Year of Projects Update Week 6

It's been a busy week and I had every intention

to post , because I didn't want to miss a week but it just didn't get done.I did attend a Sewing Expo and didn't come home with tons of new projects so that's a positive at least,

Most of my craft time for the week was taken up trying to decide on just the right border for the peach blossom. I tried at least 6 different borders before I just decided to go simple and do a scalloped edge with a picot. One thing I have decided is that if I do the Celtic lace join again, I won't do the chain five on the outside edge of the square. This is the "joining" round and for me It just left a space that was difficult to find the Just right border for. But having said that I'm happy with this one and as busy as this blanket is, it didn't need a lot more border..

I used the chain space and did four double crochet, chain three and then four more doubles with a slip stitch in the connecting chain from the prior round. It works out good and after all of the other options I think it is the best fit. Still a few ends to work in but over all I'm calling it a finish!




I managed to finish my pillow too! So now it's on to the next one, I hope to do at least two more and a cushion for my rocking chair out of this fabric or at least coordinating colors. The next two will be square since I have a couple of those forms already hanging around in the craft room, I've even started cutting out the triangles for the next pillow. Same fabric, different shapes, just to keep it interesting


I'm going through bags looking for a good travel project, since i will be out of town next weekend and I am not going to have a lot of down time but I need to keep the projects moving,

I feel pretty good about the amount of  fabric that I actually brought home when you see what I was faced with and this is only have of the expo! Lots of Beautiful Quilts, tons of fabric and accessories and machines. I enjoy attending and I was good this year. I bought two panels with a project in mind already for both and backing for one. Not too bad.

So my Year 9 progress is: 

615 yards Yarn in and 957 yards out.

I jelly roll in process in and 2 .25 yard Panels and 1 yard of fabric in.

Still basically on the positive side..as long as I finish up the fabric panels by the end of the year. since both are destined to be Christmas presents.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all of the other great projects in the Year of Projects Blog along.

Americana Rag Wreath DIY

Summer is almost here and while it is time for all kinds of celebrations it is also time for remembrances too. This Americana Rag Wreath is a great way to show off your Patriotism from your front door! It's simple, fun and brings lots of charm to all of your outside (or inside) get togethers this summer.

What you'll need:

1 14 Inch Foam Wreath

3/4 a yard of 6 different fabrics* (Mine were 44 inches wide) 

*You can pick more or less depending on your design groupings, but take into account how the colors and patterns look together. Complementary colors are best, I went with a Star theme and added a few stripes to give it more interest.

Start by cutting the fabric into 1.5 inch strips 14 inches long. Strips can be wider or longer, but this is the size that worked best for me. I liked the fullness of the longer strips, and a 1.5 of a inch width made a substantial knot. 

Once you have all of your strips cut you'll start tying them on to your wreath, by sliding the strips  under the wreath and tie on top using a double knot.  I alternated colors randomly and the location of the knots for aesthetic purposes as well as the way it "filled in" the wreath.

As you are tying the strips on, be sure to push them together so that it gives it a bunched appearance and ensures that the wreath is completely covered.

You can trim the lengths to make them more uniform or leave them as they are. I snipped a couple that were a bit out of hand..

The back is just as pretty as the front! 

You can see how I pushed  the strips them together for a fuller look. 

You could also add a short piece of ribbon or wire for hanging.

 This a great summer craft, it is even kid friendly. 

This would work for any season or holiday with a corresponding fabric.

Thanks for stopping by and I wish you and your's a very happy Memorial Day and a wonderful Summer full of Crafts and Sunshine.

If you love this idea but just don't have the time to make one for your home, This wreath or a version of it is available in my Etsy Shop, Farm2Ewe.

  

xylophone for chickens

Since you guys have been such good sports, and hung in there for all of these posts, I thought I would use X for something fun! We have chickens and they are pretty smart when they want to be. So we've been working with them, trying to teach them new things. They are seriously food oriented..so they are enjoying the process too. I've seen some videos about keeping chickens entertained when they are "cooped" up. We try to let them free range as much as possible but we can't always supervise them so they do spend more time that they care for in the runs.

So I give you a short video for your entertainment of my chickens using their upcycled Xylophone..lol

Thanks for taking this crazy A to Z journey with me and I hope that you hang around after also!

