SimplyLinen

Easy Tutorial for Beginner Sewist- Relaxed Roman Shade

2018-03-13T12:16:00.000-05:00

Readers,

Sewing home decor is by far the most economical way to beautify your home. Purchasing custom shades, blinds and panels is very costly. I am going to demonstrate just how easy it is to sew custom shades on a very small budget. Pictured above is a simple roman shade, non-functioning (or seldom used) since we have blinds already, but I will link up a site that sells the hardware for a fully functioning roman shades.

Supplies Needed: 1X3 soft plywood
Sew-On Velcro
Roman shade tape with rings
L-Brackets
Screw eyes
Lining and Fabric

Step 1

Based on my size window width 37" I added 4"of fabric to both sides. Since my fabric treatment is non-functional I only purchased 13/4yds of fabric.
I pressed half an inch on both lengths on the treatment for a neat and professional double-folded hem followed by a inch press.

double-folded hem

Step 2
On the top portion of your treatment fold down by pressing the raw edge and sew the soft side of the velcro over the raw edges. Ironing is very important to achieve a clean and professional treatment.

Step 3
Double fold a 2" hem at the bottom edge of your treatment.

Step 4

Add the roman shade ring tape 2" from the edge of your treatment, hand sewing only the plastic rings to the fabric (both the lining and the pretty fabric)

Step 5

Attached the cord to the bottom ring and feed through the plastic rings. The cord length will be much longer on one side than the other since we will be feeding the cord through the screw eyes to one side of the roman shade.

Step 6

My apologies for these terrible pictures.. I was shooting at picture at night time with a flash on!

Wrap your plywood piece (cut to size depending on your finished width of fabric treatment) with lining or right-side facing fabric, attaching fabric to wood with a staple gun. Insert screw eyes 2" from the edge on both sides of plywood.

Step 7
Staple the rough side of the velcro to the edge of the piece, screwing L-brackets on the bottom edge of "valance" Finished product looks like this...

Step 8
Screw the L-brackets to the wall... Mount at least 5" above the height of the window. Attached your treatment by velcro and feed the cord through the screw eye on both sides. Now your cord should be on one side only. Pull up your roman shade and adjust the folds by hand. I fastens the cords to one of the screw eyes, since my shade is for aesthetic purposes only. If you wish to have a functional fabric roman shade then I recommend these cord locks instead of screw eyes.

Step 9
Cut a dowel rod to the same width as the shade and insert through the opening made by the hem at the bottom of the shade.

Happy sewing and creating your own custom shades on a budget.

Sarah

Tutorial for a Pillow with a Mitered Corner Ribbon

2017-09-28T08:11:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

Sorry for the delay in writing and posting. I have been rather busy with my girls lately, preparing them for the athletic and academic year. I haven't been sewing much, mostly painting and fixing odds and ends around the house.
While ruminating on the guest bedroom and thoughts on paint color and furniture placement I noticed a pillow cover I had completed several years ago now on the bed that just seemed tired and out of place so I promtly viisted the fabric store in town. I have a huge affinity toward blue and white lately, partly due to Mark Sikes and his tremendously popular instagram feed featuring his amazing work and inspiration.
This fabric, pictured below, was a clearance item and I think will work beautifully with the guest bedroom when it is complete. I also took this opportunity to curate a tutorial on the a simple pillow cover with a mitered corner. I hope it is simple to copy and the instructions easy to follow.

The Supplies:

Tape Measure

Ribbon

Down pillow insert

Pins

Scissors

Zipper

Step 1

Cut fabric to size. My pillow measured 21X21 so I cut two sides equally 20X20.

Pin the raw edge of the zipper to the right side raw edge of fabric. I also added an additional piece(optional) to hide the zipper once the pillow is complete.

Zipper Placement

Step 2

Pin other side of zipper to other piece of fabric (backside of pillow)

Now sew the zipper in place on both sides of the zipper.

Step 3
Add ribbon of choice. Initially pin in place and miter the corners as shown. I added the ribbon 2 inches from the edge.

Mitred Corner

Step 4

Sew the ribbon in place. This step is time consuming since I tend to creep along with the sewing needle. The ribbon tends to shift so be careful and take your time.

Sew the edges of the pillow in place. I should have zig- zagged the edges to prevent fraying. I would recommend you always zig- zag the edges before beginning a project.

Edges sewed together and the back-side of the pillow with ribbon stitching shown.

Step 5
Completed pillow with ribbon attached. Press all the corners thoroughly and remove all creases and wrinkles.

Mitered Corner Pillow

A special thanks for reading the blog and hope you find inspiration for your home.
Warmly,
Sarah☺

Easy Step by Step Instructions for Creating Memorable and Pretty Walls with Our Daughters' (It's Fun Aswell)

2017-03-25T21:33:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I have fond memories with my Mother creating fun projects and learning creative stitches and knitting projects. It was a skill that I didn't much think about until I became a mother and now I am so thankful to pass on those wonderful memories to my girls'. Admittedly, our time is limited together so it really is only for a few minutes each week that we can sit and enjoy each others company. The beauty of these project however, is they are not time consuming or difficult and we can easily pick up where we left off. My oldest (10 years almost 11 now:(0) especially enjoys these times together, perhaps because of her age or maybe that she just enjoys it, either way I am happy to sit for a moment when she asks me to show a new stitch to her. So I really encourage you and your daughters' to pick up this easy craft to decorate your own walls or perhaps gift these to your teachers, friends or relatives. They will be thrilled with your creativity and thankful for your thoughfulness. I just recently finished these two landscape, weed type patterns:)

Embriodery Hoop Art Supplies

1.)Embroidery Floss 2.)Embriodery Needles 3.) Embriodery Hoops 4.) Linen Fabric

Draw out the template. I found a plethora of very sweet drawings online and used what I saw to create something similar to share with you all. I wanted to create a "work of art" for my daughters' room so chose a sweet pattern that would fit her wall theme. We chose about 4 different embriodery thread colors. I would limit to about 4, since too many colors could make the end result messy and the shape not easily discernable. Now that we have chosen the colors, we move onto the stitches.

