Showing posts with label Sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sewing. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Small Pieces


I've always thought of creating a comfortable home as a process, it rarely happens overnight (unless, of course, you have elves).  Time is spent gathering all of the pieces and then fitting them together just like a jigsaw puzzle. Some pieces are BIG and some pieces are small, but all of the elements have importance in the overall picture.

One of the small things I needed to take care of were new covers for the lumbar cushions that go on the living room slipper chairs. Since I love to tackle my own projects (let's be honest, I take on most of these projects to save $$), I figured I could whip up a pair. Sure, I had made these cushion covers before (see 2009 & 2011), but this time I wanted something a bit fancier...

...I wanted the cushions to have velvet on the front half, a woven graphic on the back half, a fold, sunburst gold buttons and an invisible zipper. I recently had a similar pair professionally sewn for the master bedroom, so I thought, "If someone else can do it, why can't I?" As it turns out, I can do it :-) Yay, me!!

Ta-Da!!!

 

Please take note of the invisible zipper, which I have now MASTERED:

Saturday, November 3, 2012

My Week in Photos

Wow!! This week went by so quickly, it's a complete blur. The closing date for the new condo is November 14th and I'll be moving in on the 28th, so there is a lot to do over the next few weeks. Here is a recap of the week that just went by:

Although I almost skipped it due to Monday night's storm, I decided to stop by Indigo Bay & Bloor for an interview and book signing with John Taylor, who is currently promoting his new memoir, In The Pleasure Groove: Love, Death, and Duran Duran. This was a pretty big thrill for me - I've been to several Duran Duran concerts over the years, but I've never been this up close and personal...



 ...

On Wednesday when I got home from work, the mailman had delivered Heather Clawson's gorgeous new book, Creativity at Work. You may recall that I met Heather during a trip to New York a few years ago, and her blog Habitually Chic is one of my favourite daily reads. The book is full of original photos, all taken by Heather herself, and features the work spaces of many creative people such as Bunny Williams, Jenna Lyons and Jonathan Adler, among others.

Heather will also be visiting Toronto for her own book signing, which I will definitely be attending! If you can make it, the event starts at 7 pm on Thursday, November 8th at Indigo Bay & Bloor...

...

Last weekend I worked on several projects with my Mom, including a mouse motel and a gold leaf mirror. Now I'm on my own to gold leaf the matching mirror, and I've also taken on a few new DIY's. For one, it's time to get started on the campaign chest I found last February at the Village. I haven't been able to find spray paint in the shade I'm looking for, so I'm going to paint this piece with a roller, but first it has to be sanded and primed...

 ...

I managed to squeeze in a quick sewing project this afternoon - a quick and easy pair of envelope pillow shams (luckily the pieces had already been cut and prepped with Mom's help last weekend). I adore this printed linen which picks up on the chartreuse and grey colour scheme happening in the new guest bedroom...


...

And since my condo was feeling a bit chilly tonight, I thought it was the perfect time to turn on the oven and bake a raspberry pie. Yum. Break time!!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Zipper Dread

This weekend I had one of the longest ever to do lists, and by 1:30 am late, late Sunday night, I managed to complete the last chore. Sundays are always cleaning day. You know, the usual laundry, vacuum, fresh sheets ritual.

This particular Sunday, however, I also had to finish a pillow sewing project for my sister. According to the receipt, the fabric was purchased last August. Procrastinate much? The problem, my friends, is zippers. No matter how many times I have sew in a zipper, each and every time I am faced with the task, I become filled with fear and dread. So relieved to finally cross this off the to do list ;-)


Not one set, but two...


Yay!! Finally done :-)

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Special Delivery

If you follow me on Twitter, then you may have wondered what this Sunday morning tweet was all about:


Inside the big orange bag was a special delivery - a slightly belated Mother's Day gift which I've been working on for a few weeks. While my mom was here in Toronto over the Easter weekend, I dragged her to Designer Fabrics to help me search for fabric to create a trio of store window panels. Surrounded by so much selection, it's always a temptation to make impulse fabric purchases, but I resisted - instead suggesting a pink & green print to my mom that I knew she would like. "Wouldn't this make great toss cushions for your couch?" An idea was born, and soon we were at the checkout with a yard of said print and a yard of a textural woven solid.

My mom's condo is decorated in soft green and chocolate brown with dark woods, highlighted by a few hits of shrimp/coral. These cushions tie right into the existing scheme and add a punch of print and colour to the living room. Hope you enjoy your gift, mom!!




Now then, who's next? I'm looking for projects!!!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

DIY Weekend Extravaganza

This weekend went by super quick, but I had enough time to finish several of the DIY projects on my list. It will be hard to go back to the office on Monday knowing how much more I could be accomplishing at home.

Does this corner look familiar?
I posted this photo on January 18, 2009:


No more dead orchid perched precariously on top of a cable box, in turn perched precariously on top of a vintage television. It took just TWO YEARS (?!?!) to give this hidden corner a 21st century update. I mounted a new LED tv in the corner, then painted and ran a wire concealer down the edge of the wall to the outlets. Now I can watch tv from bed without getting a kink in my neck.


I also gave the 20 year old table a coat of fresh white paint. I'm planning a bit more DIY work for the table, so stay tuned for the final results.



Remember these yellow urns?
I posted this photo on March 2, 2010:


I thought the urns would look fabulous outside, one on either side of the balcony, with a pair of coordinating toss pillows. I bought a pretty yellow and white floral fabric last year, and finally sewed the pillow covers today. Not bad, this project took only ONE YEAR to complete. Now I am fully ready for spring weather!!


What did you do this weekend?

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Sneak Peek: Project Pantone

No long winded post today, I've been busy working on what I'm calling Project Pantone . As I mentioned just the other day, I have been inspired to make a colour change thanks to this year's Pantone colour of the year, Honeysuckle.

Here's a sneak peek at Phase One:

Monday, November 9, 2009

Project 3.14 Completed!

Project 3.14 is now complete. I just have one question: With so many round and oval dining tables out there, why are there so FEW round place mats available?

This set of 6 place mats is the first project I've created with the new Janome sewing machine I received on my birthday. These are a belated birthday gift for my Mom (see how that works - a sewing machine is the gift that keeps on giving). So pretty, don't you think?


Here's my step by step guide to making place mats for the round table owner in your life:

Step 1: Select Fabrics


Step 2: Wash & Iron the Fabrics


Steps 3: Trace Circles onto the Wrong Sides of the Fabric


Step 4: Cut out all 12 Circles


Step 5: Pin Right Sides together &
Stitch around the Circumference
(Leave a 2" Gap to Turn Fabric)


Step 6: Clip around the Outside
(This allows seam to lay flat when turned.)


Step 7: Turn Fabrics Right Side out & Press


Steps 8 & 9: Top Stitch Around the Circumference,
Hand Sew the 2" Gap Closed with a Blind Stitch


Step 10: Prepare for Gift Giving


Fait accompli!!