Cabbage Curtains

Yes.... I did it! I actually sewed something that is worth sharing here......some grommet top cabbage cutrains!

I've wanted to update the curtains in the master bedroom for quite some time.  I finally found some cute fabric at Ikea... with a great price I might add :)  It wasn't until I got it home that I realized that the pattern was actually a cabbage design... haha!  I still like it anyway. The colors are great!

Every time I attempt to sew something it takes waaaaay longer than expected.  It's one of those things that I have to make many many mistakes with before I catch on.  These curtains are no exception.  I think I spent about 5 hours total because I couldn't get the right tension on my machine to get a nice even stitch with this thick upholstery fabric. Thank goodness for my handy seam ripper... haha!   At least I learned a lot about adjusting the tension. You live and learn right?

  

Photos of the Week

My photos for the week taken at Red Butte Gardens.....

I could visit this place every week, but we usually only go on the free days once or twice a year.  I just love being surrounded by all the beautiful plants.  I could take pictures of them all day!  And to think this is all possible in the desert!

A Look at my Sketchbook

Hanging outside on the back lawn today with my son, sketchbook, blanket, library books... and snacks.  I love the lazy days of summer :)

I forgot about these paint chips I had stashed in the back of my sketchbook.  They're fun to doodle on!

Two Birds

Two more bird paintings.....

Next to the elephant paintings, the birds are the most popular paintings in my Shop so far.  I'm really glad I got into painting them!

Messy Frames Tutorial

So....... usually I'm painting stuff to put in frames, but this time I played with painting the frames themselves!

This is such a simple and quick project.  Only two steps and you're done!

Materials:
picture frames- preferably white ones
acrylic craft paints
paint brush
water

Step 1:  Paint stripes or dots or whatever other design you like on your frames in multiple colors.  Let dry for a few minutes.  The more you let the paint dry, the harder it will be to rub back in the next step.

Step 2:  Holding the painted frame under running water in the sink, gently rub off some of the paint you just applied.  It's up to you how much paint you want to rub off.   Lay out to dry.

You're all done!  See.... I told you this a was a quick one!  All you have left to do is find the right stuff to fill your frames with.  I went for some old watercolors from my "mess-ups" pile.  Now I have some bright and cheery decor for my art room :)

A Look at my Sketchbook

 Playing with blog header designs.........

Which is your favorite?  I really like the colorful dots.  I may scan it and incorporate it into a heading sometime.  I also like the feathers, but the handwriting with them.... not so much.

 I also have a few pen drawings from a few months ago...

By the way, if any of you happen to see an offensive video game ad displayed in my sidebar,  I sincerely apologize.  I've reported it to Blogher and they are working on getting it blocked.  I've come across it a few times and it's awful.  So really, I'm sorry about that.  I opt out of the "nasty" ad categories as much as possible, but sometimes I can't control all of them.  Does anyone else have that problem?

I'm considering switching to running my own ads with Passionfruit Ads.  That way I can have total control over what is on my blog and only have ads that I agree with.  

The Influence of Summer

My latest watercolor illustrations........

I started out with the Chevron design in mind, but by the time I finished that, I had several other ideas.   So I kept painting..... and painting :)  I think the fact that it's summer time had a huge influence on these.  I can't keep myself away from bright colors!  

Photos of the Week

My hollyhocks are in full bloom......

The only problem I have with them is that they fall over so easily.  We had to stake them down.  But they are so pretty and kind of rare these days.  They are old fashioned flowers (at least around here) and that's part of the reason I like them so much :)

Summer Flower Pillow and another Free Crochet Pattern

I've been experimenting with my Summer Flower Motif Pattern and came up with a larger version to decorate a pillow with......

The first part of this pattern is identical to my last flower motif, but I added two extra rounds on the end. 

Large Flower Motif Pattern

                     

Materials:                     Any yarn of choice

                                      Any size crochet hook

                                      Darning needle

Abbreviations:          ch = chain

         sl st = slip stitch

                                      sc = single crochet

                                      hdc = half double crochet

                                      dc = double crochet

         st = stitch

         sts = stitches

Round 1: ch 12, sl st into first ch to form a ring.

Round 2: ch 1, work 18 sc into ring, sl st in first sc to join.

Round 3:  ch1, sc in same st as last sl st, *ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc, repeat from * around 8 more times, ending in ch 3, sl st in first sc.  (9 loops for petals)

Round 4: sl st into next ch 3 space, ch 1, work (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in same space for petal.  *(sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in next ch 3 space, repeat from * around 7 times (work in new color of yarn before the join, if desired), join with sl st in first sc. (9 petals)

Round 5:  *ch 6, skip next 4 sts, sc in next st (space between petals).  Repeat from * around 8 more times.   (9 petal loops)

Round 6:  sl st in next ch 6 space, ch 1, work (sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc) in same space for petal.  * (sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc) in next ch 6 space.  Repeat from * around 7 times,  (work in new color of yarn before the join, if desired) join with sl st in first sc. (9 petals)

Round 7:  *Ch 8, skip next 6 sts, sc in next st (space between petals).  Repeat from * around 8 more times.  (9 petal loops)

Round 8:  Sl st into next ch 8 space, ch 1, work (2sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc) into same space for petal.  *(2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc) into next ch 8 space.  Repeat from * around 7 times.  Join with sl st in first sc.  (9 petals)

Round 9:  *Ch 10, skip next 10 sts, sc in next st (space between petals), repeat from * around 8 more times.  (9 petal loops)

Round 10:  Sl st into next ch 10 space, ch 1, work (2sc, 2hdc, 8dc, 2hdc, 2sc) into same space for petal.  *(2sc, 2hdc, 8dc, 2hdc, 2sc) into next ch 10 space.  Repeat from * around 7 times.  Join with st st in first sc. (9 petals)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Crochet Flower Embroidery Hoops

I've discovered another use for crochet flowers...

This is such a girly way to decorate and I love it!  I have one room in the house that I can make as girly as I want and that is my art room, so that's where these crochet flower embroidery hoops will stay :)

Check out the tutorial to get started with making your own:

Materials:
Embroidery Hoops
Acrylic Craft Paint
Paint Brush
Fabric- enough to cover your embroidery hoops
Hot Glue Gun with Hot Glue Sticks
Crochet Flowers -I made my flowers from the patterns below:
Seven Petal Crochet Flower
Crochet Sea Pennies
Mini Crochet Flowers
Seven Petal Daisy
9 Petal Summer Flower Motif

Step 1:  Paint the outsides of the outer rings of the embroidery hoops with acrylic craft paint and let dry.

Step 2:  Cut out fabric to fit the embroidery hoops.  Cut the fabric large enough to fit inside the hoops and fold over the undersides.

Step 3:  Place the fabric on the inner hoop and place the outer hoop on top, screwing it tight to hold.  Then hot glue the edges to the inner hoop underneath.

Step 4:  Arrange crochet flowers on the front of the hoops and hot glue them in place. Pretty Simple!