Banner Quilt

I have made a few quilts in my years of sewing, but this is by far my favorite.  Decided to research a bit, ask questions of my quilting friends, and do this right.  I am beyond happy with the result!

Last spring I bought these fabrics, just because I really liked them. I'll admit it, I'm a fabric junky.  The base fabrics are Heidi Grace prints from JoAnn's, and the rest coordinate. I wanted to make a baby quilt, but couldn't decide on a pattern.

Spent an hour or so looking on my pinterest quilt board, and chose an isosceles triangle design. See the third print from the left? It was a no brainer.  The pin linked to a blog post that was a quilt-a-long, so that was really helpful.  She used a triangle quilt template, I improvised with a 30, 60, 90 triangle handed down to me from my dad. He built homes for a living, and drew all his own blue prints. A couple pieces of electrical tape and I can start cutting.

Started cutting an even number of print and white triangles, laid them out and rearranged until I was happy.  I began sewing the triangles together, one row at a time.

I remembered a little travel iron my mom snagged for me at a garage sale. Set my sleeve board next to my machine, and I pressed each seam as I went.  

Once all the rows were stitched, I matched seams and sewed the rows together. Starting to look really good!

Time to lay out my quilt sandwich. I did it on carpet and tacked the back with pins to keep it nice and taught, then laid my warm & white batting, then the quilt top.  

This is the only picture I took of this process. This is the back, face down, pinned to the carpet.  After the layers were safety pinned together, I took these straight pins out and started quilting, 1/4" on each side of each seam. 

I used my walking foot, and if you have one, I would highly recommend it. The top foot feeds your fabric along with the feed dogs below, keeping your layers moving evenly. 

Forgot to take any pictures of the binding process, but used the method most of the directions suggested. Machine stitched to the top, and hand stitched to the back.  The angled edges proved a little challenging, but after a couple tries I got the hang of it.

Couldn't wait to wash it, and give it that crinkly, cotton batting quilt look. I wasn't disappointed.

The backing fabric is flannel, making it even more snuggly!

After washing it I remembered I wanted to sew a quilt label on.

Printed on a piece of fabric, sewed a little banner on, and hand stitched it to the back. 

A couple more pictures, just because.

Quilting might be my new favorite thing. Problem is parting with it when I'm done. Not sure about this one, I may have to hang onto it. The colors and pattern are really my favorites. 

Here is the link to the isoceles quilt along, if you'd like to try one.

Mommy by Day Crafter by Night isosceles-triangle-quilt-along

Thanks for stopping by!

Karilyn

Vintage Truck Photo Canvas DIY

Today I'm going to show you the really simple canvas photo art I made to hang over our family room couch.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided it was long past due time to paint our family room.  17 years with the original beige, and lots of scuffs and dings.  I filled holes, sanded and painted in one day.  It's a tan with a hint of gray.  Now I have large walls that need some decorations.  Of course I went to my pinterest boards for inspiration, and decided to try this.  DIY Photo Canvas

I pretty much followed her directions, but did 3 - 16" x 20" canvases to fill the wall.  Trying to be cheap as usual, I figured out it was way less money to get a banner print than three 16 x 20's. Walgreens has banners 2' x 4' for $25 with a 30% off code it was about $18.50.  I cropped the free photo I found online to the right proportions and uploaded it to Walgreens photo. Done in an hour.

I picked up 16 x 20 canvases from Hobby Lobby at $7.99 for 2, with the 40% off came to $2.40 each. Brought the hubs along to get 2 of them with the coupon. :)

Found a can of flat black paint and a cheap brush and painted the edges and a little of the front.

Took the banner and cut out the 3 prints so they would look right on the wall.  This took a little figuring, and I was afraid they wouldn't look right with the space between them, but it turned out great.  Just doing one canvas would be way easier. 

Covered the canvas with matte Mod Podge, and glued the photo on. Pressed it down really well around the edges, flipped it over and pressed on the canvas to make sure it adhered well.  I cut the pictures about a 1/4" smaller than the canvas so the edges would glue down well.  Let it dry for about 30 minutes.

