DIY: Holiday Runner Under $3

I picked up these cute white and red dish towels at Ikea the last time I stopped in for a hot dog! They were $0.69 each. I thought they looked a bit festive and decided that if I sewed them together they would make a cute runner.

I hope to get around to actually sewing them together this weekend, but her is what I am thinking (minus the cat- who likely would be so bold as to cosy up to them when they're sewn and on the table as well).

That is if I can get them away from this one!

We're getting our real tree this weekend, and I am very excited. Here is our tree from last year and the famous 2011 post. I am also looking forward to getting through my Christmas card writing and putting up my Christmas Card holder from last year. 

DIY Friday: Grain Sack Pillow

As promised, here are the details on my Sunday night project! I have had this grain sack that I purchased at Christie for almost 2 years, just waiting for the right time to do something with it. Well that right time came last weekend when I became increasingly frustrated with the current pillow covers, and wanted a brand new option that was big enough to hold the pillow but still fun and worked with the rest of the decor.

I simply measured the pillows, divided the grain sack in two and sewed the bottom (while inside out) to make the pillow. Then to create the closures, I used navy satin ribbon, sewn on both sides and closed by tying  bows. A tip for finishing satin ribbon ends is to cut a clean line and singe the ends with a lighter. I love how it turned out, and I just need to repeat the process on the other end of the grain sack to make the matching pair!

Happy Friday everyone, hoping you all have a wonderful weekend, and accomplish everything you set your mind to! I'm hoping decorating, studying and baking is in my future, with a road trip to pick up our Christmas tree!

DIY Friday: Grain Sack Table Runner

Last weekend I finally got to a couple of long overdue sewing projects. I bought this linen sack on labour day weekend with Chris' mom. I paid $5 and decided it would be an awesome table runner.

Fab Find Friday: Singer Buttonholer

As you can probably tell, i'm a bit behind this week! Chris and I are headed to my beautiful friend Jess' wedding this weekend, and it's just been a crazy time trying to tie up all the loose ends before we leave.

The Fab Find is brought to you by my sweet friend Dixie Anne this weekend. She found me this original Singer Buttonholer complete with instruction manual and original case. This was a mega find for the green machine! Speaking of my sewing machine, remember when I told you all the parts arrived...turns out I was still missing one critical item- the rubber ring for the bobbin winder...I ordered one off ebay and am hoping it's here when we get back!

It kind of looks like a space ship!

Pristine condition

Close up.

Happy Weekend, we'll be spending it with good friends, close family and hopefully some nice weather and good food! I won't be posting until Friday of next week, but promise to bring back lots of good pictures and ideas!

Fab Find Friday: Eyelet and Holy Lace

As Chris alluded, we ended up finding an antique show when we were up North on the weekend...I think they knew I was coming:) It turned out to be a bit of a bust for the most part until I got to one of the very last booths where a sweet lady was selling her doilies at 2 for $1 (much better than the $5 or 3 for $12 another dealer had them listed at). I bought a few and then found a great piece of eyelet she sold to me for $2 and a nice lace runner (albeit a tad holy) for $4. 

I think the eyelet would make a sweet kitchen curtain and I have plans of applying part of the lace runner on a burlap table cloth or runner!

As a side note, my slide plate and bobbins arrived in the mail yesterday...looks like I might get to some sewing projects this weekend!

Fab Find Friday: The Green Machine

Just to recap, Chris proposed on Saturday...on Sunday we surprised his parents with the news and celebrated Father's Day. I had mentioned to Chris' mom a while back when she asked me what I wanted for my birthday that I would really like a used sewing machine...she joked that she thought she had one in the garage...she was not joking!!! On Sunday I was gifted this gorgeous Singer sewing machine from the 50's. It belonged to Chris' grandmother and I love it!!!

It's missing the slide plate, but I have found a few on ebay!

It reverses by pushing the lever all the way up

I'm in serious love with this old girl, and can't wait to put her to work on a number of my projects! 

Thanks again Louanne!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Fab Find Friday: Vintage Fabrics

I'm a bit late with my Friday post this week, it has been a wee bit crazy around here and I am very much looking forward to a relaxing weekend despite a hectic schedule.

I shared my Christie quilt last week and since buying it I've been checking out bias tape and edging options on etsy. I decided to make my own, so went on the hunt for vintage fabric. Instead of going to a fabric store, I decided to take a look at Value Village as I know they often have vintage flat sheets that might work. I hit the jackpot, finding not one but four great pieces.

I loved all of these two much to leave them there. I've officially decided I could make a crib sheet out of the blue material on the left, and the pink material could definitely be a curtain valence! I'm going with the middle yellow fabric to edge my quilt, and measured and cut all of the strips a couple of nights ago- here's what that exercise looks like with kittens:

I also picked up a couple of classic children's books for $1- a hardcover of goodnight moon, where the wild things and love you forever- i'm officially starting a collection!

PS- We have new residents on our porch...Mrs Robin had two babies!!! Happy Weekend!

Fab Find Friday: Dreaming of Paris!

I picked up this beauty on last Friday night at Value Village and can't wait to try a few of the recipes. There's just something magical about french pastries and cakes to me. I have never been to Paris, but it is definitely at the top of my list, and bakeries are certainly on the itinerary! I secretly hope that Chris will get sent to France for work, we'll live in an apartment above a bakery, and the owner will take me in and let me be their apprentice!

I also found a bag of old thread spools for $0.99! I have an apothecary jar filled with ones from my grammy's house in our hallway. I've seen these going for $10-15 a dozen at antique shows...so I just couldn't leave them behind!

I love the illustrations at the start of each section

Coming up Doilies

I have pinned a couple of doily table runners on pinterest lately after seeing them on Suzanne's blog including the one below from Vintage Junky (PS- this is a new favourite blog to check out)

 I'm always looking for simple sewing projects, and I liked the idea of incorporating some of the doilies my grammy has gifted me over the years. I picked some up at the flea market on Sunday to add to my collection and when I got home I laid them out on the floor. I'm still not all the way to runner status, but it's a good start!

PS- a sweet hello to the lovely lady at the flea market who gave me a great deal on these; gushing "I'm just so glad someone still likes these"!

It's Starting!

I have a habit of buying Christmas presents all year round, but I put a major dent in my Christmas list last weekend. This was the first year I could wrap them right away too, as I will be hosting this year and my parents are coming to me!

Although I can't officially start decorating until after American Thanksgiving (a promise I made to Caitlin my bestest American friend many moons ago), I can start thinking about my baking! Chatelaine magazine just put out their best 57 holiday cookie recipes, and I can't wait to pick out some of my favourites. Every year I attend a Christmas Cookie Club with Dixie Anne, so I always love coming up with the recipe i'll make for that!

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Do you have any holiday traditions or recipes you rely on every year?

PS- I made the curtains from the bed sheet when I was home last week, here's a picture of how they turned out! I think they need tie-backs, but i'm pretty happy with them!

Lazy Days

Happy Halloween everyone, we've had more kids trick-or-treating at our new house than any other Halloween- the benefits of the burbs! I'm hoping to get our Nashville pics up soon! I visited an antique show at the Tennessee State Fair Grounds last Thursday and got some great shots!

While we were in Nashville we left our "babies" behind. I took this photo a few weeks ago when they were lounging in the sunshine. I am sure they spent the majority of their weekend in this exact same position! Missy is sleeping on old grain and sugar sacks that I intend to turn into pillows, similar to what you would find over here on Etsy.