Refinish your old Kitchen Stool into a Trendy Accessory

I found two Kitchen Stools for $7 at a local yard sale.What a deal. With a little bit of sandpaper and paint they look like new!

Before

After

This Tutorial will show you how to add the paint to the legs. You can find the instructions to add the fabric on the Riley Blake Fabrics Cutting Corners.

Supplies:

• Kitchen stool (as many as you would like)
• Sander
• Protective Gloves
• Paintbrush
• Paint (I like the kind that has the primer included)
• Lacquer (I didn't add this step to the instructions because I used  a brand I don't like but that that I needed to use up)
• Something to protect your surface
• Blocks to lift your kitchen stool will help keep it clean (I used a milk crate)

Having a companion can make the time pass faster :)

It makes it easier to paint if you sand the finish off the stool. Having the surface protected will keep the area cleaner, it also keeps the stool from getting scratched.

Make sure to wipe as much of the dust off the wood as you can. This dust will get in the way of the paint adhering to the wood properly. Plus it makes a mess everywhere. I will sweep my area just to make sure that pesky dust doesn't stick around.

Starting at the bottom paint the legs and insides first. Include the bottom of the seat. After the first coat of paint dried I went back to look for spots I missed.

There you have it! Your done.

Adding the fabric is easy! 

Silly Me!

I just realized I didn't post a picture of my finished lunch bags
Here it is...

Here's to a new  school year!

Reusable Lunch Bag- Riley Blake Laminates

This DIY project uses the Riley Blake Laminates. They are easy to sew, and can be easily wiped down with a wet cloth.

Materials:

Cut 1: 12.5" X 20" for outer bag

Cut 1: 12.5" X 20" for lining

Cut 1: 2" X 12.5" for outer bag
Cut 1: 2" X 12.5" for lining

Fold the outer bag and lining in half with right sides together. They should measure 12.5" X 10" each.
Sew up all four sides using .25" seam allowance.

Refold fabric with rightsides together, with seam allowance touching.
Using a ruler measure 1.75" from the point draw a line.

Using the line as a guide sew along the drawn line.
Trim away corner, leaving a .25" seam allowance.

Turn outer bag rightside out. Slide the lining into outer bag, wrongsides together.

Matching seam lines, sew around the top of the bag about .5" from the top.
trim excess fabric with pinking sheers to .25" from sewn line

With wrong sides together topstich the outer bag strap and the lining strap.
Use pinking sheers to trim away excess fabric on both sides of the sewing line.

Pinch the top of the bag opening about 1.5" in and insert strap. Pin in place then sew into place.

Thanks for checking out my blog! You can find the instructions for the upright back on RileyBlake.com Select the Cutting Corners tab, after July 30, 2012

New Mexico Fire :-(

I was asked to make this quilt for a friend who lost half their home, two out buildings, and an antique truck in the New Mexico fire last month.
My oldest daughter helped choose the fabrics. I think she has the eye for color!

Next week I'll get together with some friends from the same ward and quilt it! Watch for the finished project.

My heart and prayers goes out to all those who are fighting the forest fires in the surrounding areas! Thank you for helping keep us and our homes safe.

blood sweat and a few tears

I made this quilt for a friend who recently moved. Because it was a surprise, I couldn't post it till now. What is not shown on the picture is that each of the white pieces of fabric were signed by friends who will l miss her and her family.

The yellow "sun" circle says,"may the sunlight of faith ever warm your heart" -Gordon B. Hinckley-

The best part of the project is the tear of gratitude my friend gave to me. It's that sort of feeling that makes the time and effort of quilting worth it!

Crayon Art

I tried my hand at crayon art.

I didn't add instructions for this because you can find them almost anywhere by searching crayon art. But this second example was my idea...

This one I set the canvas flat on the floor. I held the crayon over the canvas. When I hit the crayon with the blowdryer the wax dripped onto the canvas. Then using a swirl motion with the toward the canvas.

Even more... My eldest daughter made a sample,

I love the energy she has captured!

Exciting Preview!

I have been feverishly working to be ready for my RileyBlake tutorial. Today I will spend some time scrubbing my article. On Monday it will be published! I am adding a preview picture of the quilt in a secondary colorway.