Beyond the Screen Door

Ruffled Coffee Sack Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

In my post, Tips for Working with Burlap, I mentioned I had acquired about 20 burlap coffee sacks. Jana, a reader of Beyond the Screen Door, contacted me after she saw this post and asked if I would be interested in purchasing some coffee sacks her Mom, Jenny was selling. Well, YES!

Just a few of the designs I bought from Jenny.

That very day a client saw the coffee sacks in the back of my car and chose two to have made into pillows.

She wanted ruffles so I made two 20" pillows and added ruffles made from drop cloths. I thought the two fabrics were just made for each other!

Due to the open weave of the coffee sacks, I lined each pillow with muslin.

Thank you Jana and Jenny!

Contact me at sonyahamiltoninteriors@yahoo.com if you're interested in purchasing a coffee sack for your own project or ordering a coffee sack pillow.

More Coffee Sack projects coming soon!

Have you made any burlap projects lately?

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Fingerprints on the Fridge Party
2805 Potpourri Friday
French Country Cottage Feathered Next Friday
At the Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

My Vintage Map Project

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Way back in August of 2011 I won a 16x20 rolled canvas from

Kathy at Creative Home Expressions and UPrinting.com.

Even though the giveaway was in August I had until December 31 to place my order. It was a good thing because it took me until Dec 30 to make up my mind!

I decided on a vintage map for my work room. I googled photos of vintage maps, found one I liked and placed the order. The actual canvas is 16x20 but the image of the map is 13x20.

To mount the map I used an old 18x22 frame, oatmeal colored fabric, 1 white foam core board (cut 18x22 to fit the frame), 1 black foam core board (cut 13x20 to fit the map), masking tape, hot glue and spray glue.

I wrapped the fabric around the white foam core securing it to the back with masking tape. Not pretty but it works.

The map was secured to the black foam core with spray glue.

I chose the black foam core to mount the map because

1.) I liked the way it looked and

2.) I had it on hand.

The map was then centered, mounted to the fabric covered board with hot glue then mounted in the frame.

The dark brown frame had been painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, distressed and waxed with a light brown paste wax.

And here it hangs as part of the gallery wall in my work room/sewing room.

Now, here's the fun part!

Each pin represents a customer of Beyond the Screen Door! My youngest daughter took my invoices, looked up every town I had shipped to on her iPod and marked it on the map. We tried to be as accurate as possible with a map that still says Indian Territory for Oklahoma.

So, if I have shipped an item to you...you're on my map!

I think this turned out so cool! A lovely reminder of your support!

Thank you!

After it was all completed my husband said I should have distressed the edges of the map. Love that idea! Couldn't he have suggested it just a bit sooner? Oh, well, I'm sure I'll get around to it one of these days!

Thank you so much for following Beyond the Screen Door!

I'd love for you to consider following on Linky Followers.

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DIY Home Sweet Home Monday Party
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Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wed

Happy Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:30:00 +0000

This is the wreath currently on my front door.

Out of all the seasons, this is my favorite look for the front door.

It's actually two wreaths. My evergreen winter wreath is topped with the simple red rose heart wreath. I love the change it makes just by adding that pop of red. Especially on the turquoise door.

This shot was taken in 2010 after a huge snow storm blew through.

Next project coming up!

Wishing you all a

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'd love it if you'd like to follow me on Linky Followers.

Thank you so much!

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Tips for Working with Burlap

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Burlap. Our love for this simple fabric seems to be as strong as ever. For me, I still love working with it and never seem to tire of seeing all the different ways to use this most humble of fabrics.

Recently, I acquired 20 burlap coffee sacks. Soon, I'll be showing you some of the projects I've made from these sacks. In the meantime, I thought you might be interested in some of the tips I've learned while working with burlap. Some of these are blatantly obvious. But I hope these tips can shed some light on working with burlap. Speaking of sheds...

1. Burlap sheds. Horrifically! There's no solution. You just have to put up with it.

2. Burlap smells. But the smell tends to lessen over time. (Either that or you just get used to it.) Burlap by the yard doesn't have that strong of a smell...but it still smells. But you have options. Febreze being one of them. (*more below)

3. To wash or not to wash? The coffee bags I purchased had a very strong smell. So, I took a chance and washed one to see that would happen. I was very pleased with the results. I washed them in cold water and hung them outside to dry. *The fresh air and sunshine did wonders for the smell. Warning: The fragrance of wet coffee bags (even clean, wet coffee bags) closely resembles the fragrance of wet dogs.

