simply sublime

Rope Bowls and More...

I've been busy crafting away as the lifestyle editor over at HGTV Magazine -- and wanted to share some fun summer projects from the new July/August issue (on newsstands now!)

(photo via HGTV Magazine/Marko Metzinger/Studio D) 

These bowls were super easy to whip up and to make them really shine we "dipped" them in neon paint -- they're perfect for holding jewelry, mail, etc.!  To get the full how-to instructions, check out HGTV's website.

And add a note of nautical nattiness to your decor with this cool knotted lamp -- made using thick cotton rope from Knot and Rope Supply.  

(photo via HGTV Magazine/Marko Metzinger/Studio D) 

I just love how this lamp turned out!  To learn how to make it, check out the tutorial at HGTV.com. 

States of Bliss

My lovely friend (and former Country Living colleague), Jourdan Crouch Fairchild, got married recently, and her incredible wedding was featured in the magazine.  I wanted to give Jourdan something special for the occasion -- so when she asked me to make the ring bearer pillow, I jumped at the chance!  

(John Dolan, via Country Living)

On one side of the pillow, I embroidered an outline of Jourdan's home state of Kentucky; on the other, I stitched the state of Washington for her groom, Andrew.  You can read more about her amazing wedding on Country Living's site.

Congratulations Jourdan!  I'm not sure I've ever seen a more beautiful bride!

Gingham Style!

Get happy with gingham!  To start the New Year off on a peppy note, be on the lookout for gingham inspiration:

Cool checked pitcher from Danish "At Home with Marieke", gingham fabric tape from Paper Source, cute "Carrot Gingham Backpack" from Urban Outfitters, Elsa gingham-print leather tote by Marc Jacobs, pretty checked cupcake liners from Sweet Estelle's Baking Supply, and Roxy's happy gingham flip flops.

 

Last-Minute Ornament Ideas

With Christmas just a few days away, I wanted to share some last-minute DIY ornament projects.  They appear in this week's issue of Parade Magazine, and I had so much fun making them -- hope you will too!

These colorful stars are made from striped cocktail napkins!  You won't believe how easy they are to whip up -- and they're a really fun way to use up stray, colorfully patterned napkins.  You can find the step-by-step instructions on Parade's website.

And these swirly ornaments may just blow your mind! They are actually made from marbleized balloons -- and take only a few minutes to create!  I have to admit -- I was pretty excited with how they turned out!

Check out the how-to's for these colorful ornaments here -- and if you're looking for a good source for the balloons, I found mine at Party City.  They're called "TIe Dyed" balloons, and I got a whole bag of 72 12" balloons for $7.99.  Here's on online source in case you can't find them at your local party store.

Wishing you a very happy, warm, and BRIGHT holiday!

 

Knuckle Tattoo Gloves

(photo via Country Living/Lara Robby/Studio D)

 Looking for a personalized gift idea?  Check out these embroidered gloves I made for the December issue of Country Living.  They're a riff on knuckle tattoos -- and the good news is, if you get tired of one "tattoo", you can just switch to another saying!  For instructions on how to make these, head over to Country Living's website.  And if you decide to tackle a pair, here are a few inside tricks:

- Print out your sayings on a piece of plain paper first, in a font you like, such as "Print Dashed". Your letters should be about 5/8" high. Next, cut out each individual letter and transfer it to the gloves.  (You can do this by covering the back of each letter with chalk using chalk pencils. Place the letter, chalk side down where you want it to go, so that the letter falls just below the knuckle (first joint) and above the second joint on each finger.  Place a few tongue depressors or cardboard strips inside the gloves, one finger at a time.  Trace over the outline of the letter using a sharp pencil.  Remove paper to reveal the transferred chalk outline. Repeat for each letter.)

- Embroider each letter using the stem stitch, and 6 strands of floss.  Place the tongue depressors or cardboard strips inside each finger as you go, to act as a barrier, and help you from sewing the front and back finger fabric together.  Knot each letter on the inside and trim any extra thread.

- This is a really good stem stitch tutorial in case you need an embroidery refresher.  

Borrow the sayings above, or personalize the gloves is countless ways with your own eight letter expressions.   

