Sweet Little Pillows

I've been having fun making pillows this past week.  Here are just a couple of the one's I've made using recycled fabrics, trim, and vintage lace found at Scott's.  I love their pretty colors which make me long for spring. 

 The rose fabric was a sundress and the green check was a shirt I purchased at Goodwill.  The lace was really a vintage linen that I cut up and used the edges to make the lace.  I covered the buttons with flowers from the floral fabric to dress the pillow even more. 

 The back of this pillow is a solid piece of the rose fabric that is beautiful and delicate. 

 The other pillow is very similar, just made with different fabrics and a different color scheme.  The floral fabric on this turquoise themed pillow I got from an Ann Taylor Loft skirt.  I love this fabric and would love to do a whole room around it if it was available.  Wouldn't it make a great jumping off point for a bedroom for a child?  Such a cheerful and happy fabric. 

 Again I used the same green check and vintage lace, but this time I also used the little pleated ruffle and rick rack that was on the bottom of the skirt. 

 

 I so enjoy making pillows.  There are endless possibilities of colors, fabrics, and trims.  Plus they are a project that you can complete in a relatively short amount of time, making you feel like you're accomplishing something rewarding. 

Linking with~The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday~Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday~
 

Antiquing Finds

Spent the morning at Scott's Antique Market this morning with my daughter and brought home some lovely finds. Most of them I will show in future posts, but here are a couple.  This vintage vase called my name.  Not sure why because I'm not usually drawn to this type of thing, but maybe it is because it is green and that is something lacking in our wintry scenery these days. 

 Something about it's lovely shape and curves just drew me in.  I think it just said "spring" to me.~ Next up is a piece of a light fixture that I actually found at  Columbus Architectual Salvage, which was just down the street from Scott's.  I love the creative way they invented a new use for it.  The fixture could sit in just about any jar and would hold several sizes of candles.  I'm anxious to try it with my aqua Ball jars, so I'm sure you'll be seeing it again.

 And lastly, this silk head of lettuce is from Hobby Lobby, not Scott's either.  I saw it yesterday and it was only 30% off, but it was the only one they had left in their spring collection, so I didn't wait for a better sale, afraid that it would be gone. 

 I love the curly leaves, the beautiful wording all over it, and the way the light shines through the leaves. 

 Don't they make a lovely trio? 

 The combination of the beautiful and varied textures make my heart sing. 

I can hardly wait until spring so I can use it on my table.~Linking with The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday~Mod Vintage Life for Mod Mix Monday

A Blue Day

There's a fine snow that has been falling all day.  Didn'tseem like much at first, but it's showing no signs of stopping and it's beginning to add up. 

 We've had very little snow this year, so there is no reason to complain about it, especially since I don't have to go out today.  I could really love snow if I never had to shovel or drive in it.~I just put these blue bottles on my window sill last week and I love how they look with the light shining through them. 

 This one I found a few weeks ago at Goodwill for only $1. 

 This sweet little one was a gift from my friend Mary over at Mary's Meanderings.  It really is a different shade of blue from the other two, but in this picture, they look quite similar. 

 As pretty as my blue bottles are, the real reason I'm having a blue day, is this mess.  You barely even notice the blue bottles in all this clutter.

 Between trying to organize, projects, and just plain laziness, this is the state of my office right now.  Believe it or not, I really have been working in here, but it seems I've not made much progress.  And the couch ~ well, you can't even see the couch.  It really is under that pile of stuff.

 This room gives me the blues and is in desperate need of organizing and decluttering.  Oh well ~ as Scarlett O'Hara would say, "Tomorrow is another day".~Linking withStuff and Nonsense for Friday's Unfolded~2805 for Potpourri Friday~Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
 

My Newest Project

I am hopelessly hooked on my latest project(s). As I shared with you in the post Bloomsbury Loft, I had wanted to buy one of Judith's sweater wreaths, but it sold before I got it.  So ~ I decided to make my own and off to Goodwill I went to find some sweaters for material.  I started out making one for my bedroom, but ended up making my first one for my newly painted pale pink bathroom.  Here is my first attempt. 

