A burlap peanut bag and some old jeans turn into a handy garden apron.

Before I allow you to read any further, I must insert this disclaimer: I am NOT a seamstress!  In fact it had been about 30 years since I undertook a sewing project, and honestly, at the completion of this one, I remember why.   Unlike HOUSEMATE who thrives on rules, details and patterns,  I hate them.  I also seem to have a knack for housing evil spirits in my sewing machine.  The little imps that break your needle, cause the thing to jam and make the straight pins jump up and stick you when you least expect it.  I also firmly believe that bobbins are tiny evil creatures from the nether world, bent on driving me to drink!  That said – on with the project.

While searching through some craft supplies, I came across a burlap peanut bag that was really cute.  Even though it is too late for this year, I thought I would like to turn it into an apron for the garden next year – not just any apron, mind you, but one with a special little pouch for carrying picked vegetables.  I generally like to visit the garden in the evening and when I find things ready to pick, I turn up the hem of my shirt and make a pouch to carry my goods.  The only problem with that is, you have to use one hand to hold it up and it gets lots of good dirt on your shirt.   So I thought I would just add a little pouch to my apron to carry my veggies back from the garden.

I opened the peanut bag by cutting the stitches on the side and bottom.  Then I cut the jeans apart and drew out three strips 2 inches wide, the total length  long enough to go around the sides and bottom of the apron twice – This will be my ruffle.  I sewed the strips together and then pressed down  a 1/4 inch seam on one edge, then turned over another 1/4 inch and pressed it again making a nice finished edge.  a gathering stitch at the top and my ruffle was ready to pin onto the burlap base.

Now I must tell you at this point, I was sewing in one room and cutting  in the dining room.  I didn’t want to involve yet a third area, so I grabbed a thick towel and placed it on the table next to my cutting area  to press my seams.  This is when the evil spirits spread from the sewing machine into the iron.  When I moved the towel, I discovered the steam from the iron had penetrated it, ruining the finish on my dining room table!    Sigh.   On with the project.

Needless to say, I incorporated yet a third area in the house to do my pressing.

Once the ruffle was in place, I wanted to make the pouch that would fit along the back of the apron, but I could turn it to the front when I wanted to gather veggies.  I cut out a piece of denim in the shape of the bottom of the apron ( did I mention I hate patterns?)  I did a quick turned hem across what would be the top of the pouch and then attached it to the back side of the apron, behind the ruffle.

There was still a rough edge behind the ruffle,  and on the inside of the pouch, so I trimmed it down and used some double fold bias tape to finish it.

This is the part where the bobbin acted up and jammed the machine.  I had to unravel the entire thing and re wind it.  Then I had to cut all the knots of thread off of my apron.

Once I had the machine up and running again, I made the ties and waist band by cutting two more strips, sewing and turning them for the ties and then cutting the waist band to the size I wanted, pressing it under on all sides and attaching the front and then folding it back and re stitching.

Here it is, my garden apron – complete with a pouch that turns up to hold my veggies.  As you can see from this picture, I’m having  nice little bottle of wine to celebrate the event.

The bobbins won!

Contessa

 

While at the local glass outlet, I came across some very unique shot glasses and thought they would make a pretty nifty project.  I used one of the wooden blocks I got at the thrift shop, some puffy paint and some spray paint.

Drill holes at an angle in the top of the block so the shot glasses fit neatly into them.  Make the holes deep enough to hold them securely, but not so far as to detract from their unique shape.  I used three shot glasses, but you could do this for as many as you like, depending on the size of your wood block. Or make several for a really unique display!

Next, I wanted to add some texture and interest to the block, so I made designs on the corners with puffy paint.  Follow the manufacture’s directions.  The kind I used called for it to dry over night and then use a steam iron to activate the paint.  I used the puffy paint because I had it in my stash of supplies, but you could use any type of  textured scrap book items, stickers, or even shape thick wire and glue it on.

experience point:  shake the paint bottle often, to keep the paint at the tip.  If you make a mistake or a fuzzy feline sticks their tail in it, not to worry, you can reshape it with a small wooden pick or paint brush. While wet, the paint will wash out with water. 

Once the texture paint is dry, spray paint in the color of your choice.  I chose to go with a chrome.

The next thing I did was google search ‘words in other languages that mean Cheers’

I picked my favorites and added them to each side of the cube with scrap book alphabet stickers. You could paint the words or use any type of décor you choose.

I deliberately did the cube in neutrals so you can add some decorative pieces to the top or around the bottom and make it fit right in to any table scape.