4. Burlap unravels. Because of this, I don't recommend washing cut yardage unless you've hemmed the edges. The piece I tested (in cold water, drying flat) washed fine and didn't shrink. Only one edge was hemmed. The unhemmed edges unraveled quite a bit.

5. Burlap irons easily. In the photo below are a few of the coffee bags I washed. Even the wrinkles from washing will iron out easily with a high heat setting and steam, whether working with burlap by the yard or a coffee sack. Using a spray bottle of water helps the process too. (Don't be alarmed if the smell of wet dog returns. It's only temporary and goes away as soon as the burlap is dry again.)

6. Burlap varies in texture. The scratchiness factor can vary greatly from burlap to burlap. Burlap by the yard is not bad. A bit stiff but not too scratchy. The worst? The coffee sack my daughter bought. We ended up making her a pillow but it's really just for looks. This stuff would rival a pumice stone.

The softest? Some of the coffee sacks I purchased are extremely soft. Well, in terms of burlap/jute they are soft. I was very surprised. The texture is similar to a wool jacket.

7. Use your old scissors. Due to the coarseness of the burlap, if you have a choice between using your "good" scissors (You know the kind you tell your family they're NOT allowed to use) and your regular scissors...use the regular ones. For a small job it's okay but if you're cutting a lot of burlap you might want to spare your good scissors the abuse.

8. Straight cuts. There is a simple trick to achieving a straight line when cutting burlap. Measure and mark where you're planning to cut. Take the burlap "thread" at that point and pull. Working the thread along until you can pull it out completely.

Cut along the exposed, perfectly straight line! Sometimes the burlap will have such a open weave that this step is not necessary and you can actually use the weave as your guide.

9. Machine needle size. I use a 14 or 16 depending on the thickness of the burlap.

10. You Can Print on Burlap. I've got the supplies (there's not many) and I sooo want to try this. Check out Maryann's tutorial at Domestically Speaking for all the details. So many possibilities!

11. Things you can make with burlap. Well, honestly what CAN'T you make with burlap? But in case you're wondering, here are a few ideas...

pillows...runners...treeskirts...ornaments...stockings...banners...table cloths...lamp shades...upholster furniture...mats for picture frames...window treatments... art...flowers...crafts...wreaths...garlands...ribbons...cushions...basket liners...bows...jewelery...slipcovers...bulletin boards...signs...pumpkins...

Tell me more! Tell me more!

If you've seen something made from burlap that I haven't mentioned I'd love to hear about it! Also if you have any tips to share, please do!

*Since we've all heard the news about Google Friend Connect please take a moment and join me on Linky Followers! See top side bar to follow. Thank you!

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DIY by Design

Simple Solution to Lengthening Window Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Here's a curtain dilemma for you. You've found the perfect curtains for your boy's room. Just what you wanted. You decided to wash them...and the tag said you could. The result? Your perfect curtain is now 6" too short? What can you do?

Our solution involved using 6yds of ribbon. (Wall color, SW Dovetail)

This particular room had two windows. So, two sets of

Grayson Grommet Window Panels from Target.

Since one window called for a shorter curtain than the other, we decided to take advantage of the extra fabric.

I cut off the extra length and hemmed the shorter curtains. Even though the longer panels were only 6" too short, I cut them off in order to add a 20" piece along the bottom. (This was more proportionate to the overall length of the panels.)

I joined the curtain and the 20" piece by sewing a french seam. A french seam is when you sew the wrong sides of your fabrics together (as shown on the left of the sketch). Fold and iron the right sides of the fabrics together and stitch again (as shown on the right of the sketch) making sure to include the seam allowance in your new seam.

source

Here's how it looks from the wrong side of the curtain.

I used the ribbons to cover the seam where I lengthened the panels.

I stitched the darker satin ribbon on first, then overlapped and stitched the lighter gray grosgrain ribbon above it creating the illusion that this was what we intended from the very beginning!

There you have it. The perfect solution!

Photo courtesy of the homeowner. Thank you, Kristi!

So, for the next time you need to lengthen your curtains, or just want to add a bit of decorative detail, keep in mind this little ribbon trick.

If you've used any other tricks with your curtain dilemmas, I'd love to hear about them!

