DIY: Remodeling Office Part 1

Recently, I was moved from the recreation center I was at for 9 years to another one that was a lot older and in need of some decorative touches. 

This was the last day at my old office and first day at the new:

The first item was to conquer my office which still is a work-in-progress, but getting there....but I wanted to clean up the front desk area and update the counters and appearance. 

So I got an IKEA shelf for storage and covered all the drawers and doors with fabric and new handles. My first idea was duct tape but that did not hold. 

Then the weekend was spent covering up the entire counter with chalkboard paint. I used a primer and then two coats of paint. 

Here are the before and after shots:

And since staff is leaving this week and new staff is coming on board, we decorated it with messages. 

Plus a little hoorah for the Panthers win...

And the result of someone betting against them. GO PANTHERS!!

CREATIVEgirl: Creative Challenge #2

Given the music of Jonny Lang;

Watercolor on fabric. Started out really dark and dries extremely faded out. Sort of like Lang's range in music styles. Loud and soft. 

DIY: Fabric Topiary Trees

The obsession of making fabric trees followed me home from Nebraska. This time in the form of a topiary tree. 

DIY: Fabric Holiday Trees

Heading home for the holidays = crafts for me to do for the family. 

My mom had this one set aside to do...

So I began, and boy did it take a while to pin on each little triangle.

The basic philosophy is:

Cover the bottom of cone with a large piece of fabric.

 Cut several 2.5" squares...SEVERAL.

  Then double fold the triangles and place around the tree 2 times,  pinning each corner and overlaping the row below. 

Place decorative button or bow on top.

 

This is the video used for the creation:

Quilted Christmas Tree Tutorial (No Sew) | Fabric Tree

In the end,  it was worth it as I decided to make 3 more SMALLER one to complete the Tree Family.

 

I grabbed some funky zebra patterned fabric in bright colors and plan to make some for myself ...I would love to see what fun designs everyone creates.

DIY: Framed Fabric

I found this awesome fabric at IKEA and had to do something with it. So I thought frames!! Just what I need more of right?

So the fabric was on sale and some poster size frames were as well. And they were a perfect match. 

I cut the fabric down the middle and glued onto the cardboard from the frames.  

And inside the frame they went. and soon to be hung on the wall. 

And per my reflection. 

Yes I went running today. 

And yes Barkley enjoyed the outdoors as well. 

2013 AUTUMN JOURNAL: Ezra The Green

I was sketching various images in my sketchbook...when this one popped up.  I thought it would be the perfect idea to incorporate into my fabric autumn journal for Halloween.  I have the perfect quote just waiting for it.....

I took the size of the page and started sketching the images in a larger format...and playing with the layout.  These two are my final boy & ghost images.

So now I was ready to start the background....orange, purple, and black were my go-to colors with a few others added in plus tissue/napkins, etc. 

And the webbing spray is so fun and such a great texture to add.  Finally found some at Michaels...YAY.

I cut out my images and adhered them into place with fluid matte medium.  The paper images are so much easier to paint versus the rough texture of fabric.

And thus I began to paint away ...and doodle...and just have fun. 

"The naughty green Ezra has eaten all the poppy seed cakes. See!"