Maybe The Easiest Project EVER!! Pillow Covers From Place Mats

 I am sitting here watching the pouring rain, basking in the glow of all the Christmas lights hoping the electricity will stay on as the ice begins to form later.  I decided to write this early today because this is one super duper easy trick for covering pillows.  With the holidays upon us, you might want to use this one because I sure did.  Don't you love when serendipitous things happen?  I have been looking for some replacement pillows since we moved here in July.  I have not been able to find any in the color that I wanted.  Yes, I could have made covers, but I also could not find fabric that I liked.  So, I just simply waited.  Something always comes along.

Lo and behold, my friend Connie, who lives in Dallas, sent me a link to a site called Hometalk and they had this idea to make pillow covers from place mats.  GENIUS!  Pure Genius!  Possibly the easiest project ever!!  This works for lumbar pillows, you know the rectangular ones?  I had two that desperately needed to be replaced.  Little boys, aka grandsons, had created some stains on mine.  Then there is the fact that I have had them for years and the slick fabric, maybe rayon?, had started to shred.

I love these pillows and have been very sad that it was time for them to go.  But, all good things have their time and they have definitely had their time.

As soon as I saw the link she sent, I headed right to Target because I knew they would have some holiday place mats in red.  I mean, it is Christmas, right?  Luck be a lady, because they had the perfect place mats.  Heavy, red, trimmed in some dull silver sequins, $3.59 each.  Perfect!  Bought two and headed home.

This literally took 15 minutes to do - start to finish.  I LOVE when that happens.  First, remove the stitching from one end of the place mat.  Did I mention they have to be fabric and sewn?  Well, they do.

Now, open the end up.  These were lined with reinforcement - even better!

Now, simply put the pillow form inside and stitch up the end.  I used my machine.  If you don't have a machine, you can hand stitch it, use stitch witchery and iron it together, or use liquid stitch.  This may be the easiest pillow project ever!

I am so excited about these!  Quick, easy, inexpensive - perfect.  I could not have bought home dec fabric for the cost of these two finished place mats.  Then you have to cut out the pieces, sew them together, pray they fit.  You know how it goes.

This may have been the easiest DIY project ever!  Thanks Connie for sending me that link.  Serendipity at its finest.

Give this project a try if you have some lumbar pillows in need of an update.  There are so many pretty place mats available right now.  Let me know if  you try this project and send me a picture so I can share with others.  Who would have thought of place mats.  You may have, I sure didn't.

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

Sharing ideas makes life so much more fun and projects so much easier.  Social media does have great benefits.  donna

Scrap Book Paper Flowers And Rolled Book Pages Make A Beautiful Wreath

 Hallelujah!  I am basically done with Christmas decorating, 2013.  I finished just in time for the impending ice event coming our way.  Hopefully, we won't need anything from anywhere because we will NOT be going out if we get ice and sleet as predicted.  Nashville is so very hilly and drivers are erratic on a good day.  Nope, not going anywhere.  We will stay in and listen to Christmas music and bask in the glow of the lights on the trees and elsewhere throughout the house.  There are many projects to be completed and baking to be done.  I am actually looking forward to it.  No need to go anywhere.  Yes, I like it.

Today, I thought I would share with you a wreath I made to hang in my tobacco basket during the Christmas season.  It was inspired by a similar one I saw over the weekend while shopping with friends on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  That wreath was made on a grapevine wreath and I loved it.  It spoke to me.  It just wouldn't have showed up on the dark background of my basket.  So, I used an artificial greenery wreath instead.

The wreath had paper "flowers" and rolled book pages - so natural looking.  It just really appealed to me when I saw it.  Loved it actually and knew I would use it as inspiration.  I added some pine cones and Christmas ornaments and beautiful red burlap ribbon.  It's very easy to make.  Here is how you can make the paper "flowers."

First, cut 4 inch square pieces of paper in patterns that you like.  I used my trusty paper cutter that I got at Big Lots for $19.00.  It sure makes cutting things evenly and square so much easier than using scissors.  I chose 4 patterns of scrap book paper and cut each 12 x 12 piece into 4 squares, 4 inches on each side.

