Natural Canvas Pillow Collection

I've been getting back into cross-stitching again. I find it fun and relaxing. I designed a few pillows I could stitch relatively quickly and I wanted to work in neutrals. I also found this great canvas that once I brought it home and washed it, it became super comfy and soft. Here are some images of work in progress:                                                                            

What could be more fun to stitch than footprints, flip flops and fish! Ha, ha. I like how they turned out:

They look great together too! These pillows are now all available in  My Etsy Shop.

Wooden Boxes Before and After

You know how you go into an antique shop and spot something and think, "I want that but I have no idea why." Then you go home without it and it haunts you. So weeks later you go back and hope it's still there. Well, it was my lucky day because this set of three wooden boxes that I just had to have was still there. Here's my set of wooden boxes -- okay, truth be told, they are an old canister set. But they are solid wood and have such potential!

 

I brought them home and sanded them down. Mixed up a batch of chalk paint and gave them a few coats. Distressed them and applied a coat of wax that I then buffed out. I topped them with beach glass for knobs, and wow, what a transformation! When I get out to Seattle later this spring I'm going to search for the perfect sea glass chunks to become the official toppers for these fun boxes.

Turquoise and Orange Part 2 - Frames

My little beach cabanas, which I originally attached to a piece of driftwood, just weren't going over as well as I'd hoped. I decided to try something a bit different. I searched antique and thrift shops for frames with good character features, then repurposed them into these funky frames to give my beach cabanas new life! I think they turned out very fun!

Turquoise and Orange -- Love it! Part 1

As usual, my posts start with -- so, I found this piece of wood...Again, I had no idea what it was or what I was going to do with it, but it was interesting and I had to have it. So I brought it home and sanded and painted it a new great turquoise color that I mixed up.

I then decided I need to apply fish. It just seemed like the thing to do. So, I drew a few different shapes and my friend cut them out for me. I really thought a blue and butter yellow might work, but when I painted them up and laid them on the turquoise wood, it wasn't doin' it for me.

I decided to go bold with a bright orange. I painted them up and sanded them down and ...

Am really glad I made the switch as I just love this color combination. I arranged them into a 'school' and attached to the wood. Then, finished each fish off by adding an eye with a tiny Leland Blue stone from my treasure jar full of things like this that I collect on the beaches.  I'm not really sure what to call it, but I think it looks really great leaning against something or hung on a wall. You decide!

 

 

 

 

Outdoor Canvas - Something you should know

Hello! Outdoor canvas is a wonderful fabric for pillows, cushions, you name it! There is a huge variety of colors and patterns to choose from. But, something you should know if you are purchasing handmade products made of this fabric -- it unravels! So what's the big deal about that you ask? Well after continued use you may find that your seams are fraying, which is absolutely not good.

 

In order to prevent this from happening, the edges must be sewn with a serger to lock the edges and prevent fraying. I serge all of the edges on everything I make with outdoor canvas to prevent this and to create a clean, finished seam.

 

When you are shopping online for pillow covers, pillows, cushions, etc. always ask the crafter if the raw edges are serged to make sure you are getting the quality you deserve!

 

 

Nautical Shabby Chic Runner

I just finished this runner and really like how it turned out. It's made of natural burlap, woven with jute and appliqued with  gauze-like linen waves. I wanted the look to be very raw and all natural looking.

Here's how it was made:

I started by measuring and cutting my piece of  burlap. Then I created a paper template of waves, pinned it to my gauze, which I had backed with a fusible fabric stabilizer, and cut it out.

I then pulled out a couple strands and wove in a piece of jute the full length of the runner on each end. Taking a large embroidery needle, I wove in a couple strands of an off-white burlap for some contrast.

Next step was to pin the applique waves in place. And, with my machine set at a very small, tight zig zag, I sewed the applique to the runner. This was a bit tricky with all the twists and turns.





Last, all the edges were zig zagged to lock the weave in place so it will not unravel. I then apply a light starch with a hot iron to flatten and add body to the material. The look is just what I was after -- shabby chic, beachy, nautical and natural! Hope you like it. It's for sale in my Etsy Shop, www.etsy.com/shop/Floatinteriors.

Nautical Christmas

My love of working with burlap continues. I've had a lot of fun making these items. Here's a nautical garland I just finished. It has small 'flags' portraying boats carrying Christmas to port, larger Christmas trees, and fringe with bows. I hand cut all the appliques and iron then sew them on. Finding all sorts of holiday trims to add sparkle has also been a lot of fun.

