Pretty Noise

martha tells me how to organize

2010-03-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

A properly folded towel has a neat, fluffy appearance and hidden edges.

Fold towel in thirds lengthwise. (If towel will be hung, transfer to rod; the monogram, if any, will be centered and visible.)

Fold towel into a rectangle, as shown. Keep sets of guest towels together, bound with twill tape or ribbon. When visitors arrive, just transfer a stack from linen closet to guest bedroom.

Put soap shards and leftover hotel soap bars to good use. Use a utility knife to slice into the center of a natural sea sponge. Then insert soap and lather up. Every last bubble will be surrendered. The soap will stay in place as it shrinks, adhering to the fibers of the sponge.

Keep bathroom items neat and accessible with cubbyhole shelves for large items and surgical jars for small toiletries and accessories. The jars, available at medical-supply stores, have easy-to-grab stainless-steel lids. Each of the shelves is made from five pieces of 3/4-inch-thick plywood. The top, bottom, and two sides are each 12 inches by 9 inches; the back is a 12-inch square. The top, bottom, and sides are mitered along the ends, glued together, and secured with 1 1/2-inch finishing nails. If carpentry isn't your cup of tea, you may want to avoid mitering. Instead, have the lumberyard cut the boards for the box's top and bottom to be 10 1/2 inches by 9 inches, and the sides 12 inches by 9 inches. Glue the ends of the bottom and top boards to the inside edges of the side boards, and secure with finishing nails. Glue on the back, and secure with more finishing nails. Sand, prime, and paint the wood. Screw the finished shelves right into the wall through the back (centering them on a stud), and cover the screws with paint.

Few bathrooms have enough places to hang towels. Stacking towel bars behind closed doors is a great way to remedy the shortage and use space efficiently. A flat or single-paneled door provides a crisp frame for three bars; furthermore, it's easier to affix them to a wooden door (as most are) than to a wallboard or a plaster wall. Hang the hardware according to package instructions, evenly spacing the bars along the length of the door.

Orphaned teacups and saucers are perfect vessels for sorting jewelry, and, when arranged in a velvet-lined drawer, they give you an easy-to-scan bird's-eye view of your bijoux. To set it up, measure the height of the drawer's side (not the front), then gather dishware that's slightly shorter. Line the drawer with velvet or felt to prevent rattling and sliding, then position the porcelain. Hook drop earrings on rims of cups, nestle necklaces within them, and stash chunkier beads and bangles on individual saucers.

Eliminate the tangle of unused extension cords by storing each one in a piece of pipe insulation -- foam tubing with a slit along one side. Using a utility knife, cut insulation to desired length (about 13 inches for each 6 feet of cord). Fold the cord to size, insert it, and label the foam to indicate the length of cord enclosed.

It takes too long to find remote controls in their usual hiding spot, between cushions on the sofa. If you're looking for a more convenient place to keep them, put a wide-mouth vase or other good-looking container on your side table and put all of your remotes inside.

How to Sow Seeds Indoors

2010-03-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

Things You'll Need:

Plant Light
Potting Soil
Seed-starting Medium
Seeds
Vermiculite
Containers
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags
Seeds

Step1
Consider your timing. Some plants need to be planted as much as 12 weeks before your region's last average frost date, while others do best when started just two weeks before.
Step2
Choose your seed-starting container. Nearly any container with drainage will do, but good candidates include milk carton bottoms, egg cartons, plastic produce boxes, peat pots and special seed-starting flats. (Punch drain holes into containers that need them.)
Step3
Plant seeds in sterile seed starting mix. It has no soil to cause disease problems and is lightweight - perfect for baby plants to get off to a good start. Sprinkle vermiculite over seeds that require covering. Its lighter color helps you see just what you've covered.
Step4
Follow seed package directions about the depth of planting. As a rough rule, the larger the seed, the deeper it's planted. Some very small seeds are just scattered directly on the soil and not covered up at all.
Step5
Water gently. Either set the container in 1 to 2 inches of warm water and allow the water to wick up to the soil surface, water gently from above with a special bulb-type hand sprinkler, or dribble water from your hand.
Step6
Slip the container into a clear plastic bag to minimize drafts and conserve moisture. Twist the end shut.
Step7
Put the seeds in a spot with the correct temperature. (Check the seed packet.) Keep the seeds out of direct sunlight or risk fatally overheating them. Seeds usually need either cool temperatures of 50 to 65 degrees F or warm temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees F. Find an especially warm or cool spot by checking with a thermometer in different locations in your house.
Step8
Check the seeds daily. If water drops form inside the bag, open the end to vent it. Once the seeds germinate, remove the plastic and put the seedlings in the brightest indoor spot possible.
Step9
Put the new seedlings in a sunny, unobstructed south-facing window. Or set them a few inches below a shop light equipped with one warm and one cool fluorescent light. Use an inexpensive light timer to automatically keep the lights on 14 to 16 hours a day

found on ehow

inspirations for sale

2010-02-26T15:49:00.001-08:00

CallaghanArtGallery

Lucia Johnson

Dan Lafferty

Mama Painter

Whale

2010-02-24T17:01:00.001-08:00

I want to make a stenciled whale and make this pillow in a different style. Something other than the "beach house" look. I just wish I could get some more time.

Thanks Martha!

2010-02-20T19:43:00.001-08:00

Anthropologie's Pearly Pins

2009-12-29T17:31:00.000-08:00

Anthropologie's Pearly Pins

Anthropologie's Pearly pins

I am a HUGE anthropologie fan. However, if you are like me, some of their things are just too expensive to afford. I found these pearl pins at the store and I knew that I could make them for much cheaper. So here you are.