Next, you curl the corners by using a pencil and rolling the paper over the pencil.  You don't have to hold it very long, remove the pencil and it will curl.

This is how it should look.

Starting with the bottom piece of paper, hot glue a button in the middle of the paper.  Choose the next piece, hot glue the button in the middle and angle the paper so the curled corners are next to the first piece, not on top of it.  Hot glue that piece to the button below.  Continue up the stack until it looks like this.  I used buttons because I have a huge bag of them from projects past.

Make as many flowers as you would like for your wreath.

Now, tear some pages from an old book.  I have a Complete Works of Shakespeare (sorry Will) that I dismantled a year ago.  It was huge and has given me many pages for book page projects.  I just go get some from the stack.  Roll a page and use a glue stick to glue the last edge down.  You need 3 rolls per stack.  I turned the plain part of the pages to the inside and attached them to each other with a small dab of hot glue.  I did that so that only text is showing.

I used sisal twine, but you could use ribbon if you so desired.  Wrap it loosely around the middle of the stack and tie a simple shoe string bow.  Easy peasy.

Make as many stacks are you want to use.

Place the paper flowers and the book page rolls on your wreath where you want them to be.  Hot glue them in place.  I added pine cones and Christmas ornaments to fill in the wreath, then wove some burlap ribbon into the greenery.  That's all it takes.  Here's a closeup of details of the wreath.

Its really pretty and uses a lot of natural elements.  Here is the wreath in the middle of the tobacco basket and the decorations on the cabinet underneath.  I used lots of music and book pages in my decorating this year.

I will share directions for some of the other decorations I made as the days go by.  Book pages and music pages make for some inexpensive decorating elements.  There will be a picture tour of our home in days to come.

I hope the weather doesn't get too bad here or where you are.  If it does, enjoy your time at home if you are privileged to stay in and create something you love.  Christmas is coming!

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

Inspiration comes from many places.  Always look around for ideas when you are out and about.  donna

Handmade Origami Stars

 Happy post Thanksgiving to you one and all.  Hope your holiday was happy and satisfying.  If you forayed into the black Friday madness, I hope you survived without incident.  I worked retail for too many years and I don't go near any place that entails shopping of any kind.  Period.  I have had my share of the madness.

I did spend time crafting and doing projects with the grandsons.  One of our projects was making these beautiful origami stars that I found on Shelterness.com.  Each piece of the star is called a beam and you can make them with 16, 14, or 12 beams.  The star pictured has 12 beams.  They are so fun and easy, even our 7 year old grandson made them.  Actually, he was going like a house on fire once he got the basic folds down.  He and his 10 year old brother made enough to decorate their Christmas tree and they are gorgeous!  They are such a nice add on to small ornaments.  They really make a statement.  In fact, our other daughter wanted to learn how to make them for their tree after she saw the ones we made.  We had a down home star making party.  It was lots of fun.

To make these stars, you can use pre cut origami paper that comes in 4 inch squares, or you can use scrap book paper and cut your own squares.  It just takes a little more time.  I bought a book of Christmas papers at Michael's that has lots of designs in it.  It was $19.99 and 40% off.  The papers are 12 x 12 so you can cut them into 4x4 inch squares easily.  Choose the papers you want for your star.  You can use patterns or solids, or a mixture  - whichever you prefer.  First, start with a 12 x 12 sheet.

I'm sorry the quality of the pictures is not great.  The red did not photograph well.  But, I hope you can get the idea.  If you have problems, go to Shelterness.com.  Back to the directions.  First, fold your paper in half.

Open it up and fold in half the other way so that you will have 4 equal squares.  Make your folds as crisp and flat as possible.

 Now, cut or tear along the fold lines so you end up with 4 equal squares.

You will need at least 12, 14, or 16 squares.  Now, take one of the 4 x 4 sheets of paper and fold it in half one way, and then in half the other so you have 4 small squares.

I started in the lower right corner.  Start wherever you are comfortable.  Fold the corner to the center to make a triangle.

Do this with all remaining corners, so that the paper looks like this.

Now, this is the tricky part and I will try to explain it the best I can.  Turn the square so it looks like a diamond.  Starting with the bottom left corner, fold it to the middle.   You are going to fold the top piece also so it looks like a kite.

