Another DIY Adventure - Tote Bag, Anyone?

Last weekend a friend and I went to Crosslake Days. This special day happens every September, and I like to go because I get so many ideas for crafts and DIY projects. This year, as in the past, I wasn't disappointed. One of the churches had a holiday bazaar, there was a craft fair, a flea market, a chili cook-off, and lots of sidewalk sales. My friend and I decided to go to the church bazaar first. Wow - was there a lot to see! I saw so many things I wanted to buy, some to give as gifts, and some to have as samples.

Here are two samples I picked up that I plan to make for gifts: the reindeer has a candy bar inside and is made from paper and pipe cleaners. (I think I have all the punches I'd need to make this.) The note pad on the right is made on a magnet so it can hang on the fridge (or on any other metal.) All I need to get for that one is the post-it note pad.

I bought some other things to give for Christmas, but I can't show you today or they won't be a surprise for the friends and family who will be receiving them.

Watch future blogs for pictures of some DIY ideas I got....

Later that day we stopped at a home furnishings store, and found out that they had their older fabric samples on sale - 5 for $4. My friend and I spent quite a while looking through the samples and picking out our favorites.

I couldn't wait to get home and start sewing. I wanted to try making some tote/book bags. Or maybe a pillow? However, I didn't have all the supplies I needed... and we live in a small town where there aren't many stores. So I had to wait until I made a trip to Brainerd, where I picked up the things I needed. I spent a couple of evenings on the Internet, looking at tote bags and sewing directions. I finally decided to try making a bag using directions from HGTV here.
Today was a perfect day to spend sewing and crafting. The weather was cloudy, misty, windy and cool - a perfect day to be inside.
I gathered up my sewing machine, iron and ironing board, and all the other sewing supplies and settled in at my dining room table. The directions online were easy to follow, and a couple of hours later my bag was done!

I added the tab with the button to add a bit of decoration and to have something to keep the bag shut. The button is purely decoration. I sewed a piece of Velcro underneath the tab to fasten it shut.

You can see that I bought some contrasting cotton fabric to use for the liner. The hardest part of the process was turning the whole thing right side out. The directions called for interfacing, so I used it. I ironed it to the outside pieces, per the directions. The interfacing made the fabric so stiff that it was hard to pull through the opening I had left between the lining and the outside. I will do a couple of things differently for my next bag. I will not use interfacing. I thing the upholstery fabric is stiff enough. I will also leave a bigger opening for turning. I may also use a big snap instead of Velcro on the tab.

It was fun sewing this bag today - and I can't wait to try making another one.

A clean counter

I have been frustrated with the amount of paper that piles up on my kitchen counter. Sometimes it's because I just don't take the time to deal with it (sort, file, throw) - but some of it is because it is something I need to keep out for a while. So I have been looking for a cute way to store these things without cluttering up my counter.
Yesterday I went shopping at my favorite places - the shops on Buffalo - and I found the perfect solution at a store called Patina General. 
My husband was nice enough to mount it today, and here it is:

It's a drawer that had hinges added so it could be mounted on the wall. Isn't it just perfect? Now the challenge will be to keep things in it current.

Saturday Shopping Part Two

Here are some more pictures of my great finds last Saturday, just like I promised earlier in the week.
These are things I found while shopping the occasional sales in Buffalo, MN.

 I found this wooden tray at This N That. Craig helped me cut a thick plastic placemat (from Target last year) to fit inside the tray and I added felt pads to the bottom so it doesn't scratch the coffee table. Right now it's on this table in our family room at home - but eventually I'd like to find a big ottomon for either the living room here or the family room at the cabin - and this tray would be perfect on an ottomon.

 I'm not sure where I'm going to display this white and black pitcher, but I fell in love with it (at the store called Now And Again) and had to get it.
I'll find a place for it!!

 Two candlesticks and a vase. Of course, now that I'm done making valentine mailboxes , I find a black candlestick for $2. I do have a couple of unfinished mailboxes...which I may decorate for other seasons, so both of these candlesticks would make perfect mailbox bases. And the vase in the middle came decorated with wire, ribbon and beads - and will be a birthday present for a friend at work. I know the vase came from This N That, and the black candlestick came from Now And Again. I found the other candlestick at Goodwill.

