DIY Magical Pumpkins

I saw several versions of the magical pumpkin last year on the blogs.  They are adorable with just about any material you make them with.  The two pictured here are with white linen and burlap.  They are easy to make and I'll show you how.

I'll show you the white pumpkin.  

Supplies:

Scissors

fabric

string

fabric marking pencil

heavy quilting thread

needle

fiber fill

hot glue gun

stem of choice (shell, real pumpkin stem, stick)

tendrils (wired ribbon, grapevine)

leaf(s)

To make my 18 inch circle I used a 19 inch square of white linen.  It has fold lines in the shape of a + centered on the square.

To draw the circle I used the really high tech ribbon tied to a fabric marking pencil. (just kidding)  Hold the end of the ribbon in the center of the + (which should be the center of your fabric).  Then run the pencil around the whole piece in the circle shape.

To further ensure you get a nice even circle.  Fold it back up to cut it. 

Thread your needle with some heavy duty quilting thread and baste several sections around the outside edge.  I basted three sections and had to hand baste a fourth when pulling the basting stitches.

Here I am gathering it up.  This bottom left area kept pulling out of the loose weave of the linen so I just hand basted it as is and pulled it together with the rest of the stitches.  Pull the sections up one at a time and secure them to the center.

Here is what it will look like and that isn't tight enough, so hand stitch it closed, even tighter.  You will want to get it small enough to be hidden by the stem you hot glue on.

Here I am trying out the different shells to see which one I like and if I have the stitching tight enough.

I put a large area of hot glue on the top of the pumpkin.  I added the leaves, tendrils, and then a little more hot glue on top of that and the stem.  That's it! 

The finished pumpkin from an 18-inch circle measures: 8 inches wide x 4 inches tall not including the stem.

So, have fun creating your own magical pumpkin!

Sherry

Antique Wardrobe Turned into Sewing Room

I took an antique wardrobe I recently brought home and created a sewing room.  I have never had a place to create or store any of my sewing gear.  I always just pulled it out, had it in the way, and then put it away hoping the kids didn't destroy it. 

I tried to use only vintage or antique items to store everything in.  This side holds the hanging fabric that is ready to be made into something.  I have a cutting board folded up on the side and a serger in the bottom.  Above the fabric on the shelf, I have a vintage office basket holding my shipping envelopes and a antique punch bowl holding ribbon.

I really thought hard about what to do with the ribbon.  There are many cute ways to store ribbon.  This punch bowl is huge and it was perfect to do the job.  It also gives ma a great way to store the punch bowl and when it is party time I can still pull it out and use it.

Knowing how many beautiful work spaces there are in blogland I had to try to make this small sewing room a little bit fun.  So I created a mini doily bunting and a hand lettered burlap banner to give a little inspiration to the space.

This wardrobe is really huge.  When a whole sewing machine fits on a shelf, it gives you a feel for how much storage space there was to work with.

For a lot of things I create I really never use a pattern, but I had a few patterns I placed in this vintage hanging basket.  The only new thing in the wardrobe is the bulletin board, which I can use for inspiration pictures, fabric, or trim swatches.

The rest of the punch bowl set came in handy too.  The under plate is holding the twelve cups which make a nice place to store lace.  I am always throwing a pin or single button into the cabinet that holds my sewing equipment and I thought the under plate will be a great thing to use in this way as a catch all.

I thought this was a perfect place to show off a few treasures from some important sewers in my life.  This is a vintage Holly Hobby doll hand made by my Grandmother for me. 

Another treasure, on the left, is a china doll handmade for me by my mother.  A piece of art pottery holds some rope and a vintage Ball canning jar holds all of the scissors.

A zinc cloche holds a stack of thread, making it easy to see which color you need.

This shelf has vintage tins and canisters full of lavender to make sachets.  There is also a vintage sewing kit made out of a jelly jar, a white picket planter holding white lace and rick rack, and an antique toy Singer sewing machine.

And, here on the final shelf is the sewing machine, a vintage card file box, and a "Butts" pail.  The "Butts" pail still has the Woolworth's sticker on it and I found it for nothing at a yard sale.  It was a perfect place to store a bunch of buttons on cards.

Here the wardrobe is closed.  I keep a table right by this which will be the perfect work surface and possibly not too disturbed by my kids if I pull something out to work on it.  Possibly... I will get more made for my Etsy shop now!?  

  Sherry 

  I will join:

Sunday's Best Party  at My 1929 Charmer

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Sunny Simple Sundays  at Sunny Simple Life

Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Cottage Style Link Party  at Lavender Garden Cottage

Say G'Day Saturday  at Natasha in Oz

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage
Furniture Feature Friday  at Miss Mustard Seeed
Summer Cloche Party  at A Stroll Thru Life

Burlap Hearts

I have been really liking anything made of burlap lately.  I have been seeing burlap creations on Pinterest.  So, I took my Pinterest inspiration and created a burlap heart of my own.  I didn't have a small nest but, this worked out. 

I had an old lace applique that worked out really well on the smaller heart.

These are very easy to make.  I just cut a heart pattern out of newspaper or notebook paper.  I sewed the two pieces together, turned , and stuffed the hearts with fiber-fill.  Then decorated with whatever I had on hand.   Create some of your own for spring!

 

Sherry

 I will link this to:

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

White Wednesday  at Faded Charm

What's It Wednesdays  at Ivy and Elephants

Wednesday Show Off  at Elna-Sudden

Air Your Laundry Friday  at Freckled Laundry

Home Sweet Home #51

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  I am showing off today a little outfit I made for a sweet little niece that I babysit half of the week. 

I made her a little tutu.  These ideas came from Pinterest and they were pinned off of blogs.  
I got the idea for the tutu here.

And if you have a tutu you have to have a pair of ballet slippers!  I got the idea for these here.

And, the Birthday Girl looked fantastic modeling her tutu and slippers! 

Now, I would like to feature some posts that got my attention from last week's Home Sweet Home!   

 Martina at Northern Nesting made over this lovely dresser.

Barb at Grits and Glamour showed off a gorgeous winter mantel.

Amanda at Girl In Pink had a wonderful vanity makeover with AS chalk paint.

Jacqueline at Cabin and Cottage showed off her winter buffet.  It looks like a fairytale cottage when she styles it!

Suzanne at Pieced Pastimes sewed up some linen and lace pincushions that were adorable. 

Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!  It is awesome to have you here!  

Sherry

I will join these ladies today:
 Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground (there is plenty of vintage inspiration in my highlighted links)

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Potpourri Friday at 2805
Air Your Laundry Friday  at Freckled Laundry

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!

Cozy Fabrics

One way I create coziness in my home is with fabrics.  I made this little bag for herbs from a fabric scrap.

I got a selection of fabrics out of my project closet.  There are many ways you could add to your home by sewing up any of these fabrics.  From left to right, I have a natural linen on the table, burlap, ticking, a French General reproduction of an antique French textile, red and black toile, red check, and another French General reproduction of a bird toile.  All of these fabrics evoking the French Country style could add a lot to your cozy home.

Some of the ways I have used fabric has been to create tablerunners.

A white linen turns into the star of the tablescape with these shabby chic napkins.

A antique French petticoat makes a mantel scarf for a cozy fall scene.

And vintage table linens create a a much more interesting table top adding texture and pattern.  Do you like the use of fabric to make your home cozy?

Sherry

I am linking to a brand new party for Tuesdays. 
Shannon at Cozy Home Scenes is having a Your Cozy Home Party every Tuesday visit with Shannon and show off what makes your home cozy. 
Also, another new party is Wednesday Showoff with Elna-Sudden.
 Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style