Are you still with me?  It's easier to follow if you are folding while reading.  Now, flip the kite over so you have a solid kite facing you with all the folds on the bottom.

Put the top of the kite "up".  Fold the point down -from widest point to point, making it even across.

There will be an opening facing you in the flap you folded down.  Now, pick the beam up and fold it in half with the piece you folded down on the outside of the beam.

It looks like an inverted paper air plane.  It is actually a right triangle.  This is a completed beam and you want to do the same for all the pieces you are going to use.  If you hold the beam toward you, it should look like this.

The opening in the fold is where you will connect all the beams together to make the star.  After you get all your pieces folded, you will take the pointed end and place one point in each side of the open fold in a beam.

I am working left to right, so the openings will be on your right, the points to the left.  Push the beam into the opening as far as you can so it is nice and snug.

Continue around, making a circle.  You can made a pattern or group "like" papers together, however you want.  Here are a couple of others that we made.

You can make hangers using yarn or embroidery thread, a little hot glue,  and then hang them, or you can use the opening in the star and hang it over a tree branch.  These are all 12 beam stars.  My daughter made a 16 beam star that is stunning!  Would be a great tree topper if  you attached it to a paper cone to slide over the top of the tree.

Christmas is not Christmas at our house without doing some handmade projects.  I am so happy that the boys enjoy making these projects too.  Some of my fondest memories of Christmas's past are about projects that I made.  There are always hand made gifts for those I love.  How about you?  Do you do Christmas crafts or handmade gifts?

These beautiful stars would made wonderful gifts for teachers, co workers, or neighbors.  They would make beautiful package toppers that could be used as ornaments.  There are so many things you can do with them.  How about making a garland?  If you come up with some unique uses for these stars, please share with us.  I will be sharing many more projects with you in the days to come.  Here's wishing you a very crafty Christmas holiday.

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

Gift's from the hands are gifts from the heart.  They are the best kind.  donna

No, It's Not A Slinky! DIY Wire Wreath

 Don't know what the weather is like where you are, but it's a very gray, gloomy day here in Nashville. We are two day's away from Thanksgiving and I have my menu planned and shopping done.  Whew!  That is a big relief.  It gets downright crazy at the grocery during the holidays and I am all about relieving any and all stress if and when possible.  How about you?

Since it is gloomy, I thought I would share something bright and cheery with you today.  Yes, we know that Christmas is coming.  I have not begun to decorate, but I have begun making things for this year.

I saw this wreath on a site called patinawhite.com.  She was showing her studio (which is amazing and gorgeous if you want to go sneak a peek) and all the things she had for sale for Christmas.  One of the pictures was a wreath made of wire and my heart jumped for joy when I saw it.  Do you ever see things and just immediately know you want one?  Must have one?  Will do most anything for one?  Sadly, there were no instructions for how to make it because it was for sale.  I looked at the picture and in my usual fashion thought "I can make that."  Yeah, right.

Oddly, I had bought a package with 50 feet of anodized wire one day at the Habitat Re Store for $3.00.  I just liked the way it looked and thought I could make use of it some day.  Well, someday arrived and I knew it was the perfect thing to use for making this wreath.  The wire was coiled in it's package so I knew it would uncoil like a big slinky - hopefully.  The wire did not let me down.

I needed some kind of heavy wire to make the wreath form so I went on my proverbial hunt to Home Depot.  In the electrical section I found this 16 gauge dark annealed wire.  It was the right color and weight that I needed.  It cost $10.00 which was not too bad because I can use it for a lot of projects.  I didn't use much at all for this wreath.   This is how it looks.

There have been many, many wreaths in my past since I worked as a floral designer for many years.  I had never made one like this, but I jumped in with both feet (and hands) to see if I could conquer this one.  There were moments of sheer frustration while I "figured" it out, but I know how to do it now and will be making more.  Here is what you do if you would like to make one.

First, make a round wreath shape the size you want.  My base shape is 18 inches which may be a bit big because it is heavy when you put all the stuff inside the wire and it caused the wreath to droop a little.  But, I have a solution for that!  Fourteen or 16 inches may be a bit more workable.

