Quick Idea: Dress Up Your Wooden Hangers

At Little Yellow Couch, we have been sorting through our closets to get organized in this new year as well as to prepare for our upcoming Clothing Swap Party!  It is exhilarating to pare down our wardrobes to just our favorite pieces and makes getting ready in the morning a much quicker and more enjoyable experience.  We are also always looking for ways to infuse a bit of our style into our everyday lives.  Your favorite garments shouldn't be hanging on a mishmosh of random plastic and wire hangers.  (Please tell me your not hanging your wardrobe on those ghastly dry cleaning hangers!)  We picked up some inexpensive wooden hangers to organize our closets and couldn't help but embellish a few.  Intersperse a few in your closet, hang one for a robe on the back of the bathroom door or hang a few in the guest room closet.  

xoxo Karen June

Supplies:

Wooden Hangers (We picked up 8 for $4 at IKEA)
Paint (We use Behr Ultra Matte in Winter Fresh)
Foam Brush (Create for Less)
Metallic Gold Sharpie 
Ruler
Pencil with New Eraser
Transfer Paper (We recommend Saral as any extra residue wipes clean with a wet cloth)

Directions:

Mint with Gold Dots:  Paint hanger with three coats of paint, allowing to dry between coats.  Add polka dots freehand using a Metallic Gold Sharpie.  

Natural with Mint Dots:  Add paint dots freehand using paint and an unused pencil eraser.  

Mint with "You Look Marvelous" and Arrows:  Paint hanger with three coats of paint, allowing to dry between coats.  Draw arrow lines using a Metallic Gold Sharpie and a ruler.  We added our arrow points freehand.  Using our template below, print "You Look Marvelous" and apply to the hanger using transfer paper.  Use a damp cloth to remove any transfer paper residue - don't worry about swiping over lettering as it will not smudge.  Copy over text using a Metallic Gold Sharpie.

Make Do and Mend

During WWII, the British Ministry of Information distributed "Make Do and Mend" pamphlets to households encouraging housewives to repair and renew their family's clothing.  It included tips on salvaging yarn from worn sweaters, patching holes and even refashioning menswear into women's clothing.  Pop over to Mrs. Depew Vintage on Etsy for her $5 downloadable copy.  

I was raised in a family that embraced this kind of  "Make Do and Mend" mentality.  My parents valued well made items, time and thought were put into purchases, and repairs were made to things that were no longer working or were damaged.  I've carried this mentality into my adulthood.  My aesthetic certainly has a vintage slant, but I also love the quality that comes with items that have stood the test of time.   Additionally, I love the challenge of updating household items and clothing to suit my personal style.  

Mending of course takes time and hauling one's sewing supplies out.  I totally get that not everyone has their sewing machine at the ready for everyday tasks.  So, here's an idea that will save time when you need to make a quick repair:  You can easily make a stack of patches to have on hand whenever you need to cover up a hole or stain.  

Supplies:

Felt (We love Sweet Emma Jean)
Decorative Fabric
Scissors
Quilting Pins
Sewing Machine (or Needle and Thread)

Directions:

• Cut out bits of decorative fabric in various sizes.  I used a floral print where I could follow the design, but you could also cut circles, squares or any variety of shapes.
• Pin your decorative fabric to a slightly larger piece of felt.  
• Edge stitch together with your sewing machine or by hand.  
• Cut out felt leaving a small border around your decorative fabric.  

Now whenever you have a few minutes (while you're watching TV or whatever), just pull out your patches, and sew one onto a garment that needs a little TLC.  People are likely to compliment you on your fancied up duds too!  Keep a small tin handy where you like to lounge with basic sewing supplies and you are more likely to "make do and mend".  

xoxo Karen June

Off The Shelf: DIY Wardrobe Embellishments

For our “ReFresh” theme this month, we’ll soon be writing about our clothing exchange party, which we’ve decided to host as a way to creatively refresh all of our wardrobes.  We’ll share ideas for taking a gently used garment and either fixing up whatever’s gone wrong with it or adding an embellishment to give it a second life.   For inspiration, we’ve looked to the following books written by fabric genies…those magical people who have put a modern, highly fashionable twist on the time-honored art of changing up a bunch of old stuff and making it look like a million bucks.

