Making Pillow Covers

My latest craft projects have been pillow covers. Adapted from this tutorial from the Seasoned Homemaker blog, I made one for myself with eyeglasses and an upcycled (and freshly washed) Ikea curtain. 

Bitchin. 

On an applique high, I intended to make pillows as gifts for upcoming birthdays. I made this "sue" pillow for my aunt. 

Can't steal her pillow (unless your name is also Sue). 

I attempted an elephant applique design for my cousin, Beth, but failed miserably. Instead, I did ruffles. I kind of make up the ruffle design, but I think it looks super. 

"This is the best gift I have ever received in my life." 

Ruffle pillow in action. 

I am home. 

Life on the Walls

I (carefully) ripped apart a 1937 issue of Life magazine I bought for $3. An issue about colleges and college life, the photos were too fun not to hang on the wall. 

 Magazine cover

 Two of the sillier photos.

This article was about the Widener Library at Harvard.

 Text reads: Tennis, Golf and Automobiles are Dear to the Undergraduate.

Ladies butts: watching a horse race. 

Holiday Craftin': feather wreath, wine totes, chef's hat

Check out this glamorous bitch:

My strategy for the holiday doo-dad clip: while the glue gun is heating, grab as many Dollar Tree items as possible.

And these wine totes for folks who really like to get into the spirit while getting into (wine and) spirits:

And a chef's hat for B's goddaughter because 2-yr-olds should learn to cook! 

Holiday Cards

Batman! Bat and hat pieces are cut from cardstock. 
Inside reads: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A DARK KNIGHT! 

Kinda generic (but pretty!) holiday messages. White dots done by hand with gel ink. The right side looks a little pink in the photo, but it's red. 

Silly Mad Libs card: 

                                         front                                                              inside 


Silly Santa card: 

                                          front                                                              inside 

Aprons for Dana

I made these three aprons for my pal Dana to give to three little ladies, ages 1.5 - 3. Each is reversible and super cute. 

 Cupcakes, front/back

 Pink circles on navy, front/back

Aqua polka dots and red (which I have lovingly dubbed this the "I Love Lucy"), front/back

  

 the whole gang

Oh look! Matching hair bows! 

New Paint

No curtains + sunny day = poorly lit before photos: 

 I don't regret you, green. But it's time to go. 

After:

 Panoramic view!

 I have two too-tiny lamps (on the left side of the sofa) but Brendan has one of these super nice lamps (on the right side). Is it weird to have two end tables but only one with a lamp? Maybe if I move one so they aren't flanking the sofa? I can look for a match of Brendan's lamp, but it's  3+ years old (and never used! It still had the plastic around it!).  

Dining room wall:

 The left is "gateway gray" from Sherwin Williams and the right is "wool skein." In daylight light, they seem similar, but at night, the gray wall seems significantly darker. 

 Same thing here: the left side is "wool skein" but the right is "silvermist." 

TV wall:

The chair fabric (Waverly's Solar Flair in lilac/onyx) was the inspiration for the colors. Thank you, chair fabric! 

Hooray, new paint!