This is the part that I was worried about. I couldn't imagine painting the surface of a photo with a water based product and not having it ruin the picture. But, everyone's doing it, so I did it!

I used a foam brush, others said that left fewer brush marks.  I wasn't too worried about it, I was looking for a vintage feel. It looks creamy, but dries clear and beautiful!

I only did one coat, too anxious to hang them on the wall before my hubby got home.  He loves old pick up trucks!

If I was doing anything that got any use, I would do a few coats, but hanging on the wall it won't ever get touched.  

I'm so happy with the results. It was cheap, quick and easy.  Less than $30 for all three.  

One wall done, three to go....

Thanks for stopping by!

Karilyn

Half Bath Redo

Long time, no see, talk or anything!

I haven't blogged in almost 2 months.  I am working on a couple things, but they were bigger projects, and didn't want to share them until they were done, or close to it. Here's the new half bath we finished just before Christmas. I am overjoyed with the end results!

The main floor half bath was in dire need of redecorating.  We built our house in 1996, and thus is has a lot of oak, and I still was hanging on to a bit of the country style. My hubby loves to fish, so the bath and family room were done in hunter green, burgundy, plaid, oak and lots of fishing accents.  I wish I had better before pics, but I started ripping paper off the wall before I remembered to take a picture.

The bath was still sporting some sweet fly fishing wallpaper with border, an oak vanity, toilet seat and waste basket.  I had taken the brass out or painted it, and replaced it with black, but that didn't help much.

These are not total before pictures, but after I took the wallpaper down. The mirror was plain just hung with brass clips, and the hunter green formica counter had a 4" glossy tile backsplash.  The sink, toilet and tile look white here, but they are bisque.  Loved it 17 years ago, but not so much now.

If I ever suggest wallpaper again, just shoot me.  I really love the look of it, and actually enjoy hanging it, but removing it is the worst!!  The paper usually comes off Ok, but washing the paste off the walls is miserable. Here's a little piece that was behind the light fixture.  Nice, huh?

I have the best neighbor, and he made new doors and drawer fronts for my vanity, to give it a more modern look.  Here is the list of what we actually did or replaced.  I stained the vanity with dark walnut gel stain, painted the walls gray, changed the toilet for a white one from the upstairs bath, replaced the sink, quartz countertop, glass backsplash, faucet, knobs/pulls, towel bar and tp holder, light fixture and a framed mirror.  

It's kind of hard to get any good pictures, as the room is pretty small.  Especially trying not to take a picture of my reflection in the mirror.  :)  It all came together better than I even had anticipated.  I knew I wanted the straight, modern door handles, but was so excited when I found the faucet with the same lines! Then of course I had to find a towel bar and paper holder to match.  Those and the light fixture were my biggest splurges.  It really pulled the room together. 

I am so happy with the results.  Every time I walk by I do a double take, like I'm in someone else's house.  The fishing wallpaper had just become a part of us. Even though it was awful, I became blind to it.  Once it came down, the ideas started coming.  

The counter is cut from one inch thick 2ft. by 2ft. piece of quartz tile. He even got the edges from the same piece. So glad I married a cheapskate like me!  The sink was a brand new craigslist find. Once we found that, I new everything had to be linear or square.  

The backsplash was cut from one 12" x 12" sheet of glass tile.  We brought 3 choices home, and the one my hubby liked was the right one.  I should listen to the tile setter more often!

I just have to keep adding pictures because it looks so good.  I bought a couple of gray towels and wash cloths to finish the look.  I'm thinking a couple of shelves over the toilet, and maybe some pictures or a clock? My kids tease me, I have a clock in every room.  Doesn't help me get anywhere on time, but I love clocks!

How about a sweet before and after.  Makes it even better!  I have a couple more baths that need some attention, but not as much as this one.  

In case anyone cares, here's where most of the stuff came from.

Light fixture, towel bars, door pulls, and backsplash are from Lowe's.

Faucet I found at Williams Distributing while I was looking for a toilet. 

