Happiness

Sometimes when life seems overwhelmingly tough it is a good idea to take a minute and list off a few things that make you really happy. As February (the yuckiest month in my opinion) finally ends I thought I would take that precious minute and list five unique things that make me truly happy.

1. My husband. He's awesome.

2. My purple wall. When we moved in I thought one colorful wall in our living room would give the whole house a boost. I took the plunge and went with purple.

 I also made every pillow!

3. My dog. Her name is Cookie and she is a moose...well a pit/lab mix but she acts like a moose. 

4. My silk tie drawer. My friend Ann gave me a zillion silk neck ties that her mother had collected over the years. If you take a neck tie apart you get a solid piece of beautiful silk fabric that you can add to a sewing project. I have a whole drawer and they are beautiful!

so many colors and patterns!

5.  This blogging thing. I am not sure if it will amount to anything and I am not sure anyone is looking at this but it's a step in the right direction and I enjoy sharing my creativity.

What makes you happy??

Thanks for looking. Love, Ms. Kate

so many ideas!

I have been sick for a week! Of course sitting in bed trying to get better has left me with a million art project ideas. Plus the hours upon hours of reading crafty-type blogs hasn't helped.
Because I can't just sit in bed (I never sit still) I have been messing around with crazy quilting and I love how random you can be!! You don't have to think or plan you just pick out fabric you really like and GO FOR IT!!! While messing around with old silk ties and photo transfer fabric I made a tiny little purse....

 

Maybe it was all the Downton Abbey I was watching but I felt inspired. I had never made (or lined) a purse before and it turned out to be a lot of fun. This one isn't much bigger than a business card but now I am inspired and I am sure there are more "flapper bags" to come.

Close up!!!

I hate being sick but it was good to take the time and create. I was sipping tea, watching Downton Abbey and quietly quilting! It was a lot of fun. Thanks for looking. Love, Ms. Kate

decorating on a dime

Decorating one's home can be very addictive. I am constantly leafing through books and magazines for that perfect room that reflects my life and style. Our house is hippy/artistic meets summer cottage with a splash of chaos. While my husband would be fine if nothing matched and all of our books were stacked on the floor, I on the other hand, want our house to look a little less like a college dorm room.

Since only a teeny-weeny amount of our income can be spent on decorating I have become a very thrifty shopper!!
Flea Markets and garage sales are hit or miss but the best treasures I have found at places like Savers and Goodwill. Its all about seeing the potential in an object. Ask yourself "would a coat of paint make this awesome?" or  "how can I use this to make my home more beautiful?" Be realistic. Don't buy a chair with the idea that you will reupholster it. Upholstery is a HUGE project!! Also, don't take on too many projects at once. It is best to think about your priorities and face them one at a time.
Using your crafty knowledge, the Google machine and a little creativity can turn one man's trash into another man's treasure. HAVE FUN!!

Here is a project I tackled last weekend:

so simple!

We needed a second seating area in the living room. I had been keeping my eye out for something that didn't require complete reupholstery. Also, we have one wall in our living room that is a deep purple color so I needed something that wouldn't clash.
I went to Savers and lo and behold there was a wooden loveseat with awful, outdated, western seat cushions! I pulled the cushions off  and took a second look. It had potential! The loveseat was not priced so I asked (which can often work to your advantage) the nice employee at Savers said "ten dollars" so I snagged it! I had to go home and get my tools because it wouldn't fit in my car but after less than five minutes of taking the loveseat apart it was in my car!! I told Savers they could keep the cushions because I only wanted the base.

hand washed and drying in the sun

Next, I went to the textile section of Savers and looked at curtains. I picked out a set of curtains that matched my purple wall EXACTLY!! I also picked up a couple pillow cases and another curtain that was this amazing mustard damask. All for less then $3.99!!The most expensive thing I had to purchase was the foam for the cushion but I used a 30% coupon for Joann Fabrics and saved  $14.40
I found a tutorial for making bench covers at thecsiproject.com that had been posted by Pretty Handy Girl (thank you for sharing)

 It took a couple of hours, a few pin pricks and way too much reality TV but I made the cushion cover and matching pillows in one afternoon...and my dog loves it!!! Hope this inspires! Love, Ms. Kate

 sunny spot for a dog nap!