Makeover Monday: 5/16

I had a special request last week for a large chair pad in shades of ivory and peachy pinks.

~*~

These were the final fabric selections; two vintage sheets and a plain ivory cotton.

~*~

Here is the finished product; 18 inches across and bursting with ivory pinky peachness!  It will be used for a heavy antique oak desk chair in a recently redecorated office space.  If you look closely you can see my special new touch- the ivory stitching around the edge.  I like the way it balances the colors and lends a very *finished* appearance. 

~*~

Happy, happy Monday!  I'm way behind on listing new things in both of my shops, so that is my main goal for this week outside of mommyhood and housewifery.  What do you have in store for the next few days?

Shabby Baby Blue

I realized I didn't have very much baby blue happening in sosorosey, so I had to fix that STAT!  This little bucket is 7" wide by 3.5" high.  She sports a little removable matching side bow for a burst of charm.  Besides this blue, I discovered another color that I am missing in the shop- care to guess what it is?  Look for it on Makeover Monday 4/11.  Until then- have a super fantastic weekend :)

Makeover Monday: 12/13

A very talented Etsy friend and repeat customer, Deb of Keepsake Blossoms, has an exciting new venture she is preparing for. She'll be selling her beautiful clay flowers at her own kiosk in her new hometown. She came to me looking for a basket tray to display some of her wares. She wanted shabby chic, but needed color since most of the blooms this will contain will be white. I dove into my stash and found this gorgeous Waverly flannel sheet that would be perfect for the job!

~*~

The result looks like a garden itself! The pinks and greens and touches of red really flow together in a gorgeous way. I'd love to see a photo of this full of Deb's amazing handiwork.

~*~

Happy Monday! This is Sophie's last week of school before the holidays, and she even gets out early on the 17th! Wha???? Her Christmas program at school is today, and I'm excited to see her all dressed up and singing her little heart out. I'll be sending off the last of the family holiday packages today, and crocheting stars as fast as my fingers can crank them out. This will be one of those beyond busy weeks for me... how about you? Wishing us all lots of luck getting done what we need to get done- and enjoying the spirit of the season in the process!

Shabby Shelf Project

A kind customer from Colorado recently sent me this photo of her bookcase project. She purchased some vintage wallpaper from sosovintage, and transformed her plain jane shelf unit into a shabby chic stunner. Well done, Jackie!! Thanks so much for sharing :)

Makeover Part 2

Oval bowl: check! Making the bowl before the rug helped me firm up my plans for optimum fabric sequence. I also have a better grip on the best strip width for each of these materials. I'll be back with rug progress in a week or so!

Makeover Monday: 5/31

Remember this fabric from the hand dyed rose brooch awhile back?

~*~

I loved it so much that I decided to make some *everyday* stars from it. As far as I'm concerned, each day should be a celebration of shabby cottage style :)

Oh The Places They'll Go

While I was digging around searching for fabric for the Monday Makeover basket, I came across this beautiful vintage floral fitted sheet. Last night, I curled up on the couch and enjoyed every last minute of creating this ruffled bowl. I'd love to see it in a vintage inspired nursery or anywhere in a chippy little beach cottage. It's fun to have grand dreams for my goodies :)

Makeover Monday: 2/8

Five gorgeous cotton fabrics equal ...


... four phenomenal shabby chic chair pads!

Makeover Monday: 1/25

Last week was a little bit stressful for me. I had some major PMS, a customer I couldn't please, a to-do list a mile long that seemed to grow longer with each passing day. You know those weeks. So, for today's makeover, I pulled out a pillowcase that I knew would soothe my frazzled self!

~*~

Whenever there is discord and strife, there are always roses. Soft, pink, flannel Waverly roses- to be exact!

~*~

This fabric didn't want to be anything but a coaster. And guess what? I have the entire queen sized set!! Do you know what that means? Yep... I'm thinking rug. Want to get me moving on it? Just send me a message and say, "I want that rug!!!"

~*~

Happy, happy Monday... May your week be bright and sunny

(and rosey and pink)!

