Too Cheap to Buy Frames Tutorial

Chalkboard is the new wallpaper! Last year’s Anthropologie Catalog has inspired many! Anthropologie displayed their bedding  surrounded by chalkboard-painted walls and floors with hand-drawn accessories: frames, rugs, furniture, lamps, etc. Since then, I’ve noticed hand-drawn picture frames all over the blog-o-sphere, and the new West Elm Catalog has run with the theme as well. Here’s [...]

On stupidity and burning fleece on the iron…

I’m sure we’ve all done it… At least, I tell myself that so I don’t feel as stupid… Taken a freakin’ hot iron to fabric that can’t take the heat. Wimpy fusible fleece… As soon as I pulled the iron away, strings of glue and wispy white threads followed my movements off the board to [...]

Spanish Paella

My husband was born and raised in the Basque region of Spain. We recently visited his family and were reminded of the little Spanish store here in Seattle. The Spanish Table is a fun treat for Stephen when he wants “home-cooking”. They have sausages, cheese, imported cans of $12 white asparagus (gulp!) and olives, wine, [...]

Scrap Door Snake

More uses for my great-aunt’s quilt scraps! My garage door is off the kitchen. It has a large gaping crack that allows a cold draft to freeze my feet in the winter! Of course, the home store has better, more permanent solutions, but this was a chance to use up some vintage scraps! To make [...]

Pizza Caprese!

Time: 3 hours (20 minutes pizza prep, 2 hours rise, 20 minutes bake) Ingredients: Crust: 1/2 package active yeast, 1 tsp sugar, 1 1/2 cups  flour, salt, olive oil Sauce: 1 8oz can tomato sauce, 3/4 cup basil leaves, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 3 cloves garlic Toppings: Sliced Roma [...]

Cutting a Silhouette

A super-easy project and super-cute! I will be pairing mine with Martha Stewart’s family tree fan chart. Take a Picture Take a picture of your subject with a bright background. I used a window. Clean up your Picture I imported the picture to photoshop, changed the color to grayscale and increased the contrast to darken [...]

Quilted Patchwork Wine Bag Tutorial

Giving a great bottle of wine? Wrap it up in a great wine cozy. Your friends will know there is something special inside! Cutting out Lining: Cut  one piece 12.5 inches x 15.5 inches and one 4 inch circle. Batting (I used felt):  Cut  one piece 12.5 inches x 15.5 inches, and one 4 inch [...]