My Rock'N Rocking Chair (and how I won!)

My husband and I could not agree on the fate of my rocking chair - he wanted to get rid of it, I did not. It was always in the way and no one ever used it. Here's the story...

Sanded and repaired

When I was pregnant with my son (many moons ago) I wasn't working and couldn't keep a job due to severe morning sickness like 24 hours a day seven days a week through out my whole pregnancy to the point I knew everyone at the hospital after the first month and even lost weight - and why do they call it 'Morning Sickness' if I were to name it - it would be '24/7 Puke Till You Tear Your Esophagus and Feel Like the Undead', SERIOUSLY!!!

Money was very tight, we couldn't afford new things. When trying to furnish the baby's room we used an old dresser I had as the changing table and purchased the crib at a second hand store but couldn't find a used rocking chair anywhere. We ended up putting this chair on layway at the local furniture store.

sad rocking chair

It was $75.00, so you can laugh now - but $75.00 was a lot of money back then (even sounds funny to me now too). I paid on it every week and the week before I was due it was paid off and I proudly brought it home.  I spent many nights rocking my little one to sleep, it was well used back then. When our son became a teen it was moved to the office where it was neglected and then spent a good amount of time in the garage where boxes were stacked on it. It had problems! When our dogs were puppies they used the rocker as a chew toy and damaged all four ends of the runners, some of the spindles were loose, one leg was cracked and it made a horrible creaking noise when you rocked in it.

My son was home from college for a few weeks and needed a project (he was bored) before going off to work an internship this summer - well what a great opportunity to have him repair and spruce up the rocking chair. And just maybe I could change my husband's thoughts on the fate of the old rocking chair.

The two of us went off to the hardware store and so began the paint drama (as my son would call it). I love color, really love color and choosing just one color can be quite hard for me.

I first thought - red like this chair...

Glossy Red Rocking Chair by Kim at Newly Woodwards

Then turquoise...

Turquoise Bed to Bench Makeover

Maybe yellow??

Bright Cheery Yellow Rocking Chair by Lou Lou and Oscar

Evan fixed all the problems and even cut and sanded away the chewed ends of the runners. They looked untouched by puppy teeth again! For painting we used tips from Centsational Girl, Brooke at All Thing Thrifty and Anyone Can Decorate (I just love the frame Diana does in the tutorial).

All primed up

I finally decided on a bright green, Tropical Foliage by Valspar. And I LOVE IT!!!

Bright green- so cheery!

It took 3 cans of gray primer and 3 cans of color, then antiquing glaze and 2 cans of clear gloss. Now it's an eye popping accent in our living room. My husband likes it! I won!!

Close up of the antique glaze on the arm

The glaze toned down the brightness but added a lot character.

Close up of antique glaze

I found the very colorful rug on amazon.com which ties it all together - now to make a pillow to sit in my ROCK'N chair :)

Finished :)

Question: If you were going to paint a rocking chair a ROCK'N color what color would you choose?

Quick Hand Me a Paper Bag...

I came across Tracey at Itching 2 B Stitching post about her craft room make over and began to hyperventilate when I saw this...

and the link to the plans at Ann White

Now that I am breathing normal, I should be finishing up my blocks for the Sew.Quilt. Geek. QAL

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

How many baubles do you hold?

Whilst awating my mojo to return home, I decided to repurpose a mirror. By spray painting the frame and 20 - .96 cent wooden knobs from Lowes in black. Then I epoxied the knobs to the cleaned and painted mirror; and now have a pretty place to hang and store my jewelry. (it's really hard to photograph a mirror)

That is just about all I did this weekend in the way of crafty-ness.

Is Everyone Else Getting Ready for Halloween??

Are you or your family having a fun time getting ready of Halloween? My family is, and even though I haven't been able to participate as much they are.

My husband has been working diligently in the garage making mischievous Halloween props. Don't ask me, cause I am way to scared to step into the garage to take a peek. You never know what lurks in there during this time of the year.

(you have to visit this site!!!) Photo from Penwiper

My son has been busy creating realistic armor for his costume. The internet is a wonderful thing, he found Penwiper that has great tutorial for armor made from craft foam. Absolutely amazing!!!!!

I have been asked to make a 'Tabard', never knew what a tabard was untill now. So until I finish this, my purse will have to wait. (but I need so badly to finish it, it is fall now and I NEED MY FALL PURSE ;0)

Ischia Necklace

In the summer of 2001 we vacationed in the Naples area, having the pleasure of living in Northern Italy at the time it was affordable for us to drive to the region of Campania. We visited Naples, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, and Paestum. We had wanted to visit the Isle of Capri, and tour the famous Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), but were told the sea was angry and there was no way we could go. So we decided to tour the island Ischia off the north coast of Naples, the biggest of the three islands in the gulf of Naples.

I was a fun time!! While walking through the piazza we were approached by a man selling coral necklaces. It was a dainty strand of what looked like seed beads.  We of course said "no, thank you", but he continued telling us how it was real and the best. He even bit the beads and broke one off, saying "real, real". All I could think of was how odd of a way to ruin your teeth. He kept at us as most street vendors do, but then being in the good mood we were my dear husband bought the neacklace for me. Now mind you we knew it could not have been real, but felt it was a fun souvenir. I still have that necklace and when I wear it I always remember the beautiful island of Ischia.

Just this week I was reminiscing about the beautiful island, and all the fun we had. When I came across a question someone posted at Fabsugar on the coral choker necklace Giada de Laurentiss was wearing in a photo.