Custom Couture: 32 Easy Ways to Transform Your Wardrobe With Needle and Thread by Helene Le Berre

To my eyes, the projects in this book would help you create a DIY Anthropologie inspired wardrobe, which has my heart all aflutter!  Ms. Le Berre shows you how to add all of the little details that make a piece of clothing go from nice to WOW.  She also offers some creative twists on refreshing a piece.  For instance, my faves are outlining an entire raincoat with contrasting trim or taking the sleeves off of a sweater and replacing them with poufs of patterned fabric.  I’m drooling all over the photos and itching to cut up a pair of chinos and see if I can turn them into a beaded evening gown or something.  I’m in love with this book!  

Embroidered Effects: Projects and Patterns to Inspire Your Stitching by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching

For those of you who don’t know Jenny Hart’s work, she’s brought embroidery out of grandma’s closet, dusted it off and given it her signature modern aesthetic.  This book includes a lot of practical information to get you started as well as instructions on a variety of stitches.  While it’s not only about updating your wardrobe, we’ve included it here because of the chapter she’s written on how to embellish clothes with embroidery.  My favorite is probably the design of a tattooed heart on the sleeve of a shirt, right where a real tattoo would be on your arm.   Very cheeky!  

Chic on a Shoestring: Simple to Sew Vintage Style Accessories by Mary Jane Baxter

Mary Jane Baxter has written one of those books you want to mark with a thousand sticky notes, putting them everywhere you see another idea you can’t wait to try.   What I love about this book is the breadth of projects she covers, using all kinds of materials.  She uses buttons, fabric, beads, felt, even pantyhose to create fantastic embellishments.  And she goes from head to toe, showing us how to update hats, tops, skirts, belts, bags, and shoes.  This book has my pulse racing because I can’t slow down enough to even decide which project I’ll do first!  

200 Crochet Flowers, Embellishments and Trims: Contemporary Designs for Embellishing All of Your Accessories by Claire Crompton

This one is fairly straightforward: a wonderful beginner’s intro to crochet, focused on small embellishments for clothing.  I especially love the trims Claire Crompton is teaching us.  I want to make a whole slew of them for the bottoms of all of my skirts!  

I hope you are inspired to pick up one of these beautiful books and try out a new project.  You’ll feel immensely proud of yourself as you walk down the street and strangers stop to ask where you got your wardrobe!  

xoxo Zandra

Quick Idea: Wooden Crate Jewelry Display

I love to accessorize.  In fact, many mornings I choose my outfit based on an accessory I want to wear that day. Starting with a color or aesthetic when getting dressed can lead to much more creative outfits and feeling more inspired to try new combinations of colors and patterns.  

Many of the jewelry pieces I wear are made by myself, other artisans or are found at vintage shops.  I gravitate towards pieces that are colorful or one-of-a-kind.  I've always liked when artisans refer to their jewelry as "wearable art".  

With that thought in mind I wanted to find a way to display my collection ... not only to easily access my jewelry when getting dressed in the morning, but also to admire my trinkets on my dressing table.  A stack of three vintage crates picked up at a local antiques show made for a clever canvas and cup hooks can be added in multiple rows and even on the tops and sides as your collection expands.  

Supply List:

Wooden Crates
1/2" Cup Hooks (Create for Less or your local hardware store)
Electric Drill
1/16" Drill Bit
Small Pliers

Directions:

• Pre-Drill your holes at even intervals.  (We spaced ours about 1 3/4" apart, offsetting a second row further back and another set on top of the crate for longer necklaces.)
• Using pliers, screw the cup hooks into the pre-drilled holes
• Hang and enjoy your jewelry!

xoxo Karen June

*** P.S.  Look below for a clever display solution for your rings!

*** Looking for a clever way to display your rings?  Cigar boxes filled with black beans are a great solution and look great with your vintage crates!

