Kitchen Shelf Curtain

Do you remember my mexican sunflower pillow covers that I wrote about recently? I had fabric left and a messy kitchen cart that needed covering.

Kitchen cart

My poor little kitchen doesn't have enough storage for the oft used appliances such as my crockpot and stand mixer so these things live in my cart. As nice as this cart is for extra storage, it is not nice to have to look at that mess.

Since the extra fabric I had left from my pillow covers was the right size, I took a few minutes to make my curtains.

Kitchen cart curtain

Since I don't tend to take myself, or my decor too seriously, and since I have never seen an interior of a Mexican restaurant that I didn't like, I have fun with a bit of south-of-the-border flair to go with my vintage. This fabric fits in perfectly, with the vintage-ness of it, the orange color that appears throughout my home, and the Mexican sunflowers!

To make the curtain, I did the easiest possible thing (outside of leaving a raw hem) and used fusible bonding for the hem. Here is what I used:

Kitchen cart curtain

I have a spring rod, cafe curtain clips, fusible bonding, and scissors to cut the fabric and bonding tape. Be sure to follow the instructions on what ever web you use if you make these curtains....all I did was fold my fabric, iron down my intended hem, cut the bond to size, slip it under the hem and iron it down. LET IT COOL BEFORE TOUCHING IT. I remembered this the hard way. The end of the spring rod popped off so I could slip the curtain rings on. Then just clip the fabric however you want to to make your curtains. This is really the easiest decor change ever.

Kitchen cart curtain

On top of the cart, keeping the soda stream company, are my vintage Mexican clay bean pot and a silverplated coffee pot holding a small mexican sunflower and lavender bouquet. 

Pssst! I use the clay pot to hold paper napkins. Cute, right? It gets moved to the table at mealtimes and back to this display spot when we are finished. I cannot use a "normal" napkin holder because the cats will steal the napkins when I'm not looking.......

Mexican Sunflowers and a Morning Visitor

     Good morning from Central California! As I was enjoying the first few sips of my morning coffee, I couldn't help but notice the gorgeous morning light in my yard. Although my little slice of the earth will remain hot through October, I can still feel the slightest hint of fall coming. Just a little chill in the air before the day's heat comes to serve as a beautiful reminder of the coming change of the seasons.
     The morning was so pretty, I just had to grab my camera and take some shots! I had planted lots of wildflowers near my fence earlier this year, trying to obtain a cute cottage-y sidewalk view that I have been crushing on through Pinterest. Forgetting that I have lots of foraging birds here, I failed to plant deep enough and lost most of the seeds. Except for this beauty, which surprised me and continues to wow me with its beautiful blooms.

Mexican sunflower

Mexican sunflower

Mexican sunflower

     I think I love these flowers so much because of the colors. I just love the color orange, it is so bright and happy and quirky.

     While I was outside, I was visited by a friend. I don't know her name but that doesn't seem to matter to her.

Lynx point siamese cat

Lynx point siamese cat

Lynx point siamese cat

Lynx point siamese cat

     So, back to the sunflowers. This is purely coincidental - I had a vintage sheet in my fabric stash that I pulled out over the weekend to make some pillow covers with. I think that these covers are a cute, unexpected bit of fun for the family room sofa. I found the pillow inserts at the thrift store recently and they are so comfortable and inviting! I am seriously loving them.

Mexican sunflower throw pillow 

Mexican sunflower throw pillow  

Mexican sunflower throw pillow 

     Sandy is helping me by modeling with the pillows!

Mexican sunflower throw pillow 

Mexican sunflower throw pillow 

      

     What is happening where you are? Are you ready for fall? Please comment with a link to show your fave photos!

Almond Blossoms - Harbinger of Spring

I love almond and cherry blossoms. They smell so fantastic and they're gorgeous to look at, aren't they? I love to cut a branch and display it inside the home. I think I would have gotten into some trouble had I tried this at the almond orchard outside of town, do ya think?

Almond blossoms

Almond blossoms

Almond blossoms

Almond blossoms

Almond blossoms

Almond blossoms

Embroidered Skirt ~ Upcycle

This is a cute size 16 petite skirt by Sonoma Life and Style. It is slightly faded and oh, so soft and comfortable! It was a bit plain so I figured I could cute ~ ify it with some stitching.



This is the back of the skirt. But this is what the front looked like too.

Embroidered skirt

I used a fern stitch to create this loopy vine in light green . . .

Embroidered skirt

. . . .and made some bright pink lazy daisies.

Embroidered skirt

This is the fun part ~ I embellished the skirt with green beads next to the vines and purple beads in the middle of the flowers.

Embroidered skirt

I added the beads with a french knot. I know, it would have been easier to just stitch them on but I thought the french knot might give the beads a little height, make them pop a bit.