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Lamp Shade Re-do

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

If you've followed this blog for a while, you know I love the concept of mixing unexpected fabrics together. When Stacey asked me to make her shower curtain, as well as recover a lamp shade for her bathroom, she particularly wanted this mix of fabrics. You can see more on Stacey's Shower Curtain here.

The lampshade began as your basic 6 sided lampshade. I removed the eyelash fringe but kept the original shade fabric in place.

Using a piece of the original shower curtain fabric, I began my making a template of sorts of the shape of one side of the shade.

Holding the fabric in place and using the wires in the lampshade as my guide, I drew a pattern on the reverse side of the fabric.

Folding the piece in half and lining up my pencil lines...

I cut out the shape I needed allowing an extra 1/2" on all four sides.

Here's my first piece pinned in place.

Using the first piece as a pattern, I repeated the process cutting out 5 additional pieces.
For this particular lampshade I decided to use three fabrics. The original shower curtain fabric, the green burlap coordinating fabric and a third fabric that blended with the other two. I cut two pieces of each fabric.

Using a 1/2" seam I sewed the 6 pieces together leaving the last edge open.

Placing the now sewn pieces together, right side facing the lampshade, I made sure it fit the shade.

I ironed the seams flat and sewed the last seam together making a slipcover for the shade.

Here you can see the how the three fabrics were sewn together and the slipcover in place.There are still raw edges along the upper and lower portion of the shade.

Here's also where things get a bit tricky. For some unknown reason I completely stopped taking pictures at this point. I have no better explanation than I got wrapped up in what I was doing and simply forgot! So sorry! So I hope the rest of the directions make sense.

I made a seam binding, of sorts, out of the black and cream check cutting it on the bias to get the diagonal appearance. This was cut 2" wide and the measurement of the circumfrance of the shade being my length. The raw edges were then folded together to meet in the middle and then folded again and ironed to form a 1/2" wide strip of fabric.

The fringe along the bottom edge was then sandwiched between the two sides of the seam binding and sewn in place along the lower edge of the lampshade slipcover. The upper edge was completed in the same manner.

When finished, the entire slipcover was then slipped over the existing fabric covered lampshade. I used hot glue to secure it in several places along the upper and lower edges to ensure it stayed in place.

Once you have sewn your actual slipcover, you can finish the upper and lower edges by simply turning under the raw edges and hot gluing a flat braid in place if you choose.

Stacey sent me this photo of the lampshade in place in her bathroom! Look at that adorable rabbit lampbase! So cute!!!

Thanks Stacey!

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Stacey's New Shower Curtain

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Here's another custom shower curtain idea for you. Stacey from Poofing the Pillows, who just happens to live nearby, contacted me and asked if I could remake an existing shower curtain for her.

Shown above is the floral, ready made shower curtain, two wash cloths, showing the colors being used in the bathroom and a lampshade that you'll see more of later.

The existing shower curtain measured 72x72. The new shower curtain needed it to be longer and wider. Therein was our dilemma.

I have to tell you that this floral presented a challenge for me. With all the colors here you'd think there would be plenty of fabrics to choose from but I didn't want it to be too expected and/or matchy matchy.

I found a high quality, ivy green burlap that went well with the floral and loved the textual quality it brought to the curtain. I then added the black and cream check as an accent.

When making a shower curtain for a standard 5' tub enclosure I like to make the curtain 90" wide x 80" long.

I cut approximately 9" off the length of the existing shower curtain and then cut it vertically into three equal pieces. I added two 9" strips of the green burlap in between the vertical floral strips. This made the finished width 90".

The reason for cutting the 9" off the bottom of the floral was to add 20" (finished length including hem) of burlap to the lower edge including a tiny 1/2" flange of the black and cream check (cut on the bias) to separate the two. It would have looked disproportionate to just add 11" to the bottom of the curtain to get the desired length.

The absolute strangeness of this shot was the result of having trouble getting a photo of the entire shower curtain. So I draped it over my upstairs banister in order to give you a glimpse of the whole curtain...well, most of it. But you get the idea.

And here again, you can see the black and cream check was added along the upper edge as well. We changed things up even more by hanging the curtain from red rings.

We also took a lampshade from plain-jane to...

Fabulous!

Coming up next:

Details and a how-to on this lampshade's transformation!

"Love Words" Pillow Covers the perfect gift for Valentine's Day as well as that special spring time Wedding.

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The Spunky Diva

lnternational Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

It's a small thing, really.

