Embroidery Hoops DIY

Who knew embroidery hoops, with some fun fabric, could be turned into wall art? I don't care if everyone else with a nursery has them hanging on their walls. I just love them so!

Most of you could probably figure out how to makes these if  you wanted to, but I'll give you my DIY anyway....

Supplies:

1. An assortment of wooden Embroidery Hoops from your local fabric, craft or thrift store. I used to be big on cross-stitching and had quite a few hoops collecting dust in the closet.

2. An assortment of colorful fabric.

3. Scissors.

4. Hot Glue Gun.

First off, let me just tell you to please ignore the string tied around the hoop. I was planning to use the string to hang the hoop to the wall, but the string needed to be higher, and I found a much easier way to hang the hoops. I never claimed to be perfect ;-)

Step 1. Take your hoop apart and place your fabric over the "inside" hoop. Next place the "outside" hoop on top  of the fabric over the "inside" hoop. Tighten the "outside" hoop.

Step 2. Trim the fabric approx.  a half an inch from the edge of the hoop, leaving enough length to glue the fabric to the inside of your hoop.

Step 3. Place a small amount of hot glue to the inside of your hoop and fold the fabric over, gluing the fabric to the inside of the hoop.

Step 4. Finish gluing your fabric all the way around.

Step 5. Voila! You now have a pretty fabric covered embroidery hoop. Continue steps for the remainder of your hoops.

I decided to used some scraps of fabric to create a monogram "I" for Isabel. I sewed each piece on with some embroidery thread. And then hand embroidered "I is for Isabel" in blue embroidery thread, although it's kinda hard to see in the photo.

And the finished project once again.  I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

Stay tuned for my next post later this week, where I will give you a sneak peak of the nursery progess and how the hoops look hanging above the crib.

Jenny

Words for Monday

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Happy Monday and Happy Halloween :)

I played in the Nursery a bit this weekend and have two posts for you this week. I've been feeling like a bad blogger lately but have to remind myself that I'm pregnant and just trying to get enough sleep every night is a challenge.

Jenny

Words for Monday

spotted here

Good news! The glider for the nursery is being delivered this Tuesday! Which means I can finally start decorating the room!! This weekend I completed the hoop project and hope to post the tutorial later this week. So stay tuned.

Happy Monday :)

Jenny

Etsy Finds 10.21.11

1. Ruffle Purse - I'm a sucker for ruffles. 

2. NAP Pillows - Yes please! 

3. Star Collage - This is a cute idea for the nursery. I happen to own a star punch, and a heart punch, and a butterfly punch. So many possibilities.

4. Monogram Embroidery Hoop - I might incorporate something like this with fabric hoops I'm making. 

5. Chalkboard Frame - last week it was the chalboard tray, this week it's a chalkboard frame. Can you tell I have a thing for chalkboards?

6. Shell Ring - love this ring.

My priority for the weekend is to work on the fabric hoops for the nursery and share the tutorial with you. If I  have to skip cleaning a bathroom, so be it!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend! xo

Jenny

Nursery Progress - sort of

Here's the "progress" we've made on the Nursery so far. Basically, we emptied the room of the guest furniture and assembled the crib. Here's the view as you enter the room. I've decided to not repaint the pale blue walls (much to my husbands' excitement I might add!), since it's a feminine blue, and will add accents of pink and cream and white instead.

Here's the view looking out towards the door. The dresser, which we plan to use as the baby's dresser, belonged to my father in-law as a boy and then used by my husband growing up. I had wanted to painted the dresser white, but it feels wrong to paint a family heirloom. Plus my husband said no. I might add some fun knobs instead.

And here's a close-up  of the crib we got from Pottery Barn. I originally had my heart set on this iron crib, but changed my mind once I discovered the mattress did not raise or lower, and that our backs would probably kill us after a week of lifting the baby in and out of the crib.

So what's the hold-up on decorating the nursery, you ask? Because, as most of you know, I have been known to paint an entire room and redecorate in a weekend. Once I get an idea in my head, it's all I can do to contain myself. Well, this is the hold-up.....

We splurged and ordered this glider/rocker and ottoman from Pottery Barn, and it takes 8-12 weeks for delivery. 12 weeks would put us into December, so I'm really hoping it's more along the lines of 8-10 weeks. Anyways, the glider is going to go in the corner, next to the crib, and I kind of need it in place before I can assemble all of the other pieces of the room. Which is killing me. Because I want to decorate the nursery so badly!

Here are some of the ideas swimming in my head...

Once the glider is in place next to the crib, I am thinking of putting a floor lamp in the corner. And make one of my ruffled lamp shades.

