Oct 28, 2013

Fabric pumpkin

Photo taken from this site.

I am obsessed with pumpkins, can't help it. For those preferring to sew and not to carve or paint, here are some examples of fabric pumpkins and tuts how to make them.


How to make fabric pumpkin

how to make fabric pumpkin



On this site you can find detailed tut how to make this gorgeous pumpkins. Although, according to the tut, genuine stems are used, I think some wooden twig will do as well.
one very easy to make





These are really funny and original, remind me on Cinderella's carriage. If you like them, go to the thecottagemama.com .







This is one very easy to make pumpkin.







And if you prefer paper, this is project for you.
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Oct 16, 2013

Pumpkins again






Pumpkins are 'in' again. I love them - they are so colorful, interesting, funny and tasteful in so many ways, even seed and oil are delicious. Although Halloween is not so popular in Croatia, we love to decorate pumpkins and squashes.
Internet is full of pumpkin art, here are some I found the most interesting or funny, enjoy.

How to make a silhouette pumpkin

how to carve pumpkins



This easy to make tut find on www.thistlewoodfarms.com.

Pumpkin lanterns

how to carve pumpkins


Design*sponge is always current with themes. 



Patchwork pumpkin (and other tuts) by Alisa Burke





On the blog of Alisa Burke you can find various 'pumpkin' projects created over the years.


How to carve pumpkin




And, for the 'zero' step, find out how to carve pumpkin. Remeber, it is not easy.




Another carved pumpkin I realy love.



Few more photos for pumpkins lovers.







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Oct 8, 2013

Lavender bag





Lavender is certainly one of the best plants in my garden - so modest and durable, yet giving us so much joy. Except in the very begining, lavender don't require a lot of care. I enjoy the laveneder bushes all year long - in summer as well as in winter, not to mention the  beautiful fragrant flowers. I collected flowers month ago and found some time today to make a little lavender bag (some other ideas still in the pipeline).

How to make lavender bag

Material




Material: fabric scaps, rope, lavender, wooden bead




Cut a paper triangle (pattewrn for the bag), then cut two fabric pieces. Put them together (right sides together) and sew them, leaving opening at the base.




Turn on the right side, fill in with the lavender and  hand sew the opening.



Pull the rope through the bag and through the bead, make simple knots.



Hand sew little lace skirt and lavender bag is finished.


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Sep 23, 2013

New look of an old benches



Two benches on my terrace realy needed a 'facelifting'. I planned for  months this renovation but there are always something else to be done. Benches were in good condition but shabby (not shabby shic, unfortunatelly).

Short tutorial how I renovated benches








This is small bench 'before' - you can see that the surface isn't very nice.




Even just sanding improved the image of the bench and gave it better look. I used wood stain (acrylic, of course) for painting - two coats were enough. And one coat of varnish (satin) for the protection at the end.






Now it looks much better, doesn't it?






Similar process was done with the bigger bench.




First step -  sanding.



Second step - applying wood stain.

Third step: painting metal parts. I protected the wood with the tape and then painted the metal parts with silver Hammerite (oil) paint. Why this paint? Because I alredy had it and because it has three effects: rust protection, primer and coloring.


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Sep 16, 2013

Controlling (or not) your garden




Are you very strict when planning and monitoring the plants in your garden? I am not. First, I prefer the 'English' type of garden - to look naturally, as much as possible. And I like to leave the unknown or unplanned plant to see how it will look like before I eventually pull it out.  Rather often I get so interesting and colorful  scene I could never make myself. This year I left pumpkin to grow in unusual part of the garden and in gratitude it climbed the tree and made a lace.  Nasturtium and the four o'clock flowers (Mirabilis jalapa) spred over the garden every year and I just love them. So, leave the plant to  grow, and you may be  pleasantly surprised.











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Sep 10, 2013

Pincushion in no time





For a long time I thought pincushions are just for decoration. I sew as a hobby, from time to time and found out that I am frequently loosing my needles, or can't find then when I need them - and pincushion is a great place to put them. 



Tutorial how to make pincushion

It is really easy, it took me more time to take photos and make this tut than to sew the pincushion.





First, cut four pieces 10 x 5 cm (or some other size) from the chosen fabric. 




Sew two and two pieces together.




Pin two sides together and sew the edges leaving one half of a side.





Reverse on the right side through the opening, stuff with filling and hand stitch the opening.






Sew the button (for decoration) and elastic band on the other side to put the cushion on the wrist, if you need.

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