Climbing Trees and Firefly Dreams

As grand as these mountains are outside my kitchen window with their snow capped tops, they small in comparison to the vast openness of the prairies of Illinois.  I grew up in the midwest and to me, that is beauty.  The gently blowing breeze over-top the grain filled fields holds a gentle picture in my mind that I suspect, always will. 

I have come to discover that the place you call home...truly home...will always be the most beautiful.  Maybe the dirty, city streets for the city born aren't the fondest to remember, but I would bet that the towering architecture and buzzing streets hold a corner of your heart.  My husband was born here in Colorado, so the Rocky Mountains are something he continues to love and cherish every single day.  While I am in complete amazement of these hills of strong granite, somehow the prairies, wandering creeks and fireflies of the midwest make me feel at peace and at home.

I came upon Sarah Jane's new fabric line today and not only is it gorgeous, but it reminds me of home.  Wee Wander from Michael Miller is a great representation of what life is like through the eyes of a child in the Midwest.  Fireflies, climbing trees, leaves and pinecones, frolicking birds and ponies are some of the memories featured in these fabrics. In Illinois,we didn't have too many ponies, just cows.  I don't suppose cows playing in the fields and flowers would have made such a pretty print;)

While these fabrics won't be showing up my shop until January, I couldn't wait another minute to introduce them to you.

Meanwhile, take a moment to remember your childhood days.  For me, my fondest memories are playing in the creek with my brother, Eric or playing catch in the front yard.  Catching fireflies in the dark, warm nights is an amazing experience that every child should have.  If you can't have that, you can at least get an idea of what that might be like.

 Fly home, firefly.

-Jayna

Designer Spotlight: Jackie McFee

It would normally be my intention to interview said designer, but with my shop in full swing, I just don't have time for that.  However, I came across a fabric designer today and I just LOVE everything she has!  I'm not sure if it's the color I love more or her design. Her fabric designs are currently being printed by Camelot Fabrics.  It's no secret to my friends that I'm a chevron addict. I don't think there's a room in my home that doesn't have chevron in some form. 

Jackie feeds right into this addiction and temps me with additional wonders like large dots, anchors and stripes.  I know from experience that these designs will be wildly popular with my moms-to-be when ordering their custom crib bedding.  Here are some of my favorites that I uploaded today:

Kabloom

In the Navy

KaBloom

I love how the colors react with one another and seem to be the perfect combination of contrast but with a similar feel as if they just belong together.  The stripes, the dots...they are just fabulous.  Jacqueline has a great website that features her retail bedding designs and home office supplies.  You can read about her successes on her website.   Great job, Jackie!

 

Find Your Color

It's been a while since I've been to Lowes Home Improvement Store and I was so colorfully delighted by the display of Pantone Paints that I almost bought them all!

What gorgeous colors they have chosen...49 to be exact.  Pantone says that the "MyColor inspired by Pantone offers designers and do-it-yourselfers an affordable, easy-to-use solution for adding a splash of color to any paint project including furniture and accent walls. Offered in a 35 oz. size, this ready-to-go, ultra low VOC paint is odor free and provides an elegant, eggshell finish that is both durable and washable. Premixed, factory-precision color ensures an exact match every time while unique stain-blocking and self-priming qualities save time and reduce workload."

What a great idea.  Just open and paint.  Sometimes I find it so difficult to choose the color of paint that I just give up and go home empty handed.  So, if you have a dresser or table that could use a pop of color, why not take a look at these and pick one out for yourself.  Don't have a Lowe's local?  No worries, you can order them online.

Here is a great inspiration post by Houzz with some gorgeous dressers for your liking.

Happy painting!
Jayna

Out to Sea

Last fall XO Gigi sent me some fabric from Sarah Jane's newest line, Out to Sea, which is manufactured by Michael Miller Fabrics.  Gorgeous!!

These fabrics are not only printed on a high quality quilting cotton, but the colors, the illustrations...they are just so beautiful.  I pondered for so long what I wanted to make with these fabrics and knew that I wanted it to be something that I could look at every day and really enjoy the fabrics the way they are meant to be enjoyed.

I have mentioned before that I previously wasn't the biggest fan of table runners, but they have really grown on me.  I decided to do a strip-style so I could use bigger pieces of the fabric...making sure that the whole pattern was visable. 

Backed with a white matelasse, this piece turned out gorgeous.  I put it in my sewing room and that has turned out to be the most perfect place to enjoy it.  I hope you are inspired to create something new today!

Jayna

I love Poms

I just had to share a picture of this gorgeous pom trim that came in a few days ago.  It's Riley Blake's Jumbo Pom trim in Lime.

