Wildflowers

Welcome to my hometown...

The Pioneers named it "Farewell Bend" in the 1800s.

Many had traveled across the plains in the covered wagons. Upon reaching Central Oregon some stayed put.
Others decided to go further west. Some went north to what is now Washington State and others went south to California.
It was here along the Deschutes River that many said good bye to family and friends.
Thus, it became known as "Farewell Bend".                          .



Throughout the city there are fields of colorful wildflowers.

One of my favorites...
Blue Button Flowers

BLACK EYED SUSAN,  BLUE BUTTON FLOWERS and COSMOS
All the way up the hill!

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."
 Isaiah 35:1



Indigo...Powerful and dignified...
Indigo conveys integrity and deep sincerity.
Yellow...the color of sunshine.
It's associated with joy, happiness and energy.  

"Consider the lilies of the fields, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;
And, yet I say unto you, that even King Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Matthew 6:28-29

Heading home...by way of the "Old Mill District".

 

ROUND ABOUTS ABOUND 
 Each one is a year round show piece of seasonal splendor.
 Not only are they beautiful, but they are a much safer alternative to four way stop signs.
They add a certain charm and personality to my home town.

 

 Thank you for visiting me, my sweet friends.

I hope you enjoyed strolling through the wildflowers.

 

Have A wonderful day!

Blessings,

Carolynn  xoxo

 

Something Old Something New

Welcome Friends....... 

  Being an avid thrifter I love bringing things back to life by adding fresh new details.

Paint, a bit of discounted fabric or even scraps from a thrifted garment

 can add so much personality...

Magically, turning something old into something new again.

 

I was happy to find this soft pink cabbage rose home dec fabric for just two dollars a yard.
 I purchased all they had and have incorporated it throughout my master bedroom.

 "Tweaking is so much fun!"
1. I added a fabric matte to this sweet picture of my husband's Mother.
2. I recovered the seat of the feminine little rocking chair
 given to me by my Mother-in-Love.
3.  Then, I stitched up a matching pillow.
4. I added a ruffled skirt to a small table allowing room for hidden storage.
 5. Lastly, I softened the look of a thrifted wicker lamp electrical cord and chain.

 

I hope you'll enjoy this "TUTORIAL" showing how to add a soft

fabric slipcover to hide the chain and electrical cord on a hanging lamp. 

This wicker lamp cost me five dollars at my local thrift store.
First, it received a new coat of white paint.

 

"HOW TO MAKE THE SLIPCOVER"

1. Measure the length of the chain.
2. Cut 6 inch by 44 inch strips and sew them together making one very long strip.
(example...If your chain is 60" long you will need a strip that is 180" long...
It will need to be three times longer than the chain.)
3. Press.
4. Fold in half lengthwise.
5. Stitch with right side of fabric on the inside of folded strip.
This will make a long tube.
6. Turn right side out.
This next step  requires some patience...
7. Thread the pronged end of your electric cord into the opening at one end of the tube.
8. Start working the fabric tube onto the chain.
9. You will be "scrunching" the slipcover on
 until it is gathered snuggly and hides the entire length of the chain.

Once you have covered the chain and are satisfied with it's gathers.....
Randomly, stitch by hand the slipcover here and there
 to prevent it from slipping down from the top of the chain
 once you have hung your lamp.
(It's easy to hide the stitches due to the abundance of gathers.)

 

"ADDING A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA"
Even with the new paint and slipcovered chain
I felt something was missing.
1. I measured the tiny woven wicker openings.
 2. Cut strips a little over twice the width of the wicker openings.
3. I stitched these strips into a long tube.
(Just like I did making the slipcover for the chain.) 

 

I wove the stitched fabric tube in and out and stitched it in place
 at the very end of the weaving process.
The silk brocade fabric was from a two dollar remnant
 that I purchased at Joanns.

When I purchased the lamp it had no bulb.
I bought an extra large white light bulb.
To add a soft glow I spray painted it light pink.
Then, I sprayed a tacky adhesive onto it.
To add a touch of sparkle I sprinkled it generously with chunky clear glitter crystals.

 

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT...
A brand new face for this thrifted hanging lamp!





 

I love the soft, pink light. It has created such a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Thank you for visiting, my dear friends.
I hope you have been inspired to find ways to
create something new out of something faded and old.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
"There's never a need to buy new when you can...
"TWEAK IT!"