The Simple, Easy Stitches. Below is a pictorial I pulled from Better Homes and Gardens that explains really well the basic stitches to make really any kind of sweeet pattern. But a little more helpful instruction probably wouldn't hurt, so I will explain how we put together the rest of our little girl pattern. I mostly used a very simple straight stitch, what we use to hem clothes for the outline(not pictured here), but explained further down below.

Below is pictured the basic straight stitch. Its basically pushing the needle to the back of the fabric and coming out through the front. once at the end of the row going back to create a solid line of embriodery stitches. I mixed up the colors here to create interest, alternating pink and red lines of stitches.

Oops, I failed to mention that you obviouly need to knot the thread. This is fine since we are creating a hoop, but if you are planning on making a pillow, it's best to not knot the thread since it creates bulk.

On the feet I chose a long stitch, stitched very close togther, like picture taken below.

Almost finished here. Danielle completed the balloons in a few minutes and then we used a push-pin to mount on her wall in her room. She is hoping to fill her wall...maybe over the summer instead of endless hours wasted in-front of the TV:)

I've attached a few more images for you all to view and maybe get inspiration from... Enjoy making these, they really are so cute on the wall and it does bring great joy to the little ones to see their works of art displayed.

herdogblog.com

LiliPopo

This is a sweet pattern to follow and easy to copy.

Embroidery.com

Toyspark.blogpsot.com

yodowandadawan.com

Andstitches.blogspot.com

emelineandannabelle.com

Visit

So now you all can see my latest obsession, embroidery hoops. I'm looking forward to practicing so much more and creating memories with my girls'. Thanks for reading today!

Hope you all are enjoying a relaxing and peaceful Sunday.

Warmly,

Sarah 😊

See How Fashion Relates to Interiors

2017-03-21T10:57:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Cynthia Rowley just recently advertised one of her beautiful new dress designs for Spring. In My opinion, Its feminine yet simple and elegant and really the subtle touches in the details makes the design. Ruffles around the neck and bodice, plus the interesting graphic design printed on the bottom portion of the dress. Now lets take a look at similar images as these dresses and translate them to the pretty rooms with interesting details.

Similar pastel colors in the painting and pillows. Nailhead details on the furniture and pinch pleat sewing technique on the pillows. The graphic design is mimicked on the rug.

Jenny Andrews

We have all seen this beautiful image from Joanna Gaines, Fixer Upper. Lots of pretty details similar color palette.

Magnolia

If you love this look in bedding, Bella Notte has beautiful cotton and linen bedding with all the gorgeous details.

Bella Notte

Beautiful mix of those same pretty colors, with the details and graphics as seen on the pillows.

Bunny Williams

Pretty Bathroom in marble bathed in pink and white. Graphic design on the floors with the placement of the tiles.

HGTV

Fashion design very much correlates to interiors. I wish I was a few years younger! I might just have to purchase that dress:)

Warmly,

Sarah

5 Fascinating Timeless Interior Facts

2017-03-13T07:43:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

I don't know about you all, but I am always thinking of ways to create a comfortable yet timeless home with interiors. Let's be honest decorating can be very costly, so I believe its important to focus your search on items for your home that will stand the test of time. Sure sprinkling in bits of trends will ultimately give your home a bit more personality, but keeping most of your items classic will give you the biggest bang for your buck. I think it's important take a look at images from the past and really study them and hopefully apply some of the designers techniques in our modern homes. The below images are all about 20 years old appealing to both traditionalists aswell as minimalists. All these images tend to be-:

1. Neutral Furniture: The large pieces of furniture are white or off white with some texture. I believe rugs and couches should be investment pieces. So buy the best quality you can within your budget. Try to stay away from intricate wood work on large pieces of seating furniture, clean and simple lines, I believe will have the best staying power. Try to stay away from huge, oversized chairs and couches that are so popular now. Smaller chairs, eg wingbacks will always be a classic along with tufting.

2.) Antiques: Scour the Internet for antique pieces, but also visit estate sales, consignment stores. flea markets. Look at Craigslist every so often or Ebay.

3.)Neutral Wallcolor: Visit your local paint stores and pick neutral wall colors for most of your rooms. For smaller more intimate rooms, library or powder room, choose interesting wallpapers or go bold with paint. Dark blues and moody greens always pair well with neutrals in the taupe or white families.

4.)Moldings: Add character to your home with moldings. It doesn't need to be fussy, just a bit will add a little interest especially in living rooms, dining rooms and master bedrooms.

5.)Finishes: In the kitchen and bathroom try to stay with natural finishes, wood and stone and fabrics, cotton, silk and linen. A guilded mirror is always a nice touch along with simple chandeliers whether crystal or simple pendants in aged metals.

This image below I pulled from Traditional Homes 1996

Dan Carithers Design

This Old House

If minimalistic interiors is more your style, take a look at this image from the House & Garden 1996 edition.

Below are more recent images that I believe will have staying power. The rooms are mostly neutral with small pops of color. Some trends are carefully layered in the rooms, but are not overwhelming. Antiques are in every room, but when paired with a contemporary piece of art or modern accessory they seem to elevate the space. Take a look below...

Barbara Barry

Ginger Barber

Axel Vervoordt- An icon!

Roger Higgin and Ann Shipp

Tammy Conner

Stripes are timeless

Tammy Conner

In summary, I plan to keep my home mostly neutral, splurging on a few keys items of furniture and layering with trends to add interest. Most of the furniture will have simple lines and not too taste specific to have the greatest lasting power. How about you, do you have any other thoughts on creating timeless design?

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Thanks for making me a small part of your day.

Fondly,

Sarah

On a side note...I was able to finish one of my daughter's bedroom this past week. Painting the ceiling was difficult and tiring, but it is so pretty in person.

Very Simple Sewing Tutorial for A Pretty Sheer.

