Simple Pull-Through Scarf

Just a fun little sewing project I came across for a cute outfit accessory!

 

source

 

Materials Needed:

• 1/4 yard of 60" wide soft lightweight fabric with drape – we suggest challis, silk types and charmeuse
• Yardstick
• Fabric pen or pencil
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Iron
• Hand sewing needle
• 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" slide buckle

Instructions:

1. Straighten out cut edge if necessary. Measure and mark a line 7" from the cut edge, running along the width of the fabric. Cut along this line and trim off selvages.
2. With RIGHT sides of fabric facing each other, fold fabric in half widthwise, with cut long edges even and forming a long tube. Pin along long edges.
3. Stitch long edge in a 1/2" seam. Trim corners.
4. Pin one short end closed and stitch in a 1/2" seam. Trim off remaining corner.
5. Turn the tube RIGHT side out through remaining opening in scarf, poking corners out gently as far as they will go.
6. Fold the ends of the opening to the INSIDE 1/2" and pin in place. Slip stitch opening closed with hand sewing needle and matching thread.
7. Press scarf flat. To wear, pull both ends of scarf through slide buckle (as shown in photo above).

Copyright for the pattern above belongs exclusively to Simplicity/Simplicity Creative Group.

A Small Sewing Project

My son's room is, unfortunately, a rather small room. Every bit of wall space is very important for the placement of even just his basic bedroom furniture. With such a compact room, it literally escapes me as to why the builder would have put a closet door that opens out into the room. (A pocket door would have actually been a great solution!)

I decided that his room would actually be much more functional without that closet door. In it's place, I have been hanging a variety of kid-friendly shower curtains simply by placing a suspension rod across the top of the door frame.

However, now that Charlie is going to be 15, I thought it was time to place something a bit more long-term and mature in the opening. Since my son is an outdoor, country kid at heart, I wanted some practical, earth tone colors to give a little update to his room decor.

I searched and searched until finally, at Target, I found just the right look I'd had in mind. And, it was also on clearance! I ended up getting 2 beautiful, 100% cotton curtain panels that were originally $20 each, for just $9 a piece! (I used the other panel for the curtain for his window.) All that needed to be done was a little hemming, and I was good to go. :)

So I pulled out my trusty Dressmaker space saver 100 sewing machine that I've had for over 20 years, and got to work. I forgot how fun and enjoyable a simple sewing project can be! ....I must get back into sewing.... Anyways, here are some pictures of the project.

Ziva needed to help Mommy with trying to plug in the cord. :)

The curtain panel laid out with the new hem to be sewn.

Old faithful, ready to go!

A picture of my cute sewing essentials container. Each section unscrews from the other.

The top of curtain with the suspension rod across the width of the opening.

The nicely finished new hem.

The complete finished look.

 I love the cream, tan, maroon and olive green colors of the curtain! It matches so nicely with his bedspread and a new throw blanket we gave him for Christmas. 

Not only am I very pleased with the new look, but Charlie is quite happy about the change as well. Now to frame some of those deer pictures he wanted me to hang on his walls!

Even A Small Cabinet Helps

Lately we've been battling a bit of extra "stuff" on the kitchen counters. Since my counter space is limited, I need to make the most of it, where I have it! So, I did some figuring and measuring, and decided that there was a small area at the end of the coffee pot counter where a narrow, upright storage cabinet would most likely fit. This prompted an enjoyable trip to the local home improvement store where we were able to purchase a cabinet to meet our needs. (It was the last one they had in stock!)

It would just require figuring out a new place for the display shelf currently occupying that space. Hmm....

Ah! Here is where I could relocate my display shelf, with just a bit of rearranging.

The nearly bare corner actually looks cozy now!

Once home, Dean got right to work putting together our cabinet. The only bad thing was there were only 2 color choices to pick from - white and dark brown. I had hoped they would've had oak, but I settled for white as it at least matched the counter tops. I was on standby to assist, and take pictures, of course! :)

Checkers stopped by during the process for some attention and loving from Dean.

Once all the pegs were in place, each panel of the cupboard was secured into another, and screwed together.

The manufacturer now provides a neat little gadget that helps to hold those tiny nails for securing the back board to the cabinet. How clever!