REfresh: Drawer Pull Tag DIY

Supplies:

Wooden Tags (Save-on-Crafts)
Paint (We used Behr Ultra Matte in Winter Fresh)
Foam Brush (Create for Less)
Sticky Back Velcro 3/4"
Metallic Gold Oil Based Sharpie

I secretly envy those kids whose parents have labeled their drawers for them.  One drawer says “socks” another one says “underwear,” etc.  It makes getting dressed feel like you’re half way through a To-Do list before you even leave your bedroom:  Put on shirt.  Check.  Put on pants.  Check.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishment!  Well, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create some labels for grown-ups.  I wanted them to look sophisticated and feminine.  We chose the colors of the upcoming Little Yellow Couch Clothing Swap, a fresh mint green with gold accents.  As with many of our DIYs, the purpose here is to make something mundane feel extra special so that you are more likely to keep things organized and lovely.  These tags have spurred me to go through my drawers, tidy up and get rid of the stuff that’s never worn.  We’d love to see what your tags look like!  Do share. 

xoxo Zandra

REfresh: DIY Lavender Sachet

This month at Little Yellow Couch, we are looking for ways to REfresh our homes, our wardrobes and our lives. As we prepare for our Clothing Swap party later this month, we are sifting through our closets ... setting aside the items that we don't love and making room for the things that we do.  We are also looking for ways to freshen up our drawers and closets and these lavender sachets are sure to do the trick.  

Supplies:

2/3 part rice

1/3 part dried lavender

4 x 6" muslin drawstring bag (We recommend Celestial Gifts)

Cardboard (to use as blotter)

Pencil with unused eraser

Multipurpose Acrylic Paint (We recommend Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Acrylic Craft Paints)

White Card Stock

Printer

REfresh Tag Front

REfresh Tag Back

Directions:

1.  Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside your muslin bag.  This is just to be used as a blotter for any excess paint that might seep through the fabric.  

2.  Dip your pencil eraser in the paint and stamp a dot 1/2" from the edge of the bag and every 1/2" after that.  We started with our fresh green color at the base and then alternated rows with a metallic glitter paint offsetting our dots as we went.  (Tip:  Turn your bag upside down while working so that you start at the base of the bag and work your way down towards the drawstring.  This will keep you from smudging your paint.)

3.  Remove the cardboard and puff out linen bag to allow the painted layer to dry separately.  Set aside.

4.  Mix your 2/3 part rice with your 1/3 part dried lavender.  Once your paint is dry, add this mixture to your bag.  We filled ours about 2/3 of the way full.  

5.  Pull drawstring tight and attach our printable REfresh tag.  

6.  Add to your dresser drawers or closet to keep your clothes smelling fresh.  Lavender is also a natural moth deterrent.  

Thrift Store Remake: Plaid Portraits in Fancy Frames

Don't pass up those hideously framed copes of crappy art you find discarded in bins at a thrift store!  The ones that are probably a sickly pink color and came from grandma's powder room and were framing dried flowers from the 1980s.  If the frame has an interesting shape, buy it and start collecting them.  Then, when you realize you absolutely must have custom-made theme-related decor for your walls at a party you're hosting, you just have to dig into your stash of horrid thrift store frames.  I mean, how many times have you said to yourself, "Gee, if only my walls were adorned with artwork related to my theme for this customized party I'm throwing..." All the time, right?!  You can quickly take a can of spray paint and do 'em up in gold or black or whatever, cut out some decorative paper for your "mat" and find an interesting image online or create a little collage of your own.  Done!  

Liquor Cabinet Before & After

This month at LYC, we have been busy clinking glasses and gathering with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season.  As we prepared for our own Cocktail Party, Zandra and I started to talk about more intimate gatherings in our homes and cozy winter nights where a hand crafted cocktail would be just the thing to toast a blustery evening.  Inspired by Jason's affinity for homemade infused bourbon and bitters, I decided that a liquor cabinet would be the perfect edition to our home.  I also knew immediately, that I wanted to transform a mahogany record cabinet that had been passed down to me by my Great Aunts Mary & Harriet.  I love the lines of this piece and the low mirror adds a bit of depth and reflection.  However, it has been sitting in my basement for over 10 years waiting to find its new purpose.  

For this transformation, we first removed the door and the back piece.  Zandra worked her decoupage magic to cover the back panel with decorative paper.  We chose a vintage inspired aqua and white paper with touches of glittered gold and silver.  The print is reminiscent of atomic era design and fit well with my favorite cocktail era.  I then removed a few of the shelves and decided to silver-leaf the remaining two.  Because I had decided to leave the dark mahogany wood untouched, I wanted to change up the shelving so that it was lighter and reflective.  I put Jason to the task of installing the lighting ... four LED lights (we used Dioder from IKEA) tucked away on the sides.  After a brief drum roll, we flipped the switch and I did my happy dance that I pull out when one of my visions first comes to life.  LOVE!  

