A White Winter Shadowbox

 

I made another shadowbox

this year, full of vintage white treasures.
 

It started with an antique snow dusted

(flaking plaster) frame 

that I kept in its found condition.
 

The main color scheme is white

with touches of pink, green and blue,

with some vintage angels and silver sparkle.

I love the old angel tree topper in the middle.

This month, I had the honor of having

my two vintage shadowboxes on display

at Starting Grounds Church and Coffee Shop, 
and art gallery

You can see more about the 
gold shadowbox here.

Thanks for visiting.

Merry White Christmas!

 ~ Julie

Linking today with:
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/2011/12/white-wednesday-131.html 
http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/12/diy-holiday-highlights-and-ballard.html 
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/2011/12/brass-into-silver-heirloom-ornaments.html 
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/12/show-and-tell-friday_22.html 

Wreath Tutorial

A few weeks ago I taught a wreath making class at Starting Grounds Church . . .

 

Mothers and daughters, friends, and family all having a great time making wreaths.

 HOW TO MAKE A WREATH

First you need a pile of evergreen branches . . . . . 

Okay, not this big . . . these were leftover from the wreath class.

You can use any evergreen branches, fir, cedar, noble, pine, holly, or whatever you want. Be creative, you can use rose hips, twigs, branches, pine cones, camellia leaves, etc. 

Supplies needed: A wreath frame, pruners, 22 gauge green wire, gloves (optional)

 After you cut your tree branches, trim the side branches from the main limbs and separate by type. The branches you'll use to make your wreath need to be approximately 8-10 inches long.

 Begin by twisting and securing the wire to the metal wreath frame.

Take 3-4 of your cut branches of the same kind and wire them to the frame by wrapping the wire twice around the branches in the middle and pull the wire tight. 

Add another layer by taking another clump of branches either the same type or different and place them a couple inches lower than the first and secure by wrapping wire around twice and pulling tight.

Continue this process until you have completed the wreath. If you want to mix in holly or twigs, just add them in with the greenery as you make your wreath.

When you reach the end tuck the bottom of the last branches under the tops of the first branches and wrap with wire twice and pull wire tight. End your wire on the back side of the wreath frame and secure the wire by twisting it to the frame and cut.

You can add a bow or pine cones if you want. To add pine cones, wrap the thickest/bottom part of the pine cone with wire and attach  to two other pines so you'll have a clump of three. Leave the wire ends long enough to wrap around wreath and twist tight on back side.  Clumps of three look better than one or two. You can add three or more clumps to the wreath. 

Now you can make one of these, or any other wreath you can dream up . . .

With this same technique you can make a wreath with hydrangeas, leaves, etc. You can also make garlands by wiring branches together without the frame.

Hope you enjoy making a wreath. I would love to see your wreath if you want to share it.

Merry Christmas!

~ Julie


Today I'm linking with:
Element's Interiors Christmas Party @ http://www.elements-interiors.net/2010/12/looksie-at-more-vacation-home-florals.html

DIY: How to make a custom table cover

With this easy-to-make cover, you can transform any table ~ a fancy table into a craft table, a shabby table into an elegant table, or change the look of a coffee or end table with pretty fabrics . . . Make the sides as long as you want.

I needed to make a custom table cover for a table at Starting Grounds Church for a large, mahogany table with a leather top. We wanted to use it in a classroom and protect the table for craft projects. I purchased brown tablecloth vinyl which has the soft felt on the back side. It's not very colorful, but it goes with the room and is great for crafts; it just wipes clean. You can use whatever fabric, oil cloth, vinyl or whatever you want, and cover any size table.

Purchase enough fabric to cover the width and length of the table and enough to do the sides around the entire table (I made these sides 5"; but you can make the sides as long as you want). Just add 1" for seam allowance and 1-2" for hem if using fabric (you don't need to hem vinyl).

The best way I found to mark the cloth to fit the table top is to put it wrong side up on the table, place a couple large books on it to keep it from moving, and then use a piece of chalk and mark around the edge of the table. It worked perfectly.

Cut the table top 1" larger than the chalk line to allow for the seam allowance.

Decide how long you want the side length to be and add 1" for seam allowance and any inches if needed for a hem. I cut the sides at 5.5" to have a 4-5" length.

Cut as many strips as you will need to go around the table. (If you want gathered fabric sides, you can double the fabric).

Sew your side strips together, end to end, with right sides together, using 1/2" seams. Press seams open if you are using fabric. {If you are going with the gathered/ruffle look, after sewing together, you'll need to baste around the top and adjust your gathers to fit the table top and pin with right sides together}.

Sew the sides to the top with right sides together, using 7/8" seam.  Leave about 5" unsewn at the beginning so you can sew the final side seam together for a perfect fit.
Continue sewing until you are about 5" from the end. Stop and cut the final side piece adding 1/2" on each side for the seam. Pin and sew sides together.

 

Finish sewing the side to the top.

 

 
Finished top (back side)

You can make this table cover out of any fabric; a bed sheet, recycled tablecloth, vinyl or oil cloth for easy cleanup (great for crafts) or any fabric to match your decor.

Have fun! This is easy. Now you can make a custom fitted table cover to fit any table!

http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2010/06/table-transformation.html

DIY: How to reupholster a chair seat pad . . . easy!

I want to show you how to reupholster a chair seat pad because it is so easy. Anyone can do this, and what a change it can make ~ A great way to customize any chair!

 Before

 
1. Remove the chair seat from the chair and remove the old fabric (usually it is too old, stained, or yucky to use). If it's in good shape and it doesn't show thru your new fabric you can cover over it.









 [I had two old covers to remove :)]








 2. Cut your new fabric at least 2-3" wider than the chair seat on each side, depending on how deep it is. You will need to be able to staple it all around the edges on the back side.

3. Center your chair seat with padding side down on the wrong side of the fabric
(if your chair padding is in bad shape you can also use batting to add more cushion and staple it along with your new fabric).










4. Using a staple gun with 1/2" staples, staple the first staple on the front edge side. Put the next staple on the back side of the chair seat, pulling the fabric tight so it is not loose on the fabric side. Flip your chair seat over and check to see if your fabric pattern is where you want it on the seat and it's straight.











5. Staple about 5 staples along the front side of the seat and then the back side of the seat about 2" apart; making sure to pull fabric tight as you staple, to keep the fabric in place.

6. Now move to the sides of the chair seat and staple one staple on each side, pulling fabric tight.


 

7. Continue stapling all sides to within about 1" of each corner.











8. To staple the corners, tuck in each side and staple if necessary and then pull the corner toward the center and staple, making sure the front and side edge is not puckered and looks the way you want it.

9. Flip it over; reattach it to the chair and VOILA! YOU'RE DONE!!!
Doesn't it look great?!!!

After

[Our chairs may not be recovered with the fabric you would expect for their style, but it was intentional. These are going in a church coffee shop {startinggroundschurch.com}.]