applique' throw

project number thirteen from the homemade home...

this project was a challenge for me from beginning to end. 

Although, with some help from friends and 

family, the throw is complete and I just love the way it turned out.

materials and equipment

tailor's chalk, tape measurer and long ruler

solid color fabric, preferably with a good drape so that it hangs well.

scissors

iron

fusible web

floral fabric with motifs that can be cut out

pins, needle, and sewing thread

embroidery needle and floss

sequins

 

 i decided to make the throw into a larger more functional sized blanket,

 that my boys and I could snuggle 

up with whether on the couch, or in a park...

or that the sweetest little girl in the entire world 

could have her six month old photographs taken atop.

i added a quilters batting and backed the throw with a lovely Amy Butler fabric.

 

enjoy!

tin can planters

project number twelve from the homemade home...

another "quick idea"

"an assortment of cans in different heights, widths and textures 

is the perfect foil for a selection of plants, as well as an excellent way to recycle."

(i covered my cans in a variety of decorated paper,

 because I was planning to give them away as gifts, 

and I thought it looked a bit more finished."

"Use a screwdriver to pierce the base of each can several times for drainage, 

being careful not to skewer yourself. 

Sand the rough edges inside, fill the cans with soil, and add your plants."

Enjoy!

fabric-covered notebooks

project number eleven  from the homemade home...

materials and equipment:

iron and spray starch

fabric such as linen

notebook

pencil and ruler

scissors

1 inch wide double sided tape

needle and sewing thread

button and ribbon

fabric scraps, ribbons or other decorations

decorative paper

"Beautiful fabric-covvrered notebooks are perfect gifts because they can be used as address books, 

diaries, scrapbooks, or favorite places to write down poems or quotations..."

1. cover

2. trim

3. tape

4. decorate

5. wrap

6. admire

"Old wallpaper could also be used instead of fabric..."

enjoy!

covered coat hangers

project number ten from the homemade home...

this project is the first that caught my eye when I peeked inside

  the homemade home for the first time.

materials and equipment:

wire coat hangers

double sided tape

pencil and a long ruler

fabric, for binding

scissors, pins and iron

scraps of felt and patterned fabric for decoration

ribbons, buttons, large fabric corsages

needle and sewing thread

"To bind each hanger,

 first run a strip of double sided tape along the wire, 

wrapping the tape over the 

wire so that it's completely covered. 

Using strips of pre-cut fabric, begin spiraling the fabric around the wire.

Continue this way until the entire hanger is covered."

(Warning, this is extremely addictive, 

you very well may want  to make a million of these hangers...)

Enjoy!

appliqu'ed table linen

project number nine  from the homemade home...

this project came just in the nick of time for my son's seventh birthday breakfast.

materials:

fusible web and iron

assortment of fabric scraps

pen, scissors and pins

plain fabric placemats

embroidery needle and floss

carpenter's square (set square)

1. cut

2. iron

3. sew

this placement will be underneath both of my little boys

 birthday morning breakfasts for the rest of their childhood.

( i'm a sucker for tradition.)

sit back and celebrate for years to come.

enjoy!

painted frames

project number eight  from the homemade home...

i use a multitude of picture frames as props in photography sessions,

so when I saw this simple way of sprucing a few of them up, I was thrilled.

"transform old picture frames by painting and decorating them, 

then hang or stand them in a group to make an eye-catching feature."

" to decorate a painted frame with fabric or ribbon, cut a piece of fabric to the circumference and length 

of the frame you wish to cover. Paint white glue onto that section of the frame. Starting at the top, mold 

the fabric onto the frame  pressing it into the indentions."

enjoy!

china transfers

project number seven from the homemade home...

another "quick idea"

i thought the idea of having some of Sebastian's sketches transferred onto ceramic was just too sweet... 

(I was right.)

" here's the perfect way to display your children's artwork."

Simple Directions: "Copy all of your images onto a sheet of paper the same size as your transfer paper, so that you don't waste any. The images should be the mirror image of the final design. Ask a print shop to laser copy it onto the transfer paper. At home, following the manufacturer's directions, cut out each design, soak it is water until the transfer loosens from the backing sheet, then slide it face down onto the ceramic. Remove any air bubbles with your fingers."

"Fix the design by baking the ceramics in the bottom of your oven at the lowest temperature possible for at least an hour, then very gradually increasing the temperature every quarter of an hour up to a maximum of 400 degrees after two hours."

enjoy!