[ art in parks ]

ONE OF the highlights of our trip back was being able to visit a couple of outdoor art shows. Some of you might remember this back in 2010...

Yup, that was my booth at the Muskoka Arts & Crafts Summer Show {read about it here}. So much fun and I really hope I can do it again someday! 

So you can imagine how excited I was to learn that we would be in Muskoka on the weekend of this year's show...

It was fun to see some familiar faces and some new artists this time too. I find these events so inspiring and they make me want to get busy creating!

So what did I buy? Well, it was difficult not to go crazy but I decided to limit myself to a new painting {I've been trying to build up a bit of an art collection of original works and these art shows are an excellent place to do so. This cheerful original is by Marlene Bulas...

But as luck would have it, this wasn't the only outdoor art show we visited! We happened to be in Oakville, Ontario for their annual Art in the Park show as well. Much smaller in scale but so many beautiful works of art...

And you guessed it ~ I bought a painting! This one is by Robin Mitchell...

I'm so thrilled with my 2 new acquisitions {doesn't that sound fancy?} 

Have you been to any fun summer events this year?

lisa

[ nautical cushions with french seams ]

SOUNDS FANCY, huh? Well, they're easy and here's how I made them.

It's been a little while since I finished my white slipcovers and I've been meaning to make some cute cushions for them. I found some nautical striped fabric at IKEA and 2 existing 18" cushions ready for a new life. I chose mother of pearl buttons to add a little sheen.

I bought about a metre and a quarter of fabric and realized that I could simply cut the length into one long strip for each cushion. I ended up having enough to make the 2 covers I needed, plus enough for a table runner leftover.

To finish the ends, I measured, pressed and sewed them, making sure that one was wide enough to accommodate the buttonholes, and that once folded and overlapped, the fabric would be long enough to go all the way around my pillow form.

I measured for the buttonholes and decided on their placement. {I decided not to centre the side buttons on the navy stripe like the centre button since it would space them too far apart.}

I set my machine to the buttonhole function {I started at 1, not at 2-4 as shown in the pic}

I attached my plastic buttonhole foot {this machine came with one, my other machines haven't had one but it's not necessary}. I started at the bottom pin and sewed my buttonhole all the way around. I tied off my threads.

Then I carefully opened up each buttonhole using my seam ripper and trimmed off any threads afterwards.

I folded my strip of fabric exactly how I wanted it to appear completed, with the finished ends overlapping in the centre. I made sure that it was at least 18" high to fit my pillow form {mine ended up about 18 1/2").

I made sure that the centre of the buttonhole was sitting on the stitch line of the end underneath. The stitch line was where I would be sewing on my button.

Now for the french seams!

It sounds fancy but it's not. Pin the sides together, exactly how you've just laid it out, with right side of fabric facing out.

Sew with a narrow seam allowance {1/4" or less}. If you find it too difficult to sew such a narrow seam, sew it a bit wider and trim it down afterwards.

Turn inside out and press.

With fabric still inside out, stitch again, this time with a wider seam allowance {about 1/2"}.

You now have a french seam.

Turn right side out and press. See how nice and clean everything is inside? No raw edges or mess.

Sew on buttons and insert pillow form. Done!

I love how quick these were ~ just over 2 hours for both pillow covers, even with those fancy french seams! I don't always make french seams. Sometimes I'll do some zigzag or overcast stitching to finish things off or just trim my seam allowances with pinking shears.

I love how fresh they feel on the white slipcovers and how the background colour ties in with the natural linen of our sofa. 

lisa

linking to: freckled laundry's air your laundry friday

[ eggcellent egg decor ]

WITH EASTER approaching fast, I love these charming decor ideas using simple dyed eggs...

1} string eggs together into a garland using a narrow ribbon {if you're not into blowing out the yolks, use painted papier maché eggs, or drill holes into plastic eggs instead}

2} group eggs in nests along a buffet table {these are great with hard candy eggs as well}

3} poke a branch into an urn, glue on some paper flowers and top the floral foam with moss and eggs

4} insert a narrow vase of flowers into a large glass vase or jar and fill the gap with eggs {these can be real, paper, candy or plastic since they won't be submerged in water}

5} create an easter tree by inserting white branches into a bucket of sand, glue ribbon onto eggs to hang and create some pretty birds from scrapbook paper

Easy peasy! Have you done any Easter decorating?

lisa

[1,3,5 bhg.com; martha stewart; yourdecoratinghotline.com]

[ the. cutest. thing. ever. ]

HAVE YOU EVER come across something so awesome that you just can't wait to blog about it?? Well, this weekend while we were out walking, we did...

If you're a knitter and are looking for a few supplies, then Winnie's Wool Wagon is here!

Whether it's wool you're looking for, a new pattern or some cute buttons to finish off your project, Winnie's got it in her adorable little truck. Just pop open the "canopy" and she's open for business!

Even the lights are adorned with little eyelashes!

Winnie's Wool Wagon officially wins my award for cutest thing ever. Can you imagine taking part in a craft fair with this little cutie? I want one.

lisa

[ charming lucky jackson ]

ONE OF THE best things about taking part in the big Muskoka Arts & Crafts Show is meeting all the other artists that create the most interesting and original pieces. I stumbled upon a booth by Lucky Jackson who is from Peterborough, Ontario, not too far from where I am.

The cheerfulness of her booth, with colourful floral bunting and her amazing art pieces is what drew me in (sorry, I didn't get a shot of it!). But the best part of Jennifer's (Lucky's) work is that she uses vintage sheets and pillowcases to create the most charming layered pieces with hand embroidery, screen printing, wood veneer and hand painting.  I knew that one of her pieces would be going home with me - they were all just too happy to pass up!

I chose this one - I love the fabrics and the charming cotton lace trim along the hem of her skirt. And the embroidery hoop frame is the finishing touch! If you're looking to add a bit of happy vintage retro art to your space, take a peek at her Etsy shop. 

[ craft booth prep - finale! ]

SO TODAY was day 1 of the show and so far it's been a great success! After some heavy rain last night, I was relieved to find my booth intact (the weights held it well). So all I had to do was put up my sign, and fill in with stock.

I decided to create a fabric panel as a backdrop to my sign since most of my back wall was going to be blank (there was space behind my table for 2 chairs). I stapled some fabric I had on-hand to a 2"x2" frame which was tall enough to tuck in under the roof frame to hold it in place. Then the sign was hung with wire from the roof frame as well. It really helped to fill in all that blank white space and made the sign stand out.

I ended up having to open the back corner of the tent wall just for some air flow since it was so hot with the sun shining directly at the booth. When there was a breeze, some gusts were enough to blow bags off the shelves so the little display easels had to be wired onto the shelf units to keep them in place. Luckily the shelves were wire mesh so it was easy to feed wire through the holes. I also used cable ties to attach the shelf units together and wired them to the tent poles to keep them from blowing over (or onto people!)

A mirror leaning on one of the fabric-covered wine crates on the table made it easy to see how a bag would look when worn. I put a few heavy items behind the crate to keep it from shifting.

I grouped the Vintage Series bags together and arranged most of the other bags by colour to make it easier on the eye and tried to keep the display to mostly 2 bags per shelf so each one could be easily viewed.

The old window frame is working well for the floral brooches. It was simply wired to the shelf units through the mesh in behind it. The brooch tags are hung with paperclips through the mesh.

My dressform mannequin stands outside of my booth to display a bag and brooch and can be seen from a distance. I occasionally switch up the bag that she displays.

All in all, I'm pretty thrilled with how it all turned out and got quite a few lovely comments on it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the show this weekend and am praying for no rain!

lisa