Twist the wire together where it meets to form a ring.  I made a fancy little hanger, but ended up not using it, so that is your choice.  *When the wreath was finished, it was too heavy for one ring of wire, so I went back and added another ring.  For safety, just make two rounds of wire to start with and attached them together with thin wire.*  (see instructions below)

Next, pull the wire coil out and start attaching it to the wreath form.  It took almost the whole 50 feet for the 18 inch wreath because of the coil.  I attached the coils to the base by using 30 gauge floral wire and twisting it around the coiled wire and the wreath form like this.  Use the same process for attached two rings of wire together to make the wreath form.

Do this every 4-5 inches to make sure the coil does not come loose from the wreath form.  It takes a little time, but is a must!  Go all the way around the wreath form and attach the coiled wire where it meets.

Now, it's time to fill in the coiled wire.  I made balls of yard by starting with a styrofoam ball and wrapping it with yarn.  It does not take as much yarn as if you were making a solid yarn ball and is not as heavy as a whole ball of yarn would be.  Just hot glue one end of the yarn to the styrofoam ball and then wrap in different directions until the ball is covered.  I used white, cream, tan, and dark red yarn.  You could use all one color or any colors you like.

Now for the fun part.  Using some different sized ornaments and the yarn balls, place them inside the coiled wire by separating the coils and pushing the yarn and ornaments inside.  I worked with mine until I got a look I liked.  Now for the "be careful" part.  I hot glued the ornaments and yarn balls together because the small ones will slip through the coils.  After they were all glued together, I used the 30 gauge wire and put it through the backs of the yarn in the yarn balls and wired them to the wreath form.  Just another "safety precaution" to keep them from falling through the wire.

I had some burlap ribbon that I used to make a bow and thought I was done.  I hung the wreath up to admire it and it sagged slightly causing it to pull out of round.  OH NO!  My OCD kicked in.  That was not acceptable, so I needed a quick solution.  It was really quite simple.  All that anxiety for nothing.  I used the 30 gauge wire and wrapped it around the center bottom of the wreath form and pulled it taught leaving a few inches more than needed and wrapped that around the center top of the wreath form.  The wire is behind the bow and not visible in any way. The wire is super thin.  The wire goes from top to bottom and holds the wreath in shape.  Ta Da!  Whew!  I was getting anxious there for a minute and that is why I think a slightly smaller wreath would not be as heavy.  Feel free to do whatever you want since there is a remedy to the saggy wire dilemma.

I plan to hang this wreath in the center of my tobacco basket during the Christmas season.  It is going to look awesome there.  I would not recommend this wreath for outdoor use because of the yarn and styrofoam balls and hot glue.  Hot glue will contract on the ornaments when they get cold and they will fall out of the wreath.  It's probably better as an indoor kind of wreath.  Just sayin'.  Do whatever you like.

This is a lovely wreath with a slightly industrial look or country vibe and appealed to my "down home" side.  It has many possibilities for year round use by using all yarn balls instead of some Christmas ornaments, or wrapping the styrofoam balls in different colored twine. Hmmm.  Another idea!

 I am making one of these wreaths for my friend Joyce for Christmas as a gift.  Try making one for yourself or as a gift.  Let me know how it turns out.  I'm ready to make some more!

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have.  Maya Angelou

Our Dining Room Is Almost Finished

 Happy Monday everyone.  Hope you had an enjoyable weekend.  It is countdown to Thanksgiving and we are supposed to get some sleet this evening.  I have bread, milk, and eggs, so I guess we are good if things get slippery.  Don't you wonder why everyone rushes to the grocery when there is a threat of bad weather and the bread, milk, and eggs are all gone?   Guess everyone is going to make French toast.  What other reason could there be?

Yes, I have been working on Christmas projects and I will share those with you later this week.  I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but you must start early to get them all done in time.  Today, I wanted to share our dining area with you before it gets all gussied up for Christmas.  We moved here in July and I have been taking my time getting pieces that I wanted to use and that would fit our budget.  Sometimes it truly pays to be patient and wait for the things you really, really like and great prices are a bonus.  I like comfort and I guess what would be called a shabby chic look - very eclectic.   I don't necessarily follow convention or what is popular, but that is your prerogative in your home.  Do what makes you happy!

