{day 3. pin cushion with vintage gauze trim}

So I know that I have been going crazy with this {inky vintage gauze trim} but I just can't get enough of it. Today I used it as a shabby ruffled trim on a pin cushion I fashioned from a few scraps of muslin.

That tiny cream colored flower is from my vintage findings collection. I use them sparingly as they are so hard to find anymore. This one was part of a tiny "boquet" that still had the stems in tact. I just sewed over the stem a few times to adhere to the front panel of my pin cushion.

 Remember that hand dyed vintage seam binding that I used on that tiny package?

That is the creamy blue trim used to make the tiny rosettes...

I love this paper flower...it was stamped with letters in a really cool circus style font.

 I have been really great about using up what I have on hand lately, so I filled my pin cushion with some leftover "beads" that we needed for a school project. They are most often used to stuff fabric dolls.

Since the muslin is a very think fabric, the beads worked better than the traditional "sand".

No leakage once you have a few pin holes in your fabric.

 Another perk to using the beads, is that the pin cushion will stand quite easily too...

 Of course, the vintage style pins don't hurt either!

 I love the look of the free form stitching, so I just zig zag back and forth over anything I am stitching numerous times...this way it looks random and sweet at the same time.

 See how I stitched the stem? Just a few lines back and forth to tack it down.

 The same with the paper flower...{isn't that dyed gauze trim just yummy?}

 I have made more than a few pin cushions and I like to leave one whole side unstitched to fill it...this way I can hand stitch the last side to look gathered, or ruffled. I love this look. Makes me think of a vintage sack filled with some yummy textile.

 This little project only took about 40 minutes, including gathering supplies. I always take a bit of time laying my design out, so it could go quicker depending on how involved you make your front panel.

If you decide to make a pin cushion with your vintage hand dyed trim I would love to see a photograph of it when it is complete!

Happy Sewing!

{day 2 vintage gauze trim equals super sweet packaging}

I love the packaging of gifts. I could wrap things all day...I get great {JOY} each time I make a special little something and then {WRAP} it all up beautifully! It is almost like getting {TWO PRESENTS IN ONE} when you receive a  gift in precious wrappings.

My new inky gauze vintage trim makes for such a lovely finishing touch on a package. I love the way it looks so time worn and loved.  

This simple brown kraft gift box looks sweet with a piece of dyed vintage seam binding (coming soon to the 723 etsy shoppe) and a vintage lace rosette. Add lovely vintage hat pin and it is a gift worth beholding.

Whether it is a gift, a beautiful piece of mail art, or a simple vase you want to dress up, this vintage style trim adds just the right touch. A double wrap of  this dreamy {CORNFLOWER BLUE} gauzy ribbon looks beautiful on a simple brown paper wrapped gift. Add a few vintage stick pins and a vintage tag and it is simply lovely.

Sometimes, we just need a little bit of lovely to perk up an old item.

I love the way this plain silver vase was transformed into a timeworn center piece with just a small length of vintage inky gauze trim. I added a simple crystal star stick pin to give it a finishing touch.

Wouldn't these be lovely little centerpieces for a garden tea party?

tutorial: gauze rosette earrings

A yummy new batch of inky vintage gauze trim just hit the etsy shop shelves and I couldn't wait to share this {SWEET & SIMPLE} earring tutorial with you all.

These charming little rosette studs are easy and quick. You will want to make a dozen pairs! They only took me a half hour to complete, including gathering my supplies...so grab some {VINTAGE TRIM HERE} before it is all gone!

First, gather your supplies. Don't worry about having each item in the photograph...as long as you have the inky vintage trim you can use anything you love or have on hand to embellish your rosette...you will need:

 *scissors
 *glue gun or strong adhesive of your   choice
 *silicone pad for creating a circle of hot glue
  * two earring posts and two backs
  * something you would like to use to cut out your leaves from.(this can be cardstock, fabric, canvas, or anything else that will give you a good leafy texture) I used a leftover prima leaf I had on hand.
  *small hole punch (size will depend on how large you create your rosette)
 OPTIONAL: tweezers, string or yarn, rhinestones, buttons, etc.

 

For my rosette earrings, I cut two 6 inch lengths of {plum pudding inky vintage trim}

and tied a small knot in the end of each piece. Trim end of knots. 

 Next, using your silicone glue gun pad, create a small circle of hot glue. 

 Make sure it is pretty thick. Squeezing gently with constant light pressure works best. 

 

Place your knot in the center of the glue and let it set for 10-20 seconds. This just helps the glue gel a little bit.

Now start GENTLY twisting and wrapping your inky gauze trim around the center know, patting it in close to the trim it is wrapped around. You want a nice tight rosette when you are finished. Continue wrapping until your trim has covered your entire glue dot and then trim with scissors. Press flat gently and peel SLOWLY off of the mat. Tack end of trim to back side of rosette.

Now take your fabric or cardstock or leaf material and cut four small leaf shapes. These DO NOT have to be perfect. Flowers in the wild are not perfect and this gives your earrings character. 