Imagine the possibilities of colors, decorations and more you can choose for your own unique shot glass set!  This would be really cute for New Year’s Eve decorated with confetti and streamers! How about decorating with pink, use miniatures in a theme for a special girl’s night!

I hope you will send me pictures of any of your own creations!

Cheers, Salud, Prost, L’Chaim!

Contessa

This is a project that I saw many years ago, and have wanted to do it since.

By removing part of the silver from the back of a mirror, you incorporate the fabric covering into the mirror reflection.   When I brought this old mirror home, I did not realize that it had a plastic backing over the silver, making it a little more difficult to get the ‘fade’ effect I wanted in the silver, but with a little perseverance, it turned out pretty well.

You will need;

an old mirror

spray on, foam oven cleaner and gloves

a scrubber

a yard or less of fabric, depending on the size of your mirror.  I chose a pattern and colors that matched some earlier wooden pieces I had done.

(Honestly, I had not done any sewing projects for several years and I could not believe how expensive fabric was!)

and my old favorite – mod podge medium.

I also made come complimentary pieces from the extra fabric using

some paint and insulation tape and duct tape.

First remove any paper or cardboard backing from your mirror. Because there was a plastic backing over the silver on the back of my mirror, I had to remove it with a razor blade scraper before I could get the silver off the glass.  I scraped it just a little farther than I thought I would want my ‘fade’ on the silver.

Then, apply a generous coating of over cleaner to the area you want to remove the silver from the mirror,  make it thick at the outside, and thinner toward the inside.  Follow the Mfgr. directions, use gloves and a well ventilated area.   Leave the spray over cleaner foam on for about 15 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp paper towel and then rinse the entire piece will to remove all of the cleaner.  When you turn the mirror over, you will be able to see through the area where the foam cleaner was.  I attempted to get a nice ‘fade’ effect at the edges.

Now you will want to look closely at your fabric to see  how you want to place it on the mirror, making sure the fabric shows through the mirror the way you like.

Cut your fabric so it fits well over the clear area of the glass, then give the back of the glass a coat of mod podge, press in the fabric and smooth out all of the wrinkles, pressing it well into the corners and the edges.  then put another coat of mod podge over the fabric.  Once it dries well, you can trim off all the excess.

When it dries, it should look something like this;

I did opposite corners of my mirror;

Next you will begin covering the frame of your mirror with fabric,  again, look at it to make sure it will cover the way you want it to look and then measure the frame of your mirror allowing about a 1/4 inch excess for the inside where it will touch the mirror and enough to cover the back edge of the frame.  Cut strips of fabric to fit all four edges of the frame and then press under a 1/4 inch on each strip where it will touch the mirror on the front.

Use painters tape to cover the mirrored section of the  front.

apply a generous coat of mod podge to one length of the frame, both front and back.  Place the fabric with the ironed edge along the mirrored side of the frame, work the fabric until smooth all along the frame.   I cut the corners on the diagonal and turned them under to make a nice smooth corner.

Continue to wrap the fabric around to the back of the frame, using the mod podge medium to hold it in place.  I used a butter knife to make sure the edges along the mirrored edge were tucked in and smooth.   Do that on all four sides, then give it a top coat of mod podge medium over the entire frame.

While that dried, I wanted to make a couple of accent pieces to match my vanity mirror, so I found two heart shaped boxes that I had saved and the metal chair I picked up at a rummage sale.  I painted them with an off white spray paint.

 

I covered the tops of the boxes in the same way I did the mirror frame, using mod podge medium and smoothing fabric out as much as possible.  I wanted a smooth finish on the inside of my box tops, so once the mod podge was dry,  I cut pieces of complimentary color duct tape and sealed the inside top.

I wanted to use the chair as a jewelry holder, so I wanted a padded seat on it.  I looked around for some 1/4 to 1/2 inch type of padding,  I found some insulating tape in HOUSEMATE”S  supplies and thought that would do nicely.  I cut a paper pattern to fit on the chair seat, then cut a heavy piece of cardboard according to that pattern  and then cut the insulating tape to fit.  I cut the fabric large enough to cover and wrap around the entire seat cushion.

Wrapping the fabric around the cushion, I secured it in place with scotch tape and then finished the bottom with the colored duct tape.

There are several more items you might like to create for your vanity set,   Cover a tray in matching fabric,  make a simple sachet or cover a small round container to hold cosmetic brushes.  If you are sewing savvy, make a ruffled doily from the extra fabric.

Here are today’s finished products;

Hope you give this a try.  It could be a really cute gift for someone on your list.

 

Happy Crafting!

Contessa