#72 farm girl vintage sew along block 1

I am so excited to be joining this sew along on IG.  i am still half way on my learn-to-quilt class and I'm so happy to be able use the skills on this project.  I started today, thinking I needed to buy more fabrics for this sew-along but instead pulled out fabrics from my stash (super happy 😀😊😍 on how the colors came together). and there goes block #1 of my very first sew-along, the apron strings block. coming up next friday, autumn star. can't wait 😌

         

       

#71 craigslist find + makeover

i turned to craigslist when i was trying to 

do my guest room makeover over the summer

[craigslist?, I know]

things learned ...

there are actually nice people out there,

there are nice neighborhood not far from mine,

and that i can actually drag my hubby into this project 

after having this very familiar conversation

he asked: do we have room for them in the house?

i said: trust me, i will find one.

i always find place to put stuff in the house (wink,wink)

and they always end up like they were meant to be there (giggle)

these two dressers were really in excellent condition

but were just too dark for my style

for the 6-drawer dresser 

i got to try the annie sloan chalk paint in paris grey

distressed with clear and dark wax

i like how it brightened up the guest room,

guests would not want to go home :)

after so much thinking and researching,

i finally got try ASCP

they are based in UK and Europe

and not very much available in the US

i got mine here

  the 4-drawer dresser ended up in the master's bedroom

and to match the rest of the furnitures,

i primed it first and gave it 2 coats of paint

using benjamin moore in linen white

i used rust-oleum metallic in antique nickel for the hardwares

happy crafting

:)

melinda

#70 christmas baubles

#itsnotevenhalloweenyet 

[it's only october and i'm thinking christmas decor]

i'm lovin' polka dot pattern a lot

that i just have to make my colorful polka dot 

christmas baubles

grab some plain ceramic christmas balls 

craft paints and a stencil dauber

at a local craft store

[all for less than a dollar each with coupon]

freehand any design you want

i used polka dot

[kids can do this part easily]

happy crafting

:)

melinda

#69 transforming a closet into a built in seating

those who've been to our house would know 

that this closet in our family room 
was where we had a shelf that held our TV.  

and since we placed the TV on the other side of the room, 

this corner of the room has been empty. 

i've been staring at this corner, as if the TV's still there, 

trying to figure out what a better way to utilize this space. 

a closet for more coats or a shelf for more stuff?

or a window built-in seating?
(except there's no window, just a closet)

don't you want to have a built-in window seat?
a place to read a book 
while having a cup of coffee and 
a view of the outside.


we can always use an extra seating
in the family room
to watch TV and to bond with the family.

here's how we did it ....

we accidentally damaged the wall 

while taking out the piece of wood across

so we had to repair it, 

that meant a trip back to Home Depot.

actually this was the most labor intensive part of this DIY,

otherwise, a weekend is enough to finish this job

we were supposed to just paint this corner

but ended up painting the whole family room.

it was a lot of work and a lot of moving 

but was worth it.

i love pillows and i love changing pillow covers 

to compliment the season and

 to compliment the house decor

happy crafting

:)

#68 minecraft & perler beads

minecraft & perler beads

looking for minecraft-themed party favor

for the kids?

minecraft is very popular computer game

among kids nowadays

and as requested by my little boy

he wants it for his birthday this year

i have seen these perler beads 

in many craft stores

but never learned how to use them

but have found out to be a perfect material for 

a minecraft party favor

here's how to make them...

these are what you can make with these amazing perler beads

minecraft mobs and tools

'that's what they're called', my son said.

nico's minecraft birthday giveaway in school

(the school has not allowed food/candy 

to be included in any party favors ☹)

♡♥♡

#67 i {heart} u

it's february and valentine's day is just around the corner, 

thanks to snow days, 

i was able to put together decorations for valentine's day

just loving the neutral colors at home ---

so for the season of {hearts} 

it's all but color red

and opted for the 

calming colors of white, gray & beige
{heart} shapes are all over

i {heart} u wood wall art
 i made with pine wood scraps,
you can create your own wall art 
using your own love words and passages 
visit my tutorial here.

this wreath has been transformed with every change of the season 
by just changing the ribbon,
and for valentine's day, i stamped a burlap ribbon 
using a {heart}-shaped rubber eraser dipped on white acrylic paint
(my kids usually get these erasers from classmates' party favors - 
they come in different shapes, 
i'm sure you have one somewhere ☺)

i cut musical scrapbook paper in {heart} shape and 

put together with a baker's twine 

to make the garland for the mantle

using 2 coordinating fabrics ( i love polka dots)
i made these 20x20 pillows with {heart} applique

i just have to try these little crochet {hearts}

(click here for free pattern)

they are very easy to make-

try them in different colors 

♡♥♡

#66 christmas 2013 home tour

merry christmas and welcome to our home!

i finally put them all together in time for this post

given so short time between the holidays

it's all about silver, white, beige & gray this year

calm, clean & handcrafted

hope you enjoy our home

❛it's the most wonderful time of the year❜

merry christmas
and to all a good night.

see christmas 2012 home tour here


♥♡♥