Now Jason's cocktail creations and our favorite bar ware have a place to shine.  

Cheers!

Karen June

Quick Idea: Plaid Wrapped Ornaments

Styrofoam balls + strips of fabric + straight pins = instant ornaments

Ok, this isn't rocket science but maybe you just needed a little inspiration to fill up the gaps on your tree, or to mix with a bunch of pinecones in a basket, or in a glass container sitting on your mantel, or strung across the table as a runner, or hung from fishing line in your window...you see where I'm going with this, right?  Just wrap the strips around the balls until they're covered.  Yep.  That's really it.   

p.s. If you cut the fabric strips on the bias (diagonally), they won't fray nearly as much.  Or to make life even easier, you could use grosgrain ribbon instead of fabric.

p.p.s.  I used "tidy" pins, which are shaped like staples with really long ends, which you can find in the same section as the straight pins in your craft or fabric store.  Tidy pins don't have that little ball on top so they sit flat against the styrofoam and you can't really see them.  Plus, hanging fishing line, string or a ribbon from them is really, well, "tidy."  

xoxo, Zandra

Plaid Antler Plaque

We've seen this idea floating around Pinterest and we thought it would be perfect for our cocktail party.  We were going for a ski lodge-meets-modern glam look for the event so I wanted to figure out how to do a "trophy" wall of small "antler mounts", using plaid fabric with gold tipped antlers.  

• Wooden plaque (craft store), spray painted black
• Sticks, spray painted black with gold spray paint on the tips
• Egg-shaped styrofoam form (floral section, craft store), cut in half lengthwise for the head
• Fabric scrap wrapped around "head," secure with hot glue
• Hot glue "head" to plaque, stick "antlers" in, secure with craft glue
• Hang with Command Strips

Here's a straight shot of our wall of antlers at our cocktail party, and I have to say, the effect was pretty dramatic for something so easy to do!   Give it a try and send us a photo of your wall!

xoxo

Zandra

Quick Idea: Cocktail Stirrers

6 circles of three different kinds of paper  (2 large, 2 medium, 2 small) + 1 thin popsicle stick = 1 cocktail (or coffee!) stirrer

When hosting a Little Yellow Couch event, we like to send our guests home with a little present.  Because, you know, we're nice.  For our cocktail party, we made sets of 6 drink stirrers for each couple and put them in clear bags with a sweet homemade label.  Too bad nobody got them!  For the second time in three months, we forgot to give out our gifts as people were leaving! We now have enough cocktail stirrers to outfit Don Draper's office bar cart for at least a month.  Oh well.  We'll just think nice thoughts about our guests each time Karen and I sit around drinking our signature cocktail.  Does that count?  

Spruce Upholstery Giveaway & Our New Plaid Chair

Each month at LYC, we plan a new gathering with friends to connect and celebrate.   When planning each event, we draw from our monthly theme, our aesthetics, current inspirations and the feeling we want to create for our guests.  As we sat in Zandra's living room envisioning this month's cocktail party, we already knew that we wanted three key ingredients in the decor ... Plaid, Plaid and MORE Plaid!  We started with obvious decor items like the runner, coasters, pillow and ornaments we shared with you earlier this week.  But, seriously, we couldn't stop there.  We want that WOW moment (or moments!)  when you walk into  room.  

Lots of LYC meetings happen in this living room and many of our best ideas have come while one of us sits in Zandra's "whale chair," as it is affectionately known. In fact, one of us was probably sitting in it when we came up with the brilliant and OBVIOUS idea that clearly we needed to reupholster the chair for the party!  I mean, who doesn't reupholster furniture whenever they have a party?!  Our conversation went something like this:

KJ:  We need more plaid.

Z:  Ok.  Um.  What about that aesthetic where someone takes an old chair...

KJ:  Oh!  And recovers it...

Z:  ...but with a mix of fabrics?  We could...

KJ:  ...do plaid with the whales!

Z:   Yes!  A mix of plaids to mash things up...

KJ:  ...at least 3 different plaids...

Z:  ...on just the cushions!  Oh, and a fourth plaid on the...

Z & KJ:  PIPING!!!  Obviously.  

