An easy update

The thrift stores have been lame lately! I've seen furniture that's peeked my interest but really I don't 'need' more projects. I did find this felted wool purse for $1.50 yesterday. I peeled off the wool stars and made a felt applique flower for the front. I'm not really into purses myself - I have my bag that houses my craft projects and that's all I need. It's all about function!

This purse will be part of my 2009 purge. The plan is to clean house so I can start fresh for 2010. That means lots of pillows, booties and furniture will be finding new homes in the next month or so.

BEFORE // AFTER

Recent Finds

I bought another pearl bracelet - I paid$0.50 for it. I plan to take it apart and use it for something! I love pearl pieces.

Re-engineered wool sleeves

Earlier this year, I bought a wool sweater that I've been meaning to create a purse or two out of. I planned to use the floral front then the solid black back of the sweater leaving the sleeves for anything else. As I was organizing fabric the other day, I came across the sleeves and here's what I've created - one pair of booties I already posted but here's the rest including my before shot of the wool sweater:

BEFORE

AFTER

Next I'll be working on my mini Xmas stockings then figuring out what treats I'll add to them - homemade shortbread, truffles... Yum!

A quick and dirty project

Last week my friend Stephanie mentioned she wanted to try making coffee sleeves - maybe knitting some. Then I was at Wheatberries on the weekend and grabbed a cardboard coffee sleeve and decided to also make some coffee sleeves. I used the cardboard sleeve as my pattern. It was a super easy project. I made 2 sleeves in a jiffy! I ended up finding a home for one before I had a chance to take a photo but here's my first sleeve - it says "coffee love" which is what I have!

I also finished up this pillow cover last weekend. I'm not sure if I'm completely happy with it - mainly the colours. I think the whale may be too dark but I'm sure I'll find a home for the pillow.

My Latest Booties

While organizing my pile of fabric, I came across the sleeves from a wool sweater I felted ages ago. The sleeves are a gorgeous soft black and the wool is quite thick. I decided to cut up the sleeves and make some baby booties. I added a heart to each then was done. I'm going to make a couple of more pairs this week. I'm making a pair for a friend that will have a bright blue bird on each bootie.

Project Update

I finished up my fourth wine bag and donated it to a silent auction at work. Awhile ago I donated a set of pillows. The wine bag donation goes to a gift basket my team is putting together. I'll be sure to get a photo before it's too late! I'm just hoping the set of pillows I donated sell!

Last week I started on some mini Xmas stockings. I'm finishing up my beta this weekend. I'm using a Martha Stewart pattern that I made smaller. It's for putting Xmas goodies into. I want to give hostess gifts where you either consume them or can reuse them. Photos coming soon!

Xmas in October!

I finally have a chance to post my latest adventures. The past 2 weeks have been a bit nutty. First off my hard drive died! Thankfully my iMac had 2 more weeks left on the extended warranty so I got a new hard drive and a new mouse (my mouse stopped scrolling up awhile ago) on warranty.

I'm working on Xmas stuff these days. The weather has been pretty wet lately meaning I won't have much of a chance to refinish furniture outside. I'll have to wait on finishing up all of the refinishing projects I've started. Now I'm in sewing mode!

I've made 4 wine bags in the past week - below are the 3 I created with a Xmas theme. I want to make more plus some felt applique Xmas stockings. Hopefully I can find time to get everything done! I'm also thinking of making some felt applique coffee sleeves - I'm sure I could make something fun in a jiffy.

Project Update

A couple of weeks ago I sanded and stained a scrap piece of wood to put on my metal tray. I'll have to secure it plus seal the wood since I'll probably use it to put drinks on. Hopefully it's not too basic an update - maybe I'll revisit the wood at some point. Right now my focus is on sewing then I'll come back to it.

Recent Finds

I bought this table cloth for $1 at the Salvation Army last week. It's a big piece of fabric with one teeny tiny hole in it. I want to re-engineer it into pillow covers. I'd to use the border somehow.

Free Stuff

Last week I was the happy recipient of a bunch of silk from my friend Anna. The piece of orange silk will be a donation to my Mom. It'll make a great accent pillow for their new couches and pillows.

Another refinishing project done

I bought this seat for $5 last week at the Salvation Army. It was $10 then they took off 50% so I got it! I decided to use up the rest of my Ikea fabric and refinish it like my vanity seat. Maybe I'll find a home for the pair of seats - who knows!

The photos aren't the best so I'll take better ones later in the week. I think the project was a success! The project cost was definitely under $10 and thankfully it was a pretty straight-forward update for a change!

BEFORE

AFTER

Here are both completed projects...

I'm glad I was able to finish this project - I wasn't so fortunate with my rocking chair. I picked up paint stripper for my rocking chair on Saturday after helping at the Happy Cat Haven. It's not the fastest and/or easiest process!

I worked on the rocking chair for a bit and got bored so I then sanded and primed the above seat. Today I decided to finish it up instead of re-visiting the rocking chair. I'll have to see how the paint stripper works next weekend - if the paint doesn't come off too easily then I'll consider painting it.

Recent Finds

I've started prepping for Xmas - mainly wine bags right now then I'll move into felt applique Xmas stockings. I'm also making more pillow covers. I picked up this dress for $4 at the Salvation Army this weekend.

It's a nice cotton moo moo that I'll re-engineer into pillow covers. I might actually attempt making zippers next since I haven't done that yet. I found a link to a tutorial that I'll try out. I also have to refine my buttonhole making skills. So much to do, so little time!

Free Stuff

A friend at work donated this necklace - it broke but she thought I could use the beads for one of my projects. There are definitely a couple of snazzy beads in there!