Because we now have an island on the kitchen side with bar stools, I no longer needed the huge table and chairs that we enjoyed for many years.  I knew it would be too big for this area and not what I really wanted, so I sold it to the young couple who was bought the house we lived in.  They were thrilled, I was thrilled.

Sometimes you have a vision of how you want a space to look.  We are living in a 1500 square foot condominium that is all on one level (yay!).  That is the same square footage as our former home, but it is laid out differently and seems much bigger somehow which is good.  There are more ways to use the space with furniture placement.  The kitchen/dining area has ceramic tile floor which is great for the working side of the kitchen, but a little "hard" for the dining side.  Therefore, I wanted an area rug to soften the space and that took me a little time to find one that had the colors I liked in the size I wanted. But, find it I did.  Price was right too!  Thanks Old Time Pottery.

The first thing I purchased for the space were two old wicker chairs.  I have a thing for wicker.  I found them at a second hand store at an amazing price - $35.00 ea.  They were dirty and needed a little TLC, but that was an easy fix.  Otherwise, they were in perfect condition.

Dan gave them a cleaning with some soap and water and then spray painted them in a nice, bright white.  They look so good now.

Amazing what a little paint can do.  Then the hunt was on for the right cushions.  Of course, it was the end of the summer season and the pickings were a little slim.  I found just the ones I wanted at Pier 1 (on sale of course).  They are a teal blue microfiber and I sprayed them with Scotch Guard because we have lots of little boys running around here on a regular basis.  They look more blue in this picture, but they really are a turquoise/teal color.

This is my favorite place in our home.  I love to sit and read here.  It is light and comfortable - sort of like sitting on a porch.  I am still working on what art piece to put over the chair on the left.  The table and lamp were things I already had.

We needed a table and chairs and I went back to the same shop where I found the wicker chairs.  Oh happy day!  When I walked in the door, there sat a marble topped bistro table on a wrought iron base.  It was love at first sight and boy was the price right!  It left in our car.

I cleaned up the top which is 36 inches in diameter.  I knew I would get a glass top to put on it to extend it to 42 inches.  That is the perfect size for the space and to seat 4 people if not more.  You can see it with the glass top in the other pictures.

Now, the chair dilemma.  You find tables for sale, but rarely find a complete set of chairs and chairs ARE NOT CHEAP!  I had in mind what I wanted.  I wanted French bistro chairs, but even old ones can be hundreds of dollars each.  That was not in my budget, so I started searching the world wide web for ideas.  I found a great chair on the Sears website of all places and it was  - are you ready? - $19.00.  I thought it had to be a mistake, but it said they were sold in store.  We have a Sears store 2 blocks from us.  We headed there immediately and they had them in stock!  Happy, happy day.  This is how they look.

They are a natural color and match a set of tv trays.  Yeah, 4 of those came home with us.  Four chairs under $100 is almost unheard of and they are brand new AND they fold up.  A coat of Zinsser and a couple coats of white paint later and they are the perfect chairs for the table.  I still have to make some cushions for them, but that will happen in due time.

Dan, Dan, the painter man, did these and they are awesome.  Look how great they look with the table.

He also painted the cabinet under the tobacco basket for me.  It was formerly a light cream color.  It looks so much better white with the wall colors and the other furniture.  Things are coming together!

There was no overhead light in the dining area and no electric box to hang one from.  I decided we would make our own hanging lamp using a shade I found at Target that I really liked.  I used a pre made hanging light kit from World Market to make the lamp in the corner (you can find directions for making it on my blog), but they are only 15 feet long and the switch is on the cord. We needed 25 feet of cord and I did not want the switch on the cord hanging on the wall where you could see it. I wanted to be able to turn the lamp off and at the bulb. So, we bought a three way socket, some clear wire and a kit that would attach the socket to the wire to make our hanging lamp.  We got most of it at Home Depot.  It's amazing the things you can find these days.  Great for when the existing things don't meet your needs.  We can now hang the light from hooks we put in the ceiling because it is light weight, not like a regular dining room fixture. 