(Pause)

KJ:  Do we know how to reupholster?  

(Pause)

Well, I'll let you guess what our answer was to that question.  But, ignorance is the motivator of project implementation.  Or something.  Anyway, we needed help and since we've been a huge fan of Amanda Brown of Spruce Upholstery for a long time, we started there.   We were thrilled to be contacted by Storey Publishing who has just released a book by Amanda called "Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design."    They generously sent us a copy to keep and one to GIVE AWAY TO ONE OF OUR READERS!  We couldn't wait to get our hands on the book and It completely lived up to our expectations ... aesthetically beautiful from cover to cover and filled with step-by-step visual instructions on how to complete any project.  They even include a handy color-coded guide on mixing and matching design elements to cover any possibility.  

I absorbed the book for a full week before getting started.  Once I did, I found the project to be less daunting than I expected because of Amanda's wonderful writing and guidance.  Not so sure you have the time or desire to reupholster your own furniture?  Spruce. A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design is still an incredible guide for educating yourself on developing an eye for the right piece of furniture to have professionally done as well as the fabric types and scale necessary to create your dream piece.  Plus, it's full of inspirational eye candy.  And you can impress your friends by having a DIY upholstery book casually left out on the coffee table.  

xoxo Karen June

Image provided by Storey Publishing

Image provided by Storey Publishing

Image provided by Storey Publishing

Now for the exciting part ... WE HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY!  Look below for a few ways to enter and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Deer Silhouette Pillow & Ornaments DIY

As we've said, we are all about plaid in the Little Yellow Couch studio this week.  As we cut and stitch , pin and glue to decorate for our cocktail party this Friday, we keep looking at each other and saying ... "I think we need more plaid!"  Here are two more projects incorporating plaid for you to use in your holiday decor.  

Our Deer Silhouette Pillow would look great on your favorite seat and its pom pom fringe adds a fun touch.  Love the look, but hoping for a no sew DIY?  Check out our Deer Silhouette Ornament below.  Simply cut and glue!

Deer Silhouette Pillow Instructions
Deer Silhouette 1
Deer Silhouette 2

Materials: 

3/4 yd. Plaid Fabric *
2 yds. Pom Pom Fringe *
12 x 18" sheet of Black Felt
Sewing Machine
Sewing Thread
Scissors
Quilting Pins
16 x 16 " Pillow Form

* Our beautiful plaids and trim are from the Fabric Place Basement.

Pattern:

Piece A   17" x 17"
Piece B   17" x 14" (top flap)
Piece C   17" x 12" (bottom flap)
Deer Silhouette ( Print and cut out Deer 1 & Deer 2 and tape together)

(For a tighter fit - Piece A 16 x16" : Piece B 16" x 14" : Piece C 16" x 12")

Directions:

1. Gather materials.
2. Print out Deer Silhouette Pattern and cut out deer from Black Felt.  
3.  Cut out Pieces A, B, and C from Plaid Fabric.
4. Pin Deer Silhouette to Piece A - 1 1/4" from the base.
5. Edge stitch Deer to Piece A.
6. Press one of the 17"w sides of Pieces B & C over 1/2".  Edge stitch.
7. Line Piece B up with pillow top (right sides together).  
8. Line Piece C up with pillow bottom (right sides together). 
9. Sandwich Pom Pom trim between right sides of fabric and pin in place. 
10. Sew around all four sides at 1/2" and turn right side out.

Looking for a quick no sew project?  Try framing a scrap of plaid fabric in any embroidery hoop (Karen June lucked out and found these vintage metal hoops at a yard sale for 10 cents a piece!  Not to gloat, or anything).  Then use our template to trace a deer onto black felt, which you can glue onto the plaid.  These ornaments would look great hung in a cluster on a wall or trimming your tree!

Small Deer Silhouette Pattern

Plaid Runner & Coasters DIY

In case it has gone unnoticed, we are committed to using a ridiculous amount of plaid for our upcoming holiday cocktail party.  (Bonus for me: I get to keep all of this stuff for my home once the party is over).  Yesterday we showed you our plaid swag and tomorrow we’ll be sharing DIYs on a plaid pillow and ornaments.  Today it’s all about using the scraps.  Looking around my house during the various stages of party planning, the question we keep asking is: “Do we have enough plaid?” followed closely by “is it possible to EVER have too much plaid?!”  After re-covering a chair, hanging swags, making ornaments, pillows and artwork, we were astounded to see we’d neglected the buffet!  Of all places!  So, the idea for a quick runner was born and then, because we couldn’t resist, we made some coasters, too. 