I was scared that it would be really bright...which is not what I was wanting.  In true Riley Blake fashion, it is the perfect shade of lime, which isn't too bright but not too dark, either.

This trim will go perfectly on my drapes I have planned for my office.  Hopefully I'll get those up this Spring.

Happy Sewing!
Jayna

Score!!

I just love shopping...have I mentioned that yet? 

I took a quick trip to Marshals to return some drapes and I found these two little beauties on a shelf looking for a home. 

There only used to be one kind of Mod Podge....the original.  You know, with the yellow label?  I saw a pin on Pinterest some time ago that showed all of the kinds of Mod Podge there are available now so I was personally very excited to purchase 2 new kinds of Mod Podge that I didn't already have.  What shall I do with the fabric one?  Perhaps decoupage some fabric onto some picture frames?  The outdoor one will be perfect for those summer days when I'm feeling crafty.

The website from Plaid (the company who makes Mod Podge) is actually really cool.  You can search by craft or occasion.  Just the help I sometimes need to be inspired.  

You never know what you're going to find when you're not looking for it.  What a great excuse to get crafty!

Jayna 

Chevron Table Runner

I have to admit that I used to hate table runners.  They always were so old-looking, with tassels on the ends and country type fabric.  I was not a fan.  However, last fall I created a great table runner from Sarah Jane's Out to Sea fabric and fell in love with the possibility that table runners could actually add to my obsession with home decor.

Chevron is one of my latest obsessions and has been for quite some time now and no wonder...it's everywhere!  My customers request it all the time and as a result, I'm addicted. So, I thought I would whip up a chevron table runner for my buffet for spring.  I chose one of Art Gallery's Alhambra II fabric that I had lying around and paired it with Amy Butler's solid in Mist.  The two are simply stunning together.  I have listed a quick tutorial below for those of you who would like to make one too!

I started with some test fabric to see how big I wanted to make my quilt squares, so some of these first pictures are with Riley Blake's medium zig zag in navy (in case you're confused:)

I decided I would start with 6"x 6" squares.  I cut 21 of each the patterned fabric and 21 of the solid color fabric.  It's essential that the two fabrics you choose are contrasting if you want the chevron to really pop.  With right sides together, place a solid and a patterned piece together and sew around the perimeter, with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Once you have sewn all of your squares to each other, Cut on the diagonal both ways so you have 4 triangles. Open and press seams to one side.  You should have a square that consists of both fabrics.

Sew pieces together matching solid to solid and pattern to pattern. I continued this until I made one chain the length of my entire table runner. Press well, seams to one side.  Then make another length, press.

After you have your rows sewn and pressed well, its time to sew them together.  Pin and sew, then press.  Voila!!!  The top is done, so gorgeous!

I use Warm and Bright batting as it is just the best in my opinion.  It's a little more money than the other brands but it's clear when using it that your money did not go to waste.  I chose a white matelasse for the backing and I also used it for the binding. I also stitched in the ditch on the chevron to quilt it a bit.

Don't you love my little clips?  They are the best.  Perfect for working with minky as well.  There are many places you can buy them, but I got mine at XO Gigi Fabrics:)

This pattern would be great for a quilt, but I would definitely make the squares much larger to begin with so you aren't sewing a million little squares together.  Get some crafting done today!!

Jayna
 

On the Cheap

I just love shopping.  It's called retail therapy and I'm addicted. Many times I stroll through the store looking, touching, wishing....but really have no desire to purchase unless it's something really, really special.  I've come across two of those items lately.  Two items that I simply could not go home without.

I often frequent stores like Marshall's, TJ Max and the like.  You know, designer items at bargain prices?  A new store opened up recently in Fort Collins called HomeGoods.  I'm sure you've heard of this one, too.  I know it mostly from that really happy guy on HGTV, David.  He does the cool paintings and redoes the whole room for a family.  Color something........

Anyhoo....I just love perusing these stores for my latest must-have.  Here they are:

Very current...chevron is outrageously popular right now and HomeGoods had burnt orange, lime green, grass green, brown, red.....I had to have the green.  Even better, when I got home I discovered that it matched my rug to perfection.

Number two was just purchased this last weekend at Marshalls.  Too adorable and only $4.99.  Really!!??  For under $5 I could have this adorable owl?  Did you notice that it matches my new chevron throw and the rug? 

I have learned that when you're decorating a home or a room to take your time.  You can't just go out to the store one day and buy everything you need.  These creative, decorative goodies must be acquired one at a time.  If you follow this strategy you'll end up with a room that is dressed with treasures, not just things that match.