2017-02-13T23:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day Friends,

Valentine's Day is a day of sharing, caring and spreading joy I thought I would share a very easy tutorial for my fellow novice sewists. I know some might be intimidated by sewing machines, but this simple tutorial will be so easy that once you get the hang of the first panel the other two, three and four can be assembled in no time. Usually I sew my panels from large bolts of fabric, but this tutorial requires purchasing already premade sheer white cotton fabric from a retailer like Target, Walmart or other large chain suppliers. The sheers I purchased are from Target, Nate Berkus line 84 inch length. I always sew panels at least 96 inch long, since the 84 in are typically far to short and tend to make the windows appear smaller.

Supplies Needed:

Premade Cotton Sheers. Try to purchase panels on clearance.
1 Yard (for each window) decorative fabric- I chose this striped blue and white fabric
2 yards of decorative trim
pins
measuring tape

Step 1

Step 2

Sew these pieces of fabric together.

Step 3

Step 4

Head to the sewing machine and use a blind stitch to sew the length portion of the fabric together.

Step 5

Sew the hem with a blind stitch.

Step 6

The finished product, a sheer, with a touch of personality.

Hope this inspires you to dust off your sewing machine and very easily sew panels for your bedrooms.

Thanks for reading and making me a small part of your day.

Follow me on my new INSTAGRAM account.

Warmly, Sarah

Linking up with SavvySouthernStyle.net

Our Builder Grade Kitchen and Kitchen Trends

2017-02-11T14:16:00.000-06:00

Hi All,

We purchased a home a few months back in VA, closer to family and the shore. We opted to buy a home relatively new with standard builder grade finishes since it was all our budget could afford. I figured over time we would add our touches, personalize the space to our liking and probably stick to a budget since we would be up for a few DIY projects. Admittedly, we outsourced quite a bit over the past few months mostly bathroom work since I am a little uncertain of my tile and plumbing skills, but then we come to the kitchen. I wanted to restain our dark espresso cabinets, but was told over time the off white paint color that I so badly wanted would show through with normal wear and tear. Much to my initial disappointment, we decided to leave well enough alone and tackle those things that would ultimately be a better use of our finances. So the espresso cabinets are staying, but granite, backsplash, reworking an island and possibly changing out hardware will hopefully give our kitchen the updates we desire. Over on instagram and it appears much over the web the trends seem to be moving away from the all white kitchens. In my humble opinion, a white or off-white kitchen will always be a classic, but I honestly am thankful for the resurgence of dark painted cabinets and dark wood kitchens. I think the typical English Kitchen with a vintage flair might be popular here in the States for awhile. We tend to see with a modern English Kitchen, dark cabinets, unlaquered brass hardware, simple lines, shelving for knick knacks and dishes. I think it is a homey feel, comforting and a return to the basics. What are your thoughts? So you think this trend might have staying power here in the States. Below are some images I recently pulled from the Web and Instagram, mostly for researching for our kitchen, but thought I would share with you all. Take and look and let me know what you all think.

Painted Cabinets with Natural Woods

I like the copper with the stainless steel

Pretty Cottage kitchen

So pretty

Our Kitchen with that vintage edit from the iPhone.

Thanks for following along with me on this Saturday. Please consider following along on Instagram. I just setup my first account. I am a little behind on the times.

Warmly,
Sarah

Crushing Blue

2017-02-02T19:32:00.000-06:00

Hi All,

This week I have spent many hours in my eldest daugther's room planning, prepping and decorating. Her wish was a more grownup space, a little more removed from usual color pink we have done in all her rooms. Somewhat reluctantly I obliged, I do love a pretty pink room, but I understanded her need for a color scheme change. So she chose blue and I couldn't be happier. It reminds her of the ocean and so many wonderful memories at the beach with her cousins.
I began with the paint, although I have read that painting should come last in the decorating process. She has a desk and bedding already and in the interest of staying within a budget we decided to keep these intact. Choosing a color paint for the walls would have to work with what she currently owns.
At the moment I am finishing up with the panels and plan to paint one accent wall a deep shade of blue, called Respite. Danielle is excited, she can't wait to see that bold shot of color in her room.
All this blue talk has me dreaming of beautiful shades of blue in all the rooms in our home. There is a plethora of blue decorated rooms on the web to take as inspiration. Take a look at the below images. My hope is that you are inspired and take some ideas into your spaces.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Pretty Pastel Blue with Blush and textured linen

Andrews Design

Just a beautiful mix of blues.

Frank Roop Design Interiors

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Interesting seating arrangement with the turquiose sofa and mix of beautiful fabrics.

Eliza Dyson

Perfection

Rachel Halvorson Designs

Love William's Instagram Feed. Isn't his Living Room dreamy, minus the turtle though.

William Mclure

Stunning Blue and white chinese porcelein with woven baskets

Tory Burch's Home

Pairing of Moody Blue and Purple mixed with Dark Woods. So cozy. I could read in here all day.

Victoria Hagan

Kips Bay Designer Home. Don't forget the 5th wall. Beautiful pairing of the gold leaf ceiling and deep blue.

Markam Roberts

Fun-filled girls' bedroom with pattern and color play. A room that will grow with a young girl to the teen years. The navy blue gives the room an extra burst of color.

Not sure of original source

Thanks for following along and see you soon with pictures of Danielle's newly decorated bedroom.

Sarah

Random Photos of the House and Other Sitings

2017-01-24T09:24:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Unfortunately, this home did not come with a large mudroom off the garage. We sacrificed for a larger kitchen and a relatively large garage. The girls store most of their shoes and sports equipment in the garage, so I have just made do with a small wall to hang a narrow shelf and a few hooks. I started with a clean slate, no color and no holes to fill, so that did make it a little easier and less time consuming. Color went up on the walls. Its a small space, so I opted for bold. The girls hang their backpacks on the hooks so the dark color hides imperfections and scuffs from the backpacks, coats etc.

