Felt Chrysanthemum Pillow

Felt has become one of my new best crafting friends...next to Mod Podge, that is! I love the endless possibilities of it and even better yet: No fraying! Here is a simple and elegant way to dress up your bed, sofa or favorite chair for very little money but with big impact! This craft takes a little more time to do, but it is worth a little extra work! Flowers say it best!

Materials you will need:

-plain fabric covered pillow form (any size will do)

-felt (3/4 yard)

-copy paper

-fabric glue

-several straight pins

Start by making 4 petal patterns. My pillow is 18"x18" so I made the largest petal pattern measuring approx. 6"x 3" but you can adjust it to your liking. Make each following pattern slightly smaller than the last.

Next, cut out felt petals using your patterns. For my pillow size I needed 20 of the largest petal, then 14 of the next size down, 8 of the next size and 4 of the smallest.

After all petals have been cut you are now ready to glue them to your pillow! Apply a small amount of fabric glue to the bottom corners of your petal......

then fold the corners in and hold for a few seconds while the glue starts to bond and take hold. Fabric glue can be very messy, making "webs" and leaving you with sticky fingers as you go. Be careful and wipe off hands and glue tip often!

Turn petal over and apply another liberal amount to the back bottom half of the petal.

Begin to lay them out in a circular form and use a pin to hold until glue dries.

HINT: I started with a petal in the 12 o'clock position, another in the 3 o'clock position, one in the 6 and another in the 9 o'clock position. Then I begin filling in the spaces between them to assure a more symmetrical look.

Once you are finished with the first layer, you can move onto the next size petal placing them over the first row. Place them slightly lower and between the large petals. Pin to hold.

Once you have finished all layers, you may have an empty space in the middle where all the smaller petals come together at the base. I cut out a "X" shaped petal and glued it in the center.

Center is covered and looking good! Finally!

HINT: If you are using black felt and have any glue dabs showing against the dark surface, color over them using a black Sharpie or permanent marker!

You are done! How does it look!? Now place your pillow on your favorite spot to relax and kick your feet up after all your hard work!

Pillow: $7

felt: $3

glue: $3.60 with coupon

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Total cost: $13.60

Total time to complete project: 2 hrs.

Plugs

There is a great art and craft market coming up that I am excited to tell you about! The Bijou Market is going on next Saturday in Provo, UT. This town really has something to shout about with all it's local talent and innovation! A lot of new things are becoming of this once small town and I am so happy to see a lot of great local businesses moving in and a hunger for all that is handmade! Please check out this great event and support all the amazing artists and vendors that live among us!

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In speaking of the great local business and talent, I want to give my big sister a nice, warm plug here on H is for Handmade! Colett Yarro, will be one of the many vendors at the Bijou Market next weekend! She has quickly become a local favorite after appearing in many craft shows over the past several years. Her work has been showcased at the new restaurant Communal, located in Provo, and in both locations of the trendy Paisley and Pomegranate stores. She has also been a vendor of the Oh Sweet Sadie boutique, Art Market and of course the ever so popular Beehive Bazaar! Colett also received a nice shout out from popular blogs such as Design Mom, Your Heart Out and Sweet Life in the Valley. I want to wish her the best of luck in her upcoming shows and if you happen to see one of her paintings and want it, you better buy it before someone else does! 

 Here is just a small sample of what she does:

Silhouette Luminaries

I have been a little smitten by the silhouette craze that is occurring all around us these days! I wanted to bring something into my home that didn't include my child's profile or require us to sit still in the light and trace out our shadowy figures on the wall! Here is a really simple way to add the trend into your home and with a lot less work and not having to wrestle with family members sitting still! 

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Materials you will need:

-glass cylinder vase

-velum paper

-velum tape

-ribbon (if you choose)

-word processing or design program on computer

-scissors or paper trimmer

(hint: cylinder vases can be found at most thrift stores. Also try looking in the stemware section for cylinder drinking glasses. Velum can be found at either a scrapbook store or a paper supply store but a lightweight copy paper may work, too. Card stock and scrapbook paper is too heavy.)

First, you will want to measure your vase to see if the image should be printed on the paper vertically or horizontally. Write down the measurements for when you need to trim your paper

Find a silhouette image (copyright free!) online and drag into any design or word processing program you have. I went here and here to find images. Here you will need to find out where your image should be placed on your paper. Will you need to center it, lower it, enlarge it......?

I found that I had to do quite a few adjustments and print the image at a larger size than I expected. Always check the "print preview" option beforehand so you can see on screen what it will look like when printed on your paper.