Choose two leaves and layer them until you have your desired effect. Glue them together.

Set your leaves aside and go back to your rosette. Use whatever embellishment you like here (or none if you like...the pair I wear has NO BLING or anything, just SWEET AND SIMPLE!) and add it to your rosette's center. I used some inky dyed string for my center (coming soon to etsy shop) to give my center a little nesty look. Just twist and twirl the string until you have the shape you want and tack down with a dot of hot glue. Then I added a small rhinestone with a dot of hot glue.

Now take some old leftover cardstock or thin cardboard. ( I used some recycled packaging from my rhinestones ) Punch two circles and adhere one to the back of each earring. This will help disguise all of your layers of glue and leaves and flower.

Now take your earring post and clue that to the center of your cardstock. Let dry for a few minutes or until hot glue has completely cooled.

Your beautiful {INKY VINTAGE GAUZE TRIM} has been transformed into a darling pair of rosette earrings.

Vintage BreadBox

 When I found this really cool old breadbox many years ago I fell in love with it. It was metal and junky and perfect. I cleaned it all up and have used it forever now, in my kitchen...I finally decided it needed a new look. I didn't want to paint the entire box as I adore the old metal finish, so I just gave the gold "pane" on the front a mini overhaul. Cotton Knit paint and some cool lettering is all it took to make it look fresh and beautiful. Enjoy!

Dreamy Dresser Redo

...another redo...this time a dresser. I loved it's original layout of seven drawers - three on top and four on the bottom...it was appealing to the eye ( I love things in odd numbers ). Suddenly something that was classic in appearance, turned dreamy! I loved the "cracked pepper" top against the "cotton knit" bottom. 

Sanding this piece was a must as it had a pretty glossy finish on it. A palm sander was necessary for this step as the piece was so big in size. Then a coat of primer, two coats of paint. Some minor sanding for this piece, nothing too distressed to take away from the classic look, and a wonderful coat of wax and final buffing.

The original hardware was so awesome that I was sure to use it again, once the piece was complete...and the drawers were already lined with this amazingly cool vintage paper that coordinated with the dresser colors perfectly. The before and after photos are amazing. Take a look at the wonderfully Dreamy Dresser Redo!
Linked to Frugal Friday - Check out all the other fabulous DIY ideas!

Super Sweet Nightstand Makeover

...this awesome thrift store find is transformed into a beautiful shabby, vintage nightstand.

When my friend Sandi asked me to do this piece for her I was a little nervous. I never know just how much "distressing" some people will like...but the more I worked on it, the more it came into it's own. The scroll work on the drawer and the turned feet are just perfect. Two coats of "cotton knit" paint , a super lot of sanding, then more sanding on top of that...lastly, a thick coat of natural wax and a good buffing. Simply Sweet. I am linking this to Metamorphosis Monday, so check out this and other great inspiration here:

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS SHOW THE SIMPLE BUT BEAUTIFUL TRANSFORMATION!

Wire Frame - Before & After

When my friend Sandi asked me to "make this frame pretty" I knew just what to do with it. I recently gave a similar vintage frame an adorable makeover. With some shabby white paint and alot of sanding the frame itself is transformed...but it was still just a frame...so I removed the backing, print and glass and replaced these with rabbit wire. Once this was tacked in place I added vintage ledger paper (thank you my sweet friend Roben-Marie over at http://www.robenmariesmith.com/ for passing along these treasured goodies to me!) to the back edges of the frame giving it a final vintage touch. Now Sandi can use it as a vintage chic magnetic board or even hang her favorite baubles from it! Enjoy!

Pretty Vintage Frame Gets a Makeover

When I found this vintage frame I fell in love with it. It had beautiful scroll work and a lovely oval shape, but it was a yucky gold color. After a nice shabby coat of white paint and good sanding it looked amazing. I took the back off of the frame and removed the glass, added some rabbit wire and now it is a wonderful magnetic board. I also use it to hang things from, earring & hairclips, pins.I love, love it! I plan on doing a small collection of them, all shapes and sizes, that will hang near one another. I will try to post photos of that when the time comes. Enjoy!

Bedroom Beauty Continued

Remember the vintage plates that I wanted to replace in the Master Bedroom?

...Well I did hang the piece of ironworks this weekend, but it didn't quite fill the available space as I had hoped...I still like the simplicity of it though...The piece itself is just so pretty! I also made myself a shabby hooked heart pillow and replaced the rosette satin pillow for a time!

Bedroom Beauty

I have been wanting to change these vintage white plates that hang over my bed for a long time...I love them, I just love change more! I found a beautiful scrolled piece of iron work in Wisconsin last year and I have decided to hang it place of the plates. I think it will make a pretty pediment to the headboard. I struggle with the furniture as it is so dark, but to date, I have not had to heart to paint it white...since my husband shares this room and loves the dark furniture I have to make allowances for his happiness too! I will post photographs when I hang the ironwork!