This is a chalk board we made for the grandsons to play on.  This is my Thanksgiving board that I did with some of their sidewalk chalk.  Just a little reminder for all of us.

Next week, everything in here will be transformed for Christmas.  I am starting to get excited.  How about you?   We get to have a wonderful time with family celebrating our gratitude for all that we have been given on Thanksgiving and then it's on to the most wonderful time of the year.

Hope you enjoyed the little tour and pictures today.  You will be seeing the dining room again all gussied up for Christmas.  Thanks for looking.

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

I am grateful for what I am and have  My thanksgiving is perpetual...O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches.  No run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment.  Henry David Thoreau

Barbecued Beans and Greens (I Added Sausage- Yum)

 Oooh, it has suddenly gotten cold here in Nashville.  It was below 30 this morning and that meant time to put the flannel sheets on the bed.  One thing led to another, and I ended up cleaning the whole house.  I don't know about you, but that leaves me with a great sense of accomplishment.  I even got my closet all organized (which had needed to be done since we moved in here at the end of July).  That sound you hear?  That's me exhaling a giant sigh.  I just love finally getting things done.

Now that cold weather is really upon us - and it is cold in most of the midwest - don't you wish you had some new recipes for tasty comfort foods that are easy to make?  Well, I've got one for you today.  This recipe is SO good and really easy to make.  Our daughter Holly gave me this recipe after she had it at a party for parents of students at her sons' school.  She told me it was one of the best things she had eaten in a long time, and I have to agree with her!  Even her boys like it and they are most suspicious of new things if you know what I mean.

This recipe is made with  cannellini beans, and kale.  As you may know, kale is the new darling of the health food world and with good reason.  It is full of flavonoids and antioxidants.  Kale is good for reducing cholesterol and helps detoxify our systems.  You can read all about the great health benefits of kale here http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38.

I added a pound of browned breakfast sausage just to have a one dish meal.  This recipe would be just as good without the sausage, believe me.  The flavors are amazing.  I can see the skeptical look on your face from here.  Beans and greens?  Barbecue sauce?  Seriously?  You are going to have to trust me on this one and give it a try, just so you will know how good this really is.  Yummmmmmo is all I can say.  Here is what you need:

2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (white kidney beans are the same thing)
8 cups chopped kale  (1 large or 2 small bunches, stems removed, chopped and blanched)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup barbecue sauce (they recommend Stubbs, I used Sweet Baby Rays - what I had and it's great)
2 tsps hot sauce  (I used Tapatio)
1/2 cup warm water
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
2 Tbsp dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb. breakfast sausage browned, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

To blanch the kale, remove the stems, chop in small 1-2" pieces,  and place in a steamer basket over boiling water in a pan big enough to hold all the greens.  Cook for just a few minutes.  Kale can be rather chewy, so make sure you cut it in small bite sized pieces.  Mine was cut a little big and next time I will cut it smaller.  It will just make it easier to eat.  That is my only tip.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add the onion and saute for about 6 minutes until soft and translucent.  Add the garlic and saute another minute or so.  Add the blanched, chopped kale and cook for a few minutes.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.  

If you are using sausage, brown in a separate pan and add to the above mixture.

If not adding sausage, place everything in a 9" casserole and bake covered for 45 minutes.  If adding sausage, place in a 9 x 13 baking dish, cover and bake for 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and serve.

This is SOOOO good.  You get protein, greens, fiber, and deliciousness from the sauce.  Serve with some hot bread and you are good to go.  The sauce is so good that I will use this for my baked beans from now on.  Amazingly good.

If you want to serve this as a side dish, leave the sausage out and make as recommended.  Just.  Plain.  Awesome.

I really like recipes that are recommended by others who have actually made or eaten them.  Sometimes choosing recipes can be a toss of the dice.  They sound good, but don't always turn out the way you hoped.  Give this one a try.  It is approved by 3 picky small boys and their Pawpaw.  Thanks, Holly!

Everyday Donna

Things to Remember:

There are two types of people;  those who eat kale and those who should.  Bo Muller-Moore