The before

Next, I purchased a small narrow wooden shelf from home depot, stained and waxed the surface and hang up after a couple of hours drying time.

Products used for the shelf

Positioned the hooks and added a medium-sized basket for collecting odds and ends. Viola and it's done! It may be small, but it's functional and does keep clutter off the floor. I apologize for the pics. It's certainly a tough angle to photograph!

Closeup:Deep Green and Peacock Blue are a beautiful combination

Changing topics we made progress in the kitchen this week. After replacing the granite, we added a brick mosaic backsplash to compliment the granite. The tiles were a clearance buy, so I couldn't help use them even I deviated from my original backsplash design. The kitchen is mostly complete, barring a few more items and of course the pretty knick knacks that make a space sing and help to personalize.

What a bargain! Over at Ann Taylor this morning I noticed a wonderful sale. Here are a couple of their options. These two items are both $28 a piece.

I hope your week is treating you well so far. Thanks for following along and making me a small part of your day.

fondly,

Sarah

Dining Room Update

2016-12-21T14:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Readers,

Wow how did it get to be 4 days before Christmas! Are you all ready? The kiddies are out of school since Friday and it has been nonstop. I was taking inventory of all the gifts last night, making sure it is all evenly distributed between all three of my girls. This year I decided to give myself a little grace since we just made a big move across country. I decorated conservatively and the girls have fewer gifts under the tree. Less is more this year.

Before the girls ended school for the year I painted the dining room that same pretty blue color as the living room. I changed out the light fixture to something a little more traditional than what was installed before. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture. Here is the before:

I painted the tray as well as the walls. This was my first time painting a ceiling and it really isn't as bad as I thought. I just had to be a little more thoughtful of the amount of paint on the roller and make sure the table was sufficiently covered. It really is such a pretty color at night with the soft light of lamps.

So now on to sewing panels for the Dining Rooms and Living Rooms. I picked up this deeply discounted panel from a fabric store here in town. It has the beautiful traditional details of trim and goblet header. I figured I could copy this pattern and make a matching panel for the other side of the window. Luckily, the store still carried the trim and fabric plus nap lining. Please stay tuned for this demo next time.

Also as an aside note Arhaus has some wonderful items and furniture currently on sale.

Arhaus inspired me to share some decorating tips with you all. If you're looking for some inspiration click here<rhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/sectional-sofas/> and check out the sectionals they are currently offering.

Have wonderful holiday weekend and enjoy your time with family and friends.

Thanks for following along and reading,

Sarah XOXO

A Slipcover for a Tired and Worn Ottoman

2016-03-14T16:01:00.000-05:00

Hi All,

How are you? All is well here! Our family is finally recovered from a yucky virus that lingered in our home for a good couple of weeks. Happy to report now, the virus is gone and warm weather approaching.

I have a tired and worn ottoman in our basement desperately in need of a makeover. I should donate or toss, but I felt the need to slipcover in the hopes of bringing our family room to design completion on a budget. I do love the look of slipcovers on chairs and ottomans. I think it creates a comfortable and elegant look in a family room, bedroom, sitting room and I especially love that the most slipcovers can be dry-cleaned or washed. I usually slipcover with linen for that very reason. It is very durable and has great texture perfect for our family room. I have read that some homeowners order 2 slipcovers for a couch or chair so as to rotate and also give a different look depending on season..what a great idea! My inspiration for slipcovers come from several sources, below are some pictures to give you an idea of the look I love so much. Aren't those ruffled slipcovers so pretty?

3.) thefrenchprovincialfurniturefurniture.com 2.)cotedetexas.blogspot.com 1.) cotedetexas.blogpsot.com

1.)Amy Morris Design 2.) Home Bunch Blog

So now a look of what I have and how this ottoman was transformed with slipcovers. I used linen, chocolate brown and a beautiful steel blue. The rug has touches of this blue which I carry throughout the living space. Behind the camera is a sitting room, neutrals mostly, but the pillows have this pretty blue color. I am thinking of sewing panels for the sitting room in this color, but still on the fence since bright colors tend to loose there appeal for me over time. So what do you think of slipcovering an ottoman and would you slipcover without the gathers?

Thanks for reading this blog and following along with me. Have a wonderful week, until next time.

Sarah

Creating Privacy for the Sliding Doors Plus One More

2016-02-05T15:04:00.001-06:00

Hi Friends,

I hope you are having a great week so far. Busy week here with the usual kiddo activity and one parent traveling. We are slowly making progress with the home and finishing up details such as backsplash and paint. Hopefully, we will have a final decision on the that soon.

Between backsplash decisions I visited one of my favorite fabric retailers, Loomcraft. Luckily, they still had the same fabric I used for the London Shade post, Visit here if you would like to see that tutorial. I wanted to create a privacy for our sliding doors in the breakfast area, but since it is on the same wall as the london shade windows I opted not to use vertical blinds but follow the same fabric throughout the room. I thought simple panels on rings that I could close would be perfect for the doors. But since they would be functioning treatments I would need ample fabric to cover the area in order for the treatments to look full once closed.

I personally like simple treatments without too much trim and fuss. I like treatments just to accentuate a window rather than create a focal point. I also like treatments to be just touching the ground by about half an inch. I think this combination creates a room that is inviting, cozy and more put together. I think for me, I dislike looking at a black window at night which is generally why I feel every window needs something.

I also sewed these sweet simple cafe curtains in a day. So easy to do and just adds that extra custom touch to a casual, neutral kitchen.

I'm looking forward to adding the backsplash soon. So stay tuned for the updated kitchen next time.

Here are also some pretty pictures I recently saw on the web. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend.

