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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.

2 comments 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

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

St. Paddy’s Napkin

By Eleah

It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and if you’re like me, your days of armature night pub-crawling are over and green was never really your color anyways. The next logical approach to a holiday where everybody is Irish is to host or attend a dinner party. It’s no secret that cloth napkins are slightly more sophisticated than paper, so this year I’m going to step it up a notch and make my own cloth napkins. Tasteful St. Patrick’s Day fabric napkins are hard to come by, especially if by tasteful I mean “not covered in glitter, scary lepricons, and a poor font choice spelling out exclamatory remarks on the holiday at hand”. You are only hurting yourself by allowing these objects into your home. What’s a person to do you ask? Make your own napkins! If you follow the instructions below you will soon have your own set of home made fabric napkins, and yes they will be machine washable.

You will Need:

  • 1 yard of cotton fabric (or) pre-made plain fabric napkins from the store of your choice (I used a light gray since white is always risky)
  • 68” of 3/8” wide grosgrain ribbon in a darker shade of green.
  • 34” of the same width grosgrain ribbon in a lighter shade of green.
  • Three 13mm buttons (I chose a 2-hole white fresh water shell button for their slight shimmer and organic appeal)
  • Straight pins
  • Sewing Machine
  • Needle + thread to match the ribbon/fabric.
  • Iron and Ironing board

(The above list of supplies yields 4 napkins…multiply as needed.)

Making The Napkins:

  1. Begin by pre-washing the fabric. (Otherwise the final piece could deform when washed with ribbon sewn on.)
  2. Iron Cotton fabric and cut into 17×17 inch squares.
  3. Arrange the ribbon along two neighboring sides of the cut squares. I think they look nice if they are about ½ inch from the edge and each other.
  4. Weave the ribbons over and under each other in the corner of the napkin where they intersect.
  5. Pin down ribbon with straight pins
  6. Fold over each edge ½ inch, press with iron
  7. Fold over edges another ½ inch, press and pin with straight pins
  8. Hem both edges of each ribbon (One stitch down the center is fine too, you will just need to iron them after washing)
  9. Hem the edges of the napkins (about ½ inch in from edge)
  10. Sew buttons where you think they look best….
  11. And Serve!

 


Add comment March 13, 2008

Textile Transformation

By Eleah

 

If your home needs to be updated and you either don’t have the time or budget to do a full make-over, try changing some of the smaller elements of your space. Interior accessories can be created easily and make all the difference if done right. Playing with colors, textures and patterns within a space can be a fun way to change the atmosphere of a room. It is important to enjoy the surroundings that you come home to.

For my opening blog I will lead you through the steps and material requirements to create a professionally finished pillow complete with piping. I suggest the timeless and non-evasive trellis pattern that evokes sophistication while still retaining a sense of comfort. Before you gather your materials you will need to take a look at the color palette of the room the pillow is for. I suggest selecting colors within the room that already have been repeated within the space. If there is a piece of décor in the room that you want to be highlighted, use a color or two from it and if possible, bring it to the fabric/trim store for an accurate match. Try to stick with either all cool shades or all warm shades. It is also a good idea to mix dark and light so the pattern does not get lost.

I chose a warm chocolate brown cotton linen fabric for the front, lighter kaki/off white blend cotton linen for the back, harvest gold twill tape ribbon for the pattern and a natural white 28mm cordege for the piping. You can see in the images that mixing light and dark really makes the pattern pop. For the green people out there, you will be happy to know that cotton linen and cotton twill tape are both all-natural earth friendly materials.

You will need:

  • ½ yard of cotton linen fabric (all the same color or ¼ yd of two different colors)
  • 150 inches of 1-inch twill tape
  • 62 inches of 28mm twill tape cordege
  • Sharp scissors
  • Ruler/straight edge and fabric marking chalk
  • Straight pins
  • 1 16-20 ounce bag of stuffing
  • Sewing machine, needle and thread to match the twill tape ribbon

Making the Pillow:

  1. Measure out two 17×17 inch squares of cotton linen (remember to iron your fabric before you cut to ensure a more perfect square)
  2. Cut strips of twill tape ribbon in the following sizes: two 23-inch strips, four 17-inch strips, and four 9-inch strips.
  3. Lay out the fabric that will be the front of the pillow.
  4. Lay the longest pieces of twill tape ribbon from corner to corner across the fabric. They should form an X.
  5. Lay out the four 17-inch pieces parallel and 3 inches from the longest strips and repeat with the 9-inch strips another 3 inches. Now that the pattern is arranged you can choose to do some minor adjusting and make it so the ribbons weave over and under each other (optional). Just be sure to keep them straight.
  6. Once you are satisfied pin the ribbon onto the fabric with straight pins to secure the design.
  7. Sew along every edge of ribbon, going over the criss-crosses as they come. This is the trickiest part since you need to keep your hem about a centimeter from the edge of the ribbon. Don’t get frustrated if this is difficult. If your thread matches the twill tape it won’t be too noticeable. Also twill tape is a more forgiving material to stitch through than some other ribbon material so if you need to redo any of the hems the holes from the needle will be fairly self-healing.
  8. Once you have finished with the twill tape, quickly trim off any extra lengths that go beyond the boundary of your square of fabric. Now it is time to begin pinning down the cordege. You will be sewing this on to the front piece first and then sewing the back onto that. It’s much easier to break this in to stages rather than pinning and sewing all three layers.
  9. Lay twill tape embellished layer design side up on a table. Pin down your cordege along the edge of the pillow. You will want the tape edge (not the puffy tube) to line up with the edge of the pillow. The two ends will need to overlap a little as you can see in the image.
  10. Set your sewing machine needle to be at the far left position and sew the cordege onto the front piece. Try to trace the inner seam that is already a part of the cordege, it serves as a pretty good guide. Sew completely around and remember to back stitch at the end.
  11. Lay the back piece of the pillow on top so that both sides of the pillow are outside facing in. Pin the back piece on, sandwiching the cordege inside. When you hem this together have the front piece facing up so that you can trace the hem you already created. Otherwise you are only making things hard for yourself.
  12. Start your stitch just past the overlapped cordege. Once you come around stop just before it. You should be leaving yourself a gap, which should be about six or seven inches wide. This will allow you to turn the pillow right side out and later serve as an entrance for stuffing.
  13. Turn the pillow right side out and begin stuffing. Take extra care on the corners so that the full form of the pillow is expanded. Once you are satisfied with the fullness of the pillow pin the opening shut and do a quick hand stitch to seal it.
  14. And Serve!

7 comments February 26, 2008

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