Plug if your hot glue gun and separate your bobby pins.
Sort through your pearls and glue one pearl at a time to the back of the bobby pin. (try not to go overboard with the glue)

You can keep it simple with just one or two pearls, or you can make a flower pattern gluing the pearls around the middle pearl.

Wait for the glue to dry and there you have it!

These make a perfect subtle addition to any outfit.

Monster Christmas ornament

2009-12-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas Monster

Christmas Monster Ornament

My friends like to have tree trimming parties where we make one another ornaments. This was a quick little monster that I whipped up before heading out to the party. It is such a simple gift!

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First fold your felt once over and trace out your own little monster pattern.

It can be whatever you like. I kept mine simple so that I could whip it up real quick.
Cut your pattern out so that you have 2 identical pieces of felt.

Take your 2 buttons and some contrasting thread and sew on two eyes.
Take more contrasting thread (preferably embroidery) and sew a mouth.

Take the two pattern pieces and flip them over so that the right sides are facing in.
sew around the edges leaving a small space which will allow you to flip it back right side out.
Turn the monster right side out and start to your stuffing
Sew the stuffing opening shut.
Now we must start to form the hat. Fold your red felt on the corner and cut.
sew the opening
Flip the hat inside out. Glue a strip of whit felt around the bottom and glue a part of stuffing on the top of the hat.
Use your white felt to cut out a pair of fangs
Glue fangs on, attach a string to hold ornament on the tree and you are good to go!

A perfect gift!

easy flower project

2009-12-04T22:57:00.000-08:00

special thanks to:Trashion
Plastic flowers taken apart and spraypainted (gold, black..). Sew on to a shoulder strap or dress top they make any basic LBD to a party gown.
Elle Spain December 2009, model Olga Maliuk photographed by Riccardo Tinelli.

2009-11-08T12:51:00.001-08:00

Leggings

How to make leggings

You don't need to spend the big bucks at American apparel to get the look that you want. With some stretching fabric and a little bit of work, you will be making your own hand made legging collection.

Start off with a pattern. This shows you how to make the measurements you need to make your own pattern. If you don't want to go through the trouble, you can simply buy a pattern.

I used McCall's M5759 pattern and made a few minor adjustments
Fold your fabric length wise with both the right sides facing up so that you can make two identical pieces.

Lay the pattern in the middle of the fabric.

Pin the pattern to the fabric
Cut around the pattern. I kept some length to the legs because I wanted the leggings to go down to my ankles.

Separate the two leg pieces and fold each of them in half length wise with the right sides facing in.

pin the edges
Sew the inner leg edges of each leg using a double stitched seam
Stop sewing right before you get to the crotch on each leg.
Press the seam allowances of each leg
Now you have 2 legs with pressed seam allowances
Fold one of the legs right side out.
You have turned one leg right side out. Slip it into the remaining leg.
Stitch around the crotch using a Double Stitched seam.

Press seam allowances
Pull the leg out of the other and now it's time to make the band

Fold the upper edge of leggings inside along the fold line.
Press the Fold
Stitch along the fold line leaving a small opening to fit the elastic into.
Measure your waist line and add 2 inches onto the band.

Put a safety pin through the elastic band and pull it through the waist line
Pull it through until it comes out the other side
Sew the elastic together and sew the opening of the waist band up.
Fold your leggi

Teacup candles

2009-11-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

These really are the perfect gifts. They really take no time at all and you can get very creative with the project. I recycled some old candles that had burnt out. The teacups were found in thrift stores and garage sales separated from the rest of their sets.

Before starting this project you should assess which cups you will be using and how much wax you think it will take to fill them. You will find that you can normally knock a few cups out at once.
Measure and cut your wick for each cups height and add 2 inches or so. wrap the wick around a skewer(a stick or pencil works fine as well) and place in on top the middle of the cup.

Break up your wax (a hammer and screw driver works really well)if you had a big candle like I did. It just makes it easier to melt when the pieces of wax are small.
Put the wax in a pouring pot if you have it. A regular pot will work just as well. Put the pouring pot into your second pot and melt the wax on medium low heat.

optional: you would add fragrance or coloring once the wax has melted.

Pour the melted wax into your teacups stopping at about 1/2 inch below the cup's rim. Allow the wax to cool for about an hour.
A well will usually form in the middle of the candle after it has cooled. Pour more melted wax to fill in the well and until the wax is about 1/4 inch below the rim.
Enjoy your beautiful new creations!

My Leggings tutorial

2009-10-26T15:14:00.001-07:00

can be found on Cut Out + Keep

Leggings Tutorial

Apron Tutorials

2009-10-23T22:31:00.000-07:00

Tie the back up

You are ready to bake

Apron making

Is a piece of cake

Heart of Light

Vintage tool belt apron

Moda bake shop

Piece of cake

Citrus Holiday
Hostess apron

Cath Kidston
Strawberry apron

Hope Studios
reversible apron

This and that
hostess apron

Pillow tutorials

2009-10-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

Winter is around the bend
It's time to cozy up
So let us push the stitches in
And add a little fluff.

Purlbee
starts it off with these great connect the dot pillows

Cluck Cluck Sew
shows us a creative way to use up our scrap fabric.

Design Sponge
tells us how to create a beautiful vintage pillow out of handkerchiefs.

The Stroque
shows us this cheap way of making a great decoration for the couch.

Floralshowers
gives us details on this unique ruffle pillow

Design Sponge
gives us a great inspiration for a yo yo pillow

Mama Made It
made us an easy sweater pillow to try out

Craft stylish
shows us how to make this chic button pillow
(takes a little bit more time)

Tiny decor blog
shows us quick envelope pillow covers

ciao