Welcome to My Modest Blog!

I've always been a crafty person. I love the visual arts and just like to create things. I tend to stare at each item in awe when it is complete... thinking "I made this!?" Call me a hopeless romantic, but the old days had it right in many ways, including traditional homemaking. I've been hobby sewing and crafting since I was a little girl. But in recent years, I found it necessary to sew clothes for my girls to keep them modestly dressed. While nursing my babies, I began making nursing covers for myself and friends. I've also done furniture restoration, crocheting, baking, painting/drawing, photography and more. Enjoying these feminine crafts and other projects has made me want to share my ideas and talents.

I hope to provide you with great ideas and quality products that will "keep you covered!" Some items will be available at an Etsy Shop. Also enjoy my tips and examples on this blog!

Monday, October 4, 2010

My Craft Corner

There was a time when all chaos broke lose in my sewing area. It looked like this:
Project Central aka MstrBr
The curtain hadn’t been hemmed. Piles everywhere, and actually little room for sewing anything. I was just happy to have “my area” for it all. Better than the kitchen table.
But with our house for sale, I had a lot of clean up to do. Now I can get back to orderly crafting? Is there such a thing?
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But messes are an occupational hazard.

Here is my current fabric storage option:
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It’s a baby changing table/shelf and laundry baskets. Creative, I know. Well, turns out others have used this idea, but I’m pretty happy with myself that I figured it out on my own. :)
I have also used a metal rack shelf behind my door to hold rolls of fabric. That worked okay for awhile. But this and bins under my bed are my best solution thus far.
MBR
SHARE A COMMENT ON MY STORAGE OR TELL US HOW YOU STORE YOUR FABRICS!

Thrifty Thursday: Furniture Flipper

My husband and I have named ourselves furniture flippers this summer. We’ve found some incredible treasures this year, and turned them into profitable works of art. While we did it for the extra cash while my husband was unemployed, it was really fun!



This is my most recent project.  Bought the chair for $5 and the table for $10? It’s been painted shabby chic style, and reupholstered. An incredible value and I wish I had room for it myself! The chair has edges scraped to expose some of the original bright paint colors. It looks amazing.
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It takes a certain person to see this potential, and I think I’m her. My husband always gives me a questioning look when I grab a cheap find that looks questionable. But the finished project usually blows him away.
This old window frame I had no idea what to make with it, but I had to have it – for free! After some cleanup and a little imagination, I’ve turned it into a beautiful Full/Queen headboard. It’s still a work in progress, so this is all I got for pics…
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We found this old wood head and foot board in a garbage pile. Probably from a bunkbed. Added some sideboards, white paint and walah! A darling bed for my oldest.
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Sometimes it just needs some fresh paint! We found this headboard for free, painted it black and sold it with a free metal bed frame we had sitting around for years. Sold it for $30.
Furniture ProjectsBlack headboard and frame
This headboard was my mom’s, mine and my sisters. A fresh coat of paint and I sold it for $30!
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These pieces we found on Craigslist, the bed for $25 and the Hutch for $30 or so? All it needs is some paint! My daughter loves the set.
Bedroom 3    Panorama BR3
I love wood dressers, because they have so much potential. Here are a few we got for $0-15.
These two we simply cleaned inside and out. Bought for $5 Sold for $25. Bought for $15 Sold for $30.
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This dresser we got for free. We added new trim piece, black paint (used wagner sprayer), and new knobs. We invested around $30. We sold it for $140!
 Furniture Projects Dresser2
My husband would say I have an obsession with old desks. We have 7 desks in our home, and we’ve refinished and sold a few more. Here are a few of them. They simply have to be traditional style and wood. I take care of any fixups and cleaning.
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These desks were in bad shape. Each had to be completely stripped and repainted with new knobs.
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And for someone’s desk, I took an old window frame and turned it into a workstation. I stained and varnished it. Found some free corkboard and free board to paint with chalkboard paint. Added hangers on the back. Cost me $3. Selling now for $30-40??  A very unique piece.

Work Window2Work Window - back hookWork Window - closeup
My kids would tear apart my sisters old rocking horse worth $80-100. So I got this horse of many paint colors for $2 at auction. Painted him black, added eyes and shaggy hair. The kids love it, and it certainly looks like a handsome stallion!
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My toddlers needed their own “desk” for our home school room. So I found this old wooden set for $10 and I think it turned out splendidly! I found another toddler table set for $10 and painted it black. I just found 2 more chairs that match the first for only $8. What a deal for a table set that is worth $70-90. The black bookshelf in the background I got for $1. Amazing paint, that’s all I can say!
First Day of School - Year 5  
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And this must run in the family, because here’s one my mom refinished for my daughter.
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So don’t throw away your old furniture, pass it on or fix it up!

“One person’s trash
is another person’s treasure.”

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Faith in Embroidery

A blog friend at Waltzing Matilda drew up some fabulous designs for her “Saints ‘n Stitches.” Simple designs of saints for children or adults to embroider. I chose them for my daughter’s 8th birthday party activity – and it was fun for all. It’s actually quite therapeutic and addicting!



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Saint Elizabeth of Hungary – as embroidered on a dish towel by Melissa

saint anne

Saint Anne with Mary stitched by Melissa with apron and bowl for a kitchen dishtowel.

I drew more saints that went with the girl’s names. Here they are FREE for your personal use only.
Please do not sell items made from these patterns.


saint katherine drexelsaint emily


I had help with the stitch types from this book
by Jenny Hart: Sublime Stitching - Embroidered Effects


I would like to check out this book by Amy Ray: Doodle Stiching


Please comment about your experience embroidering, if you have some good resources or free pattern links!

Other Fabrics

I will try to keep this updated. These are photos of my current stock of fabrics. Much of this I am unable to get more of, so when it’s gone… I have some more, and will replenish my supply as these go.
Don’t forget, I can make these items out of fabric you buy or have.

FOR CHURCH ACTIVITY BAGS:
Easter Alleluia     /     Fishers of Men
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Christian “Love is”     /     Family Picnic
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FOR DRESSES, APRONS, PILLOWS AND MORE:
Purples    /     Neutrals
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Blues & Pinks     /     Tie Dye Rainbow
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Blue & White Denim and Toile     /     Deer Hunt Camouflage
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FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE FABRIC GROUPING!!!
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