Quick Tip (also known as “cheating,” or “faking” by extremist DIYers):  Use a runner you already have (or flip one over and use the backside).  Then just sew on your strips of fabric.  I mean, why re-invent the wheel?  Or the base for your runner?  

For the coasters, we cut 5”x5” squares, sewing two squares of different fabrics together.  Simply stitching on the outside of the fabrics and using pinking shears to finish the edges made the work go very quickly, no hemming required.  Because who likes to hem a gazillion coasters?  

Easy-peasy.  

Cheers,
Zandra and Karen June 

P.S.  All of our beautiful plaids are from the Fabric Place Basement!

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Quick and Easy DIY Plaid Swag

Here’s any easy project you could do in an afternoon.  We were inspired by the draping found in grand homes during the winter.  Typically made of velvet, these drapes were hung between rooms to keep warm air in or cold air out.  While central heating no longer necessitates this ritual, we love the idea of decorating with fabric, as if we’re blanketing our homes for winter.  

You’ll need:

• A stick you find in your yard or on a walk
• Spray paint (we used gold to be festive for the holidays), or leave the stick natural
• Small eye hooks
• Fishing twine
• Fabric *(the length is up to you and how far down you want the swag to hang)
• 2nd Fabric *(if you want to have a coordinating pattern across the bottom)

* Our festive plaids are from the Fabric Place Basement

Tools you may find helpful:

• Lopping shears to cut the branch down to size (we just used what we found)
• Cutting mat and rotary cutter
• Quilting Ruler
• Sewing Machine

How To:

I have two arches in my home so I wanted two swags.  We simply cut our fabric lengthwise down the middle so that each swag had a width of 26”.  To hang the sticks, we used very small eye hooks screwed into the underside of each arch (or in your doorways if you like).   We then tied fishing line from the hooks around the sticks to keep it looking uncluttered.  For the fabric, we cut a 2nd plaid on the bias to coordinate with the first and sewed it on the bottom.  After we hemmed all of the sides, we played around with draping the fabric across the sticks until we liked the look.  Voila!  A can a spray paint and a few seams in straight lines….how simple is that?   

xoxo Zandra

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DIY: Fabric Basket with Chalkboard Label

At this cozy time of year, there is nothing I like better than to curl up under a blanket with a good book.  This DIY fabric basket with a chalkboard label is an incredibly versatile project and the label can be re-written to fit any use.  I have two in my living room now ... one filled with reading materials and the other with some of my favorite cozy throws.  

Here are a few additional ideas for your home:

• Write family member names and store in the mud room for hats, gloves, etc.
• Set a few on your stairs for collecting items that are ready to be put away.
• Put one in your car to organize your trunk space.
• Leave in your spare room with extra towels and toiletries for your guests.
• Use as a tote for toys as they can be easily carried using the handles.

I'd love to see what you use yours for, so send us some photos!

xoxo Karen June

Fabric Basket Printable Directions

Fabric Basket Pattern

Materials:

1 yd. home decor fabric (for outside of bin) - FABRIC A *
1 yd. home decor fabric (for lining of bin) - FABRIC B *
1 2/3 yd. Sew-In Interfacing - Firm *
3" x 4" piece of Chalkboard Oilcloth *
Sewing Machine
Coordinating Sewing Thread
White Sewing Thread
Quilting Pins
Scissors
Seam Ripper

* All of the great fabrics we used came from the Fabric Place Basement.  

