Oh Dear!

I know I promised that the last post would be the end, but I can see that I've concerned a lot of you with my discretion,  so I wanted to put your mind at ease, and assure you that we are all ok. I'm so sorry, I didn't even think about how that might have frightened you! Thank you so much for your concern. I can only say that life just isn't currently allowing for me to blog, and I'm sorry about the vagueness. (And suddenness! Life is like that sometimes.)

I'm also so touched by all your comments, emails and well-wishes, which I'm going to print out and make a little "happy book" out of now :o) Who knows. Maybe when or if life changes, I'll be back. Although I'm not entirely sure if it would be appropriate for me to do that. I wouldn't want to toy with your emotions! :o/

Thank you again, guys. :o)
-Dis

The End :o)

I just wanted to let you all know....that I won't be posting here anymore.
Ugh.
It makes me feel sick to even type those words. It has been such a joy to spend each day interacting with you all, reading your comments and emails, and thinking of you and your reactions ever time I plan a craft or take a photo. I know it sounds corny and like I have no life, but I really honestly do love you guys. You've been my friends when I haven't had real ones.

I'm trying to be a big girl about it...all good things must come to an end, right? But the truth is-I am completely heartbroken.


I'll go ahead and leave the blog up in cyberspace so that you can come back and look through the archives for older tutorials if you need them later.

Thank you for everything.

Take care :o)

-Disney

P.S. I guess I lied about never crying. :o)

The "Lauren" Headband Tutorial!

*squeal* I'm excited about this one!!

Meet the latest product of my imagination: the "Lauren" headband! Named after a certain favorite designer of mine that also likes to use classy leather pieces here and there.

I love a girly, cutesy headband to hold back my forehead fringe. But sometimes the occasion (or outfit) calls for a little more simplicity and grown-upness.

The only thing more exciting than how easy this is, is how cheap it is!!

The version Paige is wearing was made from this old $.50 cosmetic case from the thrift store. Nice! You probably have something lying around the house that you could use!

To make it:

(adult sized measurements)

1. Cut two 15"x 3/4" strips from an old purse, cosmetic case, or whatever. It doesn't have to be real leather, in fact, the taupe version that I'm wearing is naugahyde vinyl, I believe. (From my stash, believe it or not!)

2. Start folding into two loops, a larger in back, and smaller in front, and mirror for the other side.

3. Put a dot of glue between layers. You'll need a nice, strong E6000 type of glue, as leather probably won't hold hot glue very well.

4. Glue a 2"x1/2" strip around the middle and then glue it to the headband wherever you'd like, holding it all together with a clothespin (or by setting a book on it) until the glue dries.

5. Cut small slits about 1/4" from the bottom of each side of your headband, just large enough to slide your elastic (approx. 7") through.

6. Stitch your elastic together with a zigzag, trim the excess, and you're done!

(Toddler measurements are: two 13"x1/2" strips, with 1/34"x3/8" strip around middle of bow. 6" elastic)

If you're wondering where I found the beige elastic, I just threw the elastic pieces in a small pot of boiled water with 6 tea bags for about ten minutes! Easy!

Simple and elegant.

I love it!

P.S. Thanks so much for the encouraging response to the last post! My heart is gushing!! I re-read your comments all day long  :o)


Small Update: I forgot to add the little tip that if you have trouble with headbands slipping off all the time, you can try gluing a little strip of velcro (the harder side), rubber band, or shelving liner to the underside. It sounds a little wonky, but it makes a world of difference!

"Gardens at Dusk" Tank Tutorial!

I love this tank refashion, because it's almost like having sleeves! I always feel a little exposed in sleeveless shirts.

Tutorial:

*This version was made using muslin, but it turned out a bit poofy in my opinion. I would love to see it with something a little more flow-ey. Chiffon? A gauzy cotton? A lightweight knit even! The ruffles would drape over the shoulder a little more easily and be very elegant!

Ok! :o)

1. Measure your neckline.
2. Cut double your measurement in  8" and 5" sections. For example, my neckline was 36", so I cut one 70"x8" strip, and one 70"x5" strip. (If you want to hem them, go for it! I left mine unhemmed so they will fray a little)
3. Lay the smaller strip on top of the wider strip and zigzag along the flush edges, through both layers of fabric. (This is optional-it just finishes off the underside) Then sew a gathering stitch slightly inwards from the zigzag.
4. Ruffle, and pin to the neckline. (Please note: the strips are upside-down in the photo, the smaller ruffle should be facing toward the table-oops!) Starting in the middle of the back, sew on with a zigzag stitch. When you get all the way around, sew the two ends together and snip off the excess.