Blessings,
Carolynn  xoxo

 

                                                                       Linking With

"Lavender Garden Cottage"
Cottage Style Linky Party
www.lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com

                                                                       


"Mosaic Monday"
www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com
 

"Tweak It Tuesday"
www.cozylittlehouse.com
 

Sweet Stitching

Hi Ladies!
It's hard to believe summer is almost over. Temperatures have begun to drop. It has been in the 30s  the past few nights. I actually threw another quilt on the bed this week.

I made this little Birdhouse Miniature Quilt
using my favorite "Aunt Grace's" 1930s reproduction prints.
Each tiny birdhouse has a vintage button perch stitched on front.
The borders are hand quilted.

 

I am so inspired by the many embroidered pretties that so many of you have been sharing on your lovely blogs.
My favorite quilt shop has so many wonderful ideas and patterns available. I thought you might enjoy some of the shop samples...and, who knows, you may be inspired, too!

How I love tea towels! Aren't these the sweetest?

I am so fond of the old fashioned edgings.

RICK RACK...

POM POMS...

LACE...

HAND CROCHET...

They add such lovely finishing touches!

 

 

I had fun making this little "Aunt Grace's" Sampler Doll Quilt.

Don't you love all the Bubble Gum Pink prints?  

 

 

"Chloe's Quilt"
I made this small Log Cabin quilt for my sweet little kitty, Chloe.
She would curl up on it and nap in the afternoon sun.
I only had her for five years. I lost her, suddenly, to kidney failure.
I miss her so much!

 

Yes...More of my favorite "Aunt Grace's" prints.
I made this chubby teddy bear using strips and
a crazy quilting method. 

 

I thought I better hurry and post this beautiful summer quilt.

It is a sample that hangs at my favorite quilt shop

"Sew Many Quilts"

in

Bend, Oregon

 

Thank you for your warm visits and comments.
I appreciate each one of you!

 

 

Blessings, my sweet friends,

Carolynn  xoxo

 

 

 "And now these things remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love."

I Corinthians 13:13 

 

"A PREVIEW OF MY NEXT POST"

I hope you'll come back for my next post on "TWEAK IT TUESDAY"
www.cozylittlehouse.com
to discover why I posted this on "MOSAIC MONDAY"
www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com
 

 

Aprons Aprons!

                             
Summertime Sewing...
I love...love...love aprons!                          

What a joy it was to stitch up these children's aprons for the precious little ones!
   I thought I would share my latest projects.
           There are four of them.

One of my favorite fabric collections...1930s reproductions.

Adding a ruffle in a coordinating print.



Close Up...
My favorite gathering method:
1.  Knot one end of DMC floss and then...
2. Zigzag over floss (lay floss 1/4" from edge of fabric).
3. Find center of ruffle piece and apron and then pin together.
4. Tighten DMC until gathers are equally spread on both sides of center pin.
5. Pin entire ruffle in place.
6. Stitch carefully along gathered edge making sure to hide zig zag inside seam. (1/2" seam)
7. Remove DMC after stitching is complete.

(I like this method because the DMC floss doesn't break when gathering.)



I love using coordinates...the more prints the better!
The apron bodice is lined with a coordinating fabric for extra strength and wear.



Making my own "Chenille Cottage" labels
 and adding them discreetly to the inside of the apron.



Red, white and blue beach balls.
I love sewing with my favorite color...
RED!



My signature label...



PINK POODLES!
Ooo Lah Lah! 



Feit Avec Amour
(Made With Love!)



Vintage reproduction prints
 add such a sweet old fashioned look to this little apron.





Instead of a tie...I chose to add a "scrunchy" that slips over the child's head.
It's so much softer on a little ones neck.

Thank you for spending time with me in my sewing room.

I love to sew
 I love sharing my latest projects
and
I love blessing others with the work of my hands.


Have a wonderful week, my sweet friends!

Blessings,
Carolynn  xoxo

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

 Proverbs 22:6

 

Thank you to my sweet friend, Jann...for featuring my aprons
on your lovely blog.
I hope you'll take a moment and pop in and say hello.
"Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson"
www.jannolson.blogspot.com

Thank you, Elaine, for featuring me on
"Sunny Simple Sunday".
I hope you stop over and visit her blog.
"Sunny Simple Life"
www.sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com