I have plans for this picture stand - which include paint. It might end up on the wall in the kitchen with a cute folder in it for the mail. There's a new store in Buffalo called Treasures on 1st (I think).

This is a stand for hanging an ornament, and the little cup is glued to the saucer. So now I just have to figure out how to hang the cup and saucer on the stand so the cup doesn't tip.

Saturday Shopping

 On the first weekend of every month the occasional shops in Buffalo, MN open for the weekend. Most of these shops are antique/second hand shops - but everything is in excellent condition, reasonable priced, and arranged so wonderfully for the season. Most of the shops change up their merchandise every month or two, so there's always something new to see. These shops have become my favorite places. It's probably good that they're only open 4 days a month! The other place I shopped this week for deals was Michael's.
Here are a couple of my buys this month: (I was really thinking Spring)

 I bought these feathers on sale at Michael's. The cozy on the middle candle is actually for a coffee cup. A friend at work crocheted it, added a button, and gave it to me as a gift.

 I couldn't resist the bunny mama and baby from The Porch.

 I found this branch and ceramic pot at a shop called Now And Then. It was supposedly a Christmas decoration (A "partridge in a pear tree" thing) so it was 50% off - only $8. I had bought the little Easter eggs with the intention of finding a branch and spray painting white, then finding a pot to put it in, and hanging the eggs on it. This one I found was perfect. The work was all done except for adding the eggs. I am so excited!

I found these flowers at Michael's (on sale. of course!) and they're the perfect colors for my dining room. I got out my white pitcher this morning and arranged the flowers, but it didn't look quite right on the table. Something was missing. So when I went shopping today I was looking for a mirror or frame to put under the vase. Nothing was exactly what I was looking for until I found a milk glass plate. It fits the pitcher nicely, and I love the detail around the edges. And best of all - it was $4.
I'll post pictures of some of my other purchases later this week. Stay tuned  - and think "Spring!"

I'm decorating for fall - see what I've found!

I love, love, love shopping the occasional shops in Buffalo, MN. The shops do such a good job of having items that are appropriate for the season, and there are so  many new things every month. Their prices are reasonable too.

Here are a couple of the things I bought this month:

 Isn't this a cool lamp for at the cabin? I love the green glass shade and the curved stand.

This ceramic pumpkin is decorated with ribbon and jewels and is perfect for this space.

Remember the chairs I bought at the beginning of the summer?  I found this coffee table last Friday. The legs were white - but a can of spray paint works wonders. Doesn't it look great with my chairs? Now I just need an outdoor rug! The curb appeal is awesome. And can't you just picture my white pumpkin with it's monogram on that table? (Check back for an update - I'm working on that pumpkin!)

This cute little pumpkin was one of my purchases in Duluth lastweekendwhen I went shopping along Canal Park. The top comes  off and there's a candle inside. I just love the unconventional color.

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There wasn't enough light to take a picture of the fireplace mantel at the cabin, where there are a few more new things. Hopefully I'll be able to take pictures next weekend, and then I'll share them with you.

It's amazing how adding just a few new pieces reflects the changin season and makes me excited about my whole house.

Newest DIY Projects

I had a great, very crafty weekend. I have to apologize in advance for the lighting in my pictures - I didn't have much natural light - and I wanted to have pictures with this post.

Last week I visited this blog and I was inspired:
http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-stencil-splendor-giveaway.html

So I stopped at WalMart and picked up a couple of stretched canvases. I got two 8x10 canvases for $5.97. I also bought a couple of small bottles of paint and some stencil brushes.

On Friday we headed up to the cabin, and I brought everything along. The stencils were already up at the cabin so I had everything I needed to be crafty.

 On Saturday I painted and stenciled. When we came home Sunday I glued some ribbon to the edges to cover the staples, and here are the finished products:

I love them! I think these might have to be Christmas presents. What do you think?

I also started this..................................

The next step is to paint a monogram on the pumpkin. Stay tuned!

Chairs Finished!

I finally finished the cushion covers for the chairs on my front porch. Aren't they beautiful? The material complements the chairs, and adds a nice splash of color to the front porch.

