Pillows, Pillows and More pillows.

Pillows, Pillows and more pillows!
Throw pillows. Changing up décor with the coming of summer! There are a thousand tutorials of how to make them and there is a good reason they are easy and inexpensive!
Finding good home décor fabric is not hard but it can be unpleasant-in that home décor fabrics are often more $$$ per yard.
There are a few ways I like to combat that (meaning the $$$ unpleasantness) and one of them of course is buying just enough to make a great throw pillow.
Seeing the pottery barn catalogs with shower curtains trimmed with pompoms got me thinking, because you see my kiddos LOVE pompoms, they are like the coolest toy ever! So I knew I had to use them in my décor and going with the logic seen above I decided a throw pillow was the perfect way to add that to my living rooms décor.
Step 1: Find a fabric you like-wash it-dry it-iron it.
I make all my pillows envelope style for two reasons: 1- I hate putting in zippers, and 2-the envelope style does not require zippers and is therefore less expensive (and faster).
Step 2: cut fabric.
Because the trim will go on the outside and we want a nice seam to follow, do not just cut one big rectangle, and cut three separate sizes. One square (the front) and two pieces to overlap in the back making an envelope.
Step 3: Now make a double hem on the two back pieces and iron in place before sewing. Then sew the hems. (you only have to trim the one side on each piece that will be left at the opening.)
Step 4: Next place all of the pieces right sides together and pin in place.
Sew together.
Step 5: Turn pillow inside out-we are almost finished. AT this point you really could be done but we aren’t yet. Because we want to use our trim! Now iron the outside of the pillow so that all the seams are crisp.

Step 6: Beginning in a corner place trim over edge of pillow and sew.
Now we just get to feel excited about having such a playful pillow on your couch!

Shower Curtain = pillow.

So the goal was to have a pillow close to this in appearance.

But there was a problem with that, its pathetic I won’t pretend it’s not, but I hate making button holes! I know pathetic! But it was the truth, enter shower curtain.

Shower curtains come with pre-made button holes. (They are actually the little holes for the shower curtain rod hooks, but let’s not fuss about that) so my problems were solved.

For these pillows I used a Ross store shower curtain that I got a few years ago. All shower curtain fabrics are different the one I found is very comfy fabric, I think in general they are pretty nice but sometimes the fabric can be rough or thin a wash in the machine and dryer can help soften them up.

So for this pillow I did use one big strip and then you just fold it (right sides together) and sew up the sides. 

Then I turned the pillow right side out and sewed on my buttons. The hardest part was going to Walmart to buy buttons-don't do that ladies unless you have to the selection was-to say the least- disappointing.

I also started making a lumbar pillow. but it is not yet finished.

So Basically yesterday was pillow making day.

Eat in Diner

I have always thought that phrase would be funny to hang in a kitchen. So I finally made a sign for myself. I just painted over a different sign I already had.

I painted the whole sign and then traced out letter by letter the phrase and filled it in with paint.

I used frog tape to help with the border I did around the edge.

When I was about finished I decided to free hand a few details to the border for fun.

Let the paint dry completely.

Sand gently and apply the stain taking off  as much as you can. You could also use a dark wax for this part.

Once the sign has dried it is ready to hang.

Did I ever talk about my dining area? I really like to collect colorful dishes even as I have my off white obsession. . My dishes are off white except my mismatched collection. I have a rule with colorful printed salad plates, I never by matching salad plates; it’s kind of a game I have. In the end they all coordinate because I choose pattern and solid colors. I usually only buy one at a time- the game is really about finding one salad plate I like in the Clarence section.  There is something about the mis-matched-ness of all the plates that says to me-yep I am fun and colorful!