Sunday Brunch #1

A little late in the day for brunch. . .but thought I'd share some pics from the gardens at the Hampton Historical Site, located near Towson, Maryland. The magnolia tree was in beautiful bloom.

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 7

Let's stuff the pillow insert in the cover and admire our handy-work shall we? Yeah! Just the little confidence boost I needed to tackle the rest of the inserts and the other slipcovers. Perhaps the same will happen for you?

Couple of thoughts/tips:

1. Pinking Shears - GET a pair pronto. They are great for cutting edges you don't want to fray. This isn't a substitute for actually hemming fabric to a finished edge but it's a nice time saver if you need it. Or are just lazy like me.

2. Super sharp dressmaker's shears - GET some. I got my Gingher's at a serious discount at Jo-Ann's. This is also where I got my Gingher embroidery scissors which are great for trimming small threads.

3. It's so much easier to operate a sewing machine when you know how and why it works. I've used my sewing machine "green" and I've used it after I read a little about sewing machines. I had a lot more success after doing just a minimal amount of reading.

4. Don't get tense! I realized I used to get very nervous about sewing a straight line. I was looming over the machine like some kind of hunch-backed ogre. My entire body was tense, my jaw was tight, my fingers where cramped. The dogs (the little teeth beneath the presser foot) do a pretty decent job of feeding the fabric straight. Relax. No one will notice a bit of an errant stitch anyway. They will be too busy being impressed with your handiwork.

5. Luckily, this didn't happen to me this time. . .BUT. . .You can always rip out a stitch. Just make sure you have the tools for it. How often in life do you get a "do over"? In sewing, you do. What's not to love?

6. Never, ever, underestimate the power of preparation. It's so much better to take the time to think things through, to measure twice, to iron and launder properly than to have your hard work foiled by a silly but serious miss-step.

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When you're done sewing, pull the pillow cover right side out through the back slit. You should have something that resembles this. (Or better, if you're much more skilled than I am). Give it a light pressing. . .

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 5

I pressed the inside "quarter" edges. The "outside" edges were already finished since it was a dish towel originally. I sewed the "inside" edges I cut to form the open flap where the pillow insert will go.

Then I lined up the fabric as best as I could. And pinned the quarters to the front half. When you are sewing like this, the outsides of the fabrics go face to face "inside" so you can sew around the perimeter.

With this type of pillow - where you have a generous opening for the pillow insert, you can sew around all four sides.

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Plus this: Last summer, C and I checked out the Maryland Historical Society. That place is amazing! If I knew how to link or cross-post, I'd direct you to my "review/tour" of the place at HomeEckWreck. At any rate, my souvenir was a dish towel that resembled the vintage towels with all the attractions from the state on it. It wasn't cheap - nearly $25! - but when I purchased it, I knew. . Just knew. . .I could make it into a pillow cover. One year later, I was up for the challenge.

Here you see I have very bravely cut the towel into several pieces.

I had a pillow insert that I knew would work size-wise. So I folded the towel in half. Ironed. Cut on the crease. Then I took the "non printed" side of the towel and folded in half again. Ironed. Cut on the crease. This gave me three pieces.

The two "quarters" would form the back of the pillow with the "euro-sham" slit that could accommodate the pillow insert. The printer "half" would form the front of the pillow.

I never measure anything and typically this results in my being a huge fabric hog. This time, I had very little room for error so I sewed my seams very very carefully.

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 3

Intimidated by the zipper and figuring it would be less expensive if I didn't have to purchase a bunch of zippers, I decided I should make all the pillow covers and cushions with the fold-over "euro-sham" type closure. I love, love, love ticking. So I purchased some of that. I also purchased some crisp nearly white chino and some pretty brown linen. I wasn't sure what fabric went where when I started but as with most things. . .If you love it, you will find a way. . .Add to that a bolt of snow white muslin. You can always use muslin. (I hope?)

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Slip Covers 2

So I have this awesome upholstery on my very vintage sofa that my Husband and his Brother refer to as Margaritaville. (I'm sure they are being affectionate when they use that term). I adore it but I though for summer, we should have something "lighter." And so it begins. . .

Sumer Spruce Up Project - Slip Covers #1

Don't worry. It actually gets slightly more exciting. . .

Summer Spruce Up Projects - Table

This is really how all my grand slip covering craziness started. We got a new counter height table for our kitchen. We really needed a more comfortable place and more space to eat.

