Yesterday's Surprises: Rainbows & Zinnias

Yesterday I had two surprises come my way. One was this lovely double rainbow that occurred just before sunset. It was quite vibrant and the colors where stunning.

I had forgotten how amazing they really are and what a surprise to see another one form right before my eyes.

The other surprise came as a little package from UPS. I had totally forgot that I requested some samples from a fabric company Link Design (linkoutdoor.com) after I had seen their fabric in Martha Stewart Living July 2010. The arrived in such a pretty package that I had to snap a photo of it.

Inside were two gorgeous 10" x 10" pieces of Zinnia (yes, I know) fabric in Stone and Pumpkin.

The photo does not do the fabric justice since the colors are beautiful and the fabric feels durable yet soft at the same time. It is intended for out door use but I could see it as curtains,pillows and maybe a beach tote. I am sure I will find some use for it since it is my flower of obsession.

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Ipad Pillow Stand

I like to watch tutorials on my Ipad and although I have a cover that converts to a stand, it isn't always the best solution for viewing. So I decided to make one of my own inspired by these Iphone stands I found on Etsy. They are sold by dognamedbanjo and are really unique and lovely. So I thought I could make one similar to it and here is how i did it. First I started with a 1 yard of a fabric in my two favorite colors. Then I cut the following pieces 1 Pc 13" x 13" 1 pc 29 x 13" 2 Triangle pieces 13" x 13" x 13" Next I sewed the top square to the two triangles. This is will be the sides and the base. Next I took the large rectangular piece and sewed it to the bottom of the square. Now I don't have photos of the last few steps since once it start forming a pillow it is difficult to photograph, but the process is not that difficult. Next I sewed each side of the the rectangle to one side of the triangle on both s

Neck Tie Upcycled to Cuff

I found a large stash of Neck ties at an Estate Sale this past weekend and I had to buy them since I had the perfect idea for an upcycle project. They were mostly from a long since closed store here in Buffalo,NY and I felt the need to preserve them as well as the tags. I started by washing them on gentle and removing them immediately and laying flat to dry. They came out a little disfigured but nothing that a little ironing wouldn't fix. Next I took a seam ripper and opened up the back to take out the interfacing. I did this for two reasons, it was discolored and had a little odor and it would be easier to sew without this bulk. I next cut the tie into a piece 10" long and hemmed the edge. Then I sewed two pieces of velcro to each side to make my cuff. The last step was to sew on a few antique buttons and beads and my cuff was done. Wow! Looking at this I can't believe how it turned out!.But wait... I made a few more! Love this one.. Antique Maple leave button and golden

Ultra Mini Dress Form

My obsession with mannequins continued this week when I remembered a free pattern for a tiny dress form pin cushion that I saw back in January. It's a two page download at www.thediydish.com with a video that takes you thru step by step of the process. I wanted to make a few of these for my craft room but thought they would also look lovely adorned with my recycled jewelry. So I started by selecting a few fabrics in colors that I love. Blues and greens are my favorite and make me feel like spring is not far away. After cutting and sewing the simple patterns and easy instructions (via video), I had these three stunning ladies in my craft room. They require very little fabric and can be mounted on candle sticks or spools. I made the long green dress form about 4" longer than the pattern since I wanted a bit of height and enough space to hang pedants. I added glass drawer knobs and beads for the neck inserts. I then added a few necklaces. I chose just a

Janet of All Trades

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