If At First You Don't Succeed....

Well, I embarked on my very first attempt at making my own window treatments.  I had decided that my kitchen windows needed something different and that I could use some burlap coffee sacks (cleaned of course) I had acquired to make some tie up window coverings.  I measured and measured again before cutting my material.  I did not have a pattern but figured I could kind of wing it and do my own thing. Well.... as my mom put it, "the concept was good," but as you can see below, I am a little short of perfection... literally.

I am going to be picking up my seam ripper so I can try, try again.  I am also going to need sturdier curtain rods because all of that burlap is just a bit too heavy for my existing little cafe rods.  At least I might have a new camera in time to take pictures of the revised window treatments next week.  I can't believe I am going to be 35 four days from now....crazy how time flies.

I also thought I would take a moment to let everyone know that Tracy Porter is having another lovely giveaway.  Good luck!

Hope everyone else is having more successful decorating journeys this week!

Tracy Porter Giveaway!

Tracy Porter has been hosting several giveaways over the past few weeks.  I decided that I should share the opportunity to enjoy the inspiration and perhaps win whatever lovely thing she is trying to send our way. So check out her blog and don't forget to leave a comment in order to enter her latest giveaway. Good luck!

New Pillows!

While I am working on making new window treatments for the kitchen, I thought I would change course a bit and show off the pillow covers I made for the living room.  I wanted something bright and cheerful to perk up the room until I can get a chance to paint it.

As you can see I could not resist the trend of making felt flower pillows.  I loved making my new pillow covers so much I really had to resist the urge to make 20 more.  I used the tutorial  done by Allison from Cluck.Cluck.Sew. I know that there are several great tutorials on this same pillow but I really thought her tutorial was easy to follow.  If I may say so, I think the pillows turned out great!  

I am now going to go out and enjoy some gorgeous Oklahoma weather!  It is going to be hard to make myself stay inside and work if the weather stays this way!  Hope everyone is able to enjoy the feeling of a cool breeze and the warmth of the sunshine this week!

Latest Kitchen Project...

As much as I would like to have brand new Vetrazzo countertops and backsplash in my kitchen, I decided to use my creativity to produce a one of a kind backsplash.  After reading Tracy Porter's book, Dreams from Home, I was inspired by the idea of using decoupage in the kitchen.  Once I knew what technique I was going to use, I had to decide what I was going to decoupage.  Then, it struck me!  Vintage food and beverage posters/ads from all over the world.  I hit the internet and struck gold.  I was able to find a ton of pictures that I could use.  Since I am working on the backsplash for what is going to be the drink station, I decided to focus my search and printing efforts on beverage related ads.  I got my collection together and printed off my selection on matte photo paper.  Here is the result:

In order to make sure that I had enough pictures and determine the placement, I had to tape them up first. Now all I have left to do is glue them on and coat with a sealer.  I realize that the pictures are not the greatest quality.  I am hoping that I get a new camera for my birthday... I would really like to get some feedback on what I have done so far.  For the countertops, I am going to use countertop paint and make them look like granite.  

Hope everyone is having a week full of decorating successes!

I'm Surrounded by Yo-Yo's

I have always adored vintage hand-sewn yo-yo's.  Something about their simplicity has me mesmerized and slightly obsessed.  While I have really been trying to be a good girl and focus on just getting the kitchen completed, my attention as of late has been drawn to the need for an entryway rug.  I haven't beaten myself up too much about my diversion because in fact I have been in desperate need of an entryway rug and every time I try to find one, there is some reason to not get it.  Early one morning (a 2am epiphany) the idea to make a yo-yo rug grabbed hold of me.  As I was contemplating this idea, I realized that I had some mismatched sheets that were blue and white stripes that would go perfectly in my entryway.  The next day I began tracing out the 2" diameter circles onto the sheet and spent hours cutting out the circles.  I am now forever sewing yo-yo's.  To break up the monotony I have also been doing some small projects to finish out the kitchen but I will save those pictures for later...  Here is what I have sewn of my rug thus far....

Here are the circles I have remaining...

I have not sewn yo-yo's in forever and forgot how much they cinch up.  In hindsight I would have done bigger circles so that I would not have to make as many but I am still loving the results.  What has been inspiring you lately?  I would love to hear about it....

Oh! As many know, I LOVE Tracy Porter.  As it turns out, she has been doing some giveaways on her site and I thought I might share the opportunity with you.  Just go here http://blog.tracyporter.com/more-tracy-porter/worldly-scavengers-treasure-giveaway and leave a comment and we can cross our fingers and toes together!