Banners, Bunting, Garland....

Whatever they're called, I love them! Earlier this month I won a Giveaway over at Esther's Blog Pineconeprim. Not only did I win a really cute purse, but she also sent me this darling fabric banner! I've been meaning to make one myself{well actually wanting to and really thinking a lot about it}.

I can't think of any excuse as to why I haven't yet...I love seeing what talented and motivated crafters have done with their version of garland & bunting. Just search flickr and see the endless ideas:

Now if you're unlike me and you like patterns, specific details, and tutorials~ I found some great ones. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE looking at tutorials and getting the basic idea, but I have a really hard time with exact measurements and having to follow specific instructions...I work much better just jumping in and figuring it out as I go.
Over at Sewmamasew.com you'll find an excellent tutorial for a scalloped fabric garland, too cute!! Two more really good tutorials can be found here and here.
If I start cutting fabric now for a Christmas tree garland, I should be able to get it done just in time for Christmas....I'll post any progress I've made :)

Comfy Cozy Cottage Style...

One of my favorite things about flickr is how you can roam around browsing through photo's and create your own Inspiration. In a perfect world this is what my Cottage would look like, inside and out.

1. Cozy Cottage, 2. Quaint Cottage, 3. skona hem white on white, 4. new sofa, 5. English Eiderdowns, 6. mytins, 7. Untitled, 8. Kitchen, 9. My Vintage Pad - Home Tour - Sairer from Malvern in the UK, 10. White cottage bathroom, 11. Re-New Style, 12. Cottage Door, 13. Daily Bungalow - SE Portland, Ladd's Addition Neighborhood

It's about that time to replace my couch cover. I'm not sure it's a project I want to take on myself, but I found a Tutorial for a Chair Slipcover Makeover~ I might want to start there first.

Nothing says comfy and cozy like a home filled with lots and lots of pillows! On the couch, in a chair, on the Bed....just everywhere! I found two really cute{and I think seemed pretty easy}Pillow Cover Tutorials. Here and here.

I think the Silhouette pillow would make such a great gift!

New Finds...

The month of October is always the busiest month for me. Three of my kids have Birthdays, there's back to school night X's 4, Teacher conferences, now we've added Football games, Football injuries{which leads to Doctor appointments} and searching for Halloween costumes~ luckily my boys are finally too old for costumes. I love this time of year, but it's always hectic.
I did manage to do some Thrifting. I found these cute but quirky ceramic heads.

I bought this amazing vintage frame{with plans to turn it into a Chalkboard} and clown painting at the Flea Market. I'm the only one who loves the clown~ my kids think he's creepy!

These last finds are probably my favorite, partly because they were free. I love this corner shelf and couldn't pass up the weathered ceramic hen or chicken?? I was with a friend on the way home from breakfast when we spotted these curb side treasures. I don't always stop, mainly because once my kids see me eyeballing something they usually end up telling me "No way mom...you're not seriously going to get that"!! "Oh my gosh, how embarrassing" then it's not so much fun.


I'm so so glad I stopped for this shelf :)

New Sewing Spot...

Last weekend I decided to move my sewing machine to a different area, thinking I'd get more sewing done there. So far I've only sewn once. I've been meaning to make coasters from fabric and quilt scraps that I've been saving, so toady I made a little stack.
They were really quick and easy to make. I used 5" x 5" fabric squares, then cut slightly smaller squares of batting{I think that's what it is, I have a bunch stored away}. For each coaster I layered three pieces together like a sandwich{with batting in the middle}
I placed a couple of pins through each set to make sure nothing moved, then just stitched around the edges and across the middle a couple times.

No more glass rings on my new table :)

♥ Scalloped Edging ♥

Definition: Scalloped edges or ridges refers to a wavy pattern reminiscent of the edge of a scallop's shell.
This is one of my favorite details. I didn't realize how many things I have with scalloped edging: tea towels, shelves, frames, curtains, pot holders, vases, etc. I recently picked up this cute little frame while out frame hunting. It has the sweetest scalloped details! I can't wait to pair it with a super cute fabric{that I'm waiting to arrive any day now}turning it into a mini Inspiration Board.

Happy print, by: farouche

The cupcake bag, by: quejimenez

Gift tags, by: lowfidelity

Vintage scalloped tin, by: pinkgrapefruitstyle


1. 70's Scallop Edge Sandals, 2. scallop, 3. vintage 40s/50s double cube box shelves honey wood scallop edge 11x11, 4. Vintage Red Bowl with Scalloped Edges, 5. Bunny Rabbit 33 Feltidermy, 6. Knitting Needles and Yarn Cameo with Red Scalloped Edging, 7. sweet scalloped edge, 8. Untitled, 9. Scalloped edge on bean pot handle


I found a great tutorial on how to construct a garment from scratch{or if you'd like to modify a vintage piece or anything in your closet}go here for step-by-step instructions. I'd love to use this pattern for kitchen curtains~ how cute would that be?!!!

Hand Stamped Fabric

This is something I've been wanting to try for awhile. I love the personal one-of-a-kind handmade look. I'm still in the middle of re-doing my daughters room. One thing she'd like is custom curtains and lots of throw pillows, how perfect would hand stamped fabric be for both. I found a great tutorial here at CreativeKismet's Blog.
She made this ribbon and fabric for a Swap~ how cute!

Other cool stamping options:
Stamped fabric pin, by: laurabucci

Hand stamped sewing labels, by: modernartstudio

Hand printed Birdcage fabric, by: plainjanetextiles

This is as far we've gotten in the room re-do. We found this beautiful HUGE decorative mirror, a big switch from a little girls cutesy pink room{as you can see by the hanging names & floral curtains}. I'd really like to do the curtains next, now we just need to figure out which fabric and stamps to use.

Recently I decided to take one of my Chalkboards out of my Shop to hang & use. Not to toot my own horn, but I have to say I'm really loving it! I don't miss the scraps of paper here and there where I would keep my appointments or reminders.

Finally, a little more organized :)

Old School Halloween...

This is how we did it back in the day. Plastic suit tied at the neck, sweaty little mask with nose holes you could barely breathe through. I remember these costumes being the sh*! Unless my Mom dressed me up as a Hobo{something we all were a time or two} I remember loving going shopping every year for my costume in a box!

Vintage Lemon Meringue Halloween Costume found in MagpieEthel's Etsy Shop.


1. Halloween 1973, 2. Trick or Treat, 1975, 3. Wee Creature from the Black Lagoon, 4. Rocket Man, 5. Flame retarded, 6. Cat & Clown

Hopefully dressing your child as a "Hobo" for Halloween isn't an option anymore...what were our parents thinking?? Yikes! Is that not the saddest costume :(

1. Funny Bunny and Happy Hobo

It's about that time to get out there and go costume shopping....happy hunting♥♥

Vintage Hankies ♥

How cute is this Tote? I just saw it this morning, made by Bethsbagz. I bought a tote from her years ago, it's almost as cute as this{it was a Valentines theme} she does great work!!

So cute! Great Ideas:

1} Child's handkerchief, by: myredboots
2} Hanky onsie, by: Vintagelucys
3} Framed hanky, by: fineanddandy
4} Hankie Dress, by: josiekatstrunk

As usual there's endless ideas, collections, inspirations to see on Flickr:

1. Hanky Wall art, 2. Greens, 3. vintage hankies, 4. Vintage Hankies Valance, 5. Mom's Hankies 003, 6. Vintage Hanky Pillows!

Why would anyone make something so cute to blow your nose in??? I can't imagine using any of these for their original intended purpose.