 So much fun and so much trial and error.  I kept looking online for ideas on how to make different kinds of flowers. 

 I picked the colors for this wreath based on the colors in my shower curtain.  I have found that fabric swatches are good guides for picking and coordinating colors. 

 The fun part is you can incorporate your own or your child's old sweaters and keep a favorite sweater around long past its wearable or trendy days.  The white and green on this wreath are from old sweaters of mine ~ one shrunk and one too stretched out to wear anymore. 

 My next goal is to make a few to sell on Etsy ~ after I finish making one for my bedroom of course.~Linking with Faded Charm for White Wednesday~Ivy and Elephants  for What's It Wednesday~Freckled Laundry for Airing Your Laundry Friday~The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday~ 

A Sneak Pink Preview

I've been off work since Christmas and my designated project for this "end of the year" vacation is a bathroom redo.  It's still a long ways from done, but I couldn't resist a sneak pink preview.~I'm repainting the bathroom based on a shower curtain I got at Target a year ago. 

 I bought green towels, so that only left pink for repainting the top of the walls.  Here are some pictures of a small corner shelf that is over the toilet and between a window and the mirror.  It's about the only part I have done ~ so much more work left to do ~ but I couldn't resist sharing this part. 

  This is a small shelf (maybe 18" long), in a small corner, in a very small bathroom.  I usually keep the jars of cotton balls and Q-tips on this shelf, but couldn't help adding a few vintage Christmas ornaments before the season is gone and I have to pack them away. 

 I found these vintage ornaments at Scott's Antique Market when it was in town this month and they were only $1 each.  How do you like pink Q-tips with vintage ornaments?  Not a likely combination ~ but it works here. 

 I found this little mercury glass candle holder half-off after Christmas at World Market for only $1.50. 

 Found this little shelf years ago at Marshall's and still love it. 

 

 Sweet simple details make me smile. 

 I love the addition of the pint-size aqua Ball jar. 

 Pink isn't a color I would choose to paint a room, and I had my doubts about my decision after I finished the bathroom, but I realize now that I just love pink and aqua together. 

 Linking with~How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

Favorite Projects of 2011

Seems like everyone is doing "the year in review" posts, so I thought I'd join along and show some favorite projects of 2011.~ In January I made some knit pillows from Goodwill sweaters that I first saw demonstrated over at French Kissed. 

 Then in February I had two favorite projects and couldn't decided between them, so I'll share them both.  The first are the Fleur de lis prints with repainted frames. . .

 followed by the vintage eggs that were demonstrated over at The Vintage Nest. 

 In March, my favorite is this dear little nest and sweet butterfly made from double-sided printed paper. 

In April I refinished a desk for our spring Open House.

 In May, I refinished this bench, reupholstered it, and made chicken pillows to match. 

 In June I had lots of favorites, but this garden bench I found at a flea market was number one.  It was a church pew in it's previous life and if I had had anywhere to put it, I would have kept it.  But off it went to the store and sold within 24 hours along with everything on it. 

 In July I refinished this wrought iron table and chairs and gave the seats a face lift with pretty geranium fabric. 

 August was a slow month for me, but I managed to refinish this old writing desk and send it off to the store. 

 September was an even slower month or maybe I just wasn't posting much, but I gave this oak icebox a makeover since it wasn't selling in it's original oak form. 

 In October, I made a trio of chalkboards from old frames that were full of personality.  This one seemed to be the favorite among bloggers and also the first to sell at the store. 

 In November, I refinished this antique dresser and fell in love with it in the process.  Nevertheless, it went off to the store sporting a very high price tag.  But ~ after a few weeks ~ I found a place to put it, and back home it came to live out it's days with me. 

 And last ~ but not least ~ is my own hutch come home from the store for a makeover and a new place of prominence in the dining room. 

 The store kept me busy this year trying to keep my space full.  My New Year's resolution is to slow down and use my energy and time to feather my own nest, rest, spend more time with family and friends, and read a good book.