You never know what will pop up..lol 

Extra Vases and What to do with them

Vases, old, new, clear, colored, we all have a few hanging around. Mine are under my kitchen sink and laundry room sink and it's quite possible that there are a few in the barn. It's not that I have gotten so many flowers in my life time but but I've inherited some and some were left over from other projects and some have been filled with flowers. But what to do with them other than let them take up much needed space? I've done the research and I'm ready to share it with you, so pull them out and get ready to repurpose.

Most vases have a lot in common, they are glass and they are clear, they don't a have lot of personality going for them so they end up hidden away. One easy fix is to give them a little notoriety with some paint and some embellishments. Then you can group them and different sizes and styles work together because they have something in common, color!

I love everything about this idea from Vera Morae

Can you believe these were once just clear glass from the thrift store?

Madigan Made tells you exactly how she got this cobalt color 

Are your vases a little on the plain side? No worry you can add some interested with Twine.

  Teach Craft Love used A bit of twine and some hot glue for a interesting display 

Here's an interesting tutorial on decoupaging with Lace by Urban Comfort, that would be great for adding a bit of Shabby Chic to a plain vase

Not looking to add more items to your counter top, how about using those vases in your garden? 

Add a bowl and you've got instant whimsy for your garden. 

If these mushrooms aren't enough for you how about slipping a vase over those not so pretty solar lights to turn them real decor like they did at My Frugal Home. How pretty would this be at night?! And if you have different types or shapes all the better/

No matter what you do with them, there are lots of ideas out there that will fit your style and budget. I hope this helps to get those gears turning to help clear out some of that cabinet space that those old vases are taking up.

I can't believe we are in the home stretch of the A to Z Challenge and I'm going to finish this year. I hope you all have had as much fun as I have and if you've learned something along the way so much the better. W is for Windows and I've been collecting these ideas for a while, so be sure to come back tomorrow and see what all the fuss is about!

Rags for Rugs

Rag- noun A piece of old cloth, especially something torn  from a larger piece.

Sheets, clothing and towels all wear out over time, like everything else, but should they be doomed to the dump. To hang around forever at a landfill, taking up space, just for a worn spot or a hole? Of course not! They can find a new life in your home with just a bit of time and ingenuity .

Rag rugs can be sewn, braided, woven, crocheted or worked like a latch hook for a fluffier style. The patterns, shapes and styles are limited only by your imagination. I'll give you some ideas on each kind and then the rest is up to you as to what will find it's way into your home.

Sewn Rag Rugs- The majority of this sort of rug is done with strips of cloth, sewn together to make large strips that are then rolled or coiled in a circle and then the coils are stitched to the coil next to it. This produces a round or oval shaped rug and by design is very sturdy and colorful. When deciding on this style rug you can either coil the strips of fabric, which would give you a thinner rug or you could coil the fabric over either cotton piping or a rope, which would make the rug a bit studier.

The Ric Rac Blog has a great tutorial on sewn rugs, this one is done over a rope and doesn't require the strips to be sewn together before hand. 

Braided Rugs- This is the same concept as a sewn or coiled rug except in the fact that the rug strips are braided into a long strip and then coiled. This enables the rug to have a bit more texture and is can be used in a higher traffic area, since they are a heavier option.
Marissa from Little House Living shows how to create your own Braided Rag Rug with a great how to on a very sturdy non sewn join.



Woven Rugs also use the sewn strip method but instead of a continuous roll the strips are a certain length.  Longer strips will be placed in the loom for the length and then shorter stips will be woven in an under /over pattern to join the lengthwise strips together.  Due to the weaving process these will generally be rectangular in shape but can have various thicknesses and textures depending on the processes used. You don't always have to have a loom to make a woven rug, check out Laura's option on A Beautiful Mess. She has taken weaving to a new but simple level and ends up with a truly neat project you can recreate in your home.

via Abeautifulmess

Crochet or knitted rugs, just like it sounds, strips of fabric are crocheted or knitted just like you would yarn. This enables the rug to take on many shapes or patterns. Often used for more artful pieces.

Not what you typically think of when you think rag rug! Instructions for this version can be found on 

Meg Made With Love

She used sheets and gives all the details on how to create one yourself!

Latch hook fabric rugs are a lot like the latch hook kits so popular in years gone by. They use a backing and small strips of fabric which are left open on the top to give the rug a fluffy appearance. I would imagine this would be appropriate for a bedroom or a less traveled area but what a cute idea! As with all rag rugs the colors are very customizable.

 Jamie At Everyday Art created this rag rug for her daughters and has a very detailed and easy to follow instructions on her blog. These remind me of the shag carpet I had as a child! Ugg that might be giving away my age!