To make the flowers:

5. Cut seven 2"x22 strips and ruffle them, then roll into flower shapes.
6. Figure out your flower placement (you may want to try the shirt on for this), and pin them on, gathering the ruffles up slightly underneath them.
7. Sew them (to the ruffles only, not the shirt) in a spiral pattern, which will flatten the roses out as you go. If you want to, you can sew the flower to the shirt in a couple of places to anchor the top down. Just not too much, or your shirt won't stretch out properly!

All done!

Enjoy your pretty (and more modest!) tank!

Bombs Bursting in Air

I have a tutorial that should be up tomorrow morning, but to hold you off, I thought I'd share a few photos of our festivities last evening!

A few of us went over to a church member's house to have a back yard picnic and watch fireworks. She lived right across the lake from the city fireworks show, so we had an excellent view!

View from her back yard: Nice!

She had gorgeous landscaping, and tons of beautiful, fragrant roses. I told her we would be moving in soon...

Paige spent the evening running around with one of her best friends. I didn't have a single shot of her in focus, which, as far as I'm concerned, is exactly how it should be.  :o)

And of course, the fireworks were beautiful! 

The teenagers took out the canoe to get even closer. (Oh to be brave and reckless again!) One of them donned a George Washington hat, and I couldn't help snapping a few photos of them out there. 

And what's a fireworks show without a field fire? (Or two in our case!) Luckily no one was hurt :o)

I hope my fellow US residents enjoyed their Fourth of July as well!
Until tomorrow!

-Disney

My Bedroom.

First of all: thank you so much for all the birthday wishes from everyone! I read every single comment and email, and each one was so wonderful. It was great getting to know some of you a little better, too!

Do you ever have house-envy?

Sometimes it feels like everyone around me has all the money in the world to fix up their homes.

On the other hand, it thrills me to pieces when I am able to use creativity rather than the VISA to make something beautiful!

With that in mind, I thought I would share the one room that I have officially finished (ha!) decorating. And I have to say, I am pretty proud of myself! Everything I used was on-hand except a $6 mirror, and a $.10 tin sailboat that I got a couple of weeks ago.

A $6.10 room makeover? That I can afford! So here we go....

*Sorry that these photos are a little on the blurry side-one of these days I'll get a tripod!*

This room was plain white when we moved in, with a lovely '80's carpet. Some of the members of the church selflessly took up the carpeting to reveal this gorgeous wood flooring-my favorite part of the house! We haven't gotten the trim back on yet, but that's ok!

This wall has just a couple of old frames with no glass that I spray painted. The "P" usually hangs on Paige's stocking at Christmas time, and the background paper is torn from an old book.

An unused shelf from the craft room becomes a shoe organizer/bench! One of these days I'll make a real cushion, but until then? Throw pillows!

I love shoes....

This bedspread was a $20 Sears clearance purchase from last year. Probably one of my favorite purchases ever!

And yes, those are cinderblocks holding up my bed. (Should have pulled the covers down further!)

A very inexpensive alternative when you can't get a bedframe, and very sturdy!

Oh, and our headboard? An old desk top that a previous owner left in the basement.

"And...are those sheets you're using as curtains??"

Why, yes they are.....but....they have fancy ribbon ties! :o)

This dresser was abandoned, and my sister rescued it for me! Unfortunately it was covered in green oil paint. Have you ever tried to sand off oil pant? Evil. But it was worth it to cover it with this beautiful black! I covered a thrift store mirror to make it "match".

With all of my favorite things on top of it! 

All thrifted or gifted (There's my sailboat!)-who gets rid of these things??

I used a frame as a tray to hold all the goodies. 

This is a vintage dresser that I'm "borrowing" from my parents. They've had it stored in our huge basement, and I realized the other day that I had no business NOT using it in my room. It's gorgeous!

I nailed up some random vintage pictures that I've been holding onto for a while, and stacked up the very old books I rescued from a "throw away" box at church. (*gah!*)

These vintage hats were a gift from a reader! She saw them at a yard sale and thought of me. Isn't that incredible? You all never cease to amaze me with their sweetness.

Next to the dresser is a little writing desk with an old wooden chair. 

I really love the look of different types of wood paired together. It feels really cozy, and makes everything look so interesting!  

The desk holds another vintage, glassless frame with the original hanging wire on it. I used it to string up some of my necklaces!

I love seeing the pearls all together like that. Pearls make me really happy.

Here's my $6 Mirror!

I was drooling over similar versions in stores that were almost $100! 

The closet had wooden sliding doors on it when we moved in, and I didn't care for them, so I put up some charcoal grey curtains. Now I can see all my clothes at once!

It feels so good to have one room finished!

And I know what you're thinking: "Aren't you married? How did you get your husband to allow such girly vintageness?". I'm not sure. He's just really nice like that! He even put all of his clothes in a room downstairs so that I could have the whole closet to myself.     That. is love!

Isn't it fun to shop your own house for decorations? I love the challenge of seeing things in a new light! I guess I've never thought much about it, but creativity is a very economical quality!

Happy decorating!!

-Disney