DIY: Make your own rug

What appeals to me the most about this idea is being able to customize a space (choose your own color combo and size). And with out the $500+ price tag. Click here to see how to do it.
{via Apartment Therapy}

Merry Christmas in Style (with a capital S)

Some friends of ours had an Ugly Christmas Sweater party the week before Christmas. The DI was picked over already, so I went to my in-laws for help. My mother-in-law sewed this beauty of a red jumper/pant-suit herself about 20 years ago. I believe I heard her say she looked all over to find the right belt (and oh did she find it!) and finally found this beaded belt in Park City. I won the prize for "Ugliest Ensemble" by the way (I'm afraid the photos don't quite capture the full glory). You should have seen the purple, red, and gold super-puffy coat I wore with it. Enjoy our cheesy prom pictures below.
Ryan was dying to find a dickie (who is old enough to remember those?), especially because of his love of the movie Christmas Vacation. Fortunately, his parents came through again. He couldn't find a thin white sweater, so he settled for this black and white fashion no-no from his dad's closet.
Close up of my belt (made with hundreds of tiny shiny beads).Close-up of Ryan's dickie and sweater.
Friends toasting eggnog:Rihanna's sweater is hidden, but check out Dan's white pants and printed turtleneck. And oh my you should have seen his dance moves to the karaoke. Oh my.

My new Christmas camera needed a protective case. I wanted something not bulky, so I took some leftover padded vinyl and fabric scraps and made this in about 5 minutes.

Recent Projects: Catching Up

Since I got a new camera for Christmas (thanks Ryan!) I can now show photos again! My mother-in-law asked me to make her a Christmas present instead of buying something for her. So I made this apron, and I am quite happy with it. The only thing I think I'd change is next time make the top a little narrower, and make the bottom a little more curved. The reverse side is dark red (I forgot to photograph that). It was fun to make and easier than expected.

fabric by Heather Bailey

No Photos {frown}

In case you're wondering where all my creations have been... my camera is permanently broken I'm afraid. I hope Santa will be bringing me a new one, as he was given a fairly detailed request. But I have been sewing and making things and selling them without even a photo for my records.
I did manage to snap this one with my camera phone (pardon the poor quality). It's a navy blue herringbone with a big button flower. The inside is light yellow.

I've also made a couple of fabric paintings, a couple of clutches, and currently I am making gifts for Christmas. I just hope I can get them done in time.

BUY or DIY

These are beautiful planters. Just my style. You can find them at Obleeek Objects, or I think you could make them yourself pretty easily. I'd love to give it a try.

DIY Lamps

I've had this idea in my head for a while now, and I'm happy to see a tutorial available so I'll know I'm doing it properly.IKEA has these corded lights that just plug in, or I believe you can just get them at your local hardware store.
via ReadyMade

Wearable address book

This amazing dress is made from phone book pages. Isn't it amazing? And green too.

I do love shoes...

Yesterday I saw this lovely photo from the cherry blossom girl via (decor8). She loves her new floral tights, and I love her shoes. And then I came across these shoes from JC Penny, on sale this weekend for $19.99, and I just got a $10 off coupon in the mail from them too. Saweet! $10 shoes for me! I might just have to buy both colors! Free shipping too, on orders of $25 or more.

Beautiful Pottery

Since my camera is broken, I can't take pics of the new stuff I've made and sold. (You can guess what's on my Christmas list.)
So I'm posting about beautiful creations of others. Check out this gorgeous pottery by Whitney Smith.
I especially love those bowls. They remind me of these ones which I've seen around (obviously a cheaper, more casual variation):

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!
Isn't this the most adorable dress ever? Oh I love it. I think I'd even like it in an adult size!

Paper Water Bottle

A clever concept that is friendly to the environment. The paper water bottle via Brand Image.

So Simple DIY

Next time I go to the mountains, I'm going to snag a fat branch and make one of these for my future entry table. From Apartment Therapy.

Make an Ice Wreath

Here's something anyone can do! It's not quite cold enough yet in Utah, but soon...
Find the tutorial here.

No more pictures...

My piece of junk camera is broken again so I can't show you what I made this weekend. Last time this happened it self-repaired after a few days. I'm hoping that happens again.

Chair Makeover?

UPDATE: These chairs are all sold! I can't believe it! There were 40 for sale and they are all gone! So sad for me.

So I recently found these chairs on KSL Classifieds, and I'm thinking that with a paint job they could be cool with my future Big Sur Dining Table. I can't afford the table right now, so my temporary solution would be to put a cool tablecloth on my current table, and use these chairs with it. I'm not sure yet what color I would paint them, but below you can see what I've been toying with.
Original (kind of a pukey yellow matte finish):Black glossy paint on seat and legs (my counters are black granite so they would go nicely):Black seat with chrome legs:Orange seat for a pop of color (is it too much?):I think I'm liking the full black one. White is also under consideration. But I'd love to hear what you think.

The chairs on only $2 a piece (that's not a typo), so I might just buy one or two to experiment with, and if I like them I'll buy a full setting.

Redefining the "Dress Shirt"

I love finding new uses for old things.
Turn this:Into this:Find the tutorial here. For more free patterns and projects, check out Whip Up.

Lunchbag: Orange Blossom

This one's a little smaller and less angular than my last bag, and I think I like it better. Still lightly insulated with wipeable vinyl interior and exterior.
So I finally got this bag finished up, and I was ironing it smooth again with a paper layer over the vinyl to prevent melting to my iron, when I slipped up and let the iron make direct contact with the handle. So sad. So the handle has a melty spot on it now! It's barely noticeable, but it means This bag will have to be discounted, dern it.
So if anyone wants it, let me know. I'm thinking $5.

Looking for:

Masking tape in cool colors. I got this image from an email by Apartment Therapy, which referenced Design Within Reach, but on the website I could find no such thing. I'd love to send my Etsy packages this way. I have found masking tape in some other colors, but these are the coolest and I'd love to have them. Has anyone seen them?

Weekend Project

I found only a little bit of time this weekend to work on fun stuff. This is another lunchbag that I'm making, and it's just starting. I'm sewing it together in a different order this time, and I think it's going to work out a little better than the last one (as in tidier finishes).

The colors available for handles are limited, by the way. I think chocolate brown would have been nicer for this one, but I had to settle for tan.

Spotlight on...

Audrey Kawasaki. I just discovered her work and oh my is it beautiful. So beautiful. A little bit of Mucha with a modern twist.

DIY: Framed Fabric Butterflies

I found this great tutorial today. I think this would be beautiful in my sister-in-law Megan's room (in reds and pinks and yellows). And if you have a Cricut machine, you can cut butterflies out with that in no time flat.

Drooling for Dining Rooms

I'm soooooo lusting for a dining room table with independently styled chairs. I'm sure there's a better way of saying that... just check out the photos and you'll know what I mean.
These images are mostly from Apartment Therapy and decor8 (see links in right column).

As for myself, I've got my eye on the Big Sur Dining Table from Crate and Barrel:

Maybe with the JAKOB chair or SNILLE chair (in blue-green or white...or green from IKEA
Or I even think these have potential, if I painted them glossy white or glossy black. Or orange. I found these on KSL.com for a mere $13 a piece.
I must also say though, that I am so grateful to my husband's kind and generous grandparents who gave us their old table and chairs, which has been serving us faithfully for the last 3 years.