Ikat Pillows.

I received a sewing machine for Christmas. After making curtains, I wanted to learn how to sew pillows.
For the rookies out there, here's a simple tutorial.
1. Iron your fabric

2. Measure and cut your fabric (*factor in a little wiggle room, I left .75" on all sides. **If using a print, line up your fabric so the center of your fabric will be centered on your pillow)

Flip fabric wrong side up and pin around 3 sides. Sew as straight as you can. (I originally wanted to add piping, but I became frustrated and kept it simple.)

In the last step, you would add your zipper, but my dog Buster has a personal vendetta against zippers and has managed to eat every zippered item in our house. See below:

So no zippers in our home. Back to the pillow case.

3. Stuff your pillow in.

4. Pin your fabric in and run through your machine.

Wah-lah. Let there be Ikat.

If I can do it, you can too. Next project; slipcover for a round ottoman.

Texture is my Color.

Our guest room was the only room in our house I did not paint. The green walls were too vibrant and alive for my taste. I knew I would eventually repaint and decorate this room but it has been low on my priority list until recently.

I had the crazy idea that I would paint the room and sew 8 curtain panels. I am an amateur with the sewing machine. I only have one trick up my sleeve: ruffled pleats. I made linen panels in my dining room so I carried that same design over to the guest room.

Guest room before:




Instructions compliments of Jen

The finished product

Come on in and see...

It's like a winter wonderland in here with all the white linen.



A few notes: The ottoman still needs a cover; I want to repaint the (chalkboard) frame sitting on top of my desk. Would a matte white be too boring? You should know I don't love living with a lot of color, I prefer muted palettes. If I could coin a phrase it would be "texture is my color". I even debate leaving the striped headboard in there...just a few unfinished pieces I'm still thinking through.

Sewing 101.

I have always been intimidated by the thought of sewing. I admire how people can create pillows, curtains, hand towels, aprons, etc... but I assumed this was not an activity I would watch from afar and not take part in.
Enter Jen. She's so smart. She has an incredible gift of making all things lovely and she took on the task of teaching me how to sew.

My first project was linen ruffled curtain panels {how to steps click here}

I still have to learn how to sew in a straight line but thankfully these panels are forgiving. Thanks Jen!