The table and stools were much more economical unfinished. So I painted them white. When the paint dried, I placed some brown kraft paper down the center to fashion an impromptu table-runner. And that simple piece of paper on the white table inspired me to make the decorating scheme more casual and neutral for the summer months.

Me and my bright ideas. . .

Summer Spruce Up Projects

So we have how many things going on? And I decided to add one more thing to the chaos. I decided a few weeks ago that it would be a good idea to change curtains, slipcovers, etc for the summer months. The only problem is I didn't actually have these items to just "switch out." And because our furniture is old and oddly shaped, I just can't purchase a standard slip cover. See where this is going?

Sunday Brunch #2

Speaking of design. . .Yikes. I'm not sure if this is comfortable? Surely it's not practical. It certainly would be a conversation piece.

Sunday Brunch

A couple of snapshots from our last visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art. Here, the sculpture garden. It backs up to the Hopkins Homewood Campus and is close to a busy street but still seems peaceful and serene when you walk through it.

Good Morning from Home ECK Wreck!

Spring, Summer, and Fall Sunday mornings mean Farmer's Market under the JFX. As the season progresses, there are more and more home-grown and home-made goodies available. Supporting local small farming operations, enjoying a lovely morning, and getting some good eats. It's a no-brainer!

There are several other farm markets in the Baltimore Area. Check out http://www.localharvest.org to find markets in your area.

Mother's Day Bake Sale 14

Loaded everything into baskets for easy transport.

The bake sale ultimately raised a lot more money than I ever expected possible. Big thanks to all our hungry supporters!

I'm glad I had the opportunity to participate this year. We have lovely neighbors and there's a real camaraderie on our block.

In this world where everything moves so quickly and often feels impersonal and callous, taking time to slow down and bake something from scratch and to share it with your neighbors, offers a sweet reminder or how fulfilling the simple things truly are.

Consider baking you neighbor something yummy.

Consider stopping by with some coffee so you can chat for 20 minutes.

Consider a supper club. Meet up at a different neighbor's house once a month to every two months for a pot luck dinner.

Considerr a community garden plot.

Consider offering your skills. If you're good at gardening, offer to help a neighbor. They can return the favor by helping you with another chore or project.

Consider a heartfelt note during the holidays. Not just one of those obnoxious "I'm bragging about my family" letters. Let your words convey the spirit of the season and your gratitude for having great neighbors.

Consider acknowledging a birthday or important anniversary with sidewalk chalk. Sneak outside late at night to deliver the message. What a great surprise for them the following morning!

Consider shoveling, sweeping, weeding, and mowing more than your share.

Consider taking some photos of the exterior of their home and their landscaping during the various seasons. You can present it to them in a beautiful album if they are moving or when they reach an anniversary of living in the home.

Consider your own block party.

Consider outdoor screenings of classic movies.

Mother's Day Bake Sale 13

If you like my elephant or owl and would like info on how you can make your own. . .Or if you'd like me to make one for you, please comment. I'm happy to share.

Mother's Day Bake Sale 12

I figured since I was on a roll, I'd put out a couple of my mixed media children's wall art just to see what kind of response it might receive.

I later only offered up the elephant and I somehow I lost complete track of it. I hope he found a good home. I really did love that elephant!

Mother's Day Bake Sale 11

I used the same tag idea as I did for the bakery boxes. I layered several tags. One contains a description of the product and for the flower pins, suggested uses. The other is intentionally left blank and can be used as a gift tag.

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So I figured I might make a few flower pins to offer at the bake sale. They aren't expensive and people seem to like them. So in the midst of all the baking, I quickly glued some pins on a few blooms I picked up at the craft store. (How to previously discussed. Check the April Archives).

Mother's Day Bake Sale 9

Amassing Mother's Day goodies in the living room. I didn't think about it at the time, but it really is rather miraculous none of the packaging or goodies met their demise at the hands (or paws) of the cats or dogs.

Mother's Day Bake Sale 8

Lemon Chamomile Shortbread.

This recipe is super easy and seems to impress folks. I got the recipe from the Real Simple website.

This could become one of my go-to summer dessert recipes. Lemon is very refreshing. And these little triangles while not exactly light as air, aren't overwhelmingly heavy. Another plus? They bake in a 325 degree oven so your kitchen won't get sweltering in the summer heat.

I used a 9 X 9 Pyrex glass baking dish. When the shortbread cooled sufficiently, I cut so there were 4 large squares. I further cut each square diagonally resulting in 8 triangular pieces. Two triangles fit perfectly in each of these lovely window-topped baking boxes.