'La Bella Figura'

Italian women have a elegant style about them and take pride in the way they are dressed. Giada is definitely a very stylish Italian woman! I got to thinking that I could use a coral choker in my wardrobe arsenal and off to AC Moore I went.

I purchased seed beads, faux coral nuggets, random faux coral shaped beads, gold bead caps, small gold beads, gold lobster claw clasp, jump rings, .038mm nylon coated beading wire, #1 crimp beads, brass 20 gauge wire, and crimping pliers (you know, just like the guys - we gotta get the right tools for the right job!). 

I made 5 stands of beads, two strands of just seed beads, one of seed beads and gold beads, one of seed beads and nuggets, and one of seed beads and the random shaped beads. Then loosely braided them before adding the bead caps. So what ya think?? Ya want a toot??

Ciao bella!

What to Do With That Old Feather Pillow

If you missed the start - In my adventures with the old feather pillow see the beginning 'what is pillow ticking', when I did not know where to start. Well, I found a way to reuse to help my family and save some space in the worldwide garbage pile.....

I made a dog pillow, and I must say my baby Julies (she is my sweetie from Italy - I am silly about my dogs) she really liked it after it was done!! I just had to give her some special attention, after she is being so patient with our new baby Ripley.

 

Here's how we started:

I found home decor fabrics in cheery lime green, orange and peach and that pretty yellow and white pillow ticking, a zipper bright orange and thread.

Created the pillow itself by sewing a pillow form out of pillow ticking. Then stuffed it with the feather pillow filling and a little bit of polyester stuffing I had from a previous project.

I made piping out of a light green, put the zipper on the long side and sewed up a cute pillow my fur baby loves (and the other fur babies).

Camera Strap Toot

I grabbed a handful of scraps.

Then cut the scraps into 13 - 2.5" by 6" strips. Arranged them into a pleasing grouping. Sewed them together using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Next I cut a strip of thin polyester batting 1.5" by 26.5". Pressing the fabric in half long ways with and iron, to find a reference point to place the batting. Place the batting on one side of this crease, then fold the side towards the batting.

Then fold in again, creating a strap and enclosing the raw edges. (the red in the drawing is the batting). Then stitch 1/4" on each side down the length of the strap.

I cannibalized the strap that came with the camera and used the ends. After frog stitching the ends off I then stitched the ends onto my new strap.

Ta-Da, a brand new designer camera strap!

Bookmark tutorial

I needed a quick gift for a friend, and this project helps use up the scraps.

I grabbed my supplies:

• 12 inch by 2.5 inch strip of fabric


• 12 inch by 2.5 inch strip of 'Wonder Under' (fusible)


• a scrap of Peltex (or Timtex, what ever that really stiff-stuff is called) - my scrap is about 2 inch wide by 5.5 inch long triangle


• pretty threads and beads.


• a sewing machine is handy, but you could do this all by hand if you wanted to

Fuse the Wonder Under to the back of the fabric, then cut in half, making two strips 6 by 2.5 inches.






Take one fused piece of fabric peel the paper off the fusible and fuse on to the stiff-stuff, I use a scrap of the paper from the wonder under to protect my ironing surface. Please pay attention you don't want to ruin the ironing board or iron (of course you can clean your iron - ask me about this I know well!). Make sure to let it cool!! Then peel it off.

Trim the fabric up to the edge, very close but not cutting the stiff-stuff.

Take the other piece of fabric and peel off the paper, then go back to the iron and fuse this to the other side of the stiff-stuff. This way both sides are covered with fused fabric. Remember to use a scrap sheet of the fuse paper or a teflon iron sheet. You don't want to ruin your ironing surface. Then trim the fabric away again very close to the stiff-stuff.

You end up with a fabric covered bookmark ready to embellish.

Now take care of the edges by using a satin stitch and some pretty thread. If this was done by hand a pretty yarn could be hand sewn in a blanket stitch down the sides.

These are some extras that can be used to help with fraying and the fabric pens are great to cover any tiny spots you might have missed with thread.

Add beads and its done. You can make these in any shape you like.

New bag

Well, the last few days got swallowed up by sewing. I made a few 2008 planner covers and was commissioned to create a handbag. The really fun part was creating a handbag out of recycled military BDU fabric. Her name is 'Cami',

Cami

She's a beauty that 'Cami'
all dressed in her camouflage,
ready to take on the world.
Just like you she's a tuff one on the outside,

but really very feminine and girly.
She is a wash me in delicate type
and with her convertible strap
she will cross-over or hang on you shoulder.

kira bell ©2007

What does this fabric have to do with Tennessee

I can't say just yet, because I am working on a special project for someone (so its a secret, sssh) but its a fun piece that's for sure.

Do you think they can dance well together? (that's a hint)

I have been stalking the mail box in anticipation for the catalogs and fabric swatches. I just know the postal carrier is starting to wonder about me. My fingers are itching to get started playing in dyes. I have a list of the dyes I must have on hand (not that I don't already have most of them) : lemon yellow MX-8G, golden yellow MX-GR, deep orange MX-2R (one of my favorites), Chinese red MX-GBA, fuchsia MX-8B, cobalt blue MX-2G, cerulean blue MX-G, turquoise MX-G, sky blue MX-R, new black MX-CWNA, & grape MX-G. I get most of these from Dharma Trading .

Now you don't have to have all of them, you really only need the 3 primary colors and you can make a world of color. I just like color and love playing to see all the variations that I can make. I only used fuchsia, turquoise, and lemon yellow (these are very bright colors) when I first started dyeing fabrics. Then once bitten by the dye bug I slowly started collecting colors.

On a crafty note, I love these flower pins . They would make great package/present bows, and the recipient could use it after unwrapping their present.