Directions:

1. Cut out all of your pattern pieces.
2. Pin Chalkboard Oilcloth piece to the right side of the exterior fabric.  Check pattern for suggested placement.  (Take care to pin along edges as pin holes will be permanent.)  
3. Using white thread, sew 1/4" from the edge of the oilcloth followed by a second row just inside the first.  
4. Pin interfacing to wrong side of exterior fabric (Fabric A).  
5. Pin basket sides - right sides together - reusing existing pins. (If you prefer, you can baste interfacing prior to this step.)   Sew all four basket corner seams at 1/2".  
6. Turn bin right side out.  Press all four seams and baselines to define basket edges.  Set aside.
7. Pin interior fabric (Fabric B) sides together and sew seams at 5/8".  (This will allow the liner to be slightly smaller than the exterior.)  
8. Turn interior fabric right side out to press the four corner seams and then turn inside out again and press baselines to define basket edges.  
9. Place liner in basket.  Fold exterior fabric in 1/2" and interior fabric out 1/2".  Pin together starting at basket corners and then along all four sides.  (I do this by hand, but you can press first if you prefer.)  Set aside.
10. To make the handles press raw edges of handle strips in lengthwise, 1/2" on each side.  Pin together with raw edges facing in.  Edge stitch both sides and press.  
11. Pin handles with interior fabric side out and insert in top seam of basket - with outer edge of handles 2 1/2" from basket corners.  Handle ends should tuck 1" inside seam on either end.  
12. Edge stitch top seam of bin.

Felted Acorn Necklace

These felted acorns are popping up all over the place!  Last week, we showed you a woodland themed napkin ring using felted acorns and velvet ribbon for your Thanksgiving table as well as using them as an embellishment for your Leftovers Take-Home Box.  Our friend Julie Vician over at the Fabric Place Basement not only shared her acorn cap stash with us, but even gave us a few of her prized double caps!  Now, I don't know about you, but when double capped acorns fall into our hands, how can we ignore the possibility of creating something with them?  Our felted acorn necklace would be a cozy adornment to your Fall wardrobe.  And if you're not as lucky and can only find single caps, don't despair!  A single acorn necklace would be so sweet!

Printable DIY Instructions

Supplies:

Double Acorn Caps
Wool Roving (We used Solid Colored Merino from The Yarn Tree)
Felting Needle (We recommend the Clover Single Needle Felting Tool at Create for Less)
Felting Mat (We recommend the Clover Needle Felting Mat at Create for Less
Wool Sheet Felt (We recommend Sweet Emma Jean)
Power Drill 
1/16” Drill Bit
Wire
Wire Cutters 
Jewelry Pliers
Glue Gun
Hole Punch
Embroidery Thread (We used DMC 434)
Embroidery Needle
Chain Necklace   (We shortened our chain to 20")
Large Jump Ring (We used 7mm)

Directions:

1.  Gather your supplies for felting.

2.  Gather your supplies for creating the necklace.

3.  Choose your wool roving.  Gently tear off a long thin piece about 14” long (mine is folded in half in the picture).

4.  Loosely wrap your wool roving into a ball.  It will be about 3 times the size of your finished ball.

5.  Using your Felting Brush and Felting Needle, felt two balls - periodically checking to see how they fit in the acorn caps.  

6.  Using your power drill, drill a small hole in each of the two acorn caps.  Be careful to keep your fingers out of the way of the drill bit!

7.  Cut a small piece of wire and create a loop for your acorns by feeding through the two holes.  Splay the ends of your wire using jewelry pliers.  (Glue will later hold these wires in place.)

8.  Using your hot glue gun, glue your felted balls into the acorn caps.  

9.  Using the leaf templates provided, cut out one of each leaf size.  Following the pattern, embroider the leaf veining using a backstitch.  (If you would like to hide the back of your embroidery, you can cut out a second leaf in each size and glue to the backs.)

10.  Punch a hole through the base of both leaves.  

11.  Using a large jump ring, attach the leaves and acorns to your necklace.  

Chalkboard Garland

Place tags are a great way to plan out seating ahead of time at your Thankgsiving Table and to add a personal touch to your place settings.  We picked up these wood framed chalkboard tags and used a white pen to hand letter our guests names.  Cleverly, these tags also have a chalkboard back.  So, we asked our guests to write what they are thankful for this year.  After dinner the tags would look great hung as a garland or in December to deck the tree.  

Travel Bag Set DIY

Whether you travel near or far ... quick overnights or long tours, one of our favorite "civilized" ways to pack our luggage is with travel bags.  These bags bring not only organization to your luggage, but a bit of style.   

xoxo Karen June

Printable PDF

Printable Supply List and Directions PDF

Supplies: 

• 2 yds. cotton fabric (for shoe and laundry bags)*
• 1/2 yd. contrasting cotton fabric  (for lingerie bag)*
• 1/3 yd. linen fabric*
• 3 yds.  cotton cording*
• sewing machine
• coordinating sewing thread and bobbin
• iron
• fabric scissors
• quilting pins
• measuring tape or quilting ruler
• transfer paper or contrasting colored pencil
• pen
• embroidery floss
• embroidery needle
• embroidery scissors
• seam ripper
• drawstring threader (optional) 

* All of the great fabrics we used came from the Fabric Place Basement.  