But it makes me smile...makes me giggle even...to think of it.

I've created items for clients, family and friends for years. Often it's for a local client and I get to physically be there to see how everything fits together in it's new home.

Sometimes, the items are shipped across the country. (And this, too, makes me smile.) But this...this is a first for me.

Today, through the beauty of Facebook, I got to see how a set of pillows I made look in their new home...
in Manchester, England!
(I'm smiling even now...can you tell?)

If you've visited my daughter Kaleigh's blog, you might have noticed she is dating a wonderful young man she calls, "Mr. Darcy". Mr. Darcy is from Manchester, England.

Mr. Darcy's parents, lovingly referred to by Kaleigh as "Wendy Darling" and "Sir Paul", came to Oklahoma for a visit last fall. While here, Wendy requested a set of "cushions" for her home using the zebra print, green and orange.

And here they now reside. In England.

See, I told you. It's a small thing, really.

It's not like they're in Buckingham Palace! But it makes me smile.

Thank you for the pictures Paul & Wendy! You made my day!

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Adore, Amore & Kiss Kiss

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:45:00 +0000

"Love Words" Pillow Covers

For all the details visit the

Beyond the Screen Door Shop

A New Chalkboard, Chalkboard Paint and the Ghosts of Holidays Past

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's pretty much a given that when I start a project for myself it will end up taking a lot longer than I figured. Could be hours, days, weeks...but 5 Years?

Well, technically I suppose it took about 8-9 months to actually complete (still too long) but the idea was hatched over 5 years ago.

I've been wanting an over-sized chalkboard since we moved into our house and I knew just the spot!

The spot in question is just outside my kitchen, between the pantry (to the right) & the powder bath and along the hall to the laundry.

Across from the chalkboard is a very messy bulletin board filled with family photos, a small catch-all table and a lamp with a crooked shade. (And I see I need to do something with those stupid cords!)

The biggest hindrance to my plan was the on-so-inconveniently placed thermostat. This dilemma threw me for years. I finally figured I'd just cut around it!

The supplies for the new chalkboard were a $7 Hobby Lobby, clearance aisle frame I'd be hanging on to forever, plywood, magnetic primer, chalkboard paint and my first ever can of Annie Sloan chalk paint. (Bought for an entirely different project that hasn't happened yet.)

Sorry, no photos of all the painting. Just basic steps. Sanded the plywood, painted 2 coats of Rust-oleum Magnetic Primer (though I'd suggest three coats for a stronger magnetic grab), 2-3 coats of Rust-oleum Chalkboard Paint, (lightly sanding in between each coat of paint & primer) and then painting the frame with the chalk paint following their directions.

I measured - to center the chalkboard, marked the plywood and cut a hole for the thermostat. (Don't look close! It was my first attempt at using a jigsaw.)

We decided the best way to hang the frame was just to secure it directly to the studs. So after marking the studs and pre-drilling we did just that! I suppose I should at least paint the screws so they're not quite so noticeable but I think leaving them exposed gives it a casual, sort of rustic appeal. (Translation...I was tired of messing with it!)

It may have taken me 5 years but now I finally have my big chalkboard!

Which, courtesy of my girls, tends to get a new look around each holiday. Here's a new take on family rules for you!

Now, here's where the Ghost of past Holidays comes in.

See what I mean?

I can't seem to completely erase the previous art!

THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!

So, my sweet friends, my questions for the day are...

1. Does anyone else have trouble with ghost drawings on their chalkboards?

2. What can I do to I fix it?

I've considered painting another coat to see if that will take care of the ghosts.

Any hints & tips would be greatly appreciated!

Until then I'll just laugh loud, squeal and ignore the ghosts.

Edit: Looks like the fancy chalk markers are the culprit! I'll be back sometime in the (hopefully not to distance) future with an update.

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Fireflies and Jellybeans

"Love Words" Pillow Cover Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:46:00 +0000

My daughter, Kaleigh, has been begging me for months to sponsor a pillow giveaway on her blog.

Well, we're finally doing it!

You could win this adorable

"Be Mine"

Burlap Pillow Cover!

Visit Kaleigh at her blog to see all the details.

Also take a minute to check out the Shop for additional

"Love Words" Pillows Covers

Available words are

"Love" - "Adore" - "Amore" - "Kiss Me" - "Kiss Kiss"

contact me for a custom pillow cover with your choice of words!