Countertop tile is from the Tile Shop. They have a few 2' x 2' granite and quartz tile choices, and most of them have trim pieces for the edge. Of course I picked one that didn't have any, but in the end I think I like the square edge in this room better anyway.

Mirror came from Menard's.  I was planning on just framing the one we had, but somehow in it's trips on and off the counter during this process, it cracked.  Just buying a new one was more costly, but way easier.

Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Feel free to comment with any questions.

Desk turned Nightstand

Well, here it is. I'll show you the after before the before.

I am in the process of redoing our master bedroom. Last weekend I finally painted the walls a nice neutral greige, after being gold for more years than I wanted.  I just needed one thing to get the ball rolling, and I finally found a bedspread I loved, so it has begun.  

My best friend and personal decorating consultant stopped by last week and told me I needed a nightstand on my side of the bed that sort of matched the dresser on the other side

. 

Here's what I was using, an antique sewing cabinet.

So I started checking craigslist for something cheap or free I could remodel to work. Then it struck me. I had a french style desk in the basement I bought a few years back to paint and resell.  I think I paid $30 for it. The wheels started turning, and I got to thinking maybe I could take the top off of it, cut it back and just use the drawer side as a nightstand.

Here's what I started with.

It's a cheap piece with lamitated particle board for most of it, and the top is like a formica.  I started by removing the top and right leg section.  Most of it just came apart pretty easy, and I was left with the drawer end and a couple of supports that just needed to be cut flush with the chest part. 

I cut the long pieces off, and was left with a nice 3 drawer chest.

The biggest hurdle was figuring out how to reuse the top, or make a new one.  I considered a couple options, and decided I could cut the old top in 2 pieces and screw them back together. That way I retained the cute, curvy shape that it was.  Luckily, my hubby came home just about the time I had decided that was the plan. He hauled out Grandpa's old (seriously antique, I think!) table saw, and made the cuts I needed. I went back downstairs and fastened the pieces together. 

It's what I was thinking, but the rough, laminate joint in the middle's not going to cut it!

So, off to Lowe's I went to try find a thin piece of plywood to cut to lay over this. I found a 2'x2' piece of birch plywood for $4.58, and new jigsaw blades for $3.08.  A little over $8.00 with tax, and I'm a happy girl!  Back home to my basement 'shop' and I traced the shape of the top on my plywood. Cut it out with a jigsaw with a new blade, so worth the money, and it came out great.

A little sanding and adjusting, and it was perfect.

Fortunately again my hubby came home just then. We tried to think of ways to attach it, as it is too thin to nail or screw. I was going to buy a tube of Liquid Nails, but decided he would surely have something that would work.  Ah, we have an old can of contact cement from redoing my parents countertops years ago. He had to pretty much destroy the lid to get it open, but once inside, it was fine. You brush or roll a coat on each surface, and let it dry for like 20 minutes. It gets tacky, and then you stick in on. We did that, and put heavy stuff on it to dry overnight.

Then I got to paint it, my favorite part. Nothing transforms things as quickly and easily as paint.  Even though it was basically the color I wanted, I didn't want that fake yellow greenish laminate wood look.  A couple of coats of Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White, and I am in love. 

The paint is kind of pricey, but I love how it turns out. When you sand it, it comes off really chalky, but the surface is so smooth.  It's pretty distressed too, but hard to tell from these pics.  The dresser that it is supposed to match was a craiglist freebie that might be my most favorite. It has been in my daughter's room, but she rearranged and didn't want it anymore. Yea for me, now it's mine!! I'll share that with you another time.  

The top worked out so well, no one would ever know. Except now I just told everyone. 

I'm so happy with this piece. It is exactly what I was picturing in my head.  A small chest with lots of storage, and solid to the floor to hid all my cords behind it.  It usually holds a lamp, electric blanket control, kindle and charger, etc.  

One more, just for fun.

I have one more chest to redo for our bedroom, and hopefully a chair. I was going to reupholster the gold chair, but decided it has a lot of vintage appeal.  I'm going to leave it as it for now, just find it a new spot.  My daughter used it for senior pics, but I haven't got to see them yet. Can't wait!!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and share my fun. Hope I inspire someone to try their own projects!

