Month: April 2021

#AtoZChallenge | French mattress style and some extra coziness for our sleigh bench

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I knew before starting this project that it might be beyond my sewing skills but given the price point when I searched French Mattresses on Etsy, I figured it was worth a shot. After much googling and a trip down the rabbit hole that is YouTube’s how to videos, I had a general sense of the steps needed to make my French Mattress.

While there are many great tutorials on how to construct a French mattress, the two primary ones that I used as my guide in making my cushion were:

She Holds Dearly | French Mattress Cushion Tutorial : This video was a great overall tutorial on all of the steps used to create a French Mattress.

Online Fabric Store | How to Make a French Mattress Cushion : I liked the way they did the stitching in this video tutorial and used it as my stitching guide.

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#AtoZChallenge | Enchanted winter ice display

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Easy with a big impact does not always describe the crafts that I attempt but this one was extremely easy although to make enough for that big wow factor it does take a little time. It also helps to do this one when the temps dip below freezing which was not a challenge in Maine during the winter.

I put this one together in February and it made for the perfect enchanted winter Valentine’s Day display.

Round One

While the craft itself is simple, I did a test run. Fortunately, our January was light on snow so I was able to collect some natural items from around my yard to use in my ice sculptures. There are so many amazing things to choose from outside and just about anything small will work. Continue reading →

#AtoZChallenge | Decoupaged glass plates to elevate my Grandmother’s recipes

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I have a little red notebook filled with recipes that my grandmother saved. I keep it in the kitchen with my other cookbooks. It has great sentimental value as the recipes are in her handwriting but I rarely look at it. It stays mostly tucked away. It was time to change that.

I’ve seen versions of reverse decoupage on glass plates in magazines and craft books. The layering of paper, memorabilia and other embellishments to create a cohesive art display was intriguing. I was nervous going into the project. It is a special skill to create art in reverse but fortunately decoupage is a forgiving craft.

I started by photocopying a couple of the recipes from the book. I picked the first recipe because of it’s simple, descriptive title of “meat”. It just made me smile. It seems to leave so many unanswered questions. It’s so broad and so specific at the same time. I picked the second recipe for whoopie pies since it’s Maine’s official state treat. Continue reading →

#AtoZChallenge | Cleaning kits with a little extra heart

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At the start of the year, I put together my goals around supporting local which is a cause close to my heart and has taken on even more importance due to the immense impact COVID-19 has had on our communities. One of my goals was to make kits for Maine Needs a local non-profit that launched amidst the pandemic. They are focused on helping Mainers meet basic needs.

Among the many ways you can donate, their Maine needs kits are an option that align well with both my need to help my fellow Mainers and my love of finding the perfect gift. While originally I planned to start with their “Minute for Mom Kits”, after reading a post on their Instagram feed I saw that they were running short on the “Cleaning & Toiletry Kits” so I opted to make some of the Cleaning kits first. Continue reading →

#AtoZChallenge | Book folding to add some Christmas tree love to Bedford Falls

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My favorite movie is It’s A Wonderful Life. I have a wall dedicated to memorabilia from the movie. Vintage pictures from magazines and behind the scenes photographs of Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed hung together are a visual love letter to this Frank Capra classic.

While those pictures are on display all the time, I also have some decorations related to the movie that I only put out at Christmas. Each December, I relocate the pictures that line the top of the bookcase along the landing of my stair case and turn it into a miniature Bedford Falls. I put down a white fuzzy blanket and line up my Cape Craftsman village pieces along with a snow globe depicting the final scene from the movie. Porcelain ornaments hang from a garland that drapes down in front of the shelves full of more memories from my favorite movie. Continue reading →