Now I think I need to look for a small round table to go between the chairs, or an oval coffee table in front. I'm envisioningblack rattan legs with a glass top. What do you think?
In addition, I need an outdoor rug to finish off this outdoor room. I'll probably go to Ikea for the rug, and just keep my eyes open at garage sales and occasional sales for the table.

End Table Redo

Last spring I found this cute little table. It was painted pink, but I loved the shape so I bought it. The legs reminded me of oars, and I thought it would be perfect for the cabin.

After sanding it I gave it a good coat of primer. Then I painted it a light brown, and finished off the top be stenciling this pattern in the middle.

It looks great in our picnic house at the cabin!

Making Progress

This week I starting working on #4 from my DIY list - making cushion covers. Since I work full time, I only had a couple of evenings to sew, but I did finish one set of covers. I bought the chairs at a secondhand shop early this summer. I liked the shape and feel of them, but the fabric was musty smelling and not too exciting.

I am really happy with how the new fabric looks on the black frame. It has so much more character.

I have the fabric cut for the other set of cushions. I hope I can finish them next week - so we can enjoy them for a little while before the snow comes :)

DIY Project List

There are so many projects I want to complete this year. Some projects are fairly simple, and others are more complicated. Here's a bit of a list: (no particular order)


1) New work space in my craft room. I want to get rid of the desk and dresser and make a new craft table. I'd also like to have pegboard on one wall. Kind of like this:

I want to have more work space than this picture.

Craig and I talked about having an l-shaped counter: buying two 4-drawer cabintes for the ends, and a corner cabinet with a lazy susan in the corner. Maybe a space like this.....but I'd add pegboard like in the first picture.

2)Install board and batten in my downstairs bathroom. One of my inspiration pictures:

3) Gallery wall - at the cabin. I've seen so many examples on different blogs. Here's one:

This is from http://www.proverbs31girl.com/ and in this post she even tells how to do it. I think I will do mine on a wall in my bedroom to start with. (The stairway wall at the cabin right now just has sheetrock. It needs to be taped and painted before it would be ready for pictures.)

4) New cushion covers for the chairs on the front piorch. I have the fabric. I just need to sit down and sew the covers.

5) Magnetic calendar made from cookie sheet

6) Treasure Tray - Archiver's has many samples of these trays. Here's another sample I found:

I have the tray - so I just need to decide on a theme, and get going!

7) Many more small projects: frames, cards, scrapbooking, etc.



Most recent purchases

This past spring my daughter, Carrie, and I had lots of fun checking out the occasional sales in Buffalo wa well as several thrift stores in the area. We were looking for items that we could use in decorating, items that could be painted or spruced up in some way like things we were seeing on the DIY blogs we like to read.
Since Carrie has gone back to Guatemala I have continued this new hobby.
Here are some pictures of last month's purchases:

I haven't decided where to display this tray - it would look cute in my craft room, but it would also work well with the decorations in the office at the school where I work.

I fell in love with this little glass bottle. When I got it home I filled it with these colorful glass rocks.
It will have a prominent place at the cabin- with it's colors so like the woods and water there.

I also fell in love with this little lamp. I want to jazz up the shade a bit. Watch for more info about that in a future blog!

My husband had been asking me to find a hanging globe light similar to one our neighbors at the cabin have. I was so excited when I walked into The Porch, one of my favorite shops in Buffalo, and found this light.

Now I just have to do something about those ugly white plastic chairs! The light looks awesome at night, but my camera just won't take a good twilight picture.

You can be sure that next month I will be looking for a love seat or a couple of comfy chairs to replace the white ones. I will also be looking for a square table for the other side of this area. We call this our Picnic House. It have combination storm/screen windows on all four sides, and is only about 15 feet from the lake. My husband and I built it several years ago, but haven't had the time or the money to finish the inside yet. We love eating our meals down there, where the bugs can't get us and we can view the lake while we eat.  Here's where I want the table to go.

You can see that this old picnic table is just too big for the space. I think a square table that could be pushed up in the corner when it's just the two of us eating, or pulled out so people can sit on all four sides when we have company, would be better. The white chairs and my new lamp are just to the left of this picture.