Happy Decor!
Jayna

Not Yo Mama's Shelf Paper

What a lovely afternoon strolling with my mom through store after store when we ended up at Marshall's.  My day became even lovelier when I saw some gorgeous shelf paper that was a stunning shade of aqua blue and had a very uncanny resemblance to some Dena Design's fabric that I use in my Etsy shop.  Naturally, this made me very happy.  In case you don't know; I have a fabric addiction.

Of course, I had to buy it.  I hadn't used shelf paper in quite a few years and the last time I remember it was this hideous yellow and white gingham, which at the time was the prettiest at the store.  Maybe I'm just lagging behind in the shelf paper deptartment, but I don't remember seeing so many beautiful designs.  There was zebra print, lime and white damask, and amongst others was this gorgeous aqua.  I could hardly wait to get it home and in my drawers:)

My husband thinks I'm a big nerd when it comes to stuff like this, especially when I make him get up off the couch when reading his Sunday newspaper just to come look in my drawers.  He thought I was an even bigger nerd when I got out my camera to take photos.

Happy Superbowl Sunday!
Jayna

DIY - Fabric Headboard

This last fall I was looking for some design inspiration and found it with (surprise) fabric!  I scored a great price on some Waverly fabric at my local JoAnn store.  The fabric itself was 50% off and I had a coupon for another 20% off your purchase, so it was a steal!  I had been looking to do a headboard for quite some time and of course, wanted to do it myself, so here I went.

All you need is:

Fabric - Preferable home decor fabric and enough to wrap around the back side of the wood by 3" on each side
Staple Gun with staples
Scissors
One sheet of Plywood/OSB - Measure your bed and know what you need before heading to the store.
Batting
Spray Adhesive

I believe that Home Depot or Lowes will make straight cuts for you at the store for free, but please don't take my word for it. If you don't own a saw and the hardware store won't do it for you, make sure to ask that hottie neighbor of yours to cut it for you or head on down to the local firehouse, where there is sure to be a hot firefighter that would LOVE to get his saw for you and cut your wood.

I did a rectangle as that's what I was wanting for my space, but if you have skilled saw cutting abilities, you could do round or some other funky shape.  Just remember that you can't re-do a cut, so measure twice and mark your board well before cutting.

I do want to mention that if you are hanging this on your wall or standing this on stilts, etc...make sure to attach everything to the back of the board before you cover it in fabric.

I dusted off my board and cleared a big space in my living room.  Here are the steps one by one:

1.  Unroll the batting and lay it on your board ; smooth out the wrinkles.  Cut off excess, leaving about 3" extra on each side.

2.  Take the batting off and spray the adhesive onto the board.  Apply batting.  If your board is large, you might want to do this in half or quarter sections.

3.  Let the adhesive set for a minute or two and then flip your board to batting side down.

4.  Staple the batting every 9 inches or so to secure.  Pull taught, but not too much.

5.  Stand the board up and lean against a wall or table out of the way.  You may need help with this. If you haven't ironed your fabric yet, do so.  Please do not skip this step.  Lay the fabric right side down in the area that your board was just laying.  Take a look at the pattern and mentally note where you want the board to go.  Smooth out your fabric flat and get help laying the board, batting down on top of the fabric. Do this slowly as you don't want to shift your fabric. Feel free to give the fabric a little tug every 12" or so to make sure it's wrinkle free. 

6.  Be picky.  Be very picky about exactly how the board is laying on the fabric, where the pattern placement is, etc.  You don't get to re-do this part.

7.  Take your staple gun and securely staple each side in the middle.  Top center, bottom center, right center, left center.  Make sure you are pulling taught with each time you staple.  However, you don't want to pull so tight you mess up your pattern.  When stapling, fold under the raw edge of the fabric so it isn't showing.
 
8.  Move to the end of each side and fasten in the same way you did before.  Top, bottom, left, right.  The goal is to secure the identical spot on each adjacent side.  It's like tightening a drum head.  You just can't start in one spot and move around from there, you have to do it in a fashion that is evenly distributed. I have noted a little bit of what I'm talking about with numbers here:

9.  For the corners, fold those like tucking in the sheet corners on your bed.  Nice and neat folds, tucking under those raw edges.  You don't want a big wad of fabric at the corners, either, so trim away fabric as needed.

10.  Eventually you have stapled all around the headboard and should have a staple about every 3 inches or so.  Now you can pick up one side and see the wonderfulness!!!

I hope you had fun!  Play around with patterns and colors.  Be bold!  You can even drill little holes in the wood before this process and then add buttons after it is all done for a tufted look.  Feel free to add decorative brads or whatever else your creativity seeks.

Happy Crafting!
Jayna