Then I got hooked on beach cabanas. I just think they are so cute. I created this holiday table topper with a small cabana along side a swaying palm tree in opposite corners.

Next I headed out to the beach to pick up just the perfect size pieces of driftwood to use in creating beach cabana ornaments.

 

 

Driftwood Candles Centerpiece

 

I made this centerpiece for my table. I found the 3 glass cylinders at Joann Fabrics for 40% off.

They also had the flameless real wax candles for which I used a coupon :-)

I cut three pieces of green floral Styrofoam to create candle pedestals for inside the cylinders. I then surrounded them with pieces of driftwood and Petoskey stones to hide them and hold them in place. You can use narrow blocks of wood as well, but that required power tools; the foam just required a butter knife! The candles sit on the top of the green foam. You can pick them up easily to turn on the switch on the bottom to produce the flickering. I felt flameless candles were a better bet with dry driftwood from a safety standpoint.

The cylinders measure 12"H x 6" dia.; 8"H x 6" dia., 10"H x3-1/2" dia. 

I love how they turned out!

Beach Sign

I know this isn't a sewing project, but I just had to share because I'm so thrilled how it turned out. This is a piece of driftwood I found on the beach and hauled home one wet, cool day. I purchased these ceramic letters from one of the artists at Creative Corner and have created this fantastic beach sign! I really like how it looks with the upholstery fabric on my screen porch furniture. Don't you just love when a plan comes together.

Lunch Anyone?!

It all started with my garage sale find of these cute wooden folding chairs. They were $5 each -- how could I pass them up! Admittedly, they were not very comfortable, so I made these back and seat cushions which make a world of difference. All have tabs that just Velcro on and off. It was a fun project. Lunch anyone?!

Creative Corner Display

Here is my new display at the Creative Corner in Holland. I was able to get this great window space when another vendor moved out. I had walked down to Harvest Antiques to browse for something I might use as display fixtures and hoping not to have to spend too much money. I spotted these asparagus crates and thought -- perfect! Throw some fish net over them and they take on a nautical look, which is a perfect backdrop for all my Float items. $5 a crate -- can't go wrong!

Robert Allen Island Ibis Coral Tropical Pillows

I loved this fabric from the moment I saw it because it contains all of my favorite colors! It turned into very fun, bright pillows which I photographed on our patio at the office. Our green chairs and purple flowers were a perfect setting.

Palm Tree Pillows

I found this great quality jacquard palm tree fabric and just fell in love with it. I love the little embroidered palm trees and the fact that the colors are so neutral. I think this print could fit in almost anywhere.

I then found this chenille for the piping which I was really thrilled to see that when I used it on the bias it looks like woven stray which is perfect with the palms! I made a couple of the rectangle pillows as accents.

Driftwood Valance

This post is compliments of my friend Ruth who created this unique valance out of driftwood pieces and I wanted to share it with all of you!

 

"Here are the pictures you wanted of my driftwood valance.  After several beach walks I had enough pieces to span the window.  I laid them all out on the basement floor until I was satisfied with the arrangement.  I was able to purchase a metal rod in the correct length from my favorite local hardware store but if you couldn't get the correct length a longer one could be cut down.  I chose metal over a wooden dowel for overall sturdiness.

Then I got busy with the drill and a bit a little bigger than the metal rod and made a hole in each piece of driftwood.  I have to admit to splitting a couple pieces and having to replace them.  I threaded them on the rod until I had almost the width of the window casing.

I purchased wooden balls with one flat side at the hobby store and drilled a hole in two of them with a bit exactly the same size as my metal rod, then inserted pencils into the holes and stuck them in a block of styrofoam so that I could easily paint them.  When they were dry I put them on the ends of the rod using a little dab of good glue.

The brackets are simple cup hooks screwed into the window casing.  All I had to do was lay the rod into the hooks and voila!  Beachy, unusual and fun."

Vintage Hanky Pillows

In my cedar chest I've kept a collection of beautiful hand-crotched handkerchiefs that my grandmother made. Recently added to this collection were more handkerchiefs from my mother that she had saved. They were given to her by her mother mostly in birthday cards. In mentioning this to my sister, she sent me her collection as well as her wedding handkerchief.

So why did everyone send me their handkerchief collections? Well, what do you do with them really? Yet, they are not the sort of thing you want to discard as they really are beautiful. I had mentioned to my family that I was going to experiment with them to see how they'd make up into little heirloom vintage hanky pillows. So far, I've made 7 and I'm really liking how they turn out. I've found some pretty fabric to use as a backer for some of the white hankies and other coordinating fabric to use as a front or back. They are fun to make and just all look so different!