Author Archive

Eco Friendly Jute Carafe and Glass Set

By Eleah

 

An easy way to add an element of green to your table is to create a covering made from a natural fiber cord such as jute or hemp.  As mentioned in Milton’s Earth Friendly Jute Belt blog, Jute is 100% biodegradable and requires little to no chemicals for production.

I picked up a cute little set of 4 juice glasses and a matching carafe at a local second hand shop.  If you want your set to be eco friendly try your second hand shops, stuff you already have or look into sets made of recycled glass (an ever-growing industry). 

 

Supplies:

  • Carafe/Pitcher + glasses
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun + glue sticks
  • 8mm Jute Cord (00650-JUTE) (5 ½ yards for the carafe, 1 yard/glass)

 

Directions:

  1. Glue one end of the 5-½ piece of cord to the base of the Carafe.  Leave a little bit of the end unglued so that you can later point it upward and wrap the cord over it as you secure it around the circumference of the Carafe. I also started mine slightly above the actual bottom of the carafe so that it does not touch the table surface.  This is optional. 
  2. Continue to lay down about 3 inches of glue in the desired path of the cord.  Keep snaking it around until you get to the end.  You should be able to pull up part of the glued down cord with the end of a pair of scissors and tuck the raw end of the cord into it so that it is hidden.  
  3. Repeat the same steps with the glasses.
  4. You’re done!  Now you have the perfect set to serve wine or water in to your guests!

Add comment August 6, 2008

Lace Sheet Trim

By Eleah

 

Got boring sheets? Tired of plain old cotton sheets?  Me too.  But there is a solution to mundane nights.  Ladies and gentlemen…lace never dies.  Trimming your bed-sheets with lace does not have to mean transforming your sleeping quarters to grandma’s doily collection.  Lace comes in so many different patterns and designs that it’s easy to select one that suits your style.  *Machine sewing parts of this project are recommended for a more professional finish. *

 

Supplies:

  • Good old fashion elbow grease because you may be hand-sewing parts of this project.
  • Iron + Ironing board
  • Sheet set + 2 pillowcases
  • Four yards of lace for a full or queen sheet set and 2 pillowcases -OR- five yards of lace for a king sheet set + two pillow cases.  I chose the 88mm Cotton Eyelet Lace. Style #38903 for my sheets.  If you are looking for a something a little less soft than regular lace, you should try metallic lace for a more modern look.
  • Needle and thread to match the lace
  • Sewing Machine
  • Scissors

 

Directions:

  1. Preshrink your sheets if they are new
  2. Preshrink your lace if it is 100% cotton on the gentle cycle and I recommend putting it in a lingerie garment bag or tied pillow case to protect it. No need to preshrink if it is a cotton blend.
  3. Iron sheets + pillowcases
  4. Cut two 41″ pieces of lace for the pillowcases. The rest will be for the top sheet.
  5. Fold one piece of lace in half, right side in and hem the two ends together with a ½ inch seam allowance.  Repeat with second pillow case piece.  Press open seams with iron.
  6. Pin lace loops right side out onto the pillowcases so the top lines up with the hem on the cases. Machine-sew the top edge of the lace to the pillowcase.  Remember to backstitch!  Hand sew all other parts of the lace down the pillow cases…the need for this step can be omitted if the lace you choose looks better free-flowing. 
  7. Lay the remaining piece of lace across the top hem of the flat sheet.  Fold ½” at each end of the lace around the back of the sheet + press + hem.
  8. Machine hem the top edge of the lace across the width of the sheet.  Hand-sew the rest as needed.
  9. Make your bed, turn on some tunes and take a nap. You deserve it.

Add comment July 23, 2008

Tips & Tricks (Sewing a straight line)

By Eleah

Need help guiding your fabric to keep your stitch straight?  Try wrapping a rubber band around the end of your sewing machine and use it as a guide to keep things straight.  Don’t forget to check back often as I will add more tips and tricks.


Add comment July 22, 2008

Lightweight Ribbon Tieback

By Eleah

Now that it’s warm out I like to keep the windows open at home.  I made some curtains for my bathroom and wanted a way to tie them back to let the fresh air in.  Most home décor curtain tiebacks are made from very heavy material that just don’t suit the curtains.  Organdy ribbon is lightweight and the perfect replacement for lightweight fabric. 

 

Supplies:

These are only suggestions.  You may also want to experiment with buckles, buttons, tassels, lace or cord depending on the fabric and room you are working with.

(Pick colors that compliment your curtains or something else in the room that needs to be tied in color-wise.)

