Spring Basket Tutorial

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my spring tablescape. As promised, here is the tutorial for making the spring basket place cards/party favors featured in this post.

Supplies
Tuna fish can – empty and cleaned
Raffia – several lengths about 20 inches long
Glue gun and glue sticks
Scissors
Pinking shears
Sewing machine
Iron
Linen – Two 10” x 26” pieces
Thread to match fabric
Sewable Heat and Bond – One 6” x 22” piece

Directions
Use iron to attach one piece of linen to one side of Heat and Bond.

Use scissors to trim extra fabric.

Remove paper from Heat and Bond and use iron to attach second piece of linen.

Use scissors to trim extra fabric. You now have a double sided 6” x 22” piece of linen.

Fold, iron and pin linen in half along 6” side leaving ½” difference in the hems.

Sew along edge with sewing machine.

To create the fabric loops, use pinking shears or scissors to make cuts along folded edge about ½” apart. Cuts should stop about ½” from sewn edge.

Attach fabric to tuna fish can using glue gun. Fabric will wrap around can a little more than two times.

At this point the fabric loops will be stiff. Simply press loops down with your hands to create desired look.

To make the handle, tie knots along length of raffia about 1 inch apart. Trim ends about 1” below first and last knot. Your handle should be about 12 inches long.

To attach handles to inside of tuna fish can, rest knot on the top edge of the can and glue using glue gun.

Fill with paper grass and goodies!

Enjoy!

Linking up to:
The DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Centsational Girl

Spring Tablescape

I took a little break this week from my normal activities to create this cute spring tablescape.

This simple setting includes vintage white ironstone dishes, a linen ruffled end table runner, yellow tulips in a milk glass vase, a large bunny with paper mache eggs, and spring “baskets” filled with Easter treats. A great mix for a spring lunch for two!

The baskets are a fun project I have had in the works for quite some time. They are super easy to create and make great place cards as well as take home gifts for guests.

I will be sharing a tutorial on how to make them in a few days so be sure to check back.

Sources
White Ironstone – Vintage Ebay purchase
Glasses – Vintage flea market find
Table runner –Linen. Click here for tutorial.
Bunny – Home Goods – repainted
Paper Mache eggs – JoAnn Fabrics – painted
Napkins – Pottery Barn

Linking up to
Spring Party at Centsational Girl
Tablescape Thursday
Show and Tell Wednesday
Whatever Goes Wednesday
Open House Party

How to Add Decorative Trim to Curtains

One of the simplest ways to dress up curtains is to add decorative trim. Trim takes curtains from run of the mill to stylish in very little time and with such a wide range of colors, price points and varieties, finding trim to match your style is a breeze.

Typically when I add trim to curtains it is on the leading edge (meaning the inside edge) or edges (meaning inside and outside edges) of the panel. Sometimes it is placed right up to the edge and other times it is placed with space between the trim and the edge. The choice is really up to you.

For this tutorial I will be focusing on how to add decorative trim to the inside/outside edge of a curtain panel although it can be placed on the top and/or bottom as well.

Directions
To determine the total amount of trim needed, measure the edge of the curtain panel, add 2 inches and then multiply by the number of panels. Keep in mind, if you are using trim with a pattern (i.e. alternating colored fringe like the picture shown above) you will need to start and end your fringe at the same point on each curtain which may mean you will need additional yardage.

To keep the trim from unraveling, fold over top end and secure with sewing machine using matching thread.

Start at the top of the curtain and pin trim along edge in desired location. For this example I left about a 1/2 inch between the edge of the panel and the beginning of the trim.

Once you have reached the bottom edge of the curtain, cut trim about a half inch below where you want the trim to end.

Fold over and secure with sewing machine so the trim is the correct length for the panel.

Although some people use glue and others a sewing machine, I like to secure trim by hand with a needle and thread. One advantage of using this method (if your curtains are lined) is the thread used to attach the trim will not be visible on the back of the curtain like it would be if you use a sewing machine. Also, if you later change your mind and want to remove the trim, unlike glue or machine stitching, hand sewing can be easily removed without ruining the curtain panel.

To hand sew the trim, simply start at the top and slip stitch around all four sides of the trim – top, bottom, right and left. Make sure you stitch through the trim and the face fabric of your curtain but not through the curtain lining.

Here are a few examples of curtain panels with trim. The first picture shows a close up of the onion fringe on the curtains in my living room.

My bedroom curtains are edged with tassel fringe.

The curtains in my office are a tone-on tone-design – ivory silk with matching ivory trim.

If you have not done so already, I hope you will give this simple project a try. It is such an easy and inexpensive way to add dressmaker details to curtains.

A Pair of 1950’s Chairs

My sister came to visit this past weekend and while we were out and about visiting one of our favorite stores I came across a pair of vintage orange 1950’s chairs.

I immediately fell in love with their unique shape, quirky style and great condition. The silhouette of the chairs when placed side by side reminded me of the settee I have in my office – one of my favorite pieces of furniture. I kept envisioning them painted white and upholstered in linen at the foot of my bed with a small table in between.

Needless to say, it didn’t take long to convince myself the chairs should come home with me. I was not sure how Mr. RDH was going to react to my unusual purchase but was pleasantly surprised when he liked them. Hurray!

Although my initial thought was to paint and reupholster the chairs to a more neutral color palette, for the time being they will be staying orange. I have found a home for them in a surprising location and will be sharing it with you soon.

New Stocking Designs

Over the past few weeks Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage has been sharing valuable tips on running a successful Etsy business. One of her many ideas included “stocking up.” Gina believes by having a shop with a good selection – not just a few items but 50 to 100 items at minimum - buyers will linger longer and, as a store owner, you are more likely to reach a larger demographic.

So after reviewing the items in my Etsy shop, I decided it was time to get to work on some of the many ideas I have been keeping in my journals. Today I wanted to share a few new stocking designs I have recently completed. Just like my other stockings, each of the below designs can be made in any color combination to suit your holiday décor.

Zig Zag Stocking

Open Circles Stocking

Ribbon Top Stocking

Thanks for taking a peak at my latest creations. For additional information about any of the stockings please visit my Etsy shop.

My Dining Room Mirror has Arrived!

The mirror I ordered back in November has finally arrived and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Mr. RDH hung it above the buffet the day it arrived and it looks and fits just as I had hoped – perfectly between the two windows and with hints of gray complimenting the color of the curtains.

This room has certainly come a long way in a short amount of time.

“All” that is left now is to add the architectural details which bring a space alive. I am hoping to start on the ceiling. I will let you know the plans soon! 

Reusing a Curtain to Make Pillows

My sisters and I have an agreement – if we no longer want or need something we ask each other first before giving it away to someone else. This applies not only to clothes but to household items, toys, furniture, bedding, etc. A great deal, as each of us has benefitted greatly from the others’ hand me downs.

So when it came time for a room redo for my oldest niece, all the usable bedding, pillows and curtains were destined to be passed onto my youngest niece. One of the projects for this room switcheroo was turning the below curtain (which I had previously made) into two Euro shams and a pillow.

After taking the curtain completely apart, it took a little bit of time to figure out how to best use the small and odd-shaped fabric pieces I had to work with. I finally figured out a plan and came up with the simple pillows below.

My sister was thrilled and her young daughter is very proud of her new big girl room!


Linking up to Metamorphosis Monday and some of these linky parties