Books for People With Alternative Interests | Upcraft.it In the back corner of an alley in the city where I live, there is a little noticed book shop. I have an understanding with the owner, and he knows the sort of books that excite me. My tastes are rather different from his normal customers, and suitable material is hard to find. I remember the first time I walked into the store, and asked in a hushed voice “Do you have any old books from around 1900? A short while later, I was walking down the street with a discrete brown paper parcel that held copies of books with provocative titles like ‘Machineries Handbook’, ‘Modern Electric Wiring’ and ‘Handbook of Embroidery’. While I still love antique volumes filled with practical advice, and my heart still flutters when I catch a glimpse of leather poking out from underneath a pile of knitting patterns, it isn’t always appropriate to launch headlong into a pile of books. Tags: Books, Craft, Crochet, making, Upcrafting, workshop
painting on ceramic and porcelain I have a file box full of tear sheets of projects I’d like to try. In January 2006 (yes, that was nearly 5 years ago) I pulled out an article from Martha Stewart Living on Dot-Painted China. The minute I saw it, I knew I wanted to try it. I’ve meant to do if for quite a while now but I was stuck at finding the paint. I’ve gone to a few of those paint your own pottery places and honestly am usually disappointed with the results. Supplies: China, Ceramic, Porcelain….it needs to be able to go in the oven and cook at 350. Pebeo Paints: Porcelaine 150 1.2 paint pen – for larger dots Porcelaine 150 0.7 paint pen – for smaller dots Porcelaine 150 paint (comes in a small little round container) Porcelaine 150 outliner (comes in a small tube with fine point end) There is also a little set that that has applicator bottles and fine point end you can attach to the bottle. You can get the paint at Micheals, dickblick.com, and other craft stores. 1,000,000 ways to make this cute as a gift.
Four Generations One Roof: Barn style doors (stage 2) The barn style doors are coming along! They have been sanded, primed & painted white (BM decorators white) I haven’t decided if they will stay white or maybe a light gray color? The room is a bit dark so I’m thinking a light color. Anyway, my new dilemma is what to hang them with! I originally wanted the “flat style” roller barn door hardware like this: HOWEVER……. I plan on hanging them on the bookcase (the middle portion) to hide coats ….I don’t have a convenient coat closet & the kitchen chair is getting tired of being buried with coats! Jessica Bruno We are a crew of four generations all living together under one roof. Deck of Cards-Vintage Wall Decor: Free Digital Downloads Mod Podge’ing paper to pre-stretched canvas is nothing new in the craft world, but deliberately allowing paper to moisten, crinkle, oversaturate, and images to smudge & deteriorate for the sake of art, might be a bit different than you’re used to. The combination of Mod Podge Matte finish for paper and vintage typewriter paper that’s been run through the printer make for a pretty cool effect when laminated to canvas. An effect, that in most cases, would have you in tears, so be warned that this is NOT a project for the perfectionist, we’re going to get messed up on this one to create very cool faux antique wall decor. I found an old and grungy deck of playing cards with fantastic graphics. I gotta tell you, getting my hands on this discarded old pack was seriously just short of a full-on dumpster dive, though I’ll spare you the details. But it just goes to show you that you can find beauty in the least of places. I finished my canvases with a top spray coat of matte varnish. Share
DIY: Laundry Room Drying Rack For a long time, I have really wanted one of those drying racks from Ballard Designs. You’ve seen them. They’re so perfect in the laundry room for drying your delicate clothing. I really wanted to save the money and build one myself. I knew I could do it with the right supplies. I even drew my own diagram on a napkin. Here’s a look at the final result: This is the perfect solution for drying all of my delicates! How to Build a Laundry Room Drying Rack + Supplies: 2 x 2’ precut birch (1/2 inch thick)Two 1/2 x 2” poplar boardsTwo 3/8” dowel rods (48” long)Sash lockNarrow loose pin hinges (set of two)D ring hangers for mounting on wallBracketed hinge for side (or chain with small screw eyes)Three white porcelain knobsPrimer and paint of choice Necessary tools: Drill bit set, including 3/8 inch drill bit, screwdriver, framing nails, a hammer, and a saw. Step One: Measure and cut your 1/2 inch x 2 boards to fit the 2 x 2 precut birch. Step Three: Finish assembling your rack with framing nails.