 

Making The Tiebacks

  1. Cut both pieces of ribbon in half.  Cut all 8 ends of your 4 pieces of ribbon at an angle for a more finished look. 
  2. Tie a piece of 38mm ribbon in a knot around the gathered curtain
  3. Tie a piece of 10mm ribbon over the 38mm in a knot
  4. Make a bow with both pieces of tied on ribbon. 
  5. Repeat on second window and you are done!

1 comment July 9, 2008

4th of July BBQ Cups: Because beverages taste better with gingham ribbon

By Eleah

 

If you are hosting the hot-dog holiday event this year, try thinking, “What would Martha Stewart do?”.  Most BBQ’s I have frequented have been stocked with sleeves of plastic cups for summer beverages.  Thus far I have witnessed only weak attempts of adornment to these disposable drink holders.  And by weak attempt I mean illegible scribbling of someone’s initials at a last minute effort to rescue an abandoned cup from contamination or “sharing”.  So get out your scissors and glue America, it’s time to celebrate our country’s birthday.

 Supplies:

(Yields 4 cups, multiply depending on how many friends you have or divide if you have no friends)

 Making the Cups:

  1. Measure out 9″ pieces of gingham ribbon
  2. Roll up one end of one piece of ribbon with your fingers to make it small enough to lace through buttons.  Refer to my blog image for suggested button arrangements. 
  3. Once your buttons are laced onto the ribbon piece, slide them so that they are centered in the middle of the ribbon.
  4. Apply E600 glue to the backside of the ribbon and some to the buttons for good measure.  Carefully place the ribbon glue side down around the cup.  Refer to blog image for placement on cup, or if placed lower simply cut off access ribbon.
  5. Set aside to dry and move on the rest of the cups.
  6. Write down the names of the people on your guest list on the cups in the coolest font possible. 
  7. Place the cups on a tray for guest to pick up as they enter.  I would suggest making some extras and leaving the Sharpie beside them for any lurkers or tag-alongs.

2 comments June 24, 2008

Storage Box

By Eleah

 

Fabric covered storage help keep your little odds and ends in order while simultaneously adding a splash of color to your space.  It’s a pretty quick and inexpensive project to undergo.  The supplies are minimal and the usefulness factor is high. 

 NOTE: The decorating method described below is merely a suggestion that happens to mimic the common design of storage boxes seen in home décor magazines.  Remember, you can also use buttons, rhinestones, Appliqués, fringe and tassels to decorate your box.  This can also be a fun project to do with a kid to help encourage putting away toys although I would suggest doing the fabric wrapping of the box yourself if your child is under the age of 12.

Supplies:

  • ½ yard of medium weight opaque non-stretchy fabric in a color of your choice
  • 2 yards of ¼ inch grosgrain ribbon in a color that compliments your fabric or ties into the boxes designated setting
  • 1 yard of 2-¼ inch grosgrain ribbon for the inside of the box
  • 1 old shoebox

Making the box:

  1. Lay the main compartment of the shoebox on your fabric and estimate how much you will need to wrap the entire outside of the box, adding an extra inch and a half to fold into the inside of the box.  Cut a square/rectangle from your fabric that will accomplish this.
  2. Repeat with the lid of the shoebox, except measure the depth of your shoebox lid to determine how much overhang you will need to pull and glue down the fabric.
  3. Lay the shoebox in the middle of the first piece of cut fabric and begin to fold into the center of the box.  Put down a strip of fabric glue on the inside rim of the box and seal down the first edge.  Go around the box wrapping in snuggly.  With the excess fabric, fold in a similar fashion as you would if you were making your bed… Consult 1950’s housewife if you don’t know how to do this. You want this to be pretty flawless or your box will look messy.  Make sure to apply glue in areas needed to hold fabric in place.
  4. Repeat steps with shoebox lid.
  5. Now you should have a wrapped shoebox that sort of resembles one of those TV show presents that doesn’t require actual tearing of the wrapping paper.
  6. Wrap your ¼ inch ribbon around the lid of the box applying fabric glue to the ribbon as you go.  You only need a thin spread otherwise the glue will push out from behind the ribbon and look messy.
  7. With the remaining ¼ inch ribbon, glue down along the raw edge of the fabric on the inside of the shoebox lid for a more professional finish
  8. Repeat on the shoebox/raw fabric edge with your 2-¼ inch ribbon
  9. Use any access ribbon to make bows or extra lines on the outside of your box.  This is especially useful if you are making multiple boxes and want to be able to differentiate them from one another

Add comment June 10, 2008

Kitchen Bulletin Board

By Eleah

Stainless steel refrigerators getting you down? Sure they look cool but they’re not magnetic so there is no longer a place to post up your shopping lists and recipes. A full sized bulletin board is very demanding of space and inevitably becomes a tangled eye sore filled with expired notes and numbers. Who wants to search through a rectangular mass of garbage just to find a business card someone might have given you three weeks ago? But ho! There is a solution dear reader. I have been noticing the growing popularity of long magnetic strips for notes in various home décor magazines. My only problem with them is that sometimes a magnet is not powerful enough to hold up thicker papers such as postcards or recipe cards.