Thanks so much for reading and following along with me

Sarah

Image 1-Jeffery Alan Marks, Image 2-Atlanta Homes, Image 3-anonymous

Linking up with www.savvysouthernstyle.net

Economical Box Pleat Valance

2016-01-16T13:45:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

It's winter around here, the past couple of months were mild, but now we are mostly bundled inside with brief moments outside. Since we are indoors quite a bit I am excited to knock out a few to-do items on my list. I have painted several rooms already and am working on completing a few more sewing projects, which I will share with you shortly. My most recent is an easy yet elegant Economical Box-Pleat Valance. I completed this project over the weekend, so not terribly time consuming, but I think adds a little something to our office. So let's get started creating this together. I apologize for the quality of some of the images, I had limited light in the basement.

The window measured 56.5inches wide and I purchased a yard and a half of fabric with matching trim.
The supplies needed:
1. Approximately 1 yard of your favorite fabric and matching trim
2.Pine Wood trim piece cut to size
3.Staple Gun
4.Velcro
5.Needles, Sewing Machine, Iron for Pressing

STEP 1

STEP 2

Sew the Lining to the Decorative Fabric.

STEP 3.
Note* The 2 halves, per step , that were sewn together are lined exactly to the center of your pine board, as shown in the below image.

Step 4.

I hand stitched the hems on the sides. Be sure to douple-fold your hems, since it creates a cleaner more prefessional look.

Step 5.

We sewed the two halves together, therefore; this created a longer length than the actual wooden valance piece. By trial and error, this may take some a little time. I folded a small tuck at the edges to create a little depth and a more custom feel to our valance.
You may need to play around with the fabric to create an even tuck on each side in the corners.

Step 6a.

Step 6b.
Make sure to securely pin the center fold before sewing the velcro, since it tends to open while sewing.

Step 7.

Step 8.

Step 9.

Now add the L-Brackets to your pine board and mount the 2x4 on the wall. Firmly place the velcro on your decorative valance to the rough velcro on the pine board. Attach from the center fold and move toward the edge of the 2X4.

A simple, economical box pleat valance looks great with a roman shade or panels depending on the formality of the room.

Let me know if you have any questions. I would be happy to help!

Enjoy your weekend!

Sarah

Linking up wtih www.savvysouthernstyle.net

Polka Dots on the Walls

2015-12-23T10:38:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Almost Christmas and we are in countdown mode in our home. I have been in the kitchen a little, preparing sweet treats as gifts, celebrating at a few holiday related activities, but other than that had a restful weekend. We will be traveling this holiday weekend to South Carolina, visiting relatives and celebrating Christmas with them. It will be a joyous time and wonderfully exciting for the girls.

Before we wrap up this year and begin a new, I wanted to share with you a polka dot wall "makeover" This project required a little time to complete, but was an easy application. After a little research, I found the best method to create a polka dot, or bubbles on the wall, so aptly named by my daughter.

Below are the supplies needed to create your polka dot wall.

1. Stencil Paper, can be purchased at any craft store 2. Exacto Knife, also at your local craft store 3. Compass or a bowl of varying sizes to trace around

After tracing your circular shapes on the stencil paper cut your shapes with the exacto knife. On my stencil paper I traced 4 differing circular shapes. I picked 2 different paint, light blue and light green, per kiddo request.

Using painters tape I taped the stencil paper on the wall and chose the the color for each circle. Make sure that is consistent to avoid mixing paints. As an aside, the stencil paper should be laid out for a few days to straighten out, maybe weigh down the edges. This step will make your application of polka dots that much easier.

To create a little asymmetry I changed the direction of the stencil paper and layered circles on top of each other. Make sure your paint is dry before taping the stencil paper over previously painted circles.

To paint the circles, I applied a small amount of paint on my brush, too much paint on the brush, and the excess will seep underneath the shape. I brushed from the outside of the circle toward the middle, as shown below.

See Easy Peasy! A fun and easy way to create a little whimsy in your kiddos rooms, playrooms ect.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope it is a blessed time for you.

If you wish to follow my posts on social media...Here is a link for Pinterest and Facebook.

Thank you!

Sarah

Linking up with www.savvysouthernstyle.net

Simple changes in a girls bedroom

2015-12-10T18:31:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far. I love all the christmas lights in and around the stores, the christmas music and spirit. The long christmas shopping lists not so much, however, I am almost done, so thankfully I can now enjoy the season without the panic of "too much to do and not enough time."

Today, I am going to share one of my daughter's bedroom. My goal from the onset was to keep most of what she currently owned, from big furniture pieces to all her knick knacks she so lovingly holds onto. My budget was $100.00. I painted the walls a very soft pink, so that her bright bedding and assessories would take the center stage. The paint color is so pretty, I especially love the room in the evening with the soft lighting, it glows so beautifully.

After painting, Danielle and I picked out this fun trendy chevron sheet set from Target. She is in love and would very much like to continue the chevron theme on the walls and more in accessories. We haven't started that project, yet, maybe in the future after her two other sisters get to choose a pretty wall color.

We also picked out a tufted headboard from Overstock.com. They have such a wonderful variety, very well priced and easy to install. On the opposite side of the bed, we put together a desk area. The desk was mine in college and just repainted a bright teal color. She stores her books and other odds ends in all the compartments. The desk at moment is great for clutter control. Its is amazing how quickly the little things crowd a room:) Our latest is Shopkins and Littlest Pet Shop.

The dresser was a hand me down as well. It was painted and repurposed several years ago. It funtions well, although it probably is need of a fresh coat of paint soon. I love the use of trays, this one below was a steal from Hobby Lobby. Danielle also proudly displays her artwork in her room. At the moment she just has a few projects, which she rotates every so often. I love the personality in this room. It is so Danielle!

Thanks for stopping by today! Please visit again soon and follow me on Facebook or Pinterest, I would be so thankful. Enjoy the rest of your week.

Sarah

DIY Holiday Napkins and Cutlery Holder

2015-11-14T22:35:00.000-06:00

Hi All,

I love a super easy DIY such as the one below. Completed in less than an hour and completely unique and quality made. Make these sweet and thoughtful napkins as gifts this year!

Informal place setting for the Holidays

Below are the measurements for the napkins and holder:

1. Place your fabric pieces wrong side to together, Pin and Sew. Leave a small opening to be slip stitched closed once finished.

