Edgy Crochet

I love to knit, but learning how to crochet has always seemed to allude me. So today, I thought I would give it another try.

I found some instructions and patterns for making an edge on a tea towel. I gave up trying to follow the pattern because I didn't understand the instructions. What I ended up with, does not match the image of the pattern I was trying to follow, but it looked lacy enough, so I just went with it.

I hand stitched it to the bottom edge of the tea towel, but it looked a little too plain when I was finished.

I thought of adding some ribbons, but then I remembered my stash of fabrics. I love this pretty toile fabric complete with swans.

But then I decided it still needed a little something .

There, that looks about right. No?

Shabby Art Perfect For Tea Time

Using up some of my toile fabric and stencils I had an idea to make some wall art.

Trying to decide what to use for contrast, I pulled out this shabby pink fabric with names of exotic teas written in gold script, that I had all but forgotten about.

Zigzag is the only fancy stitch my sewing machine will do. Good thing I'm going for shabby.

I just love these scissors.




And, I like the way the reverse side of the toile adds another shabby dimension to the focal point.

The finished piece is mounted on an old masonite white board. I just used a staple gun to attach the fabric to the back of the board.

At project finish, it was time for a cup of tea.

Shabby Art from scraps I already had on hand.

Block By Block

Using only what I have on hand, my challenge is to redo our basement pottery studio to give it a more artistic vibe instead of the makeshift laundry, storage, catch-all place it has become. I plan to use some of my toile fabric to divide out the laundry space.

And block by block, I will be attempting to transform the walls

into the look of stone, by continuing to apply this pattern of shading which is going to take FOREVER, but will be so worth it.

I have plenty of sea shells and gold paint in my arsenal of "things I already have on hand."

So I will take every opportunity to use whatever else I find as I go along.

I've been so consumed with my prep work and clearing out the past few days, I forgot to take 'before' pictures, so I will just have to show you what I accomplish as I go along.

Almost Endless Supply of Toile

Toile is one of my favorite French inspired fabrics, so when I found this rubber stamp in the bargain bin I snatched it up. My mission was to experiment to see if I could use just plain acrylic paint with this rubber stamp to apply a pattern of toile on some fabric I had laying around to make a window covering.

Well, I found an old white sheet that had seen better days, doubled it up from the length and sewed a zigzag stitch up to the border, finishing off the sides as well. I pressed it with my Parisian (of course) linen water to give it a glorious scent. Ooh la la!




I had enough to make a valance for my curtains too. I used a square piece and doubled it over by folding it into a triangle, sewed right sides together, turned, pressed and then began stamping away.

I see a pattern developing . . .

Yes, definitely toile. I love how each stamp is either darker or lighter in tone too. Adds character you know.

And what's toile without a fleur de lis? This was done with some liquid gold leaf and a fleur de lis stencil. The gold leaf bled a little over the stencil, but again, more character!

I soaked the fabric for this pillow in strong black coffee before stamping.

This is giving me so many ideas! You know, I've always wanted a room done in toile wallpaper. Hmmmm.