Once the nail has been tapped in to stand securely, you remove the gadget and finish hammering the nail in.

The final job - screwing the door hinges in place, then hanging the door on the cabinet!

Completed and in place ~ what a beautiful fit. I love how Dean's suggestion of cabinet top accessories really finished off the look!

Look at all that extra space! My heart was so happy with such a little addition that made a huge difference. To date, we have neatly filled all of the shelves and the installation of this cabinet has been a complete success!

  

~ ♥ ~

Don't you just love a simple home improvement project?

Easy Homemade Holiday Wreath

Not only was this wreath very simple and fun to do, but relatively inexpensive to make! And I will have several winter months to enjoy its lighted beauty.....

Start with a grapevine wreath that can be purchased at any craft or even dollar stores.....

Purchase some craft ribbon....mine has the thin wire at the edges, but this kind isn't necessary. Any kind will do! And these were purchased on clearance.....

Use one 35 - 50 count light strand of clear or colored lights. I like the simple beauty of the clear bulbs...

Find a bunch of twist ties....these come in any size of regular, non-ziplock kitchen baggies boxes....

Lay the light strand on top of the wreath if your strand is a shorter one. Wrap it in and around the wreath if your strand is longer. (Longer strands are nice if you want more glow of the lights!) Use the twist ties to secure the lights in place.

Choose some garland - tinsel, evergreen type or the wire pine garland - at least 6 ft. long as you will need to wrap it around and around the wreath! If you'd prefer to see some of the woody grapevine, a shorter garland would be better....

Here is my wreath wrapped in a wire pine garland which I happened to have extra in my Christmas bins!

Select some tree ornaments, pine cones, berry sprigs.....whatever your heart desires to decorate your wreath! I love these shiny globe ornaments we had left over this year.

Wrap your ribbon around the wreath, securing the ribbon ends somewhere on the back side. To secure the ornaments, I used the very thin, green ornament hooks. They were easy to twist around for securing the ornaments, and blended in nicely with the green of my garland! A thin craft wire would be just fine, too.

Cut a length of ribbon and make it  into a loop to secure at the top back of your wreath for hanging. Plug in your lights and enjoy the beauty of your own, simply made holiday wreath!!

Simple Fireplace Mantel

Our fireplace was built with nothing but a wood frame around it, and was sadly lacking a mantel! So, my father came up with a great idea of using a wide piece of molding for one. I stained it to match the existing wood frame, and polyurethaned it for long lasting durability and a slight shine.

The wide molding - stained and polyurethaned, then secured into place as a mantel.

A head on view that shows the mantel looking like a perfect fit!

We added some teacup hooks at evenly spaced intervals under the mantle for displaying holiday decorations, stockings, etc.

I removed the two end leaf plate decorations since they were clashing with the tall wall pictures. That made a nice difference. I just love the coziness the fireplace adds to our living room now!

~ Many thanks to my father for his expert help with this project ~

Repurposed / Redesigned Fireplace

Over the winter, I decided to display lights and candles in my fireplace, which I could enjoy everyday, rather than a fire of which we've lit very few and far between lately. The candles gave a warm, cozy glow when lit; and when they weren't lit, the lights livened and brightened things up in true Christmas spirit. But......it's way past that time now, and I've been itching for a more natural, green and earthy change!

Here's what the fireplace looked like before:

(Ugh! Really in need of a facelift!)

I set about clearing everything out ~

Which sparked the interest of my curious critters.

These lights are all mine, Mom!

 Then I moved in some plants that I potted in simple containers.

(Not sure if I'm going to keep the little mirrors in for helping to reflect the light in the back.)

The plants are variegated vinca vine, lobelia and asparagus fern.

And here is the finished look, which I am very pleased with. My daughter said, "It looks so lush now, Mom!" I agree. When you walk into the room, your eyes are drawn right to the fireplace for how simply clean, green and lovely it is.

I chose some spike dracaena to accent the hearth, along with these lovely framed nature photographs from my sweet step-daughter. It's amazing how a change which was relatively simple and inexpensive, can bring about such a different feeling to the entire room! 

Isn't it such a nice change, too?