What to do with a pillow

that is pretty but not in your color

pallette. Well thats not completely true.

The white is starting to come into my home.

But the golden color is not. However

those cupids are so darling - I just cant

resist them. Hate to cover them. I have had this pillow

forever. Or at least it seems that way. Time for a change!

What to do. Thats easy enough. Just take

2 placemats. Yes I did said placemats & use them

to cover the pillow. These placemats were white on both

sides but one side had a little stain. The good thing about

using placemats is that - on the inside you dont have to worry

about the fabric fraying. Zoom in you can see the edges are

bound together. Be sure to leave a big enough opening!

Stuff that pillow in there anyway that

you can. See its in there.

Last - just sew it closed. Its a brand new

pillow.

Its a great lumbar pillow for the computer

chair. Ahhh it sure does feel good!

Looks pretty too.

I hope you start looking at those placemats a

little differently from now on. Another

thing that I would like to say is - I hope that

all of you that do Miniatures really consider using

SCRAPBOOK PAPER for those walls that need wallpaper.

Dollhouse wallpaper is about $15.00 a roll.

I only used 5 sheets of scrapbook paper

for the entire apartment. Each sheet was only 69 cents each.

Thats a great savings. And I like it that not everyone

has this in their dollhouse! And I applied it to the walls with

Mod Podge. Also think about these placemats.

Zoom in on this pillow - & you

will see a nice pattern. What about using it for

MATALASSE' bed covers for your miniature beds!

The pattern is just the right size. Now

if I could only find those other 2 white

placemats - then I could stitch them up for those

naked dollhouse beds!

Thank you for visiting me.

by Hopblogger

This week

I just happen to like the colors of black & white with touches of pink.

I love Toile & this project just uses those tiny scraps of samples that

I obtained at the fabric store. I only had 4 small samples to work with.

Sometimes you have to take a break from cross stitching & do

something fun & different - also quick & easy.

The top was enhanced with a strip of thin black leather. A Yo-Yo

with little pink beads is stitched on with white thread.

Inside another tiny Yo-Yo holds a covered magnet. Its beads

match the ones on the outside front lid. White flannel is

merely draped on the inside. It is not tacked down.

The basket is tiny only measuring 6in X 6in so the pieces

inside had to be small. The box houses a small scissors fob, a tiny

pincushion & a small needlebook that supports only a couple of

needles. Just cut those samples in half with a pair of pinking

shears - except for the needlebook. The back of each piece

mirrors the front with the black toile. Sew 3 sides together a little away

from the edges, then stuff, then sew the last side. On the scissors

fob be sure to use ribbon or floss for the hanger part. I used the thin

black leather strip as what is on the front of the box. The

little flowers are of pink fleece with a couple of pink beads inside each.

Lately I have been using flannel & fleece.

by Hopblogger

Take a cute

& simple white wicker LITTLE basket. Cut out cardboard

to match the shape & cover it with white cloth. This becomes the lid. Cut out

another shape

& set aside. Affix the already covered white shape to the basket with

lace. Just put the lace thru the sides and hot glue down or sew it down.

Take the other shape & pad it with a layer or two of high loft batting.

Center a special piece of fabric on top and glue it to the back of the

shape. Glue the lace on from the backside. When finished glue the piece

down onto the lid that you have already made. Add a bow on top for

decoration. You can stop here. The box in white is very

pretty. But I choose to take it a step further.

by Hopblogger

Occasionally, I like to make....

my own fabric. Have you ever tried it. If not, all you do is

take a large square of white or unbleached cotton sheet or muslin. The

size of the square is up to you. For me, I generally use a

17inches X 17inches. This gives me plenty of room to make my

items small or large. Sometimes there is plenty left over for other

projects. After my square is cut - just take strips of fabric skinny or

fat and sew each strip down upon the square until the square is no

longer visible. I use scraps of fabric from many things.

(also be sure to catch all seams so there isnt anything missed).

Then just cut it like its fabric! You cannot mess it up.

My little sewing set is small. The square of fabric was half used up.

Also notice that I didnt hem anything. It is scrappy & fun!

So quick & easy.

All of these scraps are from the 80's. The ties are skinny

pink shoelaces that was in a prior garment of long ago.

The color was too pretty to trash. About time that I used them.

Everything fits neatly inside the bag. Maybe I should have lined

the bag? - nah. This way if I must fix the bag in the future

all I have to do is to sew a patch on top & it would be easy to

sew from the inside.

Try it - you just might like it!

by Hopblogger

DO You Remember these....

Have you got any idea - of what to

do with a cloth TOILET ROLL HOLDER - especially a pretty one!

This one is made from Linen & has pretty ribbon embroidery.

The lace is a tatted cotton. I never used it as a toilet roll holder -

it has always been put away - still brand new. There are many

ways to fold this up - I show you picts of 2 ways - but it can

also be rolled up. Look at the next post to see what I did with it.

Mine is simple.

by Hopblogger

A Linen Needlebook

This is just one idea - of what to do with that toilet roll holder. It has many

uses and since I cannot cross stitch on linen (because of

my eyes) - this seemed to be a perfect idea. It didnt take long to make.

Be sure to click on photos. The 2cd picture shows the reverse side.

This was the first time that I have ever stitched a blanket stitch - so its

not perfect you guys. The place where you stuff the toilet

rolls is where you place your objects that you want to store.

It holds needles, pins, scissors, floss - lots of things!

Do you notice the ring is

still attached. The reason

for this is because you can still hang it up.

I closed mine with some old snaps but you could use

some pretty reasons, rick-rack or whatever you choose.

If you like this please refer others to this website. I hope that

you can get some ideas - would love to see some pics of yours.

Send me a picture & I will post it here - just bet that some of you

could really make this pretty!

by Hopblogger

My little wooden chest

was too scantily dressed. It needed a new makeover. The

colorful threads with their matching bobbins add much needed

color. There is a little plastic case across from the needlebook

that holds buttons. This little case was used to house film negatives.

For those of you that remember - whenever you took your film

in to get developed they would put the negatives inside these little

plastic cases with lids. If you can find them they come in handy -

are good for many uses - especially since noone uses them anymore

for negatives. They can hold needles, safety pins, and thimbles.

Use your imaginations.

by Hopblogger

It was time

to accessorize the little wooden sewing box. Lace is wrapped around

clothes pegs. The little walnut pincushions fit perfectly in one of the

sides. The needlebook also looks right at home. I took those needles

out of that needlebook & now it holds only safety pins. The needles were

put in the little wooden needlecase. My upholstery is not perfect - but I hope to

get better as I work more with the cardboard. When new

ideas come to my mind then things will change inside the little box.

by Hopblogger

CUT, GLUE & COVER

cardboard. Pad those drawers in those sewing chests. This little

chest measures 8 inches long, 5 inches wide & 5 inches tall. So cute

& little. Pics are little deceiving in noting the color of the little sewing

chest. It is a deep reddish brown. You might remember the red cotton

dishtowel from a previous project. I think that these wooden sewing

chests look very nice when you upholster them. Padding them gives an extra

added little personal touch.

by Hopblogger