Go visit Kaleigh, say Hello and leave a comment on her blog for a chance to win!

Good Luck!

My Word of the Year...Expectations

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:26:00 +0000

When I first heard about the act of choosing a "Word of the Year" and I have to admit I didn't think this was for me. Coming up with a "project" post is no big deal but writing a "thinking" post comes a bit harder for me. Makes me think deeper than I'm prone to do.

But the word Expectation has been in my spirit for a while now and I felt compelled to share.

When I think of Expectation, the first thing I think of is expecting. As in expecting a baby.

Meet Silas! My brand-new nephew. Silas is baby #3 for my brother Matt and his wife Amanda and grandbaby #14! Isn't he the most precious thing? You can read more about Silas at my brother's blog, Tree Newt's Wading Pool.

(Talk about a deep thinker!)

At this stage of my life this is NOT what I was thinking of...just in case you were momentarily confused that it was me who was expecting!

No, in this case my sense of Expectation...

to hope

to anticipate

to dream.

Especially, here at the beginning of a new year we all have a fresh sense of Expectation.

Every. Single. Day.

I wake up thinking...

"What's on my to-do list? What do I have to finish? What needs to be accomplished? What am I fixing for supper?!"

What if I started my day with...

"In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly". Psalm 5:3 NIV

What if?

Imagine the Possibilities. The Expectations!

I know I will always tend to think in terms of

What can I get done today?

What can I cross off my list?

What's my next project?

I'm just wired that way!

But I want to begin each morning with the expectation and knowledge of God's presence in my day. He's the one who initiates

the anticipation...the hope...the possibility of.....

learning something new

seeing something differently

creating something beautiful

experiencing something new

recognizing new opportunities

being used of Him

...the possibilities are endless!

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:29 NIV

Do you have a Word of the Year?

What are your Expectations for the new year?

I'd like to say a special Thank You to my Pastor for the inspiration for this post.

Be sure to check out the new "LOVE WORDS" pillow covers now available in the Shop!

I'll be sharing with:

The Lettered Cottage This Little Word of Mine Party
Be Colorful Motivated Monday

A Custom Shower Curtain for Robin

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

I first "met" Robin a little over a year ago. Even though we've never met in person we've been able to collaborate on several projects for her home. First were a couple of pillows for her barstools. Seen here. Next we made three pillows for her living room. Seen here.

Our latest project is a shower curtain for her main bath which is also her daughter's bathroom. So we had to make sure her daughter approved as well!

Robin said the colors she wanted to use were chocolate brown & blue. I found the brown and blue damask as a remnant and knew it would be the perfect jumping off fabric.

The problem was I had less than 3 yds and your average shower curtain takes 5 yards! Knowing Robin loves animal prints the obvious solution was to mix in this Cheetah fabric and a bit of bling.

Sometimes, I think the limitations on a project (like having only 3 yds of your main fabric) help to create a better end result. The fabric dilemma had me thinking of other creative ways to make a shower curtain.

This shower curtain more like a regular window treatment instead of your typical shower curtain. The wooden rings are sewn on just behind the ruffle along the upper edge.

Improvising in order to get a photo, I hung the shower curtain from a rod stretched between the two doors leading into my master bath.

Later, Robin sent me this photo of the shower curtain in it's new home! I cannot tell you how thrilled I was when I read her email...

"I received the shower curtain yesterday and all I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!!! It is absolutely perfect!!! The ruffle trim you added was adorable and that trim....oh my I could put that trim on everything in my house!!! My daughter was thrilled too!!! It amazes me how you "get" my taste without ever meeting me personally."

Thank you, Robin! It's been such a joy working with you!

***

Don't miss the new

"Love Words" Pillow Covers now available in the Shop!

Also available - "Love" - "Amore" - "Adore" - "Kiss Me"

or ask me about customizing your own!

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Addicted to Decorating

Fingerprints on the Fridge

From My Front Porch to Yours

No Minimalist Here

Introducing "Love Words" Pillow Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:28:00 +0000

I am so tickled with the latest pillow covers now available in the Shop!

Introducing...

Love Words Burlap Pillow Covers

Each pillow cover is made to fit a 18"x18" pillow form.

Available words...

"Love" - "Be Mine" - "Amore" - "Adore" - "Kiss Me"

or special order a pillow with you own custom words!

See the SHOP for all the details on these adorable new pillow covers!