2. Turn your fabrics right-side out and finsh your napkins (Cutlery Holder) with a pretty detailed sewing stitch on your machine.

Happy Sewing Friends!

Thanks for Reading and Please Follow along on Facebook or Pinterest.

Sarah

Tutorial for a London Shade

2015-11-06T22:36:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, we are all moved into our home, barring for a few small projects we are feeling relatively settled. The kiddos are adjusting well to their new home and surroundings, thankfully! Building a home certainly has its challenges, but seeing the girls happy and comfortable makes it all worth it.

In a few of the rooms I called a professional to install blinds, but for the most part I would like to tackle each room slowly, by adding roman shade or something similar to dress the windows. My first project was the London Shade. It provides privacy and light control, however we will not be lifting the shade too much, which allows for an easy application, which I will share below.

Below are the supplies I used for my Project

Now to measure the window and fabric requirements for My project, Yours will look different depending on your size window, but the hem allowance, ruffle allowance, and pleating will look the same. Hopefully that is clear.

1.) Now we have determined the length and width. Cut your fabric and lining to size and turn in your bottom hem 6"(I recommend double turning your hems) and your side hem 2".

Double hem all sides for a total of 6" on the bottom and 2" on the sides.

2.) Measuring for the 2 pleats on each side of the london shade can be tricky and time consuming, but once you get the hang it, it's simple and so pretty. I think it give the shade a custom feel and helps with the folding after its hang correctly.

a. measure 6" from one width side to the other. Also making sure to mark 6"

throughout the length of the panel. This will eliminate or reduce error when pleating.

b. fold from third 6"mark to the 5th

c. This is how the shade will look from the back once all the pleats are pinned into place.

3.) Optional step: I added pre-made piping for a custom look. Pin into place, then sew.

Premade Piping pinned into place making sure the pleats stay in place and folded evenly. In this picture the pleats on the right-side are fused together. I made sure to keep the pleat from overlapping.

Stitch the Austrian Tape down the middle of the two pleats. Making sure to stitch from the top of the bottom hem line about 3/4 up the length of the fabric, or about 10 inches from the top.

Now screw in the 2 x 4 to the window frame (either outside or inside mount). Pictured, I stapled the rough edge of the velcro to the 2 x 4.

Add two screw eyes 12 inches from the edge and 1 additional screw eye 2 inches from the right edge.

At the bottom of the shade pull the cords of the Austrian Tape (pictured) to ruffle the fabric. Evenly pull the cords on both sides. Now firmly tie the cord to the bottom ring (pictured) and thread through the all plastic rings. We are almost done!

3.) Pull the Roman Shade Cord through the screw eyes attached to the 2 x 4 and feed all the the cords through the screws. Do not leave any cords loose, all the cords should be pulled through the screw eyes. Please make sure your cords are long enough before cutting.

4.) Add the cord condenser to the bottom of the cords to prevent fraying and wrap the cord around a cleat.

It might take a little time to adjust the folds and get the look you would want for your London Shade. My shades are pulled up about half way up the window to allow light to come in, but also create the look I wanted to achieve.

Enjoy making your London Shade and Thanks for Reading this Tutorial!

Sarah

Family Room Mood Board and Pricing

2015-03-24T15:08:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I shared with you all our decision to build instead of renovate and some of our kitchen and exterior decisions, HERE. We started building in the winter in Chicago, so progress has been slow; however, over the past few weeks, with the melting we have made tremendous progress. Sheetrock installation is not too far away, so once that is put up I will share pictures of the layout. The builders estimate we will in the home at the end of June. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for a mild Spring, as the cold weather seems to slow things down just a tad.
Naturally, I have spent a fair amount of time mulling over the layout of the family room and thinking of the general aesthetic. Our current furniture is looking dull and overused so will be put in the basement soon after we move. I suppose I might need to continue to use the current furniture for awhile to assess the budget after the home is built:)
By putting together this wishlist, at least I am able to get an idea of expense and the dollar amount to put aside. Outlined below are my choices with current expense.

Sources and Pricing

1. Pressed Botanical Prints $300.00 3. Pillows $25.00 (DIY project)

2.Belgian Track Arm Slipcovered Sofa $2500.00 4.Accent table $149.00

5.Indoor/outdoor Rug $80.00 6.Ottoman Currently Own

7.Bamboo Shades $200.00 8.Linen Window Treatments DIY

9.Console Table $500.00 10.Leather chair $1015

Grand Total ~ $5000.00

The design and elements of the mood board will fit our home perfectly,both aesthetically and functionally. I did splurge on my seating choices since I do feel that quality seating is a must. Now that I have penned the price and brought together all the elements in one post, hopefully I can get my husband on board:)

Thanks for reading along today. Enjoy the rest of your day!

XOXO,

Sarah

Building Our Home

2015-03-23T10:20:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Several months ago we sold our home in Omaha and moved our family to Chicago. For months we scoured the area looking for a home that was in close proximity to work, schools, markets and such. We must have seen at least 50 homes, not quite meeting the criteria, so we opted to build, knowing we could get all that we needed as a family within our budget. So far the process has been mostly fun, although admittedly the options from hardware to cabinetry to color choices can be daunting and confusing. Hopefully, when its all said and done our choices will make sense and we will have no regrets.

Below are some of the choices so far.

What do you all think? Do you have any building suggestions and tips?

Thanks for reading:)

XOXO,

Sarah

Mitered Corner Placemats for an Easter Gathering

2014-04-06T21:48:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Difficult to believe Easter is just around the corner and a time for family gatherings and new beginnings. Thankfully the days are a little warmer...I now just can't wait to see the first buds and a little more greenery. The fabric for the below project reminded me of spring, pretty pastel colors and a opportunity for me to put away those warm winter fabric colors. So let's sew these super easy placemats for your kitchen table or dining room and welcome Spring to your family and friends gatherings.