Pattern Sizes: 

Shoe Bag

• Cotton 36" x 14"  **
• Linen 14" x 6" 
• Cording 28"

Lingerie Bag

• Cotton 43" x 17"  **
• Linen 17" x 6" 
• Cording 36" 

Laundry Bag

• Cotton 50" x 20"  **
• Linen 20" x 6"
• Cording 44" 

**  Fabric length will be folded in half to create front and back of bag. 

Wash and iron all of your newly selected fabric.  (I have to admit that this step always drives me crazy.  I want to rush home from the fabric store with my new finds and get right to work.  I also don't love ironing and am so tempted to work with perfectly pressed fabric fresh off the bolt.  However, most fabrics shrink in the wash.   For this project, we are sewing with mixed fabric types, cotton and linen, so this step is even more important as fabrics shrink at different rates.)

1.  Cut your fabric in the measurements provided.  (Fabric lengths will be folded in half to create front and back of bag.) 

2.  Transfer the embroidery pattern onto your piece of linen or write by hand using a contrasting pencil or embroidery marking pen.  Embroider using a contrasting embroidery thread.  (I find three strands work well.)  For this project, I used the stem stitch.  

3.  Press under (toward wrong side) the long sides of your linen fabric 1/2" .  

4.  With your cotton material pressed in half,  pin the linen to your cotton fabric 3" up from the mid point fold making sure to pin through only one layer of the cotton.  

5.  Topstitch the linen to the cotton.

6.  Fold your cotton fabric so that the right sides are facing together.  Stitch both sides with 5/8" seam allowance.  Iron seams flat.  

7. Fold rough edges underneath towards stitching.  Press.  Edge stitch to finish seams. Press flat again.  

8.  Bag should still be inside out.  Press the top cuff of the bag in 1/4".  

9.  Press  in 1  1/2" and topstitch.  

10. Sew a second line 5/8" from the top of the bag to create a drawstring channel.  Turn your bag right side out and press.  

11.  Using your seam ripper, open the channel seam on the right side of the bag.  

12. Using a drawstring threader, thread your cotton cording through the channel and tie the two ends together in a knot.  (If you don't have a drawstring threader, you can also tie a knot in the end of your cording and slowly feed it through the channel.  Attaching a large safety pin to the end also works well.)

Perfume Journal DIY

This week we're focusing on the art of developing a signature perfume collection.  Later in the week we'll learn from a pro on how to go about doing this.  But to get ready, we thought putting together a perfume journal would elevate the experience!  Using these printables and DIY steps, you can make this sweet notebook to tuck in your purse.  Whenever you stop into a boutique or department store and try out a new perfume, you can remember it for future reference, in style.  How very civilized!  

xoxo Karen June

Perfume Journal Cover

Perfume Journal Liner

Perfume Journal Pages

DIY Instruction Sheet

Supplies: 

Printer

Letter Weight Printer Paper

Card Stock Printer Paper

Scissors

Glue Stick

Two  4 1/4" x 2 1/2" Glassine Envelopes (we recommend Stuff 4 Scrapbooking)

Sewing Needle

Heavy Duty Quilting Thread

Directions: 

1.  Collect your supplies. 

2.  Print and cut out journal cover and pages. 

3.  Apply glue stick to non-flap side of envelope on four sides.  Line bottom of envelope with edge of center black stripe. 

4.  Using a ruler or estimating, make a hole about every 1/4" along white line on        outside of journal cover. 

5.  Line up pages in center of cover lining.  Hold in place with your hands or use           paperclips / clothespins.

6.  Using cover holes as a guide, continue holes through the pages as well. 

7.  Thread needle and tie a knot in the end.  Begin stitching on the inside pages to hide knot.  Stitch cover and pages together.  The outside of the cover will have continuous stitches. 

8.  The inside pages will have double stitches on every other stitch as shown.   Slip needle through last stitch and tie off with a knot.