Category Archives: Crafts + DIY

Proud as a Peacock :: Super Cool Needlepoint Kits

Crafts + DIY,

Let me tell you about my friend, Susan. Susan is amazing. We used to live in matching apartments in S.F.–one above the other–when we were giddy slips of women. She would throw and still does throw these amazing parties with such easy and laughter. And we would always call each afterwards or I would more than likely march on up to her flat in my nightgown and we would gossip about everyone who attended for hours on end.

She’s a divine cook using recipes from her mother and grandmother and updating them with fun little bits. For example, Monday night she made her grandmother’s no fail chocolate mousse and topped it with lemon salt. So damn good. And I haven’t even gotten to her great design sense or wonderful fashion style or any of the many things that are so wonderfully Susan–you can check it all out on her great blog, Living MacTavish.  But I will tell you she loves a good needlepoint. In fact her mother used to sell needlepoint kits.

So, when she posted these gems on her site, I had to share them with you, too! They are Emily Peacock needle points kits.  And I MUST get this one.

Or maybe one of these…

And I think this is too wonderful for words.

I will be thinking happy thoughts… about how I can get my hands on all of these wonderful needlepoint kits. Might make me break away from my bargello madness I’ve been doing for awhile… Hmm… We’ll see. Although I just like the idea of doing any of these kits with Susan gabbing about last night’s party sipping on a nice whiskey drink as we chat.

The Besty of Etsy :: Fantastic Toys!

Crafts + DIY, Etsy Love

I’m kinda crushing on Fantastic Toys something FIERCE.

Have you seen the cute papery overload that is Fantastic Toys?  How cute you ask? Like sewing machine and iron cute.

Timothy Hauden, the mastermind behind Fantastic Toys sums it up best saying his creations, “bring out the antsy pants feeling of being a kid in a toy store! Whether it may be just a smile or squeals of delight, they make people happy. Inspired by Japanese crafts my kawaii (Japanese for super cute) soft toys are my spin of the indie plush craze.”

I think it would be great to print out a couple and save them for a rainy day this summer. I’m sure a kiddo could spend a couple of hours playing with these beautiful toys. They do involve some help as far as putting them together, but think of it as a great exercise for your older kids to put them together.

Here are my top five reasons for loving this brand:

1) All of the PDFs are under $5.00—talk about affordable!

2) You can buy, download and print it all in less than 10 minutes. Talk about immediate satisfaction!

3) Accidentally rip? Print it out again!

4) Can be taken apart and stored in a folder. Talk about space saving!

5) If your kiddo outgrows it, just pop the paper in your recycling bin.

Truly, they are fantastic toys!

10 great crafty vintage sheets ideas

Best of Dottie, Crafts + DIY

Image via: In Color Order

I have such a love of vintage sheets–as do many many other people!  And with good reason.  The patterns are so joyous and perfect for the sweet spring going into summer weather. And they bring back such wonderful memories as a child of good nights  nuzzling those colorful sheets. But why should these wonderful floral sheets only be appreciated when you are asleep? That’s why I love all of the great ways crafty people are incorporating vintage floral sheets into their sewing.

I wanted to share with you my top ten crafty vintage sheet projects that I’ve been storing on my Pinterest boards that I find worthy enough to take a pair of scissors to my beloved collection of vintage sheets  I’ve been hoarding over the past few years.

There are many grand little banners that one can make with vintage sheets, but my favorite is this pretty little bow banner made by crafting queen, Rachel Denbow. I bow down at her crafty and cutely shod feet.

This amazing little apron can be made in ten minutes with a vintage pillowcase. Whoohoo!!! Tutorial from Betz White.

These lovely little bags are perfect for sachets or for giving little presents! From Vintage Sheets.

I think this might be one of my favorite ways to use vintage napkins. What great idea and what a great easy Christmas present too!  Image from Flickr user Sparkle Candace.

Are these not the most adorable things you’ve ever seen?  Just think how many sweet little blocks you could make with a whole sheet! Another amazing gift idea. From Spearmint Baby.