Makeover Monday: 11/16

I started with a gorgeous king size Ralph Lauren cotton sheet...
~*~
...and I am almost finished with mezzaluna number 2. I love the way this one has a neutral effect with a burst of festive shabby chic-ness. I plan to try to have one of these half moon rugs in my shop at all times. I'm taking suggestions about what the next color should be. Any thoughts?

Friday's Find: a day late!

With all of the hoopla surrounding the craft event, I neglected to share my new favorite find with you on Friday! So, here she is, better late than never.

~*~
Is this the epitome of shabby chic entertaining or what? A vintage porcelain menu board with 8 matching porcelain placecards.
~*~

I love this so much that I almost want to keep it and have a dinner party, just to get to use it. I am so not the dinner party hostessing type, though, so I'm going to let someone else snatch this up and covet it with cottage glee. I think maybe Martha *needs* this!

Makeover Monday: 7/13

~*~

I found this beautiful 100% cotton Ralph Lauren bedsheet at the thrift store the other day. I washed her up and have been gazing at her, trying to decide what special purpose she could serve. The background is such a shabby chic vintage mint color, and those roses, mmmmm.

~*~
I cut her into 4 equal pieces, and am using a large hook to crochet each piece into a round like this one. These will be the beginning of my new project...care to guess what I have in mind?? Come on, play along...leave your guess in the comments. I'll be back tonight to tell you what I am making!

Shabby Chic Glass Buttons

Oh, just look at what came in the mail for me this week!! Can you believe the intricacy and the colors of these lampwork glass buttons??

~*~
The amazing talent behind these creations is Lynn of Brilynn Beads. I am already planning an ultra feminine bag design that I hope will be a fitting backdrop for these beauties! Stay tuned.

~*~

You must have some of these for yourself right this very minute?

Go right HERE to visit Lynn's shop. Tell her I said hello!

Voila!

Surely you know what it is now!

Yes, an upcycled envelope clutch!

~*~

You can check out more photos right HERE!

To order one of your very own, just send me a message!

Hmmmm....

One of my all time favorite things in the world is having a super friendly and enthusiastic new customer write to ask me if I can make something special for them. I always hold my breath a little as we go back and forth ironing out the details; then the challenge of creating something completely new to me sweeps me off my feet...and I kind of hyperventilate with joy!

~*~

I had such a happening this week with a wonderfully exuberant fellow Etsy seller from Cyprus. The large time difference and two different first languages didn't hold us back, we had such fun getting to know each other and deciding on fabrics.

~*~

I'm thrilled that the *shabby chic* look is not limited to my country or continent! This is a sneakity peekity of what I am making for the fabulous Maria. Can you guess what it is?

Makeover Monday 5/11

I love, love, love the unique and beautiful texture created by, and embodied in, fabric crochet. Take a relatively "plain" pink cotton sheet, for example...

...cut it up, and voila!, a shabby chic pencil pot for your cottage office! The dimension and interest of the pink sheet is FAR from plain now, isn't it??

A tip about fabric crochet: to get a better feel for how a fabric will look once worked up, be sure to look at the front AND back of the fabric. This pink sheet, for example, is much lighter on the back, making the overall effect even more mottled and heavily textured.

~*~

On a different note, I have been out of the blog loop for a few days...lots going on around here for the Mother's Day weekend. So, how are you? What's new, and what have I missed? Fill me in by leaving a comment, please!

Seeing Stars

Nope, not a Brangelina sighting. The stars I'm seeing are the more magical, 5 pointed variety!

I was recently asked to make organic star appliques for a boy snuggle set. Upon investigating and trying out different patterns, I hit on one that I really liked. After I finished the ones for the photographer, I got out some of my favorite shabby chic roses fabric and proceeded to whip up an upcycled star!

Now, I know I have a special attraction for the star shape. I have collected them for a few years (I know, me with a collection? Shocker!!), and have my favorites hung as the border around my upstairs powder room. It is so whimsical and fun, it nevers fails to delight!

My question, though, is this...Might other people like stars as much as I do? Should I add these to my shop? As singles, or sets of 3? They are large, about 8" in diameter, but very lightweight. The cost would be $8 for one. Your thoughts are VERY welcome...please consider leaving a comment with your opinion :)