Hues of Blue and Dip Dye Too

I recently found this piece of fabric I tie dyed about 6 years ago. 

 I never made anything from it, but it seemed to catch my eye.

  I think it's the dark blues

 that I am attracted to at the moment.

I actually kept the dye from years ago,

so I mixed some up to experiment with a few different techniques.

Ombre Linen

Simple bottle cap with circles

Fan fold half dipped style

Letting the pieces dry in the sun.

Now to figure out what to make.

Good thing I didn't have too much left over, 

or I might have started dying everything I could find.

This pretty little doily could not escape.

Love the blue and linen together.

 Just admiring how the fabric turned out.....

Homemade Doily Cushion

Homemade doily cushion

For a while now I have been admiring these

 lovely screen printed doily cushions

 at the shop around the corner.

They are so fun and bright and made by Lumiere Art & Co

I love their stuff,

 but I can't go buying everything I see and like.

So as usual...

 I wanted to make my own version

 as a cheap alternative to brighten up a chair I have in mind.

 I have a collection of doilies that I find at Opp shops for around $1 each.

So I selected the finest one I had.

Then I mixed up a bit of blue dye left over from another project.

The doily soaked up the dye perfectly and the colour turned out better than I had thought.

I made a cushion cover out of white linen I already had.

Then I stitched the doily carefully around the edge.

Oh my gosh..

It turned out so well.

I think I like mine better than the one I wanted to buy.

I love that there is real texture to it and it looks so delicate.

I know I blog about cushions a bit, 

but they are the easiest and cheapest way to create

a new look or feel in your home.

So there...

a current look 

and room update for 

$ 0

All made with things I already had.

The sweater that never made it to the Opp Shop

I recently did a major clean out of the house

 and gave a lot away to good will.  

This French Connection sweater below was from the 90's and just too short and fluffy to wear again.

It was packed up and ready to go to the Opp shop.

Until....

I had a read of my favourite magazine.

The black and white contrasting cover caught my eye

and I had an idea.

As usual when I read my favourite style & home magazines

 I like to try one or two ideas I like

 and apply them to my home to keep it feeling current.  

So,

 after seeing this cover,

I decided I wanted some more contrast in my bedroom.

I wanted a black,

 chunky knit cushion

 for my bed.

I knew just how to get one

 for $0!

Repurposing is one of my favourite things to do!!

And my Mother in Law, who loves to sew, is visiting!!

So I took that old French Connection sweater out

 and asked her how we could turn it into a cushion.

I also happened to have an extra cushion insert

 which was a perfect fit.

She is amazing.

She actually managed to stitch the sweater around the cushion

keeping the sweater completely intact!

Which means,

 if I ever wanted to

I could unstitch it and wear it again?

Handy Hint: I used a razor and gently shaved off all the lint balls to make it look like new.

Now I have a

wintery

cozy

contrasting

bedroom update for

$0.

Nice

P.S.

I made this bedhead ages ago.

I originally picked up a large art work, from the side of the road, only for the amazing frame it had.

I nearly discarded the artwork inside but instead.....

I covered the large canvas with a layer of batting to add some cushioning.

Then I staple gunned some lovely thick linen upholstery fabric to it.

I thought it look a little bit plain,

so I stitched 3 subtle little grey x's in the middle.

Then I attached it to the wall with 3M velcro strips.

The other cushions are made out of linen tea towels to match.

Painted Linen Cushion "The Palms"

Soaking the linen in a mixture of
Water,
 Textile medium,
 and
 Acrylic paint

Keep adding till you get it just right....

My simplified version
hanging to dry in the sun.

The lovely cushion I was inspired by.
I saw this in a favourite little shop called Turner and Lane.

Yep,
love it!

It is just that little bit of tropical...
 perfect for Summer.

"The Palms"
Hand Painted
on
Linen

The colours tie in perfectly with the other little hints of blue and green around the room.

Cane Couch from bla to Oh La La

Lately there have been heaps of magazines showing beautiful cane and wicker furniture painted in all fun and bright colours.  I was so excited when a friend spotted this on the side of the road and she knew I would want it.  I wasn't game to paint it a bright colour so I decided a gloss white finish would be lovely.

after about 3 cans of spray paint....
slowly getting there.
It took a lot more paint than I thought. 

while I was at it I painted the little white table as well.

All finished.
I just love it and can't wait to get some fun outdoor cushions made up.
Now can someone please bring on Summer!

Chunky Knit Sweater ...to Cool Cozy Cushion

 I have always wanted to have a cozy wooly cushion cover to bring out during Winter.

I finally found a sweater at an Op shop that would be perfect.  Especially because it had buttons down the front, which meant no zipper needed.  

 I just simply turned the sweater inside out, pinned it and sewed a square the size of my cushion.

The chunky knit pattern was made with Lamb's wool and was so incredibly soft.  It was in a lovely cream colour, which was just what I wanted.

In just a few minutes we had a brand new cozy cushion for Winter.

This is the back of the cushion.  I just inserted the down insert by undoing the buttons.

I hate wasting lovely materials, so why not make a cozy candle holder to match.