Staying on the baby train for one more stop—would you look at these sweet little bibbity boppity bibs?  They’ll make you even more excited to feed your widdle one. From Crafty Blossom.

How can you not want to wear this skirt?  Perfect for summer and so much less work than a whole dress! Lisa Clarke from Polka Dot Cottage created this gem and has a great tutorial so you can make it too!!! I’d kinda like to see it in a striped sheet!

I love this idea of using vintage sheets to cover shelves adding a nice bit of cozy to any room! So charming.And you don’t even need a sewing machine.

Who says your Christmas stocking should be red and green?  Wouldn’t you rather have this happy frilly little fellow? I’m sure Santa would remember it out of all the other ones! Image from flickr user marywasadj.

There are so many marvelous vintage sheet quilts out there and delicious interpretations that I almost get dizzy thinking of all of the great ways one can use vintage sheets in quilts. Image from Little Miss Shabby.

Do you have a stash of vintage sheets? What are your plans for them?

Valentine’s Day:: a scarf for my sweetie!

Crafts + DIY, Real Life : Dottie

I love my guy.  I don’t often chat about him here, but please know that he is the heart of so many posts and has been an amazing support to me and this blog.  He is the best darn tootin’ guy I know and I’m head over heels for him.

And when he found his favorite pair of vintage wool trousers riddled with moth holes, he was heartbroken. And one of his sweaters too! Pathos!

But unbeknownst to him, I ferreted them out of the garbage and decided to turn two wrongs into a right! That beautiful gray brown pinstriped with a touch of red fabric and wooly sweater still had more life in them yet.

While he was tinkering with a friend’s vintage car, I cut everything up and with a bit of thread and a whole lot of love, I created this jaunty scarf that will keep him warm and still allow him to wear his favorite trousers too!

Fortunately, he loves scarves as much as I do, so I knew he would love it.  Almost as much as I love him.

Here are the deets on how to make your own. I used one of his scarves as a guide for how wide and how long it should be. I recommend you do that as well…

And I gotta say, I like the way it looks on my sweetie!  Here’s hoping your guy or gal likes your version just as much!

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! May your day be full of pretty flowers and yummy chocolate!

DIY Valentine’s Day Cards

Crafts + DIY

I love Valentine’s Day!  I remember buying the pack of 20 cards with little animals asking my friends to be my Valentine in the most puntastic way! (Imagine a picture of a cute pear with the saying, “we make a great pear”.

But as an adult my heart really swoons over a handmade card.  As an R.A. in college I used to take out my watercolor paints and paint artful lines on a piece of watercolor paper and cut it into hearts to give to my students.

And right now, the blogosphere is a flurry of darling handmade valentines, so I thought I would share my favorites with you!

A LITTLE STAMP GOES A LONG WAY

That Elsie amazes me. Something so sweet and simple can give such a big kapow, like this darling stamp tutorial! J’adore!

 

XO WATERCOLOR WONDERS

I like to think of this as a smarter, more charming version of what I did in college. Of course the clever Courtney Khail is behind this genius tutorial

 

BITS OF PAINT MAKE BIG BEAUTY

DesignMom, the finder of all things awesome on the Internets hipped me to this lovely home-made Valentine from Mer Mag.  DesignMom actually has a slew of amazing home-made Valentine’s ideas that are certainly worth checking out!

 

ORIGAMI HEART CUTENESS

Just grab a piece of paper from the printer and you are a few folds away from this beauty. From the marvelous mind of Eat Drink Chic.

 

IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME, BUT DO HAVE A PRINTER.

I think it is totally OK to print some cuteness out–like these great cup holders. Swoon! ModgePodge Rocks has as sweet list of 20 different printable Valentine’s that won’t take more time than it takes to  hit the print button on your computer. Hurrah! Hey, you used your hands to push the print button, so kinda handmade, right?

 

AND JUST BECAUSE…

 

I couldn’t NOT include the old ones with random things made punny and sweet. Like these eggs. And yup. You can download this and other goodies here on Vintage Holiday Crafts.   Because you and I do make a great pear!