Category Archives: Stuff to make

Ruminations on photo albums

Posted in Paper, Photos, Stuff to make by

What do you do with your photos? I can’t seem to be satisfied with letting them linger in the ethereal digital realm.

I still go for the tangible: I order matte-finished prints with the white borders and then stick them in photo albums with little paper corners. (In case anyone’s wondering, I use Kolo albums.)

(Note Zeke & his pal Birdy looking at a photo of a Zeke & Birdy looking at a photo of Zeke & Birdy looking at a photo . . . )

I have accumulated a lot of albums! I am a sucker for arranging images–but is there a better way to go about archiving my life? Also, I’m perpetually lagging two years behind . . .

I really like this flip book of bicycles from Wren Homemade made with Iphoto and printed by Apple. Making albums with Snapfish, Shutterfly, Kodak, etc. is fun, too, but I don’t love the print quality in the final product. I’d be interested to hear your recommendations–please share!

Cute as a spare button

Posted in Fabric printing, Kids, Recycled materials, Stuff to make by

Buttons are cute. Even the word button is cute. So I figured I couldn’t go wrong printing an image of a button (using a hand-drawn and hand-cut freezer paper stencil) on this little muslin drawstring bag I had in my drawer. (Oh yeah, the bag once held the spare buttons to a sweater I had bought a while ago.)

Then I got really carried away and made this onesie. I realize the letters aren’t exactly centered, but I’m hoping you won’t notice. I don’t have any wee babies in my life, so if you do have one who happens to be 13 to 18 lbs., and who is verifiably as cute as a button, I will send this onesie to you!

Candy-Colored Chairs

Posted in Home Design, Stuff to make by

These hues are not for the faint of heart. While Brigit just painted her side table an elegant pale blue, I’ve been dipping my brush into Ben Moore’s Orange Juice, Tequila Lime, Pink Raspberry, and Summer Blue for a set of unfinished Adirondack chairs for my parent’s lake cottage. The Ben Moore online color gallery describes Orange Juice as a “deeply energizing” color that “captures the essence of early morning vitality and vigor.” How could I resist? And how can I get a job writing color descriptions for Mr. Moore?

Hmmm. Coffee and fish egg bait. Also known to be deeply energizing.

Very easy projects for pretty fabrics

Posted in Sewing, Stuff to make by

Sometimes I buy fabric that seems almost too pretty to use. Recently, I bought half a yard of this Marimeko fabric that I was both eager and reluctant to use. In cases like this I opt for an easy project that almost keeps the fabric in tact. Here are three projects that really showcase a beautiful fabric.

1. Simple envelope enclosure pillow. If your fabric is about the right size for your pillow form, you hardly have to waste any, and you can finish in no time. I used most of my Marimeko fabric for this pillow. Download the easy instructions here:  Simple Envelope Enclosure Pillow.

2. Napkins. For this project, I use Martha Stewart’s pattern for linen napkins from her Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. Just add a fancy hem to your pretty fabric and voila. I have to say making this hem is super satisfying–one of the rare things in my sewing life that really comes out perfect. (The only problem, of course, is that you actually have to let people use your beautiful cloth napkins. But, I’m a firm believer in not saving things for special occasions, and this hem will stand up to lots of trips through the washer.)

3. Double-gauze receiving blanket. This pattern from purl bee makes wonderful use of Japanese double-gauze fabric and shot cotton. This fabric is so beautiful, and you hardly do anything to it–just sew two squares together then add a running stitch in embroidery thread around the border. I made a blanket for a friend’s baby and I hear it was a very popular item!

Painted hunt table

Posted in Stuff to make by

And … here is the painted table. The color is just what I imagined. My handiwork is not perfect–I find that painting furniture is much harder to do well than it seems. The cable box is also a bit of an eyesore, but so essential! I am really pleased to have such a tidy place to stow my napkins. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an array of polka dotted napkins in each little cubby?