Rag rugs can be made out of most kinds of fabrics, sheets, or even denim. Don't have any extra scraps, shirts or jeans laying around? Check out goodwill, they normally have big bins of linens in all colors and at very good prices. You'll often put more time than money into a rag rug, but when you're keeping the materials out of the landfill that's a bonus.Then add the fact that you'll end up with a creation of your very own style, that makes it all worthwhile!

Thanks for playing along with me in the A to Z Challenge, there is a large group of very talented people who are also blogging the alphabet this month and you should check them out too. There are daily letter lists and the original list that can be stored by content or by theme. But whatever you do please be sure to check back tomorrow for my next installment, which includes a travel item being upcycled for your home.

Crafting with old quilts

My grandmother and I'd say all of the women in the family before her were avid quilters. Yes quilting is fun but they did it out of necessity. There wasn't a Target on every corner, but even if there had been my grandmother still wouldn't have gone.

People still quilt, quilts are still passed down but maybe they don't have the same meaning sewn into them as they once did. Like everything else a well loved quilt will get worn in spots or or worse become soiled and unable to be safely cleaned. That doesn't mean they still don't have a lot of use left in them. I personally have a chest of quilts made by my great grandmother and maybe even from before, that never see the light of day. My Grandmother, Elizabeth would be horrified, quilts are made to be used, they were after all mostly made from scraps from other sewing endeavors. So to honor those quilts beyond repair, personal or ones picked up at sales let's imagine ways to give them new lives.

We'll start with family quilts, the ones who have seen a bit too much of rough housing or who belonged to Children and were used a tug toys, camp forts or for naps in the grass. They are a part of their childhood and are often passed from kid to kid. Now they aren't in fit for the next generation, but not quite ready for the trash heap. How about making ornaments for each kid that loved that blanket? Something to talk about with the next generation and so the quilt doesn't really go away it gains a new following.

Jan  from JanMade used an old quilt to make Angels for her tree

How pretty is this and what a story it could tell. you could do other shapes as well, stars, barns, trees, hearts or any shape that fits your style. They make wonderful gifts for Christmas or any special occasion and everyone gets to take a tangible reminder of their special quilt.

If you have a larger quilt or one that you don't mind cutting into, stuffed animals are another option for gifting a quilt to numerous people. Bears, rabbits and even dolls can be made from old quilts.

via Stitch This

My personal favorite idea is one we saw while shopping in the North Carolina Mountains.

Aren't these the cutest sheep? I would think you could cut the shape out of wood and then wrap the quilt pieces and extra battling around it. The would make great decorations or even a foot stool. This idea has been hanging around for a while. I think it's time to get busy making some!

Thanks for visiting with me and my quilt ideas as I blog my way through the Alphabet with Blogging from A to Z. There are still  10 days left to go and I'm hoping you'll enjoy them as much as I am creating them. Thanks for stopping by and I'll see  you tomorrow with my R for Rags post.

Grab your Picture Frames

Picture frames of all sorts are a staple for yard sales and thrift stores. You see them in all shapes, sizes and materials but the questions is what could you do with them other than just reuse them as they are.
How about upcycling them into all kinds of different purposes, that have nothing to do with just framing your pictures.

You are used to seeing them on your wall but how about your door? Who said a wreath has to be round? Check out these ideas from simple and Classic to Big and Bold!

Under A Texas Sky has a great tutorial  for this Classic 

Or you can go all out like Celebrate and Decorate

I don't normally go for flash but this is really an awesome statement piece! 

I might have found a great idea for Mother's Day! 

Now to find a frame...

Don't need anything to add to your door? How about your patio or porch? Grab a handful of frames from the Dollar Store and get ready to create something original for just a couple of dollars.

Terrariums can get expensive quickly especially for the larger sizes. Country Living Gives you a easy and inexpensive alternative step by step to make this victorian style indoor greenhouse.

So instead of plants you need lighting? How about simple lanterns made from frames. I know I see these every time I go to Pier One, but who can afford those prices?!

Joan posted this tutorial at My repurposed life  and she shows how easy it is to change your decor with the seasons. Shiny Red Balls or how about a Christmas Scene. This would work inside or out. You could even leave the top open for real candles.

How about adding some interest to your ceiling for way less than a regular medallion.  

The Decorating Chica Used this old frame to liven up her Chandelier, and it's even better because it came from a family members home! 

Just see what Bonnie from Romance under the stars created with a frame and some molding. WOW!

