Blue Jars, Bottle Brush Trees & Old Cars

These cute bottle brush trees in mason jars are everywhere in blog land!  I had to jump in and assemble a few for myself!  

My trees started out too green.  I sprayed a little Heirloom White spray paint on them and now they look like they've been lightly dusted with snow.

You can use fake snow for the snow, I used sugar.  Then place your little trees inside the jars.

I love vintage cars.  I didn't want to spend $$$ on a replica car.  I was thrilled when I found this one in the ornament section of Target for only $3!

I bought these smaller trees at Michael's in a package for about $1.  Use wire cutters to snip off the base.  Then place in your truck!

 I love it!!!  Makes me feel happy inside when I look at this nostalgic scene!

Charming & Thankful Holiday Table Quilt Tutorial

 I can't believe it's November 14th already!  I am sharing my tutorial for my Thankful Table Quilt over on the Therm O Web Blog today.  It's a fun little project using just 1 charm pack and the word "Thankful" appliquéd.  It sews up really quick! I just love these fall colors!  The charm pack I used is Posh Pumpkins by Moda.

Deer Friends, Christmas Deer Throw Pillow Tutorials

Do you like my new chairs?  I just ordered them from Amazon and they came in 2 days!  It was totally risky of me to just push a button and have chairs sent to my house, sight unseen!  But, I LOVE them!  They are exactly what I wanted and they are even comfortable!!!  The whole reason to buy new chairs is to sew new pillows, right?  I am obsessed with deer!  Deer throw pillows my chairs do need (a little Yoda verbiage!)

My friend and I got together and the children played and we sewed!!  An entire herd of deer throw pillows!

Here's how to make the appliqué deer pillow: My pillow form is a 20" square down pillow.  Down is a bit "squishy" so the pillows have a more casual feel. 

Appliqué Pattern, download HERE.  Print 2 of these and reverse one of the images.  The image is on 2 pages because it is larger than a piece of paper.

Print out the pattern and tape it together.  Trace the pattern onto Heat n Bond Lite fusible appliqué.  I used a wool blend fabric for the gray deer.  You can use any type of fabric.

Cut the chevron fabric 21"

Iron the deer to the center of the fabric and stitch around the deer.

I wanted a bit of an accent on the back of the pillow, so I put the zipper on the back with a decorative flap over the zipper....sounds hard but is super easy!!

To make the flap, cut your accent fabric 5" x 20" and press in half lengthwise.  

Cut your back pieces 4.5"x20" and 16"x20.

Lay them out like this with your zipper placed as so (NOT invisible zipper)

I promise I ironed my pieces!!

Layer the top piece of the pillow back, the folded flap, and the zipper so all the raw edges align, like this:

Using your zipper foot, sew along the zipper.  For the other side with out the flap, sew the backing fabric to the zipper just as you would normally sew in a zipper.  Press the flap down to cover the zipper - super easy!!! Pin the pillow front and back with right sides together.  Make sure to open zipper so you can turn it.  Sew a generous 1/4" seam around the entire pillow!

I couldn't just have 2 deer pillows - I needed more.  This one is super quick!  It is for a 18" pillow.

Cut the center deer fabric 10 1/2" x 19"

Cut the aqua snowflake fabric (2) 4 1/4" x 19"

Sew them in this order using 1/4" seams

 I had this pretty light gray lace I top-stitched over the seams.  Now, cut the back of your pillow 19" square and finish as desired.  I put an invisible zipper in the bottom.

Deer pillow #3 - this fabric doesn't exactly have deer on it, but it has antlers atop the Cuckoo clocks!  And it's teal!!!  Another quick pillow!!  This pillow form is 20" but it is pretty floppy, so I decided to cut my pillow cover at 20" so it would fit better.

Cut the teal print 15" x 20"

Cut the gray dot 5 1/2" x 20"

Sew using 1/4" seams

Cut the back piece 20" square.

Top stitch lace along seam.  Finish as desired - again another invisible zipper - those things are totally AWESOME!!!

Here are my friend's cute deer pillows - she used a bolder chevron and a brown deer on an 18" firm pillow.

I am so loving the zipper flap!

Sewing deer pillows makes me happy :)

O Come Let Us Adore Him Printable

I am thinking about getting ready for Christmas!  I made this printable to put in my living room.  I thought I would share it!!  I think the Christmas decoration boxes are coming down on Tuesday!  I can't believe how fast the time goes by!!

Click HERE for the PDF

Click HERE for the PNG

Outdoor Table Re-Do

My friend gave me her mother's kitchen table.  It's not your average kitchen table.....It's HUGE and ROUND!!!  I think the table originally cost $$$$.  It was in bad shape when I got it.  The mom had caught a floral arrangement on fire and burned part of the table.  Then she cleaned it with some harsh cleaner and it reacted with the finish, turning it into a sticky mess!  Of course we'll take the table!!!

I didn't get a good before picture - but this is it after hubby took it apart.  I just love power tools!!!  We plained it down pretty good - it took the burn mark right.  Then finished with light sanding to get it really smooth.  I didn't bother sanding the base - it is getting paint!

Meet my new favorite stain - Rust-Oleum's "Driftwood".  That's exactly what it looks like!  It's perfect for this project because it will be living outside!

That's me!!  Of course I do all my DIY projects in tie-dye!!

We took out the rotten fake wood inlays and prepared the surface for tile!!

And here it is with super cute 1" tiles.  It makes me think of the ocean!!  Don't you love the Lazy Suzan on top!  My kids LOVE this - we've never had one before!

I sealed it with Rust-Oleum's Ultimate Spar Varnish.  It has maximum weather protection!!

I love that it can seat 10 people comfortably!

I couldn't resist painting the base a bright turquoise color!  Spray paint, of course!!

It's pretty bright, but the outdoors can handle it!!

 

I love how it turned out - it's totally me!!

Time to Vote

It's time to vote for your favorite quilts in the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side!  There are so many AMAZING quilts!!! To vote for my daughter, Ella's, Fish Throw Quilt, click HERE.  She is #68. If you want to vote for my baby quilt, click HERE.  I am # 80.

Thanks so much :)