Karilyn

Mid-Century Modern Dresser

This weeks project, or really last weeks, but I just haven't gotten around to posting it, is a dresser that has gone through a few changes.  It was a bargain corner(pre-craigslist) purchase before my second child was born.  I needed another dresser, and this was what I found.  I am sorry I don't have any before or in between pictures, just after.  

It started out white with simple tapered legs. I put small turned legs on it and put a fresh coat of paint on it.  Then when we moved from little boy to big boy I painted it blue and put a larger turned bun foot on it.  It's been that way for a long time. 

This summer my son decided he wanted a corner desk, and as good fortune would have it, that day there was a free one on craigslist that came with a chest. It is actually really heavy duty office furniture with a lateral file.  The desk went in the corner, and we took the dividers out of the file piece and put it in his closet for a dresser. Fits perfect!!  Someday I'll do a post on his room.

Anyway, the blue dresser came out and has been sitting in my dining room for a couple months. I thought it might get used elsewhere, but have decided to part with it. So...touched up the paint, changed the knobs and again changed the feet out for ones more fitting the style.  I really love how it turned out! Too bad I don't have a use for it.  

Here it is, it's on it's way to craigslist. 

I'm not the best photographer, and the lighting in my house is horrible.  If I would have dragged it outdoors and taken pictures in natural light the colors would have turned out way better. But, I don't have any helpers around, so this is what I get.  

The paint chip and the little sample on the lid look really navy, but in real life it turned out more of a grayish blue, which I'm really loving now.  I left the knobs and feet natural, and I think the contrast is cool.

The drawers are lined with a blue plaid wallpaper, and the door on the right had a slide out rack for hanging small clothes. It was a baby dresser to begin with.  

Here's the tag on the back to prove it.  It says, "Fine Baby Furniture Since 1897."

Here's one more picture with horrible glare from the window.  

Kinda wishing I had a baby boy to go with this, but he's a freshman this year. My baby days are behind me. 

If any of my local friend are interested, let me know. I'd be happy to see it in a new home.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Karilyn

Kitchen Pendant Lights

Hi again everyone! It's been quite awhile since I've blogged about anything.  Life seems to have taken over, but fall is here and I am determined to be more consistent with my life. I have a senior this year, which means open house come spring.  After helping a friend get ready for one this last spring, I decided to start early with my house projects so as not to be trying to do 100 things at the last minute.  I'm sure I'll still be doing 100 things come spring, but at least maybe I'll have 20 or so behind me.

I have a list of ideas/projects that seems to keep growing. One thing leads to another...(I hear a song in my head!) and I keep seeing more things I'd like to do.  So, I am going to try to stick at it and do at least one item a week. It's so fun to check something off the list.

This week I painted my kitchen lights, and put new shades on them.  I bought one shade about a year ago at Lowe's, but never did anything with it.  I picked up two more this week and went to town.

Here's the before picture.

I have 4 pendant lights and a ceiling fixture. The one on the left is the original shade. The three others are shades I found at a tag sale and the paint on the inside is slowly peeling off, dropping on the counter. The ceiling light has a ribbed shade, and the mottled brown color didn't match the others, and none of them looked good. Like they were going for antique bronze, but missed.

So I took them all down and figured out how to use the new drum shade I bought.

Then I spray painted them all satin black, then a light coat of oil rubbed bronze.  I love me some spray paint! In the midst of it I decided my green clock needed to be black, so it got a new coat too.

Here they are.  The pictures don't really do justice to the change, but trust me, it's a great improvement. They are all the same color, and I'm lovin' the new shades! The lights on picture was last night, the brighter one was this morning, the colors are much better. Notice also I decluttered the frig a bit for the pic.  

Don't love this light, but it will do for now.

I forgot to take a picture of the before clock, but here it is. Like my new black accents!

Well that's it for this week. I also refinished a table, but I'll show you that another day.

Thanks for stopping by.....