Need a different size? No problem! Contact me at

sonyahamiltoninteriors@yahoo.com

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Addicted to Decorating

Fingerprints on the Fridge
Sugar and Dots

An Awning for the Gameroom

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Here's an unconventional window treatment for you!

Jennie loves mixing it up a bit when it comes to fabrics and window treatments in her home. This past year I've shared Peyton's Room, Grayson's Room and a set of Pottery Barn panels we remade.

The upstairs gameroom is our latest project. This room has three east-facing windows with plantation shutters for light control and privacy. Jenni wanted something fun and unexpected to add more color to this space. We decided on an awning.

The awning is made from 2x2's and measures 116"L x 24"H x 12"D.

After showing him the idea, Jenni's handy husband made the frame for the awning. The frame is in 3 equal parts to make it easier to put together as well as transport up the stairs. The pieces were then screwed together in the game room.

For the awning fabrics we chose a large red and cream buffalo check for the body and a blue turquoise with brown yarn detail for a ruffle along the lower edge. A solid brown piping was added between the two.

I allowed for a 6" drop where the awning slope stops. The sides were sewn to fit the angle of the frame. The entire awning was then stapled onto the frame.

The frame as seen from underneath the awning.

The frame was installed by securing it to 3, 2x2" wood cleats screwed into the wall.

The gameroom sits right beside this gorgeous mini kitchen (See why we chose the turquoise accent?) with a theatre room just beyond. How fun is this? I'm LOVING this paint treatment!

Edit: This color is Benjamin Moore's Surf Blue #2056-30

We also added a couple of accent pillows to sit along side her adorable "r" (for the family name) pillows.

Jenni says her family is up here all the time!
Who wouldn't want to hang out in this space?
So fun!

Go Here to see another awning project.

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Be Colorful

Coastal Charm
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Cozy Home Scenes
Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
A Little Knick Knack
French Country Cottage
At the Picket Fence
2805

Burlap Coffee Sack Pillow

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

My daughter, Kaleigh, found this burlap sack at an antique mall in Oklahoma City, called The Rink. She knew immediately she wanted it made into a pillow. She loved the colors used of the graphics. This coffee sack came from Manizales, Columbia. It even came with a few coffee beans still in it!

The sack measured approximately 36" long x 28" wide. I debated on whether to make several pillows or two big euros using another fabric on the back side. But in the end decided to just make one large euro using the main graphic from each side of the sack.

I cut the burlap 24" x24" centering each of the graphics. Because this burlap had such a large, open weave I lined each piece with a solid cotton fabric.

After sewing the two burlap pieces, right sides together, I reinforced the opening by folding the seam allowance down and sewing a zig-zag stitch. This also held the lining in place as well.

I top stitched around the outer edge of the pillow in a bright pink that matched the graphics on the burlap.

Here you can see a bit of the lining.

I decided to use poly-fil instead of a pillow form. This pillow is mainly for looks. The burlap is soooo scratchy that no one would want to lounge around on it anyway so using a pre-made pillow form seemed wasteful.

Scratchy and hairy. I felt like I needed to shave it!

This was my first project using an existing grain/coffee sack but I love the way it turned out!

And Kaleigh loved it, too!

SHARING WITH:

Fireflies and Jellybeans

No Minimalist Here

From My Front Porch to Yours

Southern Lovely Show & Share

Beyond the Picket Fence

Coastal Charm

French Country Cottage

At the Picket Fence

2805

A Little Knick Knack

Fingerprints on the Fridge

Funky Junk Interiors

My 1929 Charmer

A Girdie Original

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, you met my friend Girdie from Good Grief Girdie.
Here's a Girdie original that my sweet SIL, Gina, gave me for Christmas.

Isn't this adorable!

It's an pin cushion fashioned in a vintage egg cup!

Again, look at all the details!

It's almost too cute to use! Almost!

Good Grief Girdie

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

Is this not the sweetest pillow?
I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I guess you could say we're still celebrating this week! All my kids have been here at home and we've been busy shopping, playing games, cooking, eating, hanging out with family and just having a great time being together!

When I was at my sister-in-law Gina's house I saw this pillow and fell in love with it. The detail work is just amazing! I am so drawn to detailed projects like this and you know me, I'm thinking maybe I'd like to try something like this myself! An extraordinarily talented friend made this precious pillow.