This week I will show you how to make your own space conscious bulletin board for your kitchen or room of choice.

 

You will need:

  • 32″ to 1 yard of 1 5/8 thick grosgrain ribbon (I used Grosgrain in Mint with white polka dots to evoke a cute retro vibe) 31901-6101
  • 1 yard of 15 mm ribbon (I used Imported Chambray Ribbon to accent the polka dots) 38792-4
  • 3 ½ x 30 inches of a medium weight fabric (I used a stone gray cotton)
  • Magna-Tac 809
  • Spray mount (I recommend Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun + 1 glue sticks
  • One 28″ x 1 ½ ” piece of ½ inch thick foam board (you will have to visit your local hardware or art supply store to find the smallest board to cut your slat from.)
  • T-Square ruler + pen
  • Utility blade

(If you aren’t able to get all these supplies, improvise)

Making the Board:

(You may want to periodically wash your hands in-between steps so you don’t soil the surface of your ribbons.)

  1. Measure and cut our foam board to the dimensions mentioned above.
  2. Lay out your piece of fabric on a flat surface
  3. Give a light spray of Spray adhesive to one side of your foam board and lay sticky side down carefully onto your fabric. Flip and smooth any bubbles with a sleek edge like a credit card.
  4. Apply a pea size drop of Magna-Tac to one end of the foam board, on the ½ ” exposed foam part. Smooth the fabric on the same end over the glue so that you create two triangular tabs of fabric at the corners. Pinch the corners with your fingers and hold for 30 seconds. Cut off the tabs with your scissors. Repeat on the other end.
  5. Apply a thin line of Magna-Tac along the rest of the exposed ½ inch foam to bind the fabric tightly around the foam board. Follow the same technique to smooth the remaining edges onto the back of the board.
  6. Apply Spray Mount to the wrong side of your 1 5/8″ thick ribbon and carefully smooth along the length of the fabric-covered board. Be sure to leave 2″ of ribbon at each end so you can wrap it around the back for a more finished look.
  7. Smooth remaining 2″ of ribbon around the back…You may need to use Magna-Tac to secure it in back.
  8. Cut 2 three-inch strips of your 15mm ribbon and set aside. Cut the remaining 30″ of ribbon in half and make 2 bows. Hot glue the bows about 1″ from each end of the front of your board.
  9. Hot glue the 2 three inch strips into two separate loops and then hot glue those to the back of your board, just behind where you glued your bows. These will be your hooks to attach your board to the wall.
  10. And Serve!

2 comments May 16, 2008

Lighting The Mood For Mom

By Eleah

Mothers day is just around the corner.  Almost any sensible woman above the age of 25 will tell you that lighting is key.  Bad lighting such as overhead fluorescents can drastically alter her appearance not to mention the all around mood of the room.  Help a lady out this Mother’s day with the gift of flattering light. 

This week I transformed a thrift store lamp into 2 different looks using spray paint, fabric and trimmings. I wanted to lean towards a monochromatic color scheme for the lamp itself, leaving a broader range of possibilities for the trimmings to match any room or style.

You will need:

  • A lamp + lampshade
  • Primer and Spray paint
  • Fabric (amount depends on the size of your lampshade)
  • Trimmings of your choice (You will have to measure out the appropriate amount depending on the size of your lampshade and how much coverage you want)
  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • Magna-tac 809 permanent adhesive
  • And of course a lightbulb with the appropriate wattage.

Making the Lamp:

  1. Lay your lampshade on its’ side and roll it across your fabric tracing it with a pencil as you go.  You will only need to roll it about ½ way around. 
  2. Create a second line about 1 inch outside of your original tracing and cut it out.
  3. Wrap the fabric around the lampshade folding the 1 inch seam allowance behind the top and bottom edges of the shade.  Secure with Magna-Tac as you go. (keep in mind that if your fabric is thin and covering a shade that is thin as well, your seam will show through once the lamp is turned on…so try to be as neat as possible.)
  4. Lay down 2 coats of primer to the lamp base and when it is dry spray paint a couple coats of top coat in the color of your choice.
  5. Secure the trimmings you have selected using Magna-Tac.  I used 3/8″ Pom Pom Fringe (31664)in mint and 5.25″ Pearl with flower fringe (14021) in black.
  6. Turn on your new creation to test out the final product and if you’re happy with it, wrap it up and give it to your favorite mom.