Run a few samples from your printer on regular paper and hold up to your vase to make sure you have made the right adjustments to your image

(hint: Wash your hands! Any oil or residue will show on velum so make sure you have clean fingers before handling your paper!)

When you have perfected your layout and make your final print to velum (or paper) take your measurements and trim paper to size of vase. Rule of thumb: Measure twice and cut once! 

Now you will want to apply your velum tape (or double stick tape for regular copy paper) in a vertical line down the outside of your vase. I actually had to apply two lines. Velum tape will not show through where regular double stick tape does. 

Adhere one side of your velum to the tape and begin to roll the paper around the vase and attach other side down. Run your finger along to seam firmly to make sure the paper is attached securely. 

*For added detail, you can add ribbon around the top of your vase if you choose.*

Finally, you can drop a votive in the bottom of your vase and light up the evening! I think these would be really cute using images for the upcoming season as well! Maybe these will be my neighbor gifts this year?

Glass Vases: .50 cents - $1.00 from thrift store

Velum: .35 cents/ea.

Velum tape: $6.00 (I used a 40% coupon to Micheal's crafts)

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My Total Cost: $6.15

Heather Bailey's Fabric Flower

A local program in Utah, Studio 5, was ever so fortunate to have Heather Bailey grace their set this week! She did a great tutorial on how to make fabric flowers that I think would be a great asset to any shirt, headband, purse, belt or pillow! I have always loved her fabrics but I can only imagine the possibilities with fabrics that have more muted-organic tones to it as well. So pretty!

(If you want to skip the interview and go straight to the tutorial, fast forward to 6:30 on the time bar)

Mark Your Calendars!

There is a must see event happening in Sugarhouse this weekend and I encourage all locals to attend! Art Market is an art and craft show that occurs 4 times a year featuring local vendors from all around the state. I just can't believe the fall show is already upon us! For a closer look at participating artists click here and check it out for yourself! 

Did you see your favorite local artist on the list?!

I did!

check out Kanani Hayes this weekend! She spins more vinyl than anyone I know....on her sewing machine, that is! I love that her concept is unique and modern! She can be spotted at Frosty Darling downtown SLC, etsy and you may have even stopped at her very busy booth at Swiss Days in Midway, UT. Pick up one of her creations either for yourself or for someone you love this holiday season! 

(I know from experience that the vinyl baby bibs are durable and wash well! I love mine!)

Just go ahead and get one of everything, I know you want to!

Spooky Candlestick Transformation

I have seen black candlesticks for sale for the upcoming holiday in the stores but didn't want to spend the money on something I knew I was only going to have up in my house for a month. Here's an inexpensive DIY for black candlesticks that are sure to add just the right amount of spookiness to your home this Halloween!

I went to my local thrift store and bought several brass candlesticks - each at a different height and shape.

(hint: if there is any wax on your metal candlesticks, heat your oven to 250 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with tinfoil and place candles on cookie sheet. Heat candlesticks in oven for 10-15 minutes until wax bleeds onto foil or can be absorbed and wiped off with a paper towel. Remember to use hot pads when handling hot cookie sheet and candlesticks!)

Place candlesticks on steady and covered surface with enough room between them to maneuver the can of spray paint. 

Give them a couple coats of black paint and allow to dry.

Next, display with your favorite Halloween decorations and say BOO! 

candlesticks: .50 cents - $1.75/ea. (I paid a total of $7.00 for qty. 7)

black spray paint: $2.75

candles: 7 qty. @ .99 cents 

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Total: $16.68

Total time: 30 minutes

(FYI: You can find the skull and torn netting at the dollar store and taper candles at Michael's Crafts!)

Halloween Table Runner

I love Halloween! There is no denying that! I would transform my home into a haunted house and charge admission if I could! But, since that is out of the question, I settled for this hauntingly perfect way to at least deck out the table!

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Materials you will need:

-sewing machine 

-fabric glue

-black fabric (enough to cover desired area of table)

-pom pom fringe

-rick rac 

-silver paint pen

Start by measuring and cutting out fabric to desired size to fit your table. Hem edges of fabric. You can also leave them raw if you want an unfinished and frayed look.

Next, you will want to place a piece of tinfoil under your fabric to prevent the paint from bleeding through onto your work surface. Begin to draw spiderwebs all over your fabric. Different shapes and sizes add a lot of character! Never drawn a spider web before? Use a ruler to help make straight lines and also go here to get some ideas!