Steal This Look: Scandinavian Holiday Decor Ideas Older Steal This Look: Scandinavian Holiday Decor Ideas by Sarah Lonsdale Issue 50 · Holiday Gifts · December 14, 2010 Newer Issue 50 · Holiday Gifts · December 14, 2010 Share on email Why is it that the Scandis always seem to nail it when it comes to design, even holiday decorations? Above: Swedish company Ferm Living offers the felt Garland in natural-colored wool for €34. Above: An advent calendar spotted on Emmas Design Blogg features paper-wrapped gifts attached with wooden clothespins to a felt backdrop. Above: Candles in simple clay pots filled with moss via Kjerstis Lykke. Above: A white painted branch with Kraft-paper wrapped gifts makes a minimalist advent calendar, via The Style Files. Above: Simple garland fencing at Axel Vervoordt's recent Winter Exhibition; photo via Belgian Pearls. Above: Presents wrapped with Kraft paper and silver ribbon via Fabulissime. Restaurant Visit: The Tipsy Parson in New York By Allison Bloom Design Sleuth: Simple Red Reading Light By Julie Carlson
How About Orange I had a fun mail day recently: one of my packages contained a 2013 calendar gift from Italian designer Simone Massoni. Called "Chicks and Types," Simone has illustrated a series of pin-up girls and paired each one with a featured typeface for every month of the year. A few of the ladies are a bit spicy and missing their tops, and I'm too bashful to show you those. I'm completely charmed by the illustration style, the interesting color palette, and the deliciously thick, soft paper stock. Calendars are available in Simone's Etsy shop. P.S. "It's funny how you picked Rosa as the main image for the post, since it's one of my faves. Just for people to know, every pin-up has a story. Fabrizio is named after Federico's father, who the font has been dedicated to. Now we can appreciate this page even more!
Ballard Knock-off I am joining Happy to design for Sunday Favorites which is a chance to re-run your favorite post. I chose the Ballard Knock-off post because it seemed to be my readers favorite. This post received twice the comments of any others. The first two photos below are of a print in Ballard's catalog which sells for $349.00 plus $100.00 in shipping cost. I knew I could replicate the look for a lot less. First I searched the free sites for a antique style document I could download. My local copy shop was able to enlarge the print to poster size, approximately 24 x 36. I then stained just the edges of the board and burned the edges of the poster with a match. I applied Mod Podge to the board and the back of the print and then used a credit card to smooth out the wrinkles. My cost break down for Ballard style print: Digital download $ 3.75 Enlargement $12.00 Board $12.00 ______ Total cost $27.75 I had the stain and Mod Podge left from another project . Sherry
The Decorated House Beach Cottage Decorating « Coastal Blogs | Interior DesignBeach Cottage Decorating Mag Ruffman The chemicals used in traditional dry-cleaning are absolutely disgusting. Here's an inexpensive, extremely effective DIY solution. If you’ve ever known a theatrical wardrobe mistress, you’ve met someone who’s smart and under-appreciated. Without the calm grace of the wardrobe mistress, most theatrical productions would unravel faster than a chorus girl’s virtue on opening night. Perhaps you think I’m exaggerating. Continue reading "Do-it-yourself Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning (and cheap too)" »
How-To I'm so excited to share this project! I had this idea a few weeks ago, and since it was finally raining in California recently, this made the perfect Rainy Day Project. While finishing up the details of the great Bathroom Project, I had originally planned to make this pot hanger, but overflowing in ferns. Well the ferns mentioned they wanted to live on the mantle, and then I thought a pot might be too big hanging in the corner anyway. I needed something lighter... literally and figuratively.....air plants! So Pinterest & I brainstormed (see this post) and the embroidery hoops really spoke to my heart. You'll need:3 wood embroidery hoops - very cheap, I used 10" hoops.Paint & Paint brush (while you're buying paint, grab a few extra colors. First up, start painting. Let 'em dry, you don't want your paint wiping off. Then the fun begins! Yep. Now take the outer hoops, and loosen them up enough to add each hoop on the outside of your sphere. Let's add moss already! Back to the moss! Have fun!
Advent in a Jar Contributor post by Penelope and Pip There are so many beautiful advent calendar ideas being pinned at the moment we couldn't resist adding our own little idea to the mix. Enter the "Advent in a Jar" which also doubles as a lovely Christmas garland to hang on your tree. If you're like me and a bit short of space to hang an advent calendar then this is the perfect DIY for you. We've put activities on our little daily messages, but if you had a bigger jar, you could attach little gifts too. Let's get started with materials: Materials:Jar (we used an old tomato paste jar)"Advent in a Jar" download (click HERE to download).Felt balls (or pom poms)Embroidery flossNeedlePenScissorsGlue Step 1: Print out the "Advent in a Jar" download and cut out all of the pieces. Step 2: Write your little messages on each day. We added activities like "go to the movies" and "visit a friend" as we wanted to get out and about at Christmas. Step 3: Attach your balls with a little dab of glue.
DIY You might remember a bit of the history of what is now Heather's room. Actually, let's back up, since I get lots of questions about Heather every time I mention her. Heather is my youngest sibling (there are five of us and I'm the oldest). She graduated from college last spring and came to live with us in the concrete jungle where dreams are made. She is working and also helps me with some of my business stuff and she pitches in with the kids (basically, she is saving my bacon. Also she is clever and funny and lovely and a general dream of a person to get to be around every day. So Heather was living down on the garden level for the first few months, but we decided to switch things around in December-ish. She was super down with doing black walls like I had originally planned on for that room. Remember those dang shelves hanging above the bed from when the bachelors lived here? They fit the narrow space perfectly. Two quick drywall screw-ins later and we had a nightstand!