1 comment May 7, 2008

Refreshed Table Setting

By Eleah

Spring is finally here and what better way to celebrate the season than throwing a gathering for you and a few of your closest friends and family. Set the mood with homemade table decorations. The addition of a few simple elements can create a more inviting atmosphere for you and your guests. The supplies to create a sophisticated and playful table are few, and the steps to put them together are quick. In half a day you can have a matching breadbasket with fabric lining, napkin rings, candles and a runner.

This project yields 4 napkins, 1 breadbasket lining, 1 table runner, 2 candleholders and 4 napkin rings. Adjust as needed.

You Will Need:

  • 1 wooden or wicker basket (can be found at most craft stores)
  • Candleholders
  • Napkin rings with a flat surface (see mine below)
  • 4 ½ yards of cotton linen fabric
  • Approx. 65 Glass rectangular Sew-on Jewels (I chose blue and white)
  • 5 square Glass Sew-On Jewels (You will need these for corners)
  • Sewing Machine, Needle, Thread, Scissors
  • Strong bonding glue, I recommend E6000 Glue for glass and metal. 

Making the Setting:

  1. Cut the following sizes from your fabric:
    ONE -12”x38” (I cut the ends of mine into points so it wouldn’t be so simple)
    FIVE- 19”x19” squares
  2. Hem ½ inch along all raw edges…repeat with another ½ inch hem to seal the deal.
  3. Arrange your glass stones along the short edges of the runner and sew on (Tip: I used some fabric glue to hold the stones in place as I sewed them on)
  4. Arrange 1 square and two rectangular glass jewels on the corners of one of the hemmed square pieces: apply using same technique
  5.  Arrange rectangular glass jewels on flat surface of napkin rings and begin adhering with E6000 or your glue of choice.
  6. Glue rectangular glass jewels along outside of candleholders
  7. Fold and press 4 remaining square pieces and roll into napkin rings, lay bread basket lining in your basket so the embellished corners drape over the edges, lay out runner + candles and start cooking.
  8. And Serve!


2 comments April 10, 2008

I am not a plastic bag… but I eat them for breakfast

By Eleah

holster.jpg

Earth-friendly canvas tote bags are all the rage right now, however it is nearly inescapable to wind up bringing home a plastic bag or two during the week. Throwing them away defeats the purpose of any attempt to be green with your fashion-approved little canvas tote. Remember those plastic bag dispensers from days of yore? Their day has come again and it is time to bring them back into your life. They compact the plastic bags into a smaller space and provide an easy system for reusing what would otherwise go to waste. My collection of plastic bags has grown to the point where I suspect it may be developing it’s own heartbeat. It’s time to take control and I will do that by making my own plastic bag holster that is both useful and aesthetically pleasing.

You will need:
(my color/fabric choices are inspired by Spring Picnics that I’ve never actually been on)

  • Cotton based fabric 17×21 inches (butter yellow double faced cotton)
  • 2 yards of 38mm ribbon (33mm Imported Gingham Check Ribbon in nave/white)
  • 2 yards of 2mm Rattail Cord (in beauty to compliment the navy and yellow)
  • Sewing Machine + Thread
  • Straight Pins
  • Scissors
  • Iron + Ironing board

To Make the Holster:

  1. Press a 1-inch fold on both 21-inch edges of the fabric
  2. Cut Rattail Cord in Half + sandwich into the crease of the folds + pin down
  3. Hem the cord into the fold without stitching over the cord; it needs to be free since it will later be used as a drawstring
  4. Cut and lay out the 38mm ribbon of choice on the front of the fabric in a pattern that is suiting to your taste…. Pin along all edges of ribbon + hem onto fabric
  5. Fold fabric in half so the two raw edges line up, with the applied ribbon facing in
  6. Sew a hem 1 inch from the raw edges, creating a tube
  7. Cut any loose thread + turn the tube inside out
  8. Pull the Rattail Cord drawstring on one end and tie into a double knot and bow
  9. Stuff saved up plastic bags into open end and tie a single knot (this will be the top of the holster)
  10. At the end of the rattail cord tie a knot and small bow, creating a loop to hang your holster from.
  11. And Serve!

4 comments March 21, 2008

Previous Posts

Visit M&J Trimming

www.mjtrim.com

Feeds

View Recent Posts

Top Posts

Recent Comments

Bjorn on Free Swarovski Crystal Rhinest…
Bjorn on 72nd Anniversary Sale! August…
rosario ruiz on Bridal Rhinestone Flip Fl…
Kristin on Dog-of-Honor (Ribbon Dog …
Marian on Dog-of-Honor (Ribbon Dog …

Older Posts

Authors