INSPIRATION FILE FRIDAY!

Do YOU keep a file of old magazine pages showing things that YOU would like to make?  Or a box of photos that INSPIRE you and give you great ideas?  Last night, I was looking through an old Cottage Style magazine.  I can tell by many of the photos I chose today, that I have flowers on the brain.  It must be February!  When I see this photo, it reminds me that I need to get my inspiration photos out of the box and up on the wall.

I have some little clips and twine that would make this work in my sewing room.  If my ideas were "in my face" I would be more likely to move on them!


Some of that great Graphics Fairy clip art - all printed up and ready to go - would be a good idea.

Sweet little ruffly dress for a bar chair.

A pretty set-up for a cheerful painting. 

Lush peonies on a stack of beautiful fabric.  This photo screams "spring time"!
I love the color and texture in this photo.  Orange and turquoise in front of that beautifully carved frame.

These colors are so fresh.  Sweet Peas will have to be on my list of garden plants for next summer.

I like the arrangement of these three similar drawings.  All the framed artwork in this house had these colors in common.  I'm a person who loves lots of color - the monotone look is a little too serious for me.  But I think one room done this way would be pretty. 

And THIS s the crown jewel of this post, for me.

I just love this simple little table runner!  It looks like it's made of muslin and the birds on a branch are either stenciled or stitched.  Either way would work.  Wouldn't this be a pretty table setting for a spring brunch complete with your first bundle of peonies in a tall vase?

And do you see that little "lipped" tray on the buffet in the background?  Sitting on those tiny little "feet"?

See?

And that table runner idea ( I do love anything with the bird theme) led me to this unique clutch purse. 

 This is from an Etsy shop called ClutchThat.  From what I can see, she's no longer in business, but I wanted to credit her with this little gem.  

However,  I do think "I could make that"!  So could you!  Check out Martha Stewart's video on making your own clutch purse here.

My mind is swirling with ideas.  

It's going to be a great day!

SMELL THE FLOWERS - LAVENDER SACHETS

About this time of year, the only thing you can smell in Wisconsin is dinner in the oven, or the dry smell of "heat" coming from the furnace.  So, you start to crave smelling anything fresh and ALIVE.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to be in the middle of this?  

Well, this is the next best thing.  Lavender buds.  Did you know that in the language of flowers, lavender denotes purity, silence, and devotion?  

Nice..

I bought a pound of lavender buds a while back and still had some left.  So, I printed some beautiful images from the Graphics Fairy onto TAP (Transfer Artist Paper by Leslie Riley), and then onto plain white cotton.  TAP is the only transfer paper I have found that can be printed in an inkjet printer, ironed onto fabric, and still not leave a plastic-like surface on your fabric.  Just trim it close to your graphic and iron it on.  I bought mine on Ebay, since I had a hard time finding a store that carried it.  It comes in packs of 5 sheets for around $15.

I did a little old-fashioned embroidery on some more . . . just write out a word or phrase with a pencil and stitch away!  Then, with a pencil or freehand, design your own little version of a lavender stalk.  The simpler, the better, with embroidery.  It doesn't need to be complicated to have charm.  I just used a couple straight stitches and some french knots.

Then, with your embroidered piece and a plain piece (right sides together) just stitch around the sachets.  I used a long stitch to let that great lavender scent seep out.  Leave a little 2" opening for filling your sachet with lavender buds.

Don't forget to clip the curves and the corners, just like your mother taught you!

 Turn inside out, press, and then use a little paper cone (you can make one out of plain white paper - just roll a cone and tape it shut) to fill up the sachet with your lavender buds.

Next, whip stitch it shut, tie a little bow in some hemp cord or light twine, and put a little dab of hot glue where you want it to go.  The sachets are not heavy so you won't need much glue to adhere the bow.  I just used a thread of burlap - they pull out of the fabric so easily and make a great little natural fiber tie.

Then hang the sachet on a little hook inside your linen closet, or put a little sachet
in between each folded towel!

And your bath will smell a little more like summer . . .
 
 on a cold, February day!

"Ladies fair, I bring to you
lavender with spikes of blue;
sweeter plant was never found
growing on our English ground."
-Caryl Battersby




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