 

Country Living's Live Holiday Pinterest Party!

I'm really excited to be a part of a very cool event tonight hosted by Pinterest and Country Living.  The magazine has asked several New York City-based craft bloggers including Brett Bara from Manhattan Craft Room, Natalie Soud from A Dose of Delightful , Laura Fenton from Little House in the City,  Michelle Edgemont, and me to join them for their first ever Holiday Pinspiration Party.

Country Living's Pinterest followers voted on which projects each blogger will make and this is the final list:

Pinata ornaments
Jingle-bell wreath
My potato wheel wrapping paper
Pom-pom gift bows
Infused vodka

Tonight (December 4th), Country Living will be live-pinning the party from 5-8 pm ET on their Pinterest board, showing you step-by-step how each of us make our crafts. Then, they'll post all the projects on CountryLiving.com.

Make sure to check out the how-to photos, or feel free to pin one of your own DIY holiday projects to the magazine's Pinterest board. To get more details, check out Country Living's website.

P.s. If you make one of these projects, be sure to let me know, or Pin it and tag Country Living!

 

"Silk" Acorns

Before the ground is covered with snow, and your acorns are lost until Spring, gather up a few and make some colorful versions using pretty embroider floss.  

You'll need about one skein of thread per acorn.  I love the rainbow of hues embroidery thread comes in -- I usually get DMC Cotton Embroidery Floss, which they sell at Michael's and other craft stores for about 39 cents!  All you have to do is wind the thread into a ball, as if it were a tiny ball of yarn.

Now just pop off an acorn cap (use a craft knife, such as an X-acto knife, to separate the cap from the body if need be.)  Add a dab of hot glue to the ball at the thread's end, then attach the cap.  Squeeze the ball with your fingers to create an "acorn" shape.

These make cute present toppers and ornaments, or fill a small bowl with them to add a splash of color to a dresser or coffee table.

 

Horsey Draft Dodger

It's starting to get chilly, so this draft dodger pillow is just what you'll need to keep out the cold. It's inspired by a project in Dianna Rupp's super cute book, Embroider Everything Workshop.

(photo via Country Living/Burcu Avsar)

Dianna's book is filled with all sorts of adorable stitching projects, but I made this pillow sans embroidery for the November issue of Country Living.  The horses look like they've been silkscreened onto the linen fabric, but actually I just used iron-on transfers for DARK fabric. (Using transfers made especially for dark colored cloth is the key to creating these opaque designs.)  The complete how-to's can be found on Country Living's website along with several other projects that will keep you busy and warm.

No-Carve Pumpkins

I meant to get this post up a lot sooner...and certainly before Halloween!  But then the storm hit, and we lost power and internet (and ended up having Halloween in the dark.)  So, maybe this will spark an idea for next year or even for your Thanksgiving table!  A big thank you to Ladies' Home Journal for giving me the opportunity to whip up some funky "funkins" for their October issue.

I had so much fun coming up with these no-carve pumpkin ideas.  The image below is actually a "tattooed" pumpkin and is very easy to make.  (You know I love tattooing things...)

This chalkboard pumpkin is made using chalkboard spray paint and a skull image from one of my favorite sites, The Graphics Fairy.  

(images via Ladies' Home Journal/Jennifer Causey)

For instructions and supply information check out the full story on the Ladies' Home Journal website.  Halloween will be here again before you know it!

 

 

Farmers Market Inspiration

(Photos by Hannah Kahn)

We visited a great Farmers Market in Rhinebeck, NY this weekend.  Fall fruits, vegetables and other goodies were all on display!   The apples were especially crisp and delicious, and also the inspiration for this fun Fall project below:

You’ll just need two pieces of cardboard, notebook paper, an apple, and some paint to make your own Fall fruit notebook.  I sliced the apple in half to turn it into a “stamp” -- then used it to decorate one of the cardboard pieces.  I took everything to Staples and they put the whole thing together with the spiral for just a few dollars.  There are lots of fun food stamps (potatoes, sliced celery stalks, Brussels sprouts etc.) But of course an apple is very Fall, very Back-to-School, very Happy New Year!