So now from over the table to on the table, how about Trays from Frames?

A Lapin Life created this with a bit of paint and a transfer.. You could use a coordinated fabric to create a stunning addition to your table setting or Tea Time. 

These tiered trays are on my want to do list

via What Treasures Await

So are ya'll ready to take those pictures off of the wall and put them on the door, the ceiling and on the table, yet? Go you have another great idea for Picture Frames? Share with us so we can get on board too!

Thanks for following along with the A to Z Challenge this April and be sure to check back each day in April except for Sundays for a new letter as we blog the alphabet. I'll have more upcycled tips for  you tomorrow that go with Q!

Wishing you a very Creative Day!

What can you do with a Ladder?

That's right I'm talking about bringing something from outside to use inside and giving it a new life! Here are a couple of examples of ladders that I've picked up recently at different auctions.

This one needs a bit of repair but I think it's new life will be for blankets. I had thought about making shelving out of it but the changes that would have to be made would take away it's character.

 

I love the rusty hardware, I do have two sets of "hanging bars and a large Guide Runner"

Nope your not in the upsidedown, I didn't think about the fact that I would post it when I took the picture..lol

These are some very old mercantile ladders that we're taken out of a Dry Goods store in the area. They are easily early 1900's F. E. Myers & Bro's one is marked. Some minor early repairs. These are very tall, 15 feet at least! Two are for sale (if you're interested..lol) and one I'm trying decide just how to use it, book shelf, Library Ladder, Yarn store,  Hanging display, Loft ladder? The ideas go on and on. What would you do with them? 

Here are a few finished ideas now that you have the ladder bug too!

I originally thought I would do something like Liz did @ Lovegrowswild with mine but not quite the right shape..doesn't mean I'm not still on the look out for one that will work

Do you have a corner that needs sprucing up? Check out this idea from Freshmommyblog

I fell like this would be a great idea for the super long ladders I have but I hate to cut them!!

How about a room divider or a display This one does double duty.

Via Lizmarieblog

Even small ladders are getting on board (bad pun I know..)

Via Embrace the Adventure

It is Friday the 13th so if you are out hunting for ladders make sure you don't walk under any!

As we head into the weekend, I'll be finishing out the week with how to use an M item. All month I've been parting part of the A to Z Challenge by using the letter of the day to give you ideas on upcycling items you can find in your garage, yard sales or thrift stores. I started with Armoires then moved along the alphabet, this post marks half way, and will finish up on the 30th with a Z item. Be sure to check back often for more ideas! 

Reusing "K"itchen Cabinets in the A to Z Challenge

Are you planning a Kitchen remodel anytime soon? I know your're tired of those cabinets and they don't have to stay in the kitchen or even in one piece but don't throw them away! Remodeling not in your future or budget, never fear your local Habitat Restore often has cabinets and cabinet pieces you can pick up for a great price.

So you've remodeled and you decide an island would be a great idea but it's outside of your budget?
Just reuse some of the cabinets you are replacing!

At Charlotte's House took a used Cabinet and created this awesome Island. 

Don't need an island? How about some seating? Seating is always a need somewhere.

My Repurposed Life Recycled this Cabinet and with a couple of other recycled items she made a bench with storage. Storage another thing I'm always needing.  And it's not all just for small cabinets either, this larger upper cabinet makes a nice storage cabinet for a craft or kids room, or how about a  media center. The ideas are endless and cheap.

Sandpaperandglue.com

It's not all about the cabinets themselves, if you are just doing a quick update by replacing the doors, don't throw away the old ones, They can be reused by themselves. Our local Habitat sells doors for $3.00 to 5.00 each, if you aren't updating now. Use them to make a tray for breakfast in bed, shelving or a chalkboard to help organize all of those ideas you've seen during the A to Z Challenge! Both ideas don't take much money or much time and would be fun for a kids weekend project. Check these two ideas out and try them at your house this weekend!

                                                                  myrepurposedlife                                                             

 styleshabby.com  

And last but not least how about those drawers? Can't leave them out. Add some wheels an you have great underbed storage, ( I did mention I always need storage, right) or turn them into a cabinet like My Love to Create  for your special items. How cute is this?

    

So now we've found a use for lots of kitchen ideas or ideas for your kitchen,which ever way you want to look at it, but for tomorrow I'll be bringing an outside item in. Check back on Friday to see what it will be.

Thanks for following along with Blogging from A to Z this April, where were are using the alphabet in a whole new way! See you tomorrow!