Gifts From the Heart Party- June

Yesterday was Father's Day and was a perfect day for some homemade gifts!! What did you make?? Because today is the day to show off any and all homemade gifts you have made this month. I have been busy working on house projects (slipcovers) so I have not made too many homemade gifts. I did make my parents this name picture frame for their anniversary.


And for my husband for father's Day the kids and I made him a pencil holder for work!! So simple, yet so meaningful. 1 empty vegetable can, paper, paint, and mod podge. This will make a great addition to his desk at work!



Here is my hubby with our kids!!


Did you notice I am a day late? That is because we were all spending a wonderful day together as a family. No interruptions. I love to blog but my first priority is my family!!

Now on to the party. Show us all your homemade gifts!! My goal this year has been homemade gifts all year so I need inspiration!! Let's see what you have made!

Rules...
1. Grab a button or link back
2. Comment on the person before (everyone loves comments)
The party will be open until the 28th!

My First Slipcover is DONE!

YIPPEE!! This morning I officially completed my first slipcover!! What a natural high I am on right now!

Last week I shared with you that I started to slipcover wing back chairs I had received from my parents. For approximately 6 months I had the material but could not find the nerve or motivation to begin this big task. Then with the anticipation of my grandmother coming to town and having a party at my house (tonight) I thought I HAVE to get these done.

Today I present my first slipcover...Ta-da!!


Here is the back side (probably my favorite side) too bad it is facing the WALL!!


Here is the chair all ready for someone to rest in! (looks mustard-y in this picture it really isn't this yellow)

BTW- I have sat in this with both of my kids and never heard a seam rip!!! I think it is sturdy!!

Just a reminder as to what this chair looked like before...


After...

I love it!!

You might recall that I had 2 of these chairs to slipcover. Well, I didn't quite get to the second one. This is the state it is in right now....so for the party it will be in the bonus room!!


I will share with you when I am done with both...it might be a while!!

Pillow Talk- Southern Style

I recently ran across (again) this fabulous article called "Pillow Talk" in Southern Living Before and Afters from July 2009. It talks about pillow placement and "to ditch the pillows that came with your sofa and start with a blank canvas." Here is there fabulous example.



It was time for me to make an instant couch make-over!! Here are there specs.

1. The Anchor Pillows (the two on the end) should be a matching pair but does not match the couch. Check.

2. Interest Pillows should be "two pillows with different fabrics and shapes for off-center interest." Well, I kinda did this. If you notice the Monogram pillow in the sample is in the center. I decided I didn't like the monogram pillow in the center because it matched the other interest pillow. Semi-check

3. Statement Pillow (Center) should be a large lumbar pillow. This pillow matches my dining room and pulls that pattern into the living room. Check.



Now here is a snapshot of this wall. I think it is coming together nicely.


All these pillows were made by me. So, if I every get bored with them or it just stops working for me I can make some new ones. I love Pillows!!

Thank you Southern Living. My couch looks very southern now!!

It Just Takes a Little Motivation

I have the will for two slipcovered wingback chairs, I just needed some motivation.

These wingback chairs were given to us by my mom and dad. They are in perfect condition except for the 90's print!! YIKES. For my birthday my mom and dad got me 16yds of fabric from fabric.com. It was a steal of a deal. However, that was almost 6 months ago and it has taken me that long to work up the nerve to start this project.

Now with a little motivation (my grandmother coming to town and a party at my house) I have begun the transformation!! Here is one cushion that is totally complete...


AND it fits the chair perfectly...


I am now in the beginning stages of laying out my material. It already looks 1000xs better.


With one cushion complete that looks GREAT, I am pumped to keep going. When I finish these chairs it truly will be one of the greatest sewing accomplishments I have ever completed. Oh, I am so excited to get to that point!!

What is one of your greatest sewing/craft accomplishments?? Did you need a little motivation to complete it??

Recycled Wedding Anniversary Gift

My parents 34th wedding anniversary was in May and I presented them with a Name Frame.

Their last name with the year they were married.


What makes this unique (or really cheap) is how I got the letters.

In their goodwill bag was this bag. They had purchased it from Williamsburg, VA and no longer had any use for it. I grabbed it thinking "surly I can do something with this."


Originally, I thought I was going to make pillows but the shape would be awkward. Then I realized I could get my parents last name, my last name, and another friends last name out of this one bag (the bag is double sided... I had hit a gold mine!!

I cut out the appropriate letters ) and Mod Podged them on card stock.


I found the frame at Dollar Tree and Spray painted it black. For the backdrop I used red burlap. Then I printed their anniversary year on card stock.


Isn't this unique???

I presented it to them already hung on their memory wall. I love this area of their home. My intention was to add to it's uniqueness.


I think I succeeded!! I think it is funny how this was originally trash (or something they planned on giving away) and I was able to make it into something usable and beautiful!!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!! I love you!!

Parties I am participating in...

Clutch Give Away Winner

Congratulations to Melissa from Those Northern Skies. She won my clutch purse give away. She can pick the burlap purse or the damask purse!!!

She wrote...

I think I would carry the damask...

Plus she also participated in my Gifts From the Heart May Linking Party 3 times and increased her odds!!

I think it was meant to be because I happened to win her Looking for a Creative High Week #1!!

Thank you to all who participated!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Drop Cloth Living Room Curtain

If you read my post on Friday, here, you know I was very distressed and nothing was going my way. I started in one direction with my living room curtains only to create the ugliest curtains on the planet. Then changed direction and decided to use drop cloth material only to have enough for 2 of them, went to buy more drop cloth for it to be the wrong color...NOTHING WAS GOING RIGHT. Now everything is right and I have to tell the whole story of how I got 3 matching curtains.

Friday morning my "Jesus Calling" book by Sarah Young says this for May 29th and I quote:

I know precisely what you need to draw me nearer to Me. Go through each day looking for what I have prepared for you. Accept every event as My hand-tailored provision for your needs. When you view your life this way, the most reasonable response is to be thankful. Do not reject any of My gifts; find Me in every situation.

God is amazing because on Friday May 29th he truly did speak to me. He knows my heart!!

This crazy silly situation did bring me closer to God (please do not think of me as shallow,) I seriously prayed 10 prayers that another Home Depot would have the right colored Drop Cloth. My prayer were answered. I found the right colored drop cloth at the first Home Depot I visited and by Friday afternoon I had three new living room curtains. In response to God's provisions I am SO Thankful.

All three curtains are done. Can you see all the other things to do???


This makes me happy...


Drop Cloth Curtains...it is a great thing!!