicky baby and a surprise baby #2 derailed those plans. Not working makes me crazy and unhappy especially now that its winter. (Mr. T can verify this.) I love my girls, but I'm just not as enthusiastic about Dora the Explorer or Little People as they are. Making things has been an outlet for me and I feel like I'm using my adult brain rather than goint through the motions ... feedings, diapers, toys, baths, naps ... and sitting around counting the minutes of monotony. I'm so glad I've found something to do!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My morning thus far has consisted of 2 dozen roses from Mr. T ...

... happy girls ...

... and crepes! (This one was Mr. Ts. I had already devoured my Nutella and banannas.)

Yesterday, I had this empty tin can and I thought that it was a nice container to just throw away. I thought, "I could use this for something."(I love those cookies. Hence, the empty can)

So, I primed and painted it.

And put some shell buttons on it and I actually filled it with all the buttons I have. Not bad for a can that would have just ended up in the trash.

More projects ...

Here's another wooden decoupage ornament I made.

And I'm learning to make jewelry. This is a work in progress ... clay rose beads and freshwater pearls. (Sorry the picture is dark ... I took the picture early this moring when my early birds got up.)

Some things I made last week ...

I actually made quite a few of these, but alas, it would appear that I did not upload the images.


And I purchased 3 of these for my daughters and myself. Not the finish I wanted but I had plans for them. I'll post before/afters tomorrow.



I also painted my dining room. I'm still finishing up the trim and have to clean up. I'll post that tomorrow as well.

My "me" days ...

On Monday, I didn't have a lot of work to do (that NEVER happens) so I left early to just go shopping and spend some time to myself. Being home with the two curly girlies doesn't leave me much time for such luxuries. It was a great day. I ended up staying up late crafting and that was a mistake. Curly 2 ended up waking up at midnight and didn't want to go back to sleep (rare). I decided to take Tuesday off too! I didn't get to sleep in (impossible with all the drama that starts at 5AM daily) but I did get to take my time having coffee, read the paper and later go out to browse the stores.

So after finding instructions online, I made these some simple tassels ...











I got this at a thrift store for $4.


And these ...


The cake plate is so beautiful. It has flowers on the top and the pedestal.




Back to being a mommy. The Happy One needs a nap.

Pillows and plans ...

So, I mentioned a few days ago that I had purchased two fabric fairy prints for my daughters at the MD Renn Faire last fall. I finally got around to making pillows out of them. I wish I could do more, but I'm no seamstress. My pillow sewing skills consist of sewing 4 straight lines, inserting stufffing and hand sewing the pillow shut. So, here they are ...



I was also given small pillows when I was in the hospital when each of my girls was born. My grandmother made the blue cover and I made the pink. They look a little plain so I was thinking of sewing mother-of-pearl buttons onto each one in each girl's initial. The inspiration came from a pillow I saw that had a TON of mop buttons in the shape of a heart. I wish I could share it, but I can't find the picture! Anyway, here are the covered pillows.



Onto other projects ... We have a basement fireplace. I've always thought it was an eyesore. The basement isn't the brightest and the giant dark red fireplace wall just made it that much more gloomy. Here it is before we moved in a few years ago.



I've never been one to suggest painting brick fireplaces solid white, or any other color for that matter. I think it ends up looking so dull and in some cases it seems as if it ends up stained with soot. Plus, my dad spent YEARS stripping layers of paint from a fireplace they had in their old house. So, I started thinking of some old brick houses in the area that look like they were once painted but the paint has peeled leaving them looking worn. I decided to lightly brush the bricks with paint to "age" them. The bricks seemed to be reclaimed anyway, so a little extra paint added some character without being so bland. I'm so much happier with it now. It looks brighter in the picture and shiny but it isn't. (Oh, and don't mind the gate. Babyproofing!)



The "bricks" to the left near the ceiling are actually a faux brick panel that disguises (poorly) our electrical panel. I have yet to come up with a solution for making that look better.

Now that I'm happier with the brick, I want to do something more with it. I have this old frame ...



There's a picture I took in London in it now (have other plans for that picture and other sepia pictures I just realized I had from that trip that I'll blog about later). I think I have a better idea for the frame. I'm going to paint it white and distress it and I'm going to have a mirror cut for it. I'd like to hang that over the fireplace. To the right of the fireplace, I was thinking of putting something like an old gate or maybe a large candleholder but those are just ideas. I have to see what I can find.