Step 1-

For measurement purposes I used an old placement previously purchased. According to those measurements my rectangular piece measured 12.5 inches X 22 inches. Two of the mitered corner trim pieces are 18 inches long and 2 inches wide and the other two pieces are 26 inches long X 2 inches wide. All excess fabric will be trimmed so I made sure to have plenty of fabric to work.

Step 2-

Press and steam the raw edge of the trim 5/8 of an inch as pictured below.

Step 3-
Open up one of the raw edges of the trim and carefully line up with the rectangular piece. Pin in place. Sew accurately along the pressed edge leaving 2 inches unstitched on all sides of the placemat.

Step 3- Pictured below are my placemats with stitching 2 inches away from the corners and also a penciled diagonal line from the point where the two trim pieces meet to the corner of the cream rectangular piece. Pin the 2 trim pieces together. It is important to be as accurate as possible so your mitered corner looks neat and professional.

Step 4- Stitch along the pencil line.

Step 5- Now snip away the excess fabric

Step 6 - Now stitch the 2 inch opening closed as close to the trim edge as possible.

Step 7- Unfold the trim and press and steam to the right side of fabric.

Step 8- Top stitch around the edge. Viola` completed placemat for those Spring Gatherings:)

Happy April my friends and thanks for reading today. I hope you all find inspiration.

XOXO,

Pretty Pillowcase Tutorial

2014-02-08T21:13:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone,

I finished up this week by completing my linen pillowcase tutorial to share with you all. Certainly an easy project, but definitely does require accurate cutting measurements. So make sure to double check measurements before cutting and press, steam regularly thought out your project. I think these pillows look adorable in my daughter's room and add that special touch to complete the whimsical, soft feel of the room.

Here are the supplies needed for this project. Make sure to wash in warm water and tumble dry followed by a good press and steam. Cut the frayed edges and lay out about 2 yds of fabric for 2 standard pillowcases with envelope enclosure.

Pictured below is the measurements for each piece. Remember to include the enclosure piece {not pictured} 6"X 20"

My first step was to ruffle each side of the length. Pictured is my ruffler foot, but simple gathering by pulling the thread works wonderfully as well. { See this link for a great tutorial}

Now attach your ruffled piece to the front, right-side together. You might need to adjust the gathers to fit the 20" width.

Pin the top piece for the enclosure {6"X 20"} right side together, as in this picture then press. Make sure to double hem this piece before attaching to the front.

At this point pin the lace to the seams. Make sure to pin adequately so there is no movement. Now
I used lace to conceal the edges, but really the sky is the limit. Use a coordinating piping, tape or just leave as is...

Sew the lace to the linen fabric. I sewed the lace trim on both sides with a zigzag, with pink thread on top and the cream on the bottom for a professional touch.

Now pin the front to the back, pressing the enclosure piece first{ right sides together}. Trim all the fabric around the edges, zig zag or serge the edges and you are done! Easy Peasy, Really!

Have fun creating these pillows and please let me know if you have any questions.

Til Next time:)

XOXO,

Linking up with~ http://too-much-time.com/

Romantic Linens for the Bedroom

2014-02-03T14:23:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Recently I purchased from Pottery Barn Pure Linen pillowcases for our guest bedroom. They are a beautiful soft gray color and equally beautiful to the touch. I don't mind that they crease easily, I think it just adds to that romantic, charming sense that a French shabby chic bedroom swathed in softness lends to a room. My new purchase inspired me to create a few linens of my own that are not only made from 100% washable linen, velvet and lace but are crafted with a few sewing techniques I use regularly. There is plenty of fabulous inspiration online as well which is pictured below. Oh my goodness, isn't this bed absolutely dreamy? It is layered in soft velvets, linens and cottons, impeccably crafted as well and the color is gorgeous.

Source

So taking inspiration from this high-end retailer I created my own linens with some pretty details. Below is a few of my sewing crafts this past week.
The Euro sham pictured below is made of a creamy linen with brown velvet trim. It was a little rough to the touch initially, but after several washes the linen is so much softer. The pillowcase was an after thought, since I had extra fabric leftover from my daughter's panels. I ruched the sides and added lace to edge. It lends a nice touch to Jordan's room and looks interesting paired with her trendy bolster. {tutorial}

The gray cotton pillowcase turned out nicely so I used off-white linen in my next pillowcase with hot pink lace trim {pictured above} I will be sharing the tutorial next time, but wanted to give you all a sneak peek.

Sewing pillowcases and euroshams is such an easy project for novice sewers and can be rewarding since we can add all those special touches to make a room unique and interesting all on a tight budget.

Thanks for reading along today! Enjoy the rest of your week!

XOXO,

An Old Dresser to a Doll Closet

2014-01-18T15:22:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for letting me share this project with you all today! It was a lot of fun putting it together with my lovelies and creating something we both loved. You see, we have three little girls with a love for dollies. My oldest especially, adores her doll and plays with her on a daily basis. After their play times they tend to have all their doll clothes and accessories littered all over the house and bedrooms. So we collectively decided to organize all their dolls' clothing and accessories. We had an old dresser tucked away in a closet just taking up unnecessary space, barely used and transformed it into an American Doll closet.

My daughter's chose red and pink to give the dresser personality. Naturally, they wanted all shades of red and pink all over the dresser decorated with colorful stickers:) So with this little mini makeover they got their colors and I got mine. We removed the drawer pulls and bottom drawers. I painted the inside of the "closet" pink and chose this polka dot fabric and black trim for panels. We attached the fabric with a staple gun. Inside of the closet is a dowel rod, which can be purchased from any hardware or craft store attached with an epoxy glue.

We found these adorable red and brassy gold pulls at Hobby Lobby and attached after I slightly distressed the dresser and added a wax coat to the painted finish.

Below is a close-up of the pulls and painted finish.

Inside the dresser draws we compartmentalized all their accessories. Honestly, I am not sure how long the closet will stay organized, but it was a lot of fun putting all this together with the girls.

Thanks for reading along today. Enjoy your weekend!!

