Posts for category ‘Uncategorized’

I like to make good use of what I already have for the good of the environment and the budget.  This year I challenged myself and was determined not to buy any wrapping supplies but only to use what I already had.  Since I save every piece of ribbon, I had plenty to make the gifts look lovely.  We were going to be driving from Florida to Ohio and I wanted all the gifts to be in boxes for easy & safe transport.  I kept a few boxes that new shoes came in as well as check boxes and any other box that I thought would work.

After I packed each gift in the smallest box possible (many of them without tissue paper- I decided it was unnecessary), my husband did the wrapping.  I was then the finisher and decorator of each gift.  I made gift tags using the front of Christmas cards we received in years past, white business cards that were leftover from a work project, rubber stamps, fabric, tags I bought at the office supply store, and of course, leftover ribbon.

One of my favorite gifts this year is a yellow & white fabric wrapping containing handmade cards & stationary, with a tag made of a Christmas card front that has been circulating my family for years.

I should mention that my husband’s family birthday tradition generally involves gifts wrapped in pillowcases to avoid using wrapping paper.  Because her birthday is Christmas Eve, I always wrap my sister-in-law’s birthday gift in paper.  This year hers is wrapped in heart paper and the tag is from the front of a Christmas card she made & sent us a few years ago.

I enjoyed the challenge this year and will definitely be saving ribbon and cards this Christmas to use next year.

Knit fabric, snagged and running from the wrong needle being used.

I read this very detailed description of different types of needles on Sew Mama, Sew and I knew I needed to pass it along. I could honestly say that I knew about 40% of this information. But it just goes to show you how much there is to know about a craft. I have been sewing since I was in the single digits and I had never even heard some of these varieties of needles, but I have definitely had my share of broken needles, snapped threads, poor tension, skipped stitches and the cursing and sweating that follows.

I love old furnature. I love the detail, the solid frames, the unique designs. I don’t like the colors of the upholsery most of the time, though. I have recovered the cushions on a chair in the past and have been more than happy with the results, but I don’t know how to reupholster a chair or couch that has built-in cushions like these ones I found on AtticMag.

I love the contrast of the fabric and painted wood. I love the bold prints and contemporary colors. I have an old chair in our bedroom that has such ugly fabric we don’t care if we can see it at all. If I could figure out how to do this it might ultimately help me put all of our clothes away. I wouldn’t want to cover up a chair this beautful with a pile of shirts!