Embroidered skirt

It's fun, don't ya think?

Embroidered skirt

I do think that adding the stitching limits the color options on top a bit but whatev. This would be adorable with a pink top!!!

Embroidered skirt

   

Embroidery on Yellow Blouse

The inspiration ~

Flower draped Mustang

Well, no, not really the mustang. Just flowers. And spring colors.

The embroidery ~ This was a blouse I found at a garage sale recently. I love the frayed hem and collar. And the color!

Floral embroidered blouse

Floral embroidered blouse

Floral embroidered blouse

Do you see the embroidered detail next to the buttons? I love this shirt! It was fun to make.

Floral embroidered blouse

On a sad (for me) note, as I was writing this I found out that one of my favorite bands, The Dirt Drifters, broke up. Say it ain't so, guys!!!!!

The Dirt Drifters

:-(  Major sad face. 

Fabric Cuff with Vintage Lace Tutorial

Tirabaralla asked for it and now here it is. I actually made this cuff elasticized but you can skip the elastic and do it with snaps or buttons too.

Cuff with vintage lace tutorial

I began with this awesome hippie dress from Lane Bryant. Did you know that Lane Bryant has been around more than 100 years? And they did the very first, ever, commercial maternity clothing? Anyway, I had found the dress at the Salvation Army and I am super loving vintage looking florals and orange right now and this dress has BOTH! And lots of it with some awesome straight lines to work with. If you are a fairly half-hazard cutter like I am, you will really appreciate lines to work with.

Lane Bryant seventies hippie dress.

I was actually a bit torn about cutting this dress. I think I could really rock it! Throw on a head band, do my hair in braids and then I will be ready to head down to L.A. for Let's Make a Deal. Hehe.

Here is the dress again. It takes up the whole dining room table (complete with both leaves!). I began by cutting the skirt off the dress and cutting out one panel.

Fabric cuff tutorial

If you are elasticizing it then cut a piece of elastic to fit your wrist plus about an inch extra.

Fabric cuff tutorial  

For a good, straight cut, use your rolling blade and your mat and ruler. If your fabric has lines then you can carefully follow a line with scissors as well. Cut your wrist size plus 2 inches for button or snap closure, 3 inches if you are elasticizing it. This allows for seams and some overlap for snaps or buttons.

Fabric cuff tutorial

I have two fabric panels and a similarly sized piece of interfacing.

Fabric cuff tutorial

Here is how you stack them for sewing. The fabric panels will have right sides facing each other, wrong side out, and the interfacing on the outside.

Fabric cuff tutorial  

Next, you will take your lace and sandwich it inside the fabric panels. Pin it all together and make sure your lace lies down smoothly. I usually don't bother to cut the lace piece until it is sandwiched in. I just take the whole roll and go.....

Fabric cuff tutorial

Once both sides are pinned, sew it down. I just use a straight stitch. Then you will turn the cuff right side out.

Fabric cuff tutorial

Topstitch both seams. Again, I just used a straight stitch. Very closely spaced.

Fabric cuff tutorial

For the elastic ~ If you are not using elastic, skip this part. Pin your elastic in at both ends. You will have to scrunch the fabric toward the middle in order to work at the ends.

Fabric cuff tutorial

For everyone ~ Fold the ends down and tuck inside the cuff and pin. Make sure your elastic (if you are using) is securely pinned here. Sew down both ends. I find that it is easier to begin about 1/3 of the way in, backstitch and then stitch forward. Then the fabric moves along properly and doesn't get stuck as easily. If you are using button and ribbon closure, sew your ribbon into one of the ends at this point, just tuck it in where the pin is poking out in the below photo.

Fabric cuff tutorial  

We're not done yet.....

Fabric cuff tutorial

When making this cuff I accidentally trimmed too much elastic. If I hadn't done that I might have sewn the cuff ends together and called it done. But, alas, I will never wear it if it is strangling my wrist.....

I sewed a piece of ribbon, ends together to form loop, directly to the cuff and added a vintage button over it. I added another vintage button to the other side to close with this ribbon loop. I used embroidery thread here but you can use regular sewing thread too. 

After sewing the ribbon I sewed a straight line down the middle, between the buttons, pulling the elastic all the way out while sewing.  I forgot to include this step but you can see it if you scroll down.

Fabric cuff tutorial

And here she is!

Fabric cuff tutorial

Here is where I sewed through the middle. I just thought it made it look a bit more finished. Not necessary if you don't want to.....

Fabric cuff tutorial

LOVE this fabric!!!!!

Fabric cuff tutorial

I had found the ribbon and buttons in Clovis, California, about an hour and a half from my house. I am going to Clovis today (yay!!) but the antique stores will already have closed for the day (boo!).

 

Fabric cuff tutorial