I am also thinking of hanging these pom-poms above the glider. Maybe trade out the darker pom-pom for a cream or white one.

I had originally planned to make these fabric pom-poms, going off this tutorial. But then I gave it some serious thought, and realized that after cutting out 100 circles or so, I would be hating myself after the first pom-pom. They do look fabulous though.

And then there is of course these to die for fabric hoops! I have already picked out the fabric for mine, just need to assemble them and take pictures so I can share the tutorial with you.  I plan to hang the hoops above the crib. 

We already have some nice faux wood blinds covering the windows, but I also want to add some curtains. I haven't decided if I will make curtains or purchase some. These pink ones are kind of nice.

And then of course I am still thinking of doing one of these floor to ceiling book ledges. I wish I had a larger wall for these, but the only wall that works in the room is the one behind the door. Oh, and I love the pillow on the chair. I just might have to make one of these.

And lastly, if there is room once the glider and ottoman is in place, I would like to paint the deep bookcase that my husband built in high school, and place it beneath the window as a changing table.

Can the glider and ottoman hurry up and get here please? Because I'm dying to decorate the rest of the room!

Pregnancy update: I am just over 29 weeks along now, or a little over 7 months. We went in for a level 2 ultrasound two weeks ago, which is a 4D ultrasound, and got the most amazing pictures of our little girl Isabel! We could see her cute button nose, her tiny little mouth, her precious eyelids and her tiny hand which was resting along the side of her face. She is already so beautiful! I am feeling her move inside me more. Her little feet kicking the right side of my belly, her head is on my left side.It is such a trip to have a little being moving inside me  :)

Jenny

Words for Monday

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Happy Monday :)

Jenny

P.S. I hope to have a post or two up this week. 

Words for Monday ~ the late edition

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Happy Monday :)

Jenny

Etsy Finds 10.6.11

1. EAT sign - I have some red cardboard letters hanging in our kitchen that spell EAT, but I love the metal and cursive look of this eat sign.

2. Mesh Poncho - I have been obsessing over ponchos lately. I need to find one long enough that will cover my growing belly. This one isn't long enough, but I still love it anyway.

3. Punkin - Isabel should be around 10 months next October. I wonder if I can find a pumpkin big enough? Would this be considered child abuse?

4. Green Velvet Purse - This purse just screams my name!

5. Red &  White Stapler - I believe you have my stapler. If you even have to ask what movie that quote is from, shame on you! ;)

6. Chalkboard Tray - I'm pretty sure I've featured one of these in an earlier Esty Finds. But I still love these and want to make one!

My Friday starts today (yay!) and at 4 o'clock on the dot I will be hitting the road and on my merry way to Bodega Bay where me and 12 other girls will take over a house for the weekend and get our craft on. We try and do these retreats 1-2 times a year and I love them so! I have already warned my husband that this will not be changing when the baby comes along.

Wishing you all a glorious weekend whatever it is you are doing!

Jenny

Mendocino Getaway

Our 15 year wedding anniversary was last Thursday, September 29th. I still can't believe it's been 15 years. I can only imagine how much more time will fly when we have a little one in our lives next year. At first we weren't going to do anything special for our anniversary, other than go out to eat. But then we got to thinking that this will probably be our last getaway alone, as a married couple, just the two of us....for probably a very long time. So we quickly booked a stay at a B&B in one of our favorite places, Mendocino. And I'm so glad we did!

The weather wasn't ideal. It was dreary and rained on and off most of Saturday. But we didn't let it stop us from getting out and exploring the town, shops, beaches and most importantly, enjoying each others company.

The quaint town of Mendocino. Pretty as a picture even in dreary weather.

Packard House B&B. We stayed in their Garden Cottage, which had it's own private entrance.

Our room. It also had a gas fireplace, sitting area with tv, small eating area, and a private bath with spa tub and shower.

Just a few of the many B&B's that line the streets of Mendocino. I took this photo the morning we left, and as you can tell the fog was as thick as soup!

The rugged coast of Mendocino. These are the bluffs directly across from town, and within walking distance of our B&B.

A girl's gotta rest! This bench overlooked the ocean on the bluffs. I could have sat here all day, except it was starting to rain.

My crazy, shorts wearing husband. He has been known to wear shorts in the snow. He could live in just shorts and t-shirt if I would let him, which I do for the most part. Except at weddings. I draw the line at weddings.

Baby bump Isabel's first trip!

I feel like I have slacked off BIG time in the project department and will try and post some projects or at least some inspiration for you soon. I'm going away this weekend on a scrapbook retreat. 13 girls in a rented house out in Bodega Bay. Oh the fun to be had!

Jenny

Words for Monday

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Happy Monday :)

Jenny