Just look at all the details! Pearls, tulle, tinsel, jingle bells, decorative stitching, tufts of fur, tiny doves, pom poms, lace not to mention the vintage photo printed on fabric. The coat and back of the pillow are made from pink felt. The front is a pale pink linen.

Not only is the creator of this adorable pillow super talented with fabric, you won't believe what she can do with paper!

Gift tag

She has crafted a 25 day, count down to Christmas journal each Christmas for the past six years. And that same attention to detail is evident here as well.

And lucky for us she writes a blog!

Good Grief Girdie is a treasure trove of ideas and creativity.

Gift Tags - Love this idea!

Mixed Media Wall Hanging

Junk Jacket Pins

I've only scratched the surface of what you might find featured at

Good Grief Girdie's Blog!

Many of "Girdie's" creations can be seen at the Paper Crown, a Scrapbook and Paper Artistry Store in Oklahoma City. In fact, Girdie teaches classes there on a regular basis. Check our their blog for more information on classes and schedules. They even have a online shop which will be up and running soon. In the mean time, anything seen on the Paper Crown blog can be purchased by email or phone.

I hope you've been inspired by Girdie! She amazes me with her talent and all her lovely creations. I just wanted to share a bit of her with all of you!

Go visit Girdie! You're sure to be amazed and inspired!

SHARING WITH:

Southern Lovely Show & Share

Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Under $100 Party at Beyond the Picket Fence
2805 Potpourri Friday

Christ is Born

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

"Glory to God in the highest..." Luke 2:14

Our hearts rejoice in knowing

we've received the greatest gift of all!

As we all come together with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray your days be filled with joy, laughter and the knowledge that our Savior lives.

Wishing you all a Blessed holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

An Entrance to A Merry & Bright Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

There's no doubt when you approach my Sister-in-law's home you know this family loves whimsy and color.

Gina recently changed her front doors from green to blue. To achieve this look she painted the doors blue (Sorry, we can't find the color! I'll edit this as soon as we find the name of the paint color.) then glazed them with Martha Stewart's Metallic Glaze in Polished Silver. I just love how these turned out! So pretty! Gorgeous job Gina!

The large garland above her doors is actually a bright shrimp color but may read as red in the photo. I found out later that the large turquoise bow that sits top and center had blown off. I knew something was missing! :)

I had to share (I asked first) this family photo with you guys. I LOVE this photo! It makes me smile everytime I see it.

Gina's family

This photo was taken by photographer Angel Porch in an area of Oklahoma City, near the Red Cup coffee house, known as Red Cup Square.

See more of Gina's Merry & Bright Christmas here & here.

I hope you are all enjoying the last few days before Christmas. I'm finally beginning to feel like I have things under control...mostly.

Merry Christmas!

SHARING WITH:

More Merry & Bright Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Yesterday, I began sharing some of the colorful Christmas decor from my Sister-in-Law, Gina's home. Their main family tree is decked with a multitude of bright and cheerful ornaments. I love the large multi-ornament garlands.

You'll find turquoise & magenta trees adorned with bright pink lights...

frothy pale pink trees...

cherubs...

whimsical stockings...

whimsical ladies...

Even candles, snug in their lantern homes, get that special Gina touch.

And her tree skirt...?

A simple pink chenille bedspread sweetly wrapped around the base of the tree Linus style! It's the perfect solution!

Aren't her floors gorgeous?

I so wanted to be able to tell you all about this product but from all I can gather it may no longer be in production. We can't seem to find the manufacturer or any current information. I do know it is a prefinished hardwood with a matte finish, purchased at a local flooring store and installed with glue. If anyone recoginizes this particular floor please let me know. Thank you!

There's still more of Gina's Christmas to come!

Wishing you all a very

Merry & Bright Christmas!

SHARING WITH:

A Very Merry & Bright Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

If we were playing a game and I was required to use a phrase from a Christmas carol to describe a family member...(I know, it's a stretch but bear with me)...this phrase could be used to describe my Sister-in-law, Gina! It suits her to a tee!

While I was busy lamenting my wavering decorating dilemma of color versus neutrals, Gina was busy going ALL OUT decorating her home for Christmas in happy, bright and not-so-traditional, colors.

She is fearless with her love of color and whimsy.

I left her home feeling inspired and ready to go home and create! Anything and Everything!!!

This collection of fun and cheerful Christmas items graces the center of a large island in her kitchen.

It just makes me smile! It's so fun, whimsical and festive.

I had just finished some new window treatments for her kitchen and took my camera along so I could stalk her house and soak up all the inspiration! Both Christmas and everyday.

For the large kitchen window above her sink, Gina chose a white, pre-ruffled fabric for the curtain panels and a multi colored silk stripe for the top.

We chose to make simple unlined panels and top then with the double ruffle poof valance. As you can see in the above photo, the valance consists of a double, flat fold, attached valance that is then pulled apart to make the "poofs".

Stay tuned! There's lots more colorful Christmas inspiration from Gina coming soon!

Merry Christmas!

SHARING WITH:

Color vs. Neutrals: Christmas Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Jan's Front Porch - Don't you just love those sleigh bells?

Have you ever thought you may have a split personality when it comes to decorating? This thought has crossed my mind/minds several times before. After taking a look at my Christmas decor, I'd say it's true.

The above photo was taken when I decorated Jan's house for Christmas. Her husband's vintage sleigh bells are quite heavy and have a gorgeous patina. I love the way they look draped over the rocking chair.

My front door.

I've written several times (here, here & here) about my on-going dilemma with color vs. neutral. Multiple patterns vs. serene solids. I'm not sure which one is winning but at the moment they're waging a full-on battle at my house.

Consider the entrance of my house. There, atop my turquoise front door (can't get much more colorful than that!) hangs my favorite wreath, full of all sorts of natural elements including pine cones, grapevine and burlap.

Another wreath near the front door. Ignore the tangle of green wire.

When I see some of the more neutral themed Christmas trees, I absolutely adore them!

So I told myself I was going to make a bunch of natural ornaments and have at least one simple, natural, neutrally dressed tree in my house. Well, this is it. A 2' tree on the dresser in my master bedroom. With not a single handmade ornament to be found! Though several are about 40 years old with only a touch of their original color showing. The larger ornament on the left is dated 1982 and reads "First Christmas Together".

The main tree/trees in our living room are covered in brightly colored ornaments. Many being extremely sentimental, including every "photo" ornament my kids ever made. And you know what...I love it!

What's girl to do when she can't decide between glitter and burlap?

The largest Nativity I have holds a place of honor as the centerpiece on the dining room table. My Dad gave this Nativity to us years ago and only about a third of the pieces are displayed. I really like the way the simplicity of the Nativity is complemented by all the natural elements.

Here you see me trying to get creative with my photography. A bit disconcerting seeing the reflection of yourself in the silver ornaments as you try NOT to fall off the chair while taking photos with the tripod sitting on the table!

I'm ready for the crazy, business of the season to calm down and make room for a slower pace.

Maybe this yearning for a more natural Christmas decor is actually a yearning for a focus that's on the true meaning of Christmas. I pray that is true for each of us as we prepare for this precious holiday.

Christmas Blessings!

Sonya

Time is Running Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:28:00 +0000

There's still time to purchase a last minute gift from the Shop here at Beyond the Screen Door.

Still available...
Stenciled Burlap Pillows rectangle only
Burlap Runners

Damask Pillow Cover - 2 available

Multi-Fabric Accent Pillow Cover - 1 left.

Turquoise Flower Pillow Cover - 1 left

Visit the Shop for all the details!

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Christmas Reminisce & A Late Start

noreply@blogger.com (Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

This year finds me a tad behind schedule in putting up our Christmas decor. The house is a disaster at the moment with boxes of decorations everywhere! It's always a process with me because I rebel against doing the same thing each year.

Our 2010 White Christmas at my parents home in North Carolina.

My oldest daughter's birthday is November 30 and she always requested the tree be up and decorated by her birthday. She's in California now, happily married and of course, had all her decorations up before her birthday!

The grandchildren handprint garland.

So, you find me watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel (of which my son asked "Don't these corny movies get on your nerves?") and decorating the house.

We need to make 2 more!

I decided to pull out a few of my favorite decor photos from Christmas 2010. Christmas in North Carolina as well as...

at home in Oklahoma.

Regardless of my attempts to change things up a bit the "We Three Trees" are going back in the same spot. (Oh, that's what I did with the tree tops! I was wondering!)

The mantle hasn't been decorated yet so maybe I can whip up something different. I love this shot, though.

So, here's to happy decorating and hoping I can get the boxes back in the attic as quickly as possible!

Who's finished with their Christmas decorating and shopping?

Like I said, running a bit behind schedule this year. I've barely gotten started!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!