You should have something that looks like this when the drawings are done:

Next, you will want to measure your pom pom fringe to the width of the fabric. Start to glue the rick rack on. If you are super ambitious, you can sew it on, too! Be sure to fold the ends to the back of the fabric. Glue should take about 15-30 minutes to dry.

Finally, glue (or sew!) the rick rack on top of the upper portion of the pom pom fringe. Again, fold ends to the back of fabric. Let dry.....

and give yourself a pat on the back because you are now done! 

Decorate with your favorite Halloween items and some pumpkins of different sizes and colors, and you are ready!

fabric: $1.50/yard ( I needed 2 yards)

fabric glue: $5.99 

paint pen: $2.65

pom pom fringe: $3.50/yard (I needed 1 yard)

rick rack: $1.35 pack (4 yards in 1 pack)

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Total Cost: $14.99

Total time to complete project: 2.5 hours

Fabric Covered Bangles

Are you wondering what to do with your small scrap pieces of fabric? Are you like me and buy fat quarters with no purpose or use in mind, but only because they are pretty? Well here is a great way to use some of it up and accessorize your wardrobe as well! 

What you'll need:

-Fabric or craft glue

-scraps of fabric

-bangles (simple, preferably clean edges with no detail)

Did you ever own a few of these back in the 80's? I found them in my parent's playroom for the grandchildren. The granddaughter's used them to play dress up and I hadn't seen them in years! You can find them at most thrift stores and tag sales, however. You can also use metal or wood bangles if you have any laying around.

Start by cutting narrow width strips of fabric. I found that 1/4" wide worked best. The average bangle will use about 1 yard in length. You can make several shorter strips if your fabric is not long enough. Don't worry about getting your cuts even, you will not be able to tell when it is all done.

Put a dot of glue on the front and back of the bangle to hold starter piece of fabric in place. Wind the fabric around the bangle starting from the backside first. Slightly overlap the fabric as you go. Place another dot of glue every few winds to keep fabric from sliding during wear and tear. If you come to the end of the fabric and need to start a new piece, simply start on the back again by gluing the new piece in place and pick up where you left off.

So simple and so quick! You are done! You can even tie them together with cute ribbon and they can be worn as a set or worn separately! 

Embellishing Project #2

I have been working on my second project from Kayte Terry's book Embellishing - Techniques and Projects and have been having a lot of fun with it! This woman is amazing and I love so many things in her book! I really like that a lot of the projects are quite simple and really inexpensive. I am looking forward to a day with cooler weather just so I can sport my new sweater vest!

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Here is the photo from the book used as inspiration:

Here is what I came up with:

(sorry, no cute bike to prop with!) 

Cut out squares of plaid fabric and use Heat and Bond to attach to sweater. Simply hand stitch around the border of each square and then hand stitch more diamonds to create the argyle look.

The hand stitching was the most time consuming part of this project. The needle had a difficult time getting through the thick weave of the wool. 

The book shows the edges of their fabric frayed, but I stitched around each square with my sewing machine so that they wouldn't fray too much. 

Don't worry about getting your stitches looking exact. It's nice to have it a little imperfect, otherwise it would look factory made and that would defeat the whole purpose! Handmade items always have character! 

I also added this nice little detail!

FYI: wool suiting material can be very expensive but you only need about 1/8 of a yard (if that) and discounted remnants can usually be found in the clearance section of the fabric store.

sweater from thrift store: $3.50

wool plaid fabric: $2.50 

Embroidery thread: 2 qty. at .35 cents/ea.

heat and bond: $1.59

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Total cost: $8.29

Total time: 3 hours

***To view another great embellishing project from Kayte Terry's book, click here!***

Upcoming Events!

For the Utah locals, you may want to check this out!:

Garden of Art...A Bohemian Girl's Rhapsody!

Sept. 18 - 19

I am excited to attend this show! It will be a first for me and I am even hoping to get a little Christmas shopping done here!

for more information and a sneek peek at the vendor list and their creations, visit the show's blog:

gardenofartshow.blogspot.com

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Also, it is hard to believe, but winter craft fairs around the valley are already in progress! Applications are already being accepted for the Winter Beehive Bazzaar! If you think you have what it takes, click here for an application! The deadline is only a week away so hurry and get yours submitted!

You can visit the blog website for further information on participating vendors, dates and upcoming events!

www.thebeehivebazaar.com

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Also, Bijou Market was a huge success this spring and they are kicking off a winter market as well! We are all excited for this event to happen again in November! If you are interested in applying for this great show click here. 

(Do you all love winter craft shows as much as I do? I am really excited for the holiday festivities to start!)