ANTHROPOLOGIE TREES

It's time for another craft night with the girls and I'm looking at these three trees from Anthropologie.  These are pretty small photos, but if you go to Anthropologie's site here, you can get a close-up view of them. 

 32" Shaggy Felt Tree - $148

(made of wool, wire, and wood)

30" Curled Paper Tree - $128 

(made of wool, wire, and wood)

But . . .

the tree below is the least expensive AND - it's my favorite.  It looks so soft, like it's right out of a fairy tale.  I still have not figured this one out, but I think you could make a slim cone out of cardboard, and then use merino wool roving to make the wispy "branches". 

11.5" Wispy Felt Tree - $24

(made of cotton, styrofoam, bark, and wire)

You could make a beautiful little Christmas scene with several of these trees and a little book page house - all tucked under a large cloche!  So, I was googling around for a book page house and one of my own photos from last Christmas came up!  Perfect!

Now, to schedule a night with the girls . . .

A Summer Necklace

Lots of leftover beads and trinkets

 + 

some antique ribbon 

+

 a little linen 

= 

a one-of-a-kind necklace for summer! 

I saw this really unusual necklace using just those items here on Martha Stewart's website.  It reminds me of something you'd find at Anthropologie for $185!  I like the fact that you use all your odds and ends to put this together.  

Like this:

This is called KILN NECKLACE from Anthropologie for $268 made with a suede base topped with silk fishnet tulle, made in Italy.   It's kind of the same idea - doo dads on a fabric base.  I love it.  And it IS made in Italy.  But still.  $268??????
To be continued . . . .

Note holder for book lovers!

This is one of many ideas from the book, Playing With Books.
I bought mine on half.com for about $10.  The list price is $24.99.

What a great thing to do with an old mass market paperback book (the smaller, less expensive paperbacks).  If you can't part with one of your own, pick one up at Goodwill for about a quarter.  A 300 page book works out perfectly.  Just fold each page over halfway and crease.  I made this one on a long car ride last week - you can talk and fold at the same time.  I wish I had had more books along.  I could have made about 10 of these in no time.  They'd make great gifts for your book group friends.

After folding down the pages, you hot glue it onto a plaque.  I picked up my plaque at Michaels for $1.50 and stained it with Old English Dark Scratch Cover.

 This is a great place to tuck a sweet note to your spouse or kids.

  It can hold reminders, invitations, photos, or business cards.

Just squiggle some hot glue on the bottom pages and push it down firmly onto the plaque.  I think this looks a lot better than notes plastered all over the refrigerator!  It's also a good way to recycle old books. Even children could make these!

Anthropologie's "Anniversary Kitchen Towel"

Anthropologie continues to be a great place to find inspiration for a project.  As I was looking through the kitchen section I saw this unusual cotton dish towel.  I wanted to find a few things to make for a dear friend in Texas since I'll be visiting her at the end of the week.  This was just the thing!  This would be a perfect project for a group gathering - it's easy and quick, and by pooling together everyone's paints and stencils, you could make all kinds of different towels!

Here is the towel as shown at Anthropologie:

       

The dish towel is made of 100% cotton, has a stenciled floral design, and a list of anniversaries and the appropriate gift traditionally given for each one.  Notice the little loop-tag on the left picture.  It's hard to see clearly in this picture, but it's kind of a black and white polka-dot cotton.  It sells for $18.00 - kind of steep for a dish towel!

So, I found some good medium weight, 100% cotton, turquoise fabric paint, a flower stencil from Joann Fabrics, a fabric marker, and a little bit of turquoise and white striped fabric for the loop. 

First I tore the fabric into rectangles about 18" x 24".  

Then I taped off an area on the top half about 14" square.

After putting some newspaper underneath the "towel",  I randomly started stenciling on the flowers.  Use a stiff round flat-topped brush or a stencil brush.  I think a foam "brush" would pick up too much paint for this project.

 Once you've filled in the square with as many flowers as you like, pull off the tape.  Make sure you put some of the flowers halfway over the tape so you get some partial flowers - it helps achieve a nice line for the flower square.

 This is the fabric marker I used.  It's a fine tip which is good for writing words on fabric.

 Then I wrote out all the anniversaries on the lower half of the towel and machine hemmed all four sides - I rolled the edge over 1/4 inch and then 1/4 inch again, stitching close to the edge.  You heat set the fabric pen part by just using a hot, dry iron.  The stenciling will be ready to wash in 72 hours.

  A lot like Anthropologie's towel - right down to the little loop!  (Although I think I like mine better!)

The stenciling supplies and fabric came to about $12.00  That's enough paint, marker, and fabric to make about 6 towels!

Wrapped up with the appropriate gift for the year being celebrated, I think it would make a fun anniversary present for a friend.  

Can't wait to decide what we'll be making on my visit this time . . . and  to feel that warm Texas sunshine!

Sharing at:
Freckled Laundry's "Air Your Laundry Friday"
Shabby Nest's "Frugal Friday"
Feathered Nest Friday
Time Travel Thursday

Make a necklace inspired by Anthropologie

As I was scrolling through the "statement" necklaces on Anthropologie's website,
I saw several I'd like to make.   I thought I'd give a combination of these two
 necklaces a try - putting the organza flower (shown in peach on the first necklace) in
the spot where the sparkly beads are on the second necklace.

        

        
 Kirsten and Gwen are willing participants and they have arrived,
beads in hand.  So, here we go!  We have not had much experience
in this area, so we hoped for the best.

We used chiffon for our flowers but the tutorial link above for organza 
flowers worked just fine.  First we cut the chiffon circles for the flowers.  
You can make your flower with as many "petals" as you wish.  
It's a very feminine touch to the necklace.  Kirsten wins with the most petals!

Then, very carefully, hold the circles close to a flame so the edges get
sealed off and a little bit curly.  Later, we stack them, sew them,
and put a few beads in the center.

Then we arrange the beads.

Slip the beads onto wire, attach the chiffon flowers, 
add some chain, and then a clasp.

Kirsten's necklace

and Gwen's . . .

and finally, mine!

One word can describe our jewelry making session today
and that would be . . .
CATHARTIC!
AND, the necklaces are beautiful!!! 

We even had time to enjoy a little treat and coffee when we were done.
Thank you for such a fun morning, Kirsten and Gwen!  
Now, get ready for our next project (shown below)!

Anthropologie's Amlapura and Kuta Necklace - $198
We could make this!