XOXO,

Linen Slipcovered Couch-Tutorial

2014-01-10T10:04:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year Everyone,

I apologize for the long delay between posts. The holidays were naturally a blur and well, now the girls are in school I have a little more time to dedicate to my blog. Sadly, our Christmas decorations are packed away for next year leaving the rooms feeling "bare". I arranged a few accessories this morning and played around with a new seating arrangement. I guess the after Christmas decorating and the beginning of the New Year left me feeling like the house needed a fresh start.
Our basement and family room certainly received a fresh look. I managed to fit in a challenging sewing project by slipcovering our weathered couch. Since the couch is quite large it takes up a great amount of space and was a big color block for me. Beside the fact it had several holes in the arms and cushions from everyday wear and tear, the olive green shade looked tired. I do however, love the couch, it is very comfortable, classically designed and constructed beautifully. I figured I would try my hand on slipcovering rather than reupholstering professionally and maybe a few years from now we can replace again. Thankfully slipcovers are so relevant these days, especially Linen. I purchased my fabric at Hobby Lobby. It a thick, durable slub linen perfect for slipcovering. A few months back I slipcovered the chair beside the couch in the same fabric. It is holding up well despite the few messes and frequent use.

Below is my promised tutorial for slipcovering all upholstered furniture-:

An Aside Note:

Most of my slipcovered projects are sewn without the use of piping. I personally like the clean sleek look of the "Restoration Hardware" slipcovered pieces. But it is important to note that the piping does bind the fabric seams well and since I opted not to use the piping I reinforced all my seams with zig zag stitching and other decorative stitch settings on my sewing machine.

Below are pictures of the stitching I use for the seams and cushions.

Supplies Needed:

Linen Fabric at least 10 yds. I used 18 yds total for my couch, but this did include slipcovering all the cuchions-6 total on my project.

Ruler a great tool for tucking excess fabric into the sides.

Pins I used at least a box to shape the arm and create a nice snug fit.

Step 1

Pin carefully the shape of the arm of the chair. Placing the pins closely together. This will make the stitching process that much easier with little room for error. Make sure to create a pleated detail on the four corners of the couch. This step will allow the slipcover to fit over the shape with ease without compromising the snug fit.

Step 2

Mark with a ruler the placement of seam under the rolled arm as shown below. Snip away extra fabric from step 1.

Cut fabric just beneath the curve. This will help shape the arm so the fabric doesn't drape to the floor, but fits snugly around the curves.

Step 3

Pin front piece to back piece following a straight line of pins from one top edge to the opposite edge and also pinning the side piece to the back following the curve of the couch.

Step 4
Continue pinning the fabric on the other arm and sides of couch and complete the pinning by attaching the bottom front piece to the arms.
Carefully remove the pinned slipcover and stitch all pin markings as accurately as possible around all the curves and straight edges. At this point I turned my linen fabric right-side and reinforced all the seams with zig- zag. I gives it a beautiful custom touch and binds the fabric perfectly.

Step 5

Properly place the slipcover with cushions and double hem the slipcover. At this point
I pressed it well especially on the hem line, stitched the hem in place and pressed again.

The cushions were a little flat from use over the years so I added just one layer of batting around the foam. What a difference it instantly made!

The End Product after a couple of days of hard work...

Picture of my slipcovered pieces on a very dreary day ~ sorry for the rather terrible photo.

I hope this was helpful and easy to understand and replicate. Please let me know if you all have any questions.

On a different note... a huge thank you for your readership this year. Thanks for following along even though my posts are sporadic and infrequent. I hope to over the next year or so continue my journey on blogging and sharing and I look forward to connecting.

Enjoy your weekend my friends.

XOXO,

Linking up with~ http://www.lizmarieblog.com/, http://missmustardseed.com/

Make a Fresh Wreath for your Front Door~Tutorial

2013-11-21T14:50:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone,

It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, Isn't it? Most retailers have unpacked all their Christmas Goodies making it difficult not to get wrapped up in the Christmas Spirit. I adore Christmas with all the traditions and yes all the decorating and cooking that comes with it. We plan on hosting my parents this year in the Midwest and really I could not be more excited. The girl's get to spend time with their Nana and Papa, playing with them after opening their presents and enjoying Nana's fabulous meals and traditional family recipes.
So since this is a treat for us to host our family during Christmas I plan on adding special Christmas touches around our home. A great place to start is at the front door with a pretty wreath crafted from fresh greenery with all the traditional elements.

Supplies Needed~

Branched Wreath. I purchased mine from Michaels

Green Coned Cedar Boughs generally found at local nurseries. I especially adore this greenery
since it has tiny brown seeds and drapes so nicely on the branched form.

Hot glue gun

Clippers

Mini Pinecones

Faux Red Berries

Green Moss attached with Spray Adhesive

Green Floral Wire

This is a relatively messy project, therefore I completed my wreath in the garage with white paper underneath my working surface for easy clean up.

I used spray adhesive to adhere the green moss {found at all craft stores} to the branch wreath. This step is optional. Personally, I wanted a few of the branches visible once the wreath was completed.

Clip off sections and tightly wrap the wire at the stem. Take another small branch with plenty of fullness and lay the greenery over the branches to conceal the bark. Continue layering your branches in one direction around the entire circumference.

It will look like the image below once completed.. With wire wrap the leaves around the form to maintain a circular shape.

Conceal wire with clusters of Faux Red Berries and mini pinecones. I used hot glue to attach the berries and green floral wire to attach the mini pinecones.

Spritz the entire wreath adequately with fresh water. I suggest removing the wreath from the door and spritzing with water every few days to maintain freshness. I added a burlap ribbon and wrapped around the wreath at the top and hang from the door hanger.

Just an aside, the total cost for this fresh wreath was $25.00. Pretty amazing I think! It pays sometimes to DIY. Don't you think?

Thanks for reading my Friends. Enjoy the rest of